B.I.R.T.H. Fair 2014

Every year, Houston birth workers, education professionals, infant and young child professionals, and parents converge in one location to share information and support with their community. Picture this: hundereds of women, their partners, and their nurslings milling about. There are fashion shows, children's craft and learning areas, keynote speakers, workshops, movie screenings, and educational booths for everything from midwives and doulas to baby wearing and homeschool co-ops. 

Every year, the Houston Doula Co-Op and Sage Beginnings (me) are there. Every year, we speak to our community during the workshops. Every year, we meet hundreds of amazing women and their families - will you be one of them?  

Join us for our 13th annual BIRTH Fair as we celebrate natural parenting and pregnancy. Get the latest information about vaccines, birthing options, breastfeeding, babywearing, VBACs, and more! We will have overstuffed goody bags for our guests, activities for children. Birth Fair will be held on October 4th from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the United Way Center on 50 Waugh Drive. Check us out on Facebook (www.facebook.com/houbirth) for our latest giveaways, or visit www.houbirth.org or call 832-499-6029 for more information. This event is free and open to all ages.

B.I.R.T.H. Fair Houston

If you are in the Houston area, mark your calendar for next Saturday's 12th Annual B.I.R.T.H. Fair. Sage Beginnings Doula Services, along with the Houston Doula Cooperative, and over 50 other local pregnancy, birth, and parenting professionals and businesses will converge on the United Way building to bring local parents and parent's-to-be the best local options for this stage in their lives.

The day will be filled with workshops and presentations, movies and giveaways. It's one big party, and you are invited. Come say hi to us at our booth, or step into one of the many workshops that members of our cooperative will be guest speakers at!

We can't wait to see you there!

Houston Christmas #5

This is our last giveaway for Bellies and Babies Houston Christmas Giveaway! All of our gifts come from Houston-based businesses, we love supporting local! Our local vendors are offering gifts to their Houston-area families as a way of saying "thank you" and "Merry Christmas".

Our fifth vendor is Just Fussy! She's is a marvelous local mama who specializes in all things cloth and cloth supportive! :)

What is she offering? She is offering lovely goodies for 2 winners!!!

2 winners will get 3 bamboo backed and 3 wool backed Moonlites (mama cloths)

AND, facial rounds! The facial rounds are very handy and can double as nursing pad boosters or baby face wipes.

To enter to win one of these two awesome sampler packages, follow the steps below. #1 and #2 are mandatory for an initial entry, the rest are optional and worth one additional entry per completed task.

1. Go like her on Facebook and be sure to wish her a Merry Christmas! Come back and let me know in a comment.
2. Spread the news about this giveaway either in a local Facebook group or on your own wall, then let me know you did with a link to that post in the same comment as #1.
3. Be sure to like me on Facebook. And since most of you already do, recommend me to your friends (don't forget to let me know in another comment).
4. Go to her business page, take a look around, and leave a comment on your favorite items of hers. Be sure to let me know you did in a comment.

You must be a Houston-area resident to enter (sorry all my other readers). The giveaway closes on the 23rd and winners will be posted immediately afterward. :) Good luck and Merry Christmas!

Giveaway #4 is also still open, find it here.

Houston Giveaway Winners!

Winner for Giveaway #1 is Mommy Phears! Mommy Phears, be sure to go to Woodland Babies FB and link back here letting them know you won!

Winner for Giveaway #2 is Lesley! Be sure to let Haute Mommies Bella Babies know by FB!

Winner for Giveaway #3 is Ms. Sara! Be sure to let them know you are the winner!

Be sure to enter Giveaways #4 and #5 before they close on the 23rd!

Houston Christmas #4

This is our fourth giveaway for Bellies and Babies first ever Houston Christmas Giveaway! All of our gifts come from Houston-based businesses, we love supporting local! Our local vendors are offering gifts to their Houston-area families as a way of saying "thank you" and "Merry Christmas".

Our fourth vendor is someone near and dear to me, Kristina Tung of Humble Doula Services. She is one of our newer additions to the Houston Doula Cooperative. She recently became a dōTERRA consultant. What is dōTERRA? dōTERRA is a leader in the essential oil market, offering some of the best and purest oils I have ever used.

What is she offering?

dōTERRA Into Pack

To enter to win this awesome trio of essential oils, follow the steps below. #1 and #2 are mandatory for an initial entry, the rest are optional and worth one additional entry per completed task.

