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9.01.2011

Plumtree Baby Review and Giveaway


I contacted Julie and Michelle of Plumtree Baby when I saw a facebook blip about childbirth educational materials. Any doula or childbirth educator can attest that one of the most arduous parts of starting and maintaining a CB business is keeping up-to-date, educational, and relevant handouts and information for clients.

Most doulas will cover nutrition, exercise, comfort measures, the event of labor and birth, options during that time, and postpartum. This can mean weeks and weeks of compiling resources and designing handouts and worksheets for client use. In their own words, Julie and Michelle share their inspiration:
We were inspired to create Plumtree Baby, LLC after many combined years of feeling frustrated by the lack of relevant and professional materials and resources available to us and our students/clients.  We realized that we had spent hundreds of hours creating our own resources or piecing together materials from many different sources and that many other birth professionals were doing the same.  This waste of time and energy, as well as the lack of a professional feel in most resources, lead us to dream about our ideal childbirth education products.  
We realized that we could save ourselves and other birth professionals so much time, money and frustration by offering customizable, interactive, professional products for many of the topics that are of interest to expectant parents.  Childbirth professionals could then pick and choose the most relevant products and use their time and energy in more productive ways.
Needless to say, their Facebook blip piqued my interest and I wanted to know more. Julie and Michelle sent me an Educator Set (+ Natural Childbirth Module) for review, and a second Educator Set to giveaway to one lucky reader (little happy dance).

ABOUT PLUMTREE
Plumtree Baby was created by Michelle Kettleborough, CLD (CAPPA) and Julie Olson LCCE CD (DONA) in an effort to provide resources and lend support to those who work in the birth profession, particularly childbirth educators, doulas and medical professionals.

Plumtree Baby provides childbirth professionals with educational and marketing materials to help them attract clients, save time and money, and to build profitable businesses.

In order to do this, they have created customizable, up-to-date, comprehensive educational resources and tools, including modules for topics related to pregnancy, birth and the postpartum period, visual aids for the classroom or office setting and interactive resources to stimulate learning.

MY REVIEW
I loved the modules. I felt they were a great spring board for conversation, personal interaction, and customizable prenatal education. I felt the information offered was presented in a non-biased, open-ended manner, allowing for my clients and I to discuss personal preferences, prescribe further research and reading, and deviate as needed to ensure complete understanding and informed choice/refusal.

The modules are presented in full-page three-ring punched booklets. This allows for easy assembly and presentation to clients in a three ring binder, while also allowing for me to include my own additional information and worksheets, if needed.

The books are full-color, with lots of photographs and some worksheets and questionnaires to help families work through their personal preferences regarding the information being shared.

I loved the layout, the ease of use, and the versatility of the PlumTree Baby modules and will definitely be spreading the word about these products.

My favorite modules would have to be Finding Comfort and Natural Childbirth. My second-favorite modules would have to be Prenatal Wellness and Following the Birth. By the way, if you are interested in getting a preview of the modules before you commit to purchasing them, they offer that as well!

Additionally, Plumtree Baby has free downloadable/printable resources for birth professionals to be able to tailor for their individual clients needs, an E-Resource called Engaging Parents, which allows professionals to evaluate their teaching style, and a not-yet-released Childbirth Curriculum, a complete and comprehensive course for those interested in teaching the whole gamut of information.

THE GIVEAWAY
I am so happy to be able to offer an Educator Set to one lucky winner! But, just like every giveaway, there are rules for entering. This giveaway is intended for those in the continental U.S. only (sorry my international readers).

EACH ENTRY MUST BE SUBMITTED IN A SEPARATE COMMENT. Otherwise, you will only get credit for the one comment that you supply. You must do #1 for your initial entry, then feel free to do whichever/however many additional entries as you wish beyond the first.
  1. Go to PlumTree Baby on Facebook, like them, and thank them on their wall for donating for Bellies and Babies Giveaway. Then go to their website, check out their products, and come back here and comment, letting me know what module you are most interested in for your first entry.
  2. Go to Sage Beginnings Doula Services, like me, and come back here/comment letting me know you did.
  3. Blog or Facebook about this giveaway, tagging/linking both Plumtree Baby and Sage Beginnings, with a link back to this giveaway. Then come back here/comment letting me know you did with a link to it.
  4. Follow Bellies and Babies, then comment, letting me know you are a follower (stalker!).

A winner will be drawn on Sept 15th and the winner will be announced that weekend. The winner will have until Sept 21st to contact me, otherwise I will choose a second winner. Good luck!

*Disclaimer: Plumtree Baby provided this product for my review/giveaway at no cost.

31 comments:

  1. I am most interested in the communication module, it seems to be what my clients struggle with the most.

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  3. I'm most interested in the prenatal wellness module. I think so many moms underestimate how essential good diet and exercise are to feeling well throughout their pregnancy and preparing for the hard work they'll do come birth-day.

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  4. I've liked you on FB!

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  5. Linked to the giveaway on FB!

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  6. I liked Plumtree baby on facebook and took a look at their website. I think the Finding Comfort module would be great. From what I've seen that is what my clients are most interested in.

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  7. I liked Sage Beginnings on Facebook. Already bookmarked a few articles that I hadn't seen before.

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  8. Added you to my Google reader (or at least I hope it worked!)

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  9. I liked you on facebook (when you told me too a couple of days ago)!

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  10. I'm also stalking you with my google reader.

    My email address for this and the above comments is katie the baby lady at gmail (no spaces, and add a dot com).

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  11. I've "liked" Plumtree Baby on Facebook, and been to their website. The module I am most interested in (as a new doula) is the one on communication, though the Natural Childbirth one is a close second.

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  12. I've "liked" Sage Beginnings on Facebook. I can't wait to take a look at some of the links on your wall---looks like a lot of awesome, useful information there. :)

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  13. Posted on my Facebook wall!
    http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1231122076

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  14. I was already following you, via Blogger. :)

    Thanks for the giveaway!

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  15. I am most interested in the prenatal wellness module. I believe that with proper prenatal planning that labor and birth can remain being a maricle.

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  16. Hey I liked you on FB. Can't wait to go back and watch some videos!!

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  17. I liked PlumTree Baby on FB and checked out their products on their website. Honestly, I'm interested in ALL of the modules. I'm a doula-in-training with aspirations of becoming a CBE in the near future and I think they would all be a fantastic resource for my clients.

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  18. I was already following you via Google Reader. Love your blog :)

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  19. I was already following you via Google Reader. Love your blog :)

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  20. I liked Sage Beginnings Doula Services on FB.

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  21. Just wanted to say that I agree with your review and Finding Comfort and Natural Childbirth are my favorite modules!

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  22. I liked plumtree baby on facebook. I like the Natural Childbirth Module. I also liked your doula page. Good luck ladies!

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  23. I liked them on Facebook and would want the Finding Comfort.

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  24. I liked Sage Beginnings on FB

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  25. I posted your give away on Facebook.

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  26. I already follow you! :)

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  27. Liked on facebook...and while I would like to have them all I really like the Finding Comfort because that seems to be what most women need the most.

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  28. Blogged on my website:
    http://www.needmoreacres.com/family-life.html

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  29. Already Like you on facebook and follow your blog...love it!

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  30. I'm now a stalker. Totally hope I win.

    P.S. working on the reading material for WM. I've read most of the books before but doing the chapter outlines really are helping the material sink into my brain. Can't wait to start the modules!

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  31. I'm stalking you. I hope I win!

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feel free to post relevant comments, even friendly debate, but note: if you post anonymously, I may not publish you - grow some ovaries and let's have a cuppa.