Pink & Blue Spring 2024

Spring 2024

pinkblue SPRING 2024 A FAMILY RESOURCE GROUP INC. PUBLICATION

The Beauty of Natural Births Understanding Epidurals

Mental Health During & After Pregnancy

SPRING 2024 | PINK&BLUE

PINK&BLUE | SPRING 2024

SPRING 2024 | PINK&BLUE

WHAT’S ON THE WEB

A FAMILY RESOURCE GROUP INC. PUBLICATION pink&blue

AMY L. FOREMAN PUBLISHER EDITORIAL AMANDA MILLER MANAGING EDITOR AUSTRIA COHN CAROL EVANS VICTORIA MIKOTA

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HOW TO CHOOSE THE RIGHT BEDSIDE SLEEPER. Determine which sleeping arrangement is right for you. HOLY CALORIES: HOW MUCH ENERGY GROWING A BABY TAKES. Here’s how much energy our body uses to grow a baby.

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PINK & BLUE MAGAZINE is published biannually by GEAUX PUBLISH (GP) and distributed free of charge. Subscriptions accepted. Only authorized distributors may deliver and pick up the magazine. Paid advertisements appear in GP publications, including print and other digital formats. GP does not endorse or evaluate the product, service, or company, nor any claims made by the advertisement. We reserve the right to edit, reject, or comment editorially on all materials contributed. We cannot be held responsible for the return of any unso- licited material. PINK & BLUE MAGAZINE Copyright 2024. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without written permission prohibited.

ARE BABY SWINGS SAFE? Here’s how to use a baby swing safely.

PINK&BLUE | SPRING 2024

ADVERTORIAL

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CONTENTS IN EVERY ISSUE

4 WHAT’S ON THE WEB 8 MOM TO MOM-TO-BE 10 LITTLE BITS 12 BABY LOVE 19 RESOURCE DIRECTORY 24 BELLY LAUGHS 26 BABY FACES

INSIDE VOLUME 1

18 DEMYSTIFYING EPIDURALS 7 common questions answered by an expert. Everything you need to know about PPD. UNIQUE GENDER REVEALS Fun and unique reveals you will LOVE. | | | THE BABY BLUES

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MOM TO MOM-TO-BE

Everywhere I turn, there seems to be a new baby. My daughter even has baby fever, and she is only 16. She loves little babies, and all little ones seem to flock to her. While we were at Target the other day, she made a friend with a little two-year-old boy. Looking back on my experience, I’ve noticed just how much has changed since I brought Baby Fever some amazing gadgets for new parents. I mean, they have a formula dispenser now, and the other day I saw that they make a device that holds the bottle for the baby. I laugh because I remember when my twins were little, my husband and I would use blankets my own babies into the world. All this new technology brings

rolled up to help prop bottles for an extra hand. It’s not easy to feed two at the same time, especially if one wants to breastfeed and the other wants a bottle. The bouncy chairs out now even bounce themselves! We used to use one of my husband’s ties to tie around their seats, and we would each take a tie and get our arm workout in as they bounced themselves to sleep. I am kind of jealous of these new parents who get to use some of these new gadgets. With this summer issue of Pink and Blue hitting the streets, we have rounded up some of those must-have items, along with all the local resources you may need during your pregnancy and after. We also discuss mental health awareness during and after pregnancy. There is a difference between the baby blues and just being exhausted! Throughout your pregnancy, remember to take care of yourself and allow others to help. Having a baby takes a toll on our bodies, and in order to be the best mom or dad you can be, you have to make sure that you take care of yourself.

Amy L. Foreman Publisher

PINK&BLUE | SPRING 2024

There are many proven, effective ways to reduce stuttering. Doing nothing is not one of them.

We can help, but you have to take the first step. We’re here for you.

THE S TUTTERING F OUNDATION A Nonprofit Organization Since 1947—Helping Those Who Stutter ®

800-992-9392

www.StutteringHelp.org

SPRING 2024 | PINK&BLUE

LITTLE BITS

“ A baby is something you carry inside you for nine months, in your arms for three years, and in your heart until the day you die.” —Mary Mason

10 Unique Baby Names Picking the right name for your baby is an exciting de- cision, but finding the right one is challenging. If you’re seeking a name that stands out from the crowd, here are 10 unique names to get you started. It’s a Girl Ava Violet

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The Truth About Pregnancy Brain. Pregnancy brain, also known as “momnesia” is a common phenomenon among expectant mothers. Women might experience forgetfulness and difficulty concentrating. This cognitive fog is believed to be due to sleep disturbances and fluctuations in estrogen and progesterone levels. While this can be frustrating, it’s usually temporary and resolves after childbirth.

Nova Eden Ophelia It’s a Boy Beau Everett

Avery Finlay Cade

Choosing Godparents Selecting the right godparent for your child is an important decision and requires careful consideration. Look for someone who shares your values, beliefs, and parenting style because they will play a crucial role in your child’s spiritual and emotional development. Con- sider their relationship with your child and their ability to provide guidance, support, and love throughout their life. It’s essential to communicate openly with potential godparents about your expectations and ensure they are willing and able to fulfill this important role.

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The Cherished Treasure Every child has a cherished treasure. It might be a well-loved blanket, soft and worn from countless cuddles, or a teddy bear that’s been repaired numerous times but still made it along for every adventure. These items are more than just fabric and stuffing; they’re vessels of comfort, security, and love. These cherished treasures hold the whispers of bedtime stories, the warmth of countless hugs, and the silent reassurance of a parent’s love.

PINK&BLUE | SPRING 2024

The Sex Talk, Pregnancy Edition Sex during pregnancy is generally safe for most couples, but it’s essential to communicate openly with your partner and consult your healthcare provider. In most cases, as long as there are no complications like a history of miscarriage or preterm labor, sex can continue throughout pregnancy.