1. Go like her on Facebook and be sure to wish her a Merry Christmas! Come back and let me know in a comment.
2. Spread the news about this giveaway either in a local Facebook group or on your own wall, then let me know you did with a link to that post in the same comment as #1.
3. Like our cooperatives business page on Facebook. (don't forget to let me know in another comment).
4. Go to her business page, take a look around, and leave a comment on your favorite post of hers. Be sure to let me know you did in a comment.

You must be a Houston-area resident to enter (sorry all my other readers). The giveaway closes on the 23rd and winners will be posted immediately afterward. :) Good luck and Merry Christmas!

Giveaway #1 can be found here.
Giveaway #2 can be found here.
Giveaway #3 can be found here.

Houston Christmas #3

This is our third giveaway for Bellies and Babies first ever Houston Christmas Giveaway! In case you are just now jumping on the giveaway sleigh, local vendors are offering gifts to their Houston-area families as a way of saying "thank you" and "Merry Christmas".

Our third vendor is Tucker Hill Designs. She carefully crafts lovely bath salts, lotions, soaps, body butter, and so much more. She strives to 'make the world a better place' through 99% natural ingredients in most of her products.

What is she offering? I can literally smell and feel the loveliness of this gift!

Detox Rosemary Mint Bath Salts

To enter to win this little piece of heaven on earth, follow the steps below. #1 and #2 are mandatory for an initial entry, the rest are optional and worth one additional entry per completed task.

1. Go like her on Facebook and be sure to wish her a Merry Christmas! Come back and let me know in a comment.
2. Spread the news about this giveaway either in a local Facebook group or on your own wall, then let me know you did with a link to that post in the same comment as #1.
3. Like my business page on Facebook. (don't forget to let me know in another comment).
4. Go to her shop, take a gander around, and let her know what you liked there in a comment here.

You must be a Houston-area resident to enter (sorry all my other readers). The giveaway closes on the 19th and winners will be posted immediately afterward. :) Good luck and Merry Christmas!

Giveaway #1 can be found here.
Giveaway #2 can be found here.

Houston Christmas #2

I am so ecstatic for our Houston Christmas Giveaway! I love promoting and featuring local business. Local vendors are offering gifts to their Houston-area families as a way of saying "thank you" and "Merry Christmas".

Our second vendor is Haute Mommies and Bella Babies.  They are a purveyor of unique, high quality, versatile, and economical maternity and baby clothing, gifts and accessories to the Clear Lake area of Houston. They support doulas, midwives, and mamas - so we support them as well. And what are they gifting this holiday season?

A $25.00 gift card! 

I already know what I would spend it on! To enter to win, follow the steps below. #1 and #2 are mandatory for an initial entry, the rest are optional and worth one additional entry per completed task.

1. Go like them on Facebook and be sure to wish them a Merry Christmas! Come back and let me know in a comment.
2. Spread the news about this giveaway either in a local Facebook group or on your own wall, then let me know you did with a link to that post in the same comment as #1.
3. Like my business page on Facebook. (don't forget to let me know in another comment).
4. Go to their website, take a gander around, and let me know what you would like to have from their store in a comment here.

You must be a Houston-area resident to enter (sorry all my other readers). The giveaway closes on the 19th and winners will be posted immediately afterward. :) Good luck and Merry Christmas!

Giveaway #1 is here. 

Houston Christmas #1

For this Christmas season, I really wanted to do something different as a giveaway here on Bellies and Babies Blog. For that reason, and for the first time ever here, we are holding a Houston Christmas Giveaway!

Local vendors are offering gifts to their Houston-area families as a way of saying "thank you" and "Merry Christmas".

Our first vendor is the newly opened Woodland Babies. Woodland Babies is a home and internet based business that provides information and hands-on demonstrations of cloth diapers, baby carriers and other earth friendly products. Their mission is to bring cloth diapers and baby carriers to all moms in an approachable way, guiding them to be as green as they can be.

What are they offering? Something so darling that I (secretly - shhh) hope one of my clients or friends will drop one in the mail to me.

It's a Falalalala Boobie Ornament!

To enter to win this precious addition to any midwife, doula, or mama's tree, follow the steps below. #1 and #2 are mandatory for an initial entry, the rest are optional and worth one additional entry per completed task.

1. Go like them on Facebook and be sure to wish them a Merry Christmas! Come back and let me know in a comment.
2. Spread the news about this giveaway either in a local Facebook group or on your own wall, then let me know you did with a link to that post in the same comment as #1.
3. Like my business page on Facebook. (don't forget to let me know in another comment).
4. Go to their website, take a gander around, and let them know what you liked about their site in a comment here.

You must be a Houston-area resident to enter (sorry all my other readers). The giveaway closes on the 19th and winners will be posted immediately afterward. :) Good luck and Merry Christmas!

11th Annual B.I.R.T.H. Fair

Date: October 6, 2012

Time: 11am-4pm 

Place: United Way Center, 50 Waugh Drive, Houston, TX

October is quickly approaching, and with it comes the annual B.I.R.T.H. Fair! If you are in the Houston area, the B.I.R.T.H. Fair is a must! Sage Beginnings and the Houston Doula Cooperative will be hosting a booth at the event and have a few giveaways, including some awesome books and the Ultimate Diaper Bag giveaway - filled with awesome items from amazing companies.

Join us for the 11th annual B.I.R.T.H. Fair! There will be a number of workshops, keynote speakers, film screenings, and other events! I will be one of the speakers, along with midwives, doulas, childbirth educators, authors, psychologists, MDs, and more. This is a great opportunity to learn about Houston birth and parenting options.

Get the latest information on vaccines, cloth diapering, birthing options, circumcision, breastfeeding, babywearing, father's role at birth, VBACs, postpartum options, and more!

Every attendee will receive a goodie bag filled with resources, coupons, and samples. There will be an activity area for children and numerous opportunities for community with area professionals - over 50 in fact! This event is free and open to all ages.

For more information, visit us on Facebook, visit B.I.R.T.H. on the web, or call 832-499-6029.

B.I.R.T.H. is a non-profit organization of parents, midwives, physicians, childbirth educators, doulas, professional labor support and lactation consultants . We are working to create the emergence of a Houston community which promotes healthy, natural and safe birth for mothers and babies by providing access to information and resources in person, in print and on-line. We encourage high standards and provide a support network for Houston’s birth community.

Sensual Birth Workshop

Are you in the Houston area? 

September 22nd, 2012 ~ 7:30pm-10:00pm

The Birthing Place

2218 Barbee Street, Houston, Texas 77004

https://www.facebook.com/events/140469729428474

Join the Houston Doula Cooperative for a night that is completely devoted to your sensual connection with your beautifully rounding body and your partner during Birth. If you feel that you are caught up in all the milestones of pregnancy and have forgotten to praise yourself as the Goddess you are, then this class is for you!

This is a perfect event for a “date night” so call up your baby sitters and get out of the house and join us! Tapas’ & beverages will be served. Please dress in clothes that are easy to move around in, but remember ladies, that we are focusing on appreciating the beauty of our bodies; so please wear something that makes you feel that womanly energy inside yourself.

Tickets purchased through pay pal in advance are $10 per couple. $6 for Independants. or you can purchase your tickets at the door for $15 per couple and $8 for Independants.

To purchase advanced entry tickets, please send your monies via paypal to HoustonDoulaCooperative@gmail.com and state in the message “Sensual Birth : Guest names” and we will send you a confirmation email with entrance information.

***While we adore children, we ask that you find someone to care for them at home so that you and all the attendees will get the most out of the Sensual Birth Workshop.***

Freedom for Birth

Sept 20th
Bio Births LLC
17000 El Camino Real STE 201, Houston, Texas
5:30-7:30 early showing
8:00-10:00 later showing

"The freedom in a country can be measured by the freedom of birth" - Agnes Gereb

Please join us on Sept 20th when Freedom for Birth is release world-wide! Freedom for Birth is a special 60 minute campaigning documentary calling for changes to the obstetric  monopoly which, in many countries, is violating women's rights to choose where and how  they give birth.

This is a guided donation event - meaning that we ask that you consider 'purchasing' a ticket  for the event through sending a paypal donation to houstondoulacooperative@gmail.com and write "early show" in the item field. All funds will go toward helping make sure EVERY  woman who desires a doula can afford one. The suggested Donation is $5-$10.

The film tells the powerful story of Agnes Gereb, a Hungarian midwife imprisoned for  helping to give women choice in birth. It follows the story of a Hungarian mother, Anna  Ternovsky, who wanted a home birth with Agnes, took her country to the European Court of  Human Rights and won a landmark case which might have changed the world!

Also in the film are over 40 of the world's leading birth experts including: Ina May Gaskin,  Sheila Kitzinger, Sarah Buckley, Robbie Davis-Floyd and Michel Odent.

We will have a panel of birth professionals and activists available for talk back between each show to stimulate discussion, and we will have appetizers and light drinks available to  stimulate the palette. Please plan on staying afterward as well!

The Houston screening will be held in two showings on the same day, so be sure to RSVP to  your showing of choice.



For more information:
http://freedomforbirth.com/