Childbirth, Breastfeeding and Parenting Support Groups February 2012

 AugustaAreaMommies

Contact Jennifer Stanley at 706-855-0072 or phlegalesfan@att.net.

A community for moms in the Augusta area offering support, friendship and fun as well as the opportunity to exchange information. The group, which is part of The Mommies Network, also provides discussion forums, an events calendar and more. Meeting are held online, at local parks, members homes (for monthly BUNCO) and on field trips. All mothers are welcome.

Augusta Area Newcomers Organization

Contact hospitality@augustanewcomers.com or call Susan Salisbury at 706-814-6297.
This non-profit organization helps people who are new to the area get acclimated and make friends. They offer a variety of activities including golf, book groups and dining out. Be sure to confirm your attendance at their events by e-mailing or calling the above numbers.

Better Augusta Birth Experience (BABE)

Free weekly meetings each Monday all months Augusta/CSRA. Go to www.AugustaBirthNetwork.org for calendar and contact information plus a directory of the CSRA’s many birthing options. BABE was founded in 1985 by Lynn Reed to promote safe alternative awareness for pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding and parenting.  

February 6

Augusta Birth Network (ABN): Birthing Options: Comfort Measures and Doulas

Augusta Birth Network believes that birth is normal, natural and healthy. They promote mother-friendly care through: Advocacy, information and support by ensuring that families have a network of experienced, encouraging people to help them make informed choices and embrace birth. Monthly meetings are held at Earth Fare, 368 Fury’s Ferry Rd. 7- 8:30 p.m. Contact Betsy Alger 706-364-7907 or Lynn Reed 706-833-5101.

February 13

Meet the Doula Tea: What are the Benefits of Having a Doula?

Enjoy a cup of tea, watch a short DVD and meet certified and trained Doulas. Topics include: Coping with labor the Doula way and who should come to my birth? This meeting is free and open to any friends or family members that are also interested in learning about Doulas.  This is a couples event, so please bring your partner. Please do not bring children to this tea, but babes in arms are welcomed. Please call to confirm your attendance a few days in advance, 706-799-9213, or e-mail Jennifer Brown  at birthingbychoice@gmail.com. Monthly meeting are held at Steinle Wellness Center, 122 Old Evans Rd. 7-8 p.m.

February 20

VBAC Baby!  Augusta: Birthing the Easy Way

Book presentation by Lindsey Whinghter; DONA-trained doula and mother of two. VBAC BABY! Augusta, Ga., offers in-person facilitated meetings to listen to and share birth-related stories in a safe and confidential setting as well as support and referrals to local community and national resources for Vaginal Birth After Cesarean (VBAC). Contact Crystal Strickland, 321-794-3695 or e-mail JadeTigr7@aol.com. Monthly meetings are held at Steinle Wellness Center, 122 Old Evans Rd., Augusta. 7-8 p.m.

February 27

Trust Birth Augusta Birth Stories & Cinema Circle: Guerilla Midwife

Robin Lim, CNN Hero of the Year, award-winning film advocates a more gentle approach to childbirth, where giving birth becomes the natural process it used to be instead of the clinical separation it now so often is.

Meetings are held to watch a water/home birth film and then discuss and share birth stories. Trust Birth Initiative stands on the truth that birth is safe, interference is risky and that women (and their partners) have the ability and responsibility to educate themselves to make informed choices. They do not promote any birth attendant as being more essential to the process than the woman herself and fully supports a woman’s right to choose birth at home with any attendant or no attendant. Contact Lynn Reed, Trust Birth facilitator, TrustBirthaugusta@comcast.net or 706-833-5101. Monthly meeting are held at Steinle Wellness Center, 122 Old Evans Rd. 7-8:30 p.m.

La Leche League

This breastfeeding support group meets the second Tuesday of each month at 10 a.m. at the First Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church, 2204 Kimberly Dr. Evening meetings are held on the third Thursday of each month at 7 p.m. at Wesley United Methodist Church. Call 706-737-2405 or log on at lllusa.org/web/AugustaGA.html.

Peaceful Parenting Augusta

This unofficial Attachment Parenting support group is for families who believe in parenting gently and building children’s spirits, minds and bodies through nurturing, attentive and practical approaches. Join their Yahoo! group at Peaceful_Parenting_Augusta or e-mail Jen at theotherbradford@yahoo.com.

Celiac Disease Support Group

E-mail RoseforHealth@aol.com.

Meets the third Tuesday of every month in Suite 120 of the Summerville Building, adjacent to Trinity Hospital of Augusta. Open to those with celiac disease, gluten intolerance or on a gluten-free diet. Discussions include information on celiac disease, do’s and don’ts of a gluten-free diet and more. 7-8:30 p.m.

Common Bond Parent Support Group

Geneice McCoy, organizer.
706-729-0012 or commonbond@comcast.net.

For parents of children of all ages and diagnoses with challenging disabilities but remarkable perseverance and resilience. Meets the second Thursday of each month at 7 p.m. Call for location.

Georgia Health Sciences Health System (formerly MCGHealth) Mom’s Connection

This weekly support group for mothers meets each Tuesday at 1225 Walton Way in Room 101C. The group is for new moms and babies looking for support in the early stages of parenthood. Call 706-721-8283 or go to georgiahealth.org.

Parent Support Group

The Child Advocacy Center, a program of Child Enrichment Inc., a nonprofit organization serving victims of sexual abuse in our community, is offering a support group for parents and caregivers of children who have been sexually abused. Groups will be held the second Tuesday of each month. Call 706-737-4631 for information and location. This group is not appropriate for sex offenders.

Mothers of Advanced Maternal Age (Mama’s)

Did you have a child at age 35 or older? Are you expecting? This group of “older” moms welcomes you for meetings, support and play dates. Disabled children welcome. Contact Ami McKenzie at 706-364-5245 or hoopnhollar2@yahoo.com or go to http://groups.yahoo.com/group/MaMasInAugusta/.

MOMS Club

Visit momsclubaugusta.org.
Ever feel like you’re the only mother who stays home? You are not alone! Come meet other at-home mothers at the MOMS Club, an international nonprofit organization.

Mothers of Preschoolers (MOPS)

A nondenominational Christian group for mothers of preschool-aged children. Meets the first and third Tuesday of each month from 10 a.m.-noon and the first Tuesday of each month from 7-9 p.m. at Trinity-on-the-Hill United Methodist Church on Monte Sano Ave. Call 706-738-8822 or visit orgsites. com/ga/trinityumcmops.

The Aiken Charter group of MOPS meets the second Tuesday of each month for moms to learn, share, support each other and socialize. Meetings are held in the South Aiken Presbyterian Church fellowship hall, 1711 Whiskey Rd. Free childcare and dinner for those attending, reservations required. You do not need to be a member of South Aiken Presbyterian to attend. Check out MOPS Aiken on Facebook, contact Jennie Beat at 803-640-4742 or e-mail mopsaiken@gmail.com for more information or to register for childcare.