6 Different Types of Parenting Styles Traditional parenting styles like high achievement, disciplined, and helicopter focus on structure and

control. Modern approaches such as child-led, free-range, and negotiation prioritize autonomy and collaboration. The best approach to parenting involves a blend of these styles, tailored to the needs of each child.

FAMLI Act for Expecting Parents The Paid Family and Medical Leave Act(FAMLI) allows employ ees to receive paid leave when growing their families or helping a loved one through a serious illness. This program allows employees to take up to 12 weeks off, and women who are having a difficult pregnancy receive an additional four weeks. Not only will mothers have the opportunity for paid time off during and after their pregnancy, but this 12-week period also applies to fathers.

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BABY LOVE “ Being pregnant was the healthiest I’ve ever been in my life. Except for the cupcakes. —Ashlee Simpson

The convenient Go With Me Eclipse Deluxe Portable Playard sets up and folds in seconds. The fabric cover is removable and washable, and there are mesh walls for added security. $89.99, • babylist.com

For those warm summer days, the Ruffle Sunflower Set is a must- have. Crafted from a soft cotton blend, it’s designed to keep your baby comfortable and their skin irritation-free. $23.95, • lulubabe.com

No one will miss out on summer adventures with the Deuter Kid Comfort Child Carrier , which offers support for both parent and baby. $320, • deuter.com

PINK&BLUE | SPRING 2024

BABY LOVE

The lightweight and compact Inflatable Baby Bath and Paddling Pool is inside and outside. Remove the seat support to make it into a baby or toddler paddling pool. $39.99, • babymoov.us

Keep baby’s nursery room fresh and clean with this steel Ubbi Diaper Pail. This pail features an innovative sliding lid, a child-proof safety lock, and holds up to 55 newborn diapers. • potterybarnkids.com

The Nuby Fun Watering Can Bath Toy is for the bath or walking around the yard watering the plants. $6.99, • amazon.com

Say “sweet dreams!” with this expert-curated sound machine. The Hatch Rest Baby Sound Machine comes fully loaded with white noise, ocean, wind, fan, heartbeat, rain, and lullabies, and will coax your baby into a soothing good night’s sleep. • amazon.com

Instantly cool off with the BOGI Cooling Towel for Neck and Face , which is amazingly soft, lightweight, and easy to carry. $8.99, • amazon.com

SPRING 2024 | PINK&BLUE

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By Amanda Miller Demystifying Epidurals 7 Common Questions Answered

or variation. Some people have what’s called spina bifida where their spinal cord during early development didn’t fuse properly, and so the anatomy is a little off, which might make it more risky to have an epidural placed as well. 3 Can it be “too late” to receive an epidural? Dr. Montgomery: Yes, in the sense that if you are close to complete. There are three different stages of labor. The first two the epidural helps with in stage one is when you’re going through the thinning of the cervix, and you’re going from a closed cervix to a dilated or a 10-centimeter dilated cervix at stage one. Stage two is from the 10-centimeter dilated cervix to the delivery of your baby. The epidural really helps more effectively at stage one, with the whole process of the contractions that are developing with the thinning of the cervix, and then getting to the point where you’re complete and ready to help push and deliver your baby. Some people do come in, and they’re already eight or nine centimeters. I have heard some say that that’s too late to do it, and I still feel if this is your first time in labor and delivery, we can still place an epidural even if you’re eight or nine centimeters, and you can still get some benefit from that for the second stage of labor till the delivery of your baby. Part of the epidural is effective and helpful if there is any repair or anything that needs to be managed after your delivery. The epidural can also help with that as well. I’ve had some patients who’ve come in and they’re at 10 centimeters, and we try everything we can to get it in as quickly as possible, but they probably get very minimal effect from the second

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W hen it comes to putting in an epidural. For those moms who are still undecided and want to learn more about epidurals, Dr. Matthew Montgomery, an anesthesiologist who has been practicing at Rose Hospital since 2006 and has been the Director of OB Anesthesia since 2012, provides insight into common questions and concerns when it comes to epidurals. 1 What does an epidural do? Dr. Matthew Montgomery: It’s a chemical block of nerve signal, both to and from the brain to the lower half of your body. What an epidural does is with injecting medicine into this epidural space, it affects and blocks the nerves, so that the signal back to your head blocks the pain receptors. It also goes the other direction, too. It does block motor function and pressure functions to the lower extremities into the abdomen to some extent. It helps with the whole labor process to help with pain control as well. 2 Can anyone receive an epidural? Dr. Montgomery: There are a few contraindications to receiving an together a birth plan, many moms-to-be opt to factor

epidural. One is a patient’s inability or refusal. If someone is extremely nervous about having a needle in their back, and they don’t want it there, we’re not going to force anyone to have an epidural placed. In terms of actual contraindications, one is different hematologic regions, or blood issues. Someone who has any disorders that don’t allow them to form blood clots very easily. Whether they have low amounts of platelets or their platelet function doesn’t work very well, that would be an indication or a concern that we would have for placement of an epidural. There are certain guidelines that we utilize to say if someone’s platelets are at a certain level below, it’s not really safe to have an epidural placed. The other thing would be an infection. If someone has an infection in their blood system, that infection would potentially limit our ability to place something because we would not want to spread that infection. If someone has had prior surgery, if they had spinal fusion, or they’ve had any other instrumentation in the lower back, that might prohibit us from getting into the epidural space. Another thing would be some sort of anatomical abnormality

