Events

Buy a 'got breastmilk?' onesie to benefit our coalition!

Thanks to the generous support of Silver Screen Design in Greenfield, Massachusetts, we have some wonderful 'got breastmilk?' onesies for sale!  They read "got breastmilk?" and list our Task Force and website beneath.  They are size 6 months, and cost $5 each. 100% of the proceeds will support our efforts to purchase rental pumps for local WIC agencies, work with employers on accommodating nursing mothers, and establish a donor milk collection station for the Mother's Milk Bank of New England.  To purchase, email us (use "email me" link to the left or email 'info at valleybreastfeeding dot org) to arrange for payment and shipping/pickup. 

Save the date:  Baby-led Breastfeeding Conference with Dr. Christina Smillie

On November 5th, 2008, the Family Life Center at Mercy Medical Center will be hosting a conference featuring Dr. Christina Smillie on 'baby-led breastfeeding,' milk supply, and other topics.  Check back for registration information.

Subscribe to and volunteer for the Mothers' Milk Bank of New England newsletter

You can view the current edition of the Mothers' Milk Bank of New England e-newsletter, and subscribe here.  Contact Tanya if you're interested in working on it.

Buy Deans Beans coffee and Java Drops to benefit our coalition!

We are selling wonderful, organic, fair trade coffee in two blends (Sumatran French Roast/Dark and Mexican Chiapas/Mild) to benefit the Task Force's projects.  Coffee is available in whole bean, ground, regular, and decaf.  Java Drops (chocolate covered coffee) are also available in milk and dark chocolate.  Use the order form below to order:

Download Coffee_order_form.doc (44.5K)

Motherhood Manifesto screening

The Northampton Parents Center is sponsoring a screening of The Motherhood Manifesto, a film produced by Moms Rising, on March 25th at 7pm at the Media Education Foundation.  Discussion to follow film. 

Meet the Doulas night

The Green River Doula Network will hold "Meet the Doulas" nights on Thursday, March 13, 2008, 6-8 PM and Saturday, June 14, 2008, 2-4 PM at the Large Meeting Room, Jones Library, Amherst.  This is a great chance to speak with many birth doulas, postpartum doulas, massage therapists, midwives, chiropractors, and others who serve families in the childbearing year. Admission is free and open to the public, and there will be free refreshments and free 15-minute massages for pregnant women.  For more information, see the Green River Doula Network website.

Infant Massage Parent Educator Training

Infant Massage USA will hold a certification training for infant massage parent educators in Northampton on February 13-16, 2008.  For more information on the training, see www.infantmassageusa.org

Advertise on our site!

The Pioneer Valley Breastfeeding Task Force is seeking sponsors for our website - a growing source of information for expecting and new families.  All revenue will offset hosting fees for this website and support our projects.  Contact Tanya for more information.

Meet the Doulas night

The Green River Doula Network will hold a "Meet the Doulas" night on Tuesday, December 4th, from 6-8 pm at the Jones Library (large meeting room), Amherst.  This is a great chance to speak with many birth doulas, postpartum doulas, massage therapists, midwives, chiropractors, and others who serve families in the childbearing year. Admission is free and open to the public, and there will be free refreshments and free 15-minute massages for pregnant women.  For more information, see the Green River Doula Network website.

Screening of The Motherhood Manifesto

Moms Rising of the Pioneer Valley (advocacy arm of Motherwoman, Inc.) will hold a screening of The Motherhood Manifesto on Thursday, October 25th at 7pm 7:30 pm at the Media Education Foundation Community Room in Northampton (adjacent to Woodstar Cafe).  $3-7 donation requested.  See motherwoman.org for more information.

Wednesday, February 6
9:30-11:30am
9:15am: refreshments and networking
Upstairs Resource Room, Community Action
56 Vernon St, Northampton
FREE

The open house will begin with a 45 minute training on prenatal and postpartum emotional difficulties presented by MotherWoman staff and Coalition members.  The training will be followed by an introduction to the Coalition and a regular business meeting.

This is a great opportunity for professional networking, to learn about resources available for your agency and clients, and to learn valuable information about a serious and omnipresent women's health issue.  For more information, please call MotherWoman at (413) 253-8990.

Write your representative in support of legislation to protect nursing in public in Massachusetts.

Join our local Moms Rising chapter's letter writing campaign in support of Senate Bill 78, which would protect the right of mothers to nurse their children in public and would also require employers to accomodate mothers who pump at work.  Download this letter and send it to your representative, who you can find here.  For more information contact Tanya.

Buy raffle tickets to support our coalition!

The Pioneer Valley Breastfeeding Task Force is holding a raffle to support our projects, including the establishment of a breastmilk collection station for the Mothers Milk Bank of New England.  Prizes include a $50 Motherwear gift certificate, a gift basket from Medela, a gift certificate to the Artisan Cafe.  Tickets are $1 each.  To purchase or sell tickets, contact Alison or Tanya.

Film screening:  The Business of Being Born

Sacred Birth Midwifery will host two screenings of the film "The Business of Being Born," a film about birth in the U.S. produced by Rikki Lake.  Screenings are Thursday, September 25, 7:00 pm, Media Education Foundation (60 Masonic Street, Northampton), and Thursday, September 27, 7:00 pm, Mercy House, 365 North Pleasant Street, Amherst.  Tickets are $10 at the door, seating limited.  For more information contact Kirsten.

Volunteers needed to staff the nursing mothers' station at the Big E.

