Upcoming Events

Saturday, Jan. 27, March 10, May 26, July 28, Sept. 22, and Nov. 17
4-6pm
Location: Pacific Cultural Center - Gallery room, upstairs
1307 Seabright Ave, Santa Cruz

Pregnant? Considering a Doula on your birth team?

Meet the Doulas is a great opportunity to learn about birth and postpartum doulas. Join us at this free event for an informative afternoon. This event is open to everyone- no matter where they plan to birth - home or hospital, in Santa Cruz, Watsonville, Monterey, or San Jose area.

Schedule will include:

• Panel presentation about Birth Doulas and Postpartum Doulas
• Time to interact with doulas and learn some "doula tricks of the trade."

Register for the 2018 events here:

Jan 27,
Mar 10
May 26,
Jul 28,
Sep 22,
Nov 17

RSVP/registration requested, but not required.
or Email: MTD@ birthnet.org (remove spaces)(Participating doulas must register at the same email.)

Studies show having a Doula at your birth:

• results in a shorter, smoother labor
• creates a more positive birth experience
• reduces need for medical interventions such as pain medications and epidurals
• reduces requests for pain medications
• reduces postpartum depression
• results in greater success in breastfeeding

Saturday, November 3, 2018
2-5 pm
Pacific Cultural Center
1307 Seabright Ave, Santa Cruz

Description

More information on this event will be coming up! Please mark your calendar and check beck in closer to the date!

Tue, April 24, 2018
6:00 PM – 9:30 PM
Quaker Meeting House
225 Rooney St., Santa Cruz,

$25-$50 sliding scale Register here
In this interactive workshop we will explore the history of birth, mother-baby and childhood in Western Civilization as well as some indigenous beliefs and practices and what we can learn from them. We'll look at various moments and people in history that have shaped our current attitudes and practices and see how various fields of study are now converging to help shift human consciousness and behavior.

#Us​​Too - Author, filmmaker​, internationally renowned speaker ​and birth activist, Suzanne Arms, director of ​the nonprofit ​Birthing the Future, asks the question, "Do medical interventions in childbirth​ -whether necessary or unnecessary -​ have the potential to be experienced as sexual abuse​, with longterm impact on a woman's life and relationships​?" Recognizing imbalances in power, control and expectations are the beginning of change. Those who work in all areas of maternity care, as well as interested parents and students are invited to explore these issues as they pertain to childbirth, and sexuality. This workshop is not intended to place blame, but instead to open a dialog for continuing positive change, awareness and growth. OBs, midwives, doulas, childbirth educations, nurses and others can find this an opportunity to shift old ​unconscious but entrenched ​practices.​

Suzanne Arms
Birthing The Future, 501c3 Colorado USA-based nonprofit/charity


Birth Network of Santa Cruz County is happy to host Suzanne Arms in her workshop. Please note that all workshop content is that of Suzanne Arms.

Sunday May 6, 2018 12-3
Soquel, Anna Jean Cummings Park
461 Old San Jose Rd, Soquel, CA 95073

Santa Cruz County has a rich history of providing homebirth midwifery care to thousands of families over the last 40+ years. more that 50 midwives have practiced here! (and still counting!)

Some are no longer with us but live on through our children. Where you birthed or were born in 2018 or 1970, and whether your baby was born at home or hospital, if you received care from a homebrith midwife, (or just love them) please come represent the amazing midwifery care lineage of Santa Cruz County.
Be part of the largest midwife & family gathering of the year.

Group photo at 1:30 sharp - don't miss being part of it!

Show your support and have some fun in the sun. Music, fun, kid friendly.

It's a picnic - Bring your lunch a blanket and your sunscreen!

Facebook event page

Cosponsored by:
Your Local Homebirth Midwives
Birth Network of Santa Cruz County

Fri. Feb. 9, Tues. Apr. 10, Fri. Jun 8, Tues. Sep. 11, Fri., Nov. 9, Tues Dec. 4, 2018
11:30am - 1:30pm

El Jardin Restaurant,
655 Capitola Rd,
Santa Cruz, CA 95062


Networking lunches are for Birth Network Professional Members, with an invitation to non-member professionals considering membership.

Join us for a no-host lunch, networking and discussion

Fri. Feb. 9, - Topic: Marketing your business
Tues. Apr. 10, - Topic: Bereavement: Pregnancy and infant loss
Fri.. Jun 8, - Topic: LGBTQ - Becoming more Inclusive and aware
Summer Break!
Fri. Sep. 11, - Topic: Nutrition - Helping clients improve nutrition
Tues. Nov. 9 - Topic: Birth as a right of passage
Fri. Dec 1 - Topic: Holiday Celebration - hosted by Birth Network

at El Jardin Restaurant


Networking is a great way to make connections.
All Networking Lunches take place at El Jardin Restaurant, 655 Capitola Rd, Santa Cruz, CA 95062.

When: In the weeks preceding a Birth Network event.
Where: While you're out in your neighborhood running errands!

Help distribute flyers and materials for Birth Network to small routes. We have lists of clustered locations for your to choose from according to your normal travels. Let's get flyers up all over town!

contact sabine@ tlcdoulas.com (remove space) for routes and materials.

~example route~
BIRTH NETWORK OF SANTA CRUZ COUNTY DISTRIBUTION LIST
Route 7 Live Oak
Family Resource Center 1438 Capitola Road
Public Library 2380 Portola
East Cliff Family Health Center 21511B East Cliff Drive
Childish 1127 Soquel Ave
Five Branches/Acupuncture 7th Ave.
Simpkins Swim 979 17th Avenue
PLEASE FEEL FREE TO ADD LOCATIONS. THANKS FOR YOUR HELP!

Sunday May 6, 2018 10am - 12pm
Anna Jean Cummings Park - Picnic Area
461 Soquel San Jose Rd, Soquel, CA 95073

Join us as we march for moms and rally to improve birth here in Santa Cruz county!

Bring your pen for a letter writing campaign to thank our local providers for the strides made in improving maternity care and to advocate for the adoption and further implementation of ACOG and CMQCC's guidelines to limit unnecessary intervention in birth.

While consumers, health care professionals and diverse stakeholders gather in the nation's capital for the March for Moms, the annual Rally to Improve Birth will take place simultaneously in states and communities across the country.

One in every three Americans is born through major surgery and we have the highest rates of maternal death and injury, the lowest birth weights, and the widest disparities in the entire developed world.

We believe that birth can be better and that it matters for the lifelong mental health and well-being of the entire family.

We believe that women are the ultimate decisions makers in childbirth, and they have the right to be treated with dignity and compassion.

We believe that the U.S. maternity care system is decades behind what we know is best for mothers and babies and that there is no real motivation for the system to change.

But most importantly, we believe that when consumers and health care professionals have the tools to inspire change, they will take action.