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stage of labor. By the time the epidural actually sets in, they’ve probably already had their baby, but it’s variable because that second stage, some people– just depending on the size of your baby and everything else–that second stage could last up to several hours. So in that case, even if someone’s complete, if they have a large baby, or if there’s anything else that’s affecting the rapid delivery of your baby from the second stage of labor, the epidural can be very beneficial for that as well. 4 How long will epidurals last? Dr. Montgomery: An epidural is a catheter, a little tiny tube that stays in this epidural space. If you’re looking at the anatomy, your spinal cord runs up and down the center of your back, and your spinal cord is surrounded by a tough sac called the dura sac. The dura sac means “tough mother,” so you have this protective sac surrounding the spinal cord. Your spinal cord ends halfway down your back, and you have a bunch of nerve filaments that then come down all the way to your belly into your lower legs and everything else, and that’s actually the level that we place an epidural. When we’re placing the epidural, we’re placing it two levels below where the spinal cord ends, so risk for spinal cord injury or anything like that is pretty much zero. Then we thread a little catheter into that space. The epidural space is outside of that sac, and then we fill that space up with medicine, and that’s what numbs the nerves in the lower part of your body. With the catheter that stays in place, we can set that up to an infusion pump that will continuously give medicine until you’re delivered. It can last as long as we need it to last. The pump allows us to make adjustments, so if they’re very sensitive to local anesthetics and they don’t push effectively at the second stage of labor, then we can reduce our rates on our pump and allow them to have more sensation, more feeling, and more motor strength to help push and deliver the baby. If they progress through labor and they’re still really uncomfortable in the later stages, we can increase those rates. 5 Will epidurals slow down labor? Dr. Montgomery: If you look at the current literature, a lot of it looks at the first and second stages of labor. The first stage can be anywhere from

four to eight hours up to a couple days. It takes a while, especially with your first delivery. Some literature says, on average, that the epidural might increase that four to eight hours by half an hour. Right before we place an epidural because of a potential drop in blood pressure, we give a fluid bolus, which helps to offset some of that drop in blood pressure. A fluid bolus also slows down the contractions, so that could also be related to why that first stage labor might be increased just slightly. Sometimes it actually helps because it allows the patient to relax and not fight the contractions and allows the process of thinning the cervix and progressing and dilating to happen more gradually. The second stage of labor, which is from being complete until the actual delivery process, what the literature says currently, the evidence just shows it’s about a 15-minute to 20-minute change in that. So if that process can be anywhere between 10 and 3 hours, that 15 minutes is really kind of minimal. There’s no downside to having the epidural. 6 What are some of the risks and side effects? Dr. Montgomery: The number one side effect for an epidural is a drop in your blood pressure, because once those nerves in the lower part of your body become numb, they dilate, meaning they relax. The blood pulls downward so people get more lightheaded or dizzy. After we place an epidural, we’re really focused on watching the blood pressure because in a short period of time, their pressure can drop fairly significantly. I always let them know they need to communicate with their nursing staff, because we can give medications through the IV within 20 seconds to get the pressure right back up so we can avoid nausea, vomiting, all the other side effects of a low blood pressure. The next thing is any sort of allergic reaction. The risk for any allergic reactions to any of the medications we utilize is extremely rare. Local anesthetics that we use, the risk for having any sort of reaction to any of those is something that we don’t even really see pretty much ever in my practice. There’s a low dose narcotic we have in the epidural infusion; these are standard bags that we have, and we don’t have to include that. Patients that are extremely sensitive to narcotics, we can avoid that in our infusion and just

do a local anesthetic. Also, any sort of cardiac anomalies, we monitor both the baby and mother, so we can help, and those are extremely rare to have any issues. Another thing, specifically for a spinal or for an epidural, is that patients can have a bruise or lower back pain. It’s typically just a bruise and goes away like a typical bruise. Bruising can be increased when people are on products like aspirin or blood thinners. The evidence shows that the risk for lower back pain is the same in people who have epidurals and those that do not for the birthing process. A lot of people have concerns about risk for paralysis or nerve injury, and just because of the level that we go into, when we place an epidural, it really minimizes or mitigates any of that risk, because we’re going two levels below happen. One would be because maybe the practitioner who’s placing it had difficulty placing it. If that does happen, typically, what we would do is we would go back and replace it. We would take it out, reevaluate, and see if maybe they were just in the wrong tissue plane or if that medicine was not going into the epidural space where we want it to go. Occasionally, we have to replace an epidural. It’s not that common, but it does happen, and it’s not a risk or any bad outcomes resulting from that. The other thing would be some people are called hyper metabolizers. Whether it’s a genetic predisposition, they may metabolize local anesthetics faster than other people do. Typically, where you would find out about this is if people have had prior dental work done. If they had injected Novocaine in their jaw or something like that, and they said, they never got comfortable, and they had to keep injecting to get them comfortable, and they felt everything during the process. These are some subset of people that might metabolize local anesthetics faster. Now, the anesthetic or the process and the way they work still works for these people. So they just may require a much larger amount or higher doses of these local anesthetics or higher concentrations to give them the same type of benefit and same type of block that the normal general population achieve with epidurals. where the spinal cord ends. 7 Can epidurals not work on everyone? Dr. Montgomery: There would be several reasons why that may

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The Baby Blues Everything you need to know about P.P.D.

By Victoria Mikota

P regnancy , from start to finish, is a massive change for mothers. What begins as a positive pregnancy test, eventually leads to morning sickness, mood swings, cravings, and of course— that beautiful baby bump! All of these things are just a small part of growing a living human and will stay with you up until you give birth. While birth is a wonderful experience, it is an extremely emotional adjustment, so much so, that new mothers may experience a tumultuous time of fluctuating hormones that can unfortunately last long past the postpartum period. A 48-Hour Emotional Rollercoaster Birth requires a tremendous recovery period. Most obviously, the physical challenges of birth are the recovery after vaginal birth or a Ceresean section. Emotionally,

birth is also a great adjustment. At no other point do a woman’s hormones plummet so fiercely as they do in the 48 hours after delivery. When a woman gives birth, because of that hormonal drop, there’s a tremendous shift in her emotions. For the first two weeks postpartum, the baby blues develop—tearfulness, overwhelming emotions, incessant crying, happiness, sadness, and a lot of other emotions. When these feelings last past the two-week postpartum period, it would be classified as a perinatal mood disorder. Anxiety, OCD, depression, and psychosis all fall “It’s not just depression,” says Samantha Rauber, LPC-S, NCC, PMH-C, and Founder of Baton Rouge Perinatal Counseling. “A lot of the symptomatology that women experience during under the postpartum depression umbrella.

the postpartum period includes intrusive thoughts and anxiety.” Normal Postpartum Issues or a More Serious Problem? During the postpartum period, women can expect that there will be adjustment symptoms that occur during recovery, given the tremendous physical experience of giving birth. What differentiates normal adjustment to a more serious postpartum situation depends on the length of the symptoms and if these symptoms interfere with daily life. Up to 85% of new mothers experience what is known as the “baby blues,” a mild form of depression caused by hormonal changes. The baby blues can cause a range of emotions, including sadness, anxiety, crying, irritability, and mood swings. While these feelings can be uncomfortable, they shouldn’t last longer than two weeks.

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How to Manage Postpartum Anxiety and Depression According to Rauber, about one out of five women will not bounce back in their endocrine system after giving birth. This means that one out of five women will need support during the postpartum period. Many women during the postpartum period struggle to do any amount of self-care inside or outside of the bathroom. What postpartum self-care comes down to is working with a support system. For dads helping postpartum moms, this could look like extending patience, being compassionate, being encouraging, being supportive, and helping to meet her needs. In addition, parents should set up an alternating six-hour baby sleep schedule to help ward off depression caused by sleep deprivation. These small things can make a huge impact on recovering moms.

Make a Plan for the Postpartum Period As with pregnancy, making a plan to deal with the postpartum recovery period is imperative for mothers who are processing the pregnancy, birth, and postpartum emotions. If a woman doesn’t have emotional support, the best thing to do is to acknowledge that a perinatal mood disorder is happening. A lot of women with PPD know they don’t feel good, but can’t figure out what the problem is. In order to take control of the situation, sometimes naming the problem can help women find relief. “I encourage anybody who is trying to plan for children or in the process of pregnancy to educate themselves about these disorders after pregnancy. Anyone is at risk,” says Rauber. “The earlier you learn and have a therapeutic relationship, the better.” Learn more at mchb.hrsa.gov

At the two-week mark, if a woman is experiencing

difficulty sleeping, ruminations, hopelessness, fatigue, difficulty concentrating, frequent crying, anger, rage, shame, or guilt, this is a sign that something more serious is going on. Red Flags During Postpartum When it comes to mental health, everyone is different. If a new mother is feeling suicidal, this is an immediate need for help. “If a new mother is concerned about how she feels, that itself is a red flag, and it might be time to seek help or counseling,” says Rauber. “A lot of these postpartum issues are treatable through counseling with a therapist.” If you are struggling, please reach out to The National Maternal Mental Health Hotline 1-833-943- 5746 and the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255).

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L A R A of

5 Fun and Unique Gender Reveals He or She, what will it be?

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By Austria Cohn

F inding out there’s a baby on the way is like unlocking a treasure chest filled with excitement, a dash of overwhelm, and just a hint of terror. Amidst all of the chaos, there are small things that make the pregnancy journey loveable. One is the gender reveal announcement! Here are five fun and unique gender reveal ideas. A Delicious Twist. What better way to announce the gender of your bundle of joy than with a sweet treat? Whoever plans the reveal can have a baker prepare a batch of vanilla and chocolate cake pops with pink and blue frosting. But here’s the twist– hidden inside one lucky cake pop is the big reveal, either pink or blue cake batter. So when the lucky person bites into the treat, the gender is revealed! Balloons and Confetti, Oh My! Get ready for a burst of excitement with a balloon or confetti pop

gender reveal. Fill a large black balloon with either pink or blue confetti, and when the big moment arrives, give it a satisfying pop to reveal the gender in a dramatic and festive way. It’s a simple yet thrilling way to share the news and create lasting memories with your loved ones. On Your Mark, Get Set, Reveal! For sports-loving families, a sport-related gender reveal adds an extra layer of excitement to the celebration. Whether it’s shooting a basketball into a hoop filled with pink or blue powder, kicking a soccer ball to reveal the gender hidden inside, or hitting a baseball to release a burst of colorful confetti, there are endless possibilities to score a winning gender reveal moment. The Color Chaos. Unleash your inner artist with a paint-themed gender reveal! Wear white and let the kids in the family

spray everyone with the color of paint to reveal the gender (the bottles are taped and decorated so the color is hidden). Brothers, Sisters, and Baby Bliss. Involve the soon-to-be sibling in the gender reveal with a special shirt announcement. Have a shirt specially made for the sibling with a playful message like “I’m Going to Be a Big Brother/Sister” or “Team Pink/Blue.” When it’s time for the reveal, the sibling can proudly wear the shirt, unveiling the gender. Bonus Reveal: Gender Reveal Candle. For family and friends who cannot attend the event in person, a gender reveal candle offers a sweet and intimate way to share in the excitement from afar. The expecting parents can send out specially-crafted candles with a hidden color or message that will be revealed as the candle burns.

PINK&BLUE | SPRING 2024

RESOURCE DIRECTORY

Baby

World

Local Resources for Parents-to-be ADOPTION RESOURCES Adoption and Surrogacy Choices of Colorado ■ (303) 670-4673 ■ adoptionchoices.org Adoption Dreams Come True ■ (970) 493-2557 ■ adoptiondreams.org Adoption Home Studies of Colorado ■ (303) 333-1572

Boulder Birth & Holistic Health ■ (303) 443-3993 ■ boulderbirthandhealth.com Colorado Birth and Wellness ■ (720) 464-7599 ■ coloradobirthandwellness.com CommonSpirit St. Francis Hospital Birth Center ■ (719) 571-3376 ■ mountain.commonspirit.org HudMama Holistic Birth, LLC ■ (303) 947-1437 ■ hudmamabirth.com Intermountain Health Birth Center of Denver ■ (720) 706-2060 ■ connect.intermountainhealth.org Labor and Delivery Unit at Denver Health ■ (303) 602-9365 ■ denverhealth.org New Life Birth Center ■ (303) 673-1000 ■ adventhealth.com Sacred Birth LLC ■ (720) 422-4214 ■ genevamontano.com Seasons Community Birth Center ■ (303) 999-3950 ■ seasonsbirthcenter.com The Birth Center at North Suburban Medical Center ■ (303) 450-4489 ■ healthonecares.com The BirthPlace at AdventHealth

■ pregnantconsideringadoption.org Colorado Coalition of Adoptive Families ■ (202) 224-3121 ■ cocaf.org Families Rising ■ (720) 456-9837 ■ sheila.dalton@state.co.us ■ wearefamiliesrising.org Family Resource Network ■ (719) 227-7477 ■ familyresourcenetworkco.com Hope’s Promise ■ (303) 660-0277 ■ hopespromise.com International Adoption Net ■ (303) 691-0808 ■ interrnationaladoptionnet.org Lutheran Family Services Rocky Mountain ■ nightlight.org Raise the Future ■ (303) 755-4756 ■ raisethefuture.org BIRTHING CENTERS AdventHealth Birthing Center ■ (844) 228-3986 ■ networkofcare.adventhealth.com Beginnings Birth Center ■ (719) 367-9405 ■ beginningsbirthcenter.com ■ (303) 922-3433 ■ lfsrm.org Nightlight Christian Adoptions ■ (970) 663-6799

■ bbinternationaladoption.com Adoption Institute of Colorado Adoption Agency ■ (719) 231-7845 ■ adoptioninstitutecolorado.org

Adoption Network ■ 1 (800) 367-2367 ■ adoptionnetwork.com

Adoption Options ■ (720) 336-3107 ■ adoption-options.com AdoptUSKids ■ (888) 200-4005 ■ adoptuskids.org CO4Kids ■ ( 844) CO-4-Kids ■ co4kids.org CCAI Adoption Services ■ (303) 850-9998 ■ ccaifamily.org Colorado Adoption Center ■ (970) 493-8816 ■ cdhs.colorado.gov Colorado Christian Services ■ (720) 961-3856 ■ (303) 761-7236

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RESOURCE DIRECTORY

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Arapahoe County Family Child Care Association ■ (303) 246-5146 ■ acfcca.org Bradford Early Education ■ (303) 770-8502 ■ bradfordearlyed.com Bright Minds Children Academy ■ (303) 750-3437 ■ brightmindacademy.us Child Care Innovations Resource and Referral

■ (720) 335-1796 ■ latchlactationibclc.com Little Latches Breastfeeding Support ■ (720) 928-0528 ■ littlelatchesbf.wixsite.com Mama Bloom ■ (720) 499-2986 ■ mamabloom.co Maternal Instincts ■ (720) 401-7540 ■ maternalinc.com

Littleton Hospital ■ (303) 730-5810 ■ adventhealth.com UCHealth Birth Center - Memorial Hosptial Central ■ (719) 365-5136 ■ uchealth.org UCHealth Labor and Delivery Unit ■ (720) 848-5233 ■ uchealth.org BREASTFEEDING SUPPORT Ancient Harmony Breastfeeding Services ■ (303) 731-6657 ■ ancient-harmony.com Blooming Babies Lactation Co. ■ (719) 602-5749 ■ bloomingbabieslactation.com Colorado Health Institute ■ (303) 831-4200 ■ coloradohealthinstitute.org Colorado Kids Pediatrics ■ (303) 399-7900 ■ coloradokidspeds.com Colorado WIC ■ 1 (800) 994-9662 ■ coloradowic.gov Corporate Breastfeeding Support ■ (720) 588-8891 ■ corporatebreastfeedingsupport.com Denver Health ■ (303) 602-6550 ■ denverhealth.org ■ elevationlactation.com Full Support Lactation ■ (309) 798-8078 ■ fullsupportlc.com Kaiser Permanente ■ (303) 636-2929 ■ healthy.kaiserpermanente.org Kirsten Halstead Lactation Consulting Services ■ (415) 320-4840 ■ khlactation.com Latch Lactation Support and Parent Education Elevation Lactation ■ (720) 436-1966

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Mile High Lactation ■ (303) 918-1860 ■ milehighlactation.com Morning Star Moms, LLC ■ (303) 902-9025 ■ morningstarmoms.com Pikes Peak Lactation ■ (719) 321-6143 ■ pikespeaklactation.com Rocky Mountain Lactation ■ (720) 394-6995 ■ rockymountainlactation.com The Breastfeeding Mama ■ (720) 463-4016 ■ thebreastfeedingmama.com The Rock Lactation ■ (720) 689-3886 ■ therocklactation.com Virtual Breastfeeding Inc. ■ (720) 441-2889 ■ virtualbreastfeeding.com Wildflower Breastfeeding ■ (707) 832-6858 ■ wildflowerbreastfeeding.com

■ (303) 969-9666 ■ rrcc.edu Colorado Bright Beginnings ■ (303) 433-6200 ■ brightbythree.org Colorado Office of Early Childhood ■ (800) 799-5876 ■ coloradoofficeofearlychildhood.com Colorado Shines ■ (877) 338-2273 ■ coloradoshines.com

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Denver Preschool Program ■ (303) 595-4377 ■ dpp.org Douglas County Child Care ■ douglascountychildcare.com

Early Childhood Education Association ■ (303) 860-7174 ■ coloradoecea.org Families Forward Resource Center ■ (303) 307-0718 ■ familiesforwardco.com Healthy Child Care Colorado ■ (303) 339-6800 ■ healthychildcareco.org Qaulistar Colorado Early Learning ■ (303) 339-6800 ■ qualistar.org STEM Child Care ■ (303) 927-7408 ■ stemchildcare.com The Gardner School of DTC ■ (720) 672-9980 ■ thegardnerschool.com The Office of Children’s Affairs ■ (720) 913-0900 ■ denvergov.org/ childrensaffairs

CHILD CARE RESOURCES ABC Nannies & Domestics, Inc. ■ (303) 321-3866 ■ abcnannies.com A Caregiver Network ■ (303) 880-0653 ■ caregivernetwork.org Arapahoe County Early Childhood Council ■ (720) 974-9630 ■ acecc.org

PINK&BLUE | SPRING 2024

CHILDBIRTH EDUCATION Amazing Birth Co ■ (720) 525-8632 ■ amazingbirthco.com Birth Song

FOSTER CARE A New World Child Placement Agency ■ (303) 743-4000 ■ anewworldcpa.org Bethany Christian Services ■ (800) 238-4269 ■ bethany.org Colorado State Foster Parent Association ■ (720) 386-5400 ■ csfpa.net Courage Community Foster Care ■ (720) 397-3387 ■ fostercourageco.gov Foster Source ■ (303) 618-4331 ■ fostersource.org Griffith Centers Foster Care ■ (719) 220-4066 ■ giffithcenters.org Hope & Home ■ (719) 575-9887 ■ hopeandhome.org Kids Crossing ■ (303) 330-5083 ■ k idscrossing.com Maple Star Colorado ■ (303) 433-1975 ■ maplestar.net Mount Saint Vincent Foster Care Program ■ (303) 318-1704 ■ intermountainhealthcare.org Raise the Future ■ (303) 755-4756 ■ raisethefuture.org Communications Center ■ (800) 262-CHILDREN National Domestic Violence Hotline ■ (800) 7999-7233 ■ thehotline.org National Safe Haven Alliance ■ 1-888-510-BABY (2229) ■ Text SAFEHAVEN to 313131 ■ nationalsafehavenalliance.org National Suicide Prevention Lifeline ■ Call 988 ■ 988lifeline.org Prevent Child Abuse America ■ preventchildabuse.org ■ info@preventchildabuse.org HOTLINES 24-Hour HAZMAT

CommonSpirit Obstetrics & Gynecology Thornton ■ (303) 426-2580 ■ mountain.commonspirit.org Conceptions Reproductive Associates of Colorado ■ (303) 794-0045 ■ conceptionsrepro.com ConceiveAbilities ■ (720) 466-3480 ■ conceiveabilities.com Denver Fertility Care ■ (720) 782-1701 ■ denverfertilitycare.com Dr. Paul Magarelli - Kind Body ■ (720) 370-5671 ■ kindbody.com Fertile Ground Wellness Center ■ (303) 248-3481 ■ fertilegroundwellnesscenter.com Infertility/IVF | PlacidWay ■ (303) 500-3821 ■ placidway.com

■ (931) 561-8264 ■ birthsonggr.com Brilliant Birthing Childbirth Education

■ (720) 646-2150 ■ brilliantbirths.com Colorado Birth & Baby ■ (920) 219-5197

■ coloradobirthandbaby.com Holistic Fertility and Birth ■ (303) 941-8824 ■ holisticfertilityandbirth.com Honoring Birth Services ■ (720) 448-6580 ■ honoringbirthservices.com Jennie Sides Childbirth Educator and Doula, LLC ■ (719) 725-9771 ■ jsidesdoula.com Mountain Mama Childbirth Educator ■ (720) 401-4333 ■ mountainmamabirthing.com Summit Birth ■ (970) 215-3786 ■ summitbirth.org Rocky Mountain Birth, LLC ■ (504) 250-0282 Sacred Mama Denver, LLC ■ (720) 231-7869 ■ sacredmamadenver.com She Believed Birth Services, LLC ■ (970) 302-6359 ■ shebelievedbirth.com Westside Birth Connection, LLC ■ (719) 213-3740 ■ westsidebirthconnection.com FERTILITY CCRM Fertility of Lone Tree ■ (303) 788-8300 ■ ccrmivf.com CCRM Fertility of Denver ■ (303) 355-2555 ■ ccrmivf.com

Kind Heart Fertility ■ (323) 369-9904 ■ kindheartfertility.com Posterity Health ■ (720) 666-4739 ■ posterityhealth.com Rocky Mountain Center for Reproductive Medicine ■ (970) 493-6353 ■ drbachus.com Rocky Mountain Fertility Center ■ (303) 999-3877 ■ rockymountainfertility.com Shady Grove Fertility ■ 1 (888) 761-1967 ■ shadygrovefertility.com Wellnest Acupuncture +

Holistic Medicine ■ (720) 618-0770 ■ wellnestdenver.com Wildflower Clinic ■ (949) 290-0883 ■ wildflowerclinic.com

SPRING 2024 | PINK&BLUE

RESOURCE DIRECTORY CHILD SAFETY ChildSafe ■ (970) 472-4133 ■ childsafecolorado.org Child Safe Childproofing ■ (720) 353-3472 ■ childsafechildproofing.com Coalition for Children ■ (303) 809-9001 ■ safechild.org MIDWIFERY AND DOULA CARE AdventHealth ■ (844) 228-3986 ■ adventhealth.com Blessed Birth Doula Services ■ (253) 266-1099 ■ birthbeblessed.com Birth & Beginnings Doula Services ■ (719) 309-8865 ■ birthbeginningsdoula.com Birth in Black - Doula Services ■ (720) 434-2424 ■ blackdoulas.org Boulder County Birth and Doula Services, LLC ■ (303) 885-0938 ■ bouldercountybirth.com Bundles of Grace Doula Care, LLC ■ (720) 468-0774 ■ bundlesofgracedoula.com Colorado Caring Doulas ■ (303) 349-7436

Jodia’s Birth Services ■ (970) 829-6639 ■ jodiasmidwiferyservices.com Lissa Doula Services, LLC ■ (303) 319-1462 ■ lissadoulaservices.com Lucina Rising BirthWork LLC ■ (720) 515-6267

Rocky Mountains ■ (303) 922-3433 ■ lfsrm.org Parent Possible ■ (303) 860-6000 ■ parentpossible.org Parenting Practice of Colorado ■ (720) 295-8692 ■ parentingpracticeco.com Parents Challenge ■ (719) 306-8557 ■ parentschallenge.org Parent to Parent of Colorado ■ (877) 472-7201 ■ abilityconnectioncolorado.org PEAK Parent Center Inc. ■ (719) 531-9400 ■ peakparent.org The Den Denver ■ hello@thedendenver.com ■ thedendenver.com The ParenT(w)een Connection ■ (858) 997-9259 ■ parentweenconnection.com The Impactful Parent ■ (303) 578-6953 ■ theimpactfulparent.com PARENTING SUPPORT GROUPS & SERVICES Circle of Parents Colorado ■ info@circleofparentsco.org ■ circleofparentsco.org Colorado Center for Trauma and Attachment ■ (970) 778-4727 ■ centerforsecureattachment.com Jefferson Center for Mental Health ■ (303) 237-3599 ■ jcmh.org Mental Health Colorado ■ (720) 208-2220 ■ mentalhealthcolorado.org NAMI Colorado ■ (303) 321-3104 ■ namicolorado.org Postpartum Support International

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■ lucinarisingbirthwork.com Matrescence Doula Services ■ (720) 295-7786 ■ matrescencedoula.com Mother Earth ■ (404) 348-0290 ■ motherearth.baby Sacred Birth Choice Homebirth Midwifery Services ■ (720) 659-3355 ■ sacredbirthdenver.com Sanctuary Doulas + Family Care ■ (720) 828-2802 ■ sancturaydoulas.com Wonderfully Made Doula Services LLC ■ (720) 879-3856 ■ wonderfullymadedoula.com PARENT EDUCATION AND CLASSES American Academy of Pediatrics ■ (800) 433-9016 ■ aap.org Belly Bliss ■ (303) 399-1191 ■ bellybliss.com Catholic Charities of Central Colorado ■ (719) 636-2345 ■ ccharitiescc.org Colorado Family Life Center ■ (303) 366-1072 ■ coloradofamilylife.org Colorado Statewide Parent Coalition ■ (720) 890-0123 ■ coparentcoalition.org

■ coloradocaringdoulas.com Colorado Midwifery Services ■ (720) 352-2238 ■ coloradomidwiferyservices.com Doula Donna Denver ■ (630) 886-6476 ■ douladonnadenver.com Genesis Birth Doula ■ (303) 521-2564 ■ genesisbirthdoula.com Hand in Hand Birth Doula Care & Massage Therapy ■ (719) 465-8834 ■ handinhandbirthdoula.com

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Course for Parents ■ (888) 338-8855 ■ courseforparents.com Lutheran Family Services

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Colorado Cross-Disability Coalition ■ (303) 839-1775 ■ ccdconline.org Colorado Developmental Disabilities Council ■ (720) 941-0176 ■ coddc.org Colorado Families for Hands and Voices ■ (720) 598-2648 ■ cohandsandvoices.org Developmental Disabilities Center ■ (303) 926-6400 ■ imaginecolorado.org Developmental Disabilities Resource Center ■ (303) 233-3363 ■ ddrcco.com Disability Law Colorado ■ (303) 722-0300 ■ disabilitylawco.org Elevation Ability Services ■ (720) 524-7648 ■ elevationcolo.com El Grupo Vida ■ (303) 335-9875 ■ elgrupovida.org Empower Special Needs ■ (719) 339-5961 ■ empowerspecialneeds.org ExceptionalLives ■ (844) 354-1212 ■ exceptionallives.org Family Voices ■ (781) 674-7224 ■ familyvoices.org Help Autism ■ (719) 393-5271 ■ helpautism.org Innovative Services of Colorado ■ (720) 748-0348 ■ innovativeservicesco.com Mobility Plus Colorado ■ (303) 993-3010 ■ mobilitypluscolorado.com North Metro Community Services ■ (303) 457-1001 ■ nmetro.org Parent to Parent of Colorado ■ (877) 472-7201 ■ abilityconnectioncolorado.org Peak Parent Center

■ (800) 944-4773 ■ postpartum.net The Catalyst Center ■ (720) 675-7123 ■ catalystcenterllc.com PRODUCT RECALLS AND STANDARDS USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service ■ fsis.usda.gov U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission ■ (800) 638-2772 ■ cpsc.gov SPECIAL NEEDS SUPPORT Ability Connection Colorado ■ (303) 691-9339 ■ abilityconnectioncolorado.org Alliance Colorado ■ (303) 832-1618 ■ alliancecolorado.org Anchor Center for Blind Children ■ (303) 377-9732 ■ anchorcenter.org Autism Home Support Services ■ (720) 500-2524 ■ autismhomesupport.com Bridges of Colorado ■ (844) 921-1568 ■ bridges.colorado.gov Build with TACT ■ (303) 295-0163 ■ buildwithtact.org College Living Experience ■ (800) 486-5058 ■ experriencecle.com/denver-colorado Colorado ABLE ■ 1 (888) 609-3468 ■ coloradoable.org Colorado Center for the Blind ■ (303) 778-1598 ■ cocenter.org Colorado Commission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing ■ (720) 457-3679 ■ ccdhh.com

■ (719) 531-9400 ■ peakparent.org Special Kids Special Families ■ (719) 447-8983 ■ sksfcolorado.org The Arc of Colorado ■ (303) 864-9334 ■ thearcofco.org ULTRASOUND TECHNICIANS 3D 4D Ultrasound Flatirons Prenatal Imaging ■ (720) 634-5669 ■ flatironshdultrasound.com Baby Glimpse Highlands Ranch ■ (720) 782-7900 ■ babyglimpses.com Blossom Baby Co. 3D 4D HD Ultrasound ■ (970) 561-7608 ■ blossombabyco.com Bright Imaging ■ (303) 323-9994 ■ bright-imaging.com Durango Ultrasound ■ (970) 247-7997 ■ durangoultrasound.com Enso Prenatal & 3D/4D Ultrasound ■ (719) 660-5687 ■ ensomama.com First View HD 4D 3D Ultrasound Center North ■ (303) 431-2229

■ firstviewultrasound.com Little Bellies Ultrasound & Pregnancy Spa ■ (720) 741-6578 ■ littlebelliesspa.com Little Moments 5D HD

Ultrasound & Spa ■ (720) 821-0722 ■ littlemomentsultrasound.com Mommy and Me 3D 4D Ultrasound ■ (720) 584-2984 ■ mommyandme3dultrasound.com Moments Captured Ultrasound ■ (970) 413-6880 ■ momentscapturedultrasound.com

SPRING 2024 | PINK&BLUE

BELLY LAUGHS

The Mommy Diaries: Tales of Chaos and Comedy

PHOTO BY LESENFOX ON FREEPIK.COM

W elcome to motherhood! In this wild, but wonderful, new chapter of your life, you’ll experience many things, like how to stride through chaos with grace and comedic timing, and will often find yourself knee-deep in scenarios that could rival any sitcom plotline. You’ll also find yourself failing. A lot. But, it won’t always feel so bad. In fact, sometimes those moments of imperfection may just bring the most joy and laughter. So, grab your coffee (or non-caffeinated beverage for you brave souls living on the edge) and join us as we delve into the hilarity and heartwarming mishaps from our fellow warriors in the trenches of child-rearing. The Great Cupcake Debate “I offered my 12-month-old four different meals, and she refused each one. I got stressed, so I pulled out a chocolate cupcake to eat. Guess who had a chocolate cupcake as their only meal that day? My 12-month-old.” - Olivia N., Baton Rouge, LA Forgetting Something? “I went through my usual morning routine today: grabbed some water, my pump, phone, boppy, etc., and got ready to feed my two-month-old. All’s by Madison Voorhies

good. I got comfortable on the couch, ready to go: warm blanket on, boppy on top… then I realized I forgot one thing: my son.” - Morgan M., Baton Rouge, LA Tales from the Diaper Pails “With my baby just a week old, I was sleep-deprived and dealing with his extremely watery poops. One mo- ment, I picked him up when he was hungry and set him on the bed while I grabbed something. Later, as I tried to feed him, I couldn’t get comfortable, so we moved to the nursery. While feeding him in the rocking chair, I suddenly felt something wet on my butt. Confused, I finished feeding him, only to discover a poop trail from the bassinet to my bed, where I had un- knowingly sat on it. His watery poop had spilled down his back, leading to the unexpected mess. The rest is history.” - Heather W., New Orleans, LA Get Low… I Guess..? “My 14-month-old was throwing a hissy fit and kept throwing himself around the living room: first to the ottoman, then to the fireplace, then to the wall, the windowsill, back to the ottoman, back to the fireplace, win- dow, wall. This pattern repeated itself a few times, and for some reason, “to the windowww, to the wall, to the

wall,” started playing in my head, and I began cracking up while my poor kid was having a meltdown. This was at eight i the morning, and it was all over a piece of sausage.” - Katherine N., Houston, TX We Call This: Mommy Brain “I only got about three hours of sleep last night because I’m struggling with insomnia. This morning, I sat on the floor with my seven-month-old daughter to play with toys. She grabbed this music projector toy –that I didn’t even know she could pick up– and smacked her- self in the face. Hard. She instantly started screaming, and I started to comfort the toy instead of her.” - Mallory O., Charleston, SC Most Important Meal of the Day “While holding my 11-week-old and a plate of pancakes, I stood up from the couch. She pushed off my chest, and fearing I’d drop her, I pivoted to the side. Unfortunately, I forgot about the pancakes. As I held onto her legs, she fell backward onto the pancakes and syrup. Despite feeling guilty, her indignant look was memorable. She smelled pretty yummy the rest of the day though.” - Haley N., New Orleans, LA

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BABY FACES

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