Volunteers are needed to staff the nursing mothers' station at the Big E, Sept 14 - 30 from 10 - 10.  Anyone who can offer a 4 - 6 hour commitment will receive a free entrance and parking pass.  Bring a friend or spouse to help and get a ticket for them as well.  Children under 5 are free.  Check out the schedule for the Big E to see if there's something special you'd like to see at www.thebige.com.  To sign up contact Lezlie at LezlieDen@charter.net

Nurse-in to be held at Chicopee Applebee's restaurant.

As part of a national protest over Applebee's treatment of a nursing mother in Kentucky, a protest will be held at the Chicopee Applebee's restaurant on September 8th, from 12 noon to 1 pm.  For more information, see this posting.

Donate breastmilk for a UMass breast cancer risk study.

UMass Professor Dr. Kathleen Arcaro is seeking breastfeeding women to participate in an approved University of Massachusetts environmental health study funded by the Avon Foundation.  Participants will be asked to donate a single breastmilk sample and will recieve $20 in appreciation.  Milk can be picked up from your home.  For more information, visit www.breastmilkstudy.net or contact Kathleen Arcaro, Ph.D., Univ. of Massachusetts,    (413)545-1037       , e-mail: breastmilkstudyinfo@yahoo.com

Massachusetts Breastfeeding Coalition 2007 Conference

The Massachusetts Breastfeeding Coalition is holding its annual conference on Monday, September 27th, at the Massachusetts Medical Society Headquarters.  For more information see the Coalition's website.

Moms Rising seeks stories of nursing in public.

Moms Rising of the Pioneer Valley, the advocacy arm of Motherwoman, Inc., is working to help pass legislation which would protect nursing in public in Massachusetts, and is looking for stories about being harassed for nursing in public in our community.  Email Moms Rising for more information.

BIRTH - A play by Karen Brody

This production will help raise money for Motherwoman and other organizations supporting women through the childbearing years!

Birth is a play based on over one hundred interviews Karen Brody conducted with mothers across America who gave birth between 2000-2004. It tells the true stories of 8 women painting a portrait of how low-risk, educated women are giving birth in America today.  See Birth on Labor Day for more information about the play.

Show dates:      Friday, September 7 @ 7:30pm
                       Saturday, September 8 @ 7:30pm
                       MATINEE Saturday, September 8 @ 2pm

Location: Pioneer Arts Center of Easthampton, 41 Union Street - directions available at their website (www.pioneerarts.org)

Advance tickets are $9 ($10 at the door)

World Breastfeeding Week Celebration at Cooley Dickinson Hospital, Northampton.

The Childbirth Center at Cooley Dickinson Hospital will host a celebration in honor of World Breastfeeding Week on Friday, August 3rd, 2007.  Pregnant women who plan to breast-feed and breast-feeding moms and their babies up to the age of 6 months are invited to attend a luncheon that will be held in the Dakin Conference Room at CDH from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Guest speakers will introduce family foods to baby and the importance of skin-to-skin contact. Demonstrations of baby massage will be provided and door prizes will be available. To register for the lunch, call 582-4787.

World Breastfeeding Week walk in Amherst. 

August 4th, 2007 at 9:00 am, at park across from Police Station/Black Sheep.  2 mile walk ending with refreshments, children's entertainment, vendors, babywearing and infant massage demonstrations, prizes, letter writing on Massachusetts bill protecting nursing in public.  Sponsored by La Leche League of Amherst, Belchertown, Northampton. All are welcome!  For more information, email Kissy Mathewson.

Buy a 'got breastmilk?' onesie to benefit our coalition!

Thanks to the generous support of Silver Screen Design in Greenfield, Massachusetts, we have some wonderful 'got breastmilk?' onesies for sale!  They read "got breastmilk?" and list our Task Force and website beneath.  They are size 6 months, and cost $5 each. 100% of the proceeds will support our efforts to purchase rental pumps for local WIC agencies, work with employers on accommodating nursing mothers, and establish a donor milk collection station for the Mother's Milk Bank of New England.  To purchase, email us (use "email me" link to the left or email 'info at valleybreastfeeding dot org) to arrange for payment and shipping/pickup. 

Save the date:  Baby-led Breastfeeding Conference with Dr. Christina Smillie

On November 5th, 2008, the Family Life Center at Mercy Medical Center will be hosting a conference featuring Dr. Christina Smillie on 'baby-led breastfeeding,' milk supply, and other topics.  Check back for registration information.

Subscribe to and volunteer for the Mothers' Milk Bank of New England newsletter

You can view the current edition of the Mothers' Milk Bank of New England e-newsletter, and subscribe here.  Contact Tanya if you're interested in working on it.

Buy Deans Beans coffee and Java Drops to benefit our coalition!

We are selling wonderful, organic, fair trade coffee in two blends (Sumatran French Roast/Dark and Mexican Chiapas/Mild) to benefit the Task Force's projects.  Coffee is available in whole bean, ground, regular, and decaf.  Java Drops (chocolate covered coffee) are also available in milk and dark chocolate.  Use the order form below to order:

Motherhood Manifesto screening

The Northampton Parents Center is sponsoring a screening of The Motherhood Manifesto, a film produced by Moms Rising, on March 25th at 7pm at the Media Education Foundation.  Discussion to follow film. 

Meet the Doulas night

The Green River Doula Network will hold "Meet the Doulas" nights on Thursday, March 13, