Springfield Area Resources Abound for Pregnant/Postpartum Families
They say it takes a village.
Rest assured, our Springfield area BIRTH SUPPORT village is strong and growing. Recently, in the community room of the Mason Square library, local birthworkers and practitioners gathered to inform the public of the services they offer. In case you missed the event, here is what is available:
Doula Care – Doulas provide emotional, physical, and familial support during pregnancy, labor, birth and postpartum. They advocate for the family and create a bridge between the medical system and a family’s values and vision for their birth.
· Springfield Family Doulas: Laconia Fennell and Tanita Council offer comprehensive doula support including full spectrum care (including preconception, pregnancy loss, postpartum food prep, labor, birth, postpartum services), as well as lactation support, reiki services, meditation, and family empowerment. They themselves are cousins and seek to make every client feel like family.
· Wombmans Wellness @wombmanswellness Kayla Chatterton is a full-spectrum doula in Chicopee. She offers preconception and fertility counseling as well as birth services. Kayla also runs a monthly parenting play group to keep families connected and supported in the postpartum period.
· Wind and Water Doula Jen Walts, a former Springfield public school teacher, and a West Springfield resident, offers full doula services. She is a trained yoga instructor and a hypnobirthing teacher, which allows her to integrate concepts of meditation, visualization, and other calming techniques into her doula care.
Massage – Prenatal and Postpartum massage can be a transformative gift to give a pregnant person or new parent. Kristie Hosey, a Springfield resident, of Grand Hands Massage discussed her services at the event. She has been a licensed massage therapist for 13 years.
Lactation Support and Education: Springfield’s own Shenell Ford, IBCLC, set up a table for the event with her two sons (who were proudly breastfed in their infancy!). She seeks to empower families with support and information as they navigate breastfeeding. Shenell’s business Heart2Heartbeat Lactation and Wellness can be found on facebook.
Homebirth: Springfield has its own homebirth midwifery practice for families who are looking for a natural birth with midwives in an atmosphere that is familiar and comforting.
Kristin Brennan, certified midwife, www.greaterspringfieldmidwifery.com
Childbirth Education Classes: There are many options in terms of preparing for childbirth. Three of the listed providers above offer personalized childbirth education classes: Jen Walts (focused on hypnobirthing), Kristin Brennan (focused on natural birth and homebirth) and Shenell Ford (general childbirth education).
Pelvic Floor Support and Physical Therapy: Renew Health is an amazing partnership of two sisters, Dr. Alyssa and Dr. Brianna Almeida, who are passionate about healing the pelvic floor without surgery. They do appointments at their office in Wilbraham, at clients’ homes, or through zoom. They are offering local workshops and are an amazing resource for our community and families. Find them at @renewhealth_pt.
The birth event described here was organized by Springfield Family Doulas. In the near future, Springfield Family Doulas is hoping to organize a Birth Expo in Springfield to widen exposure, education, and support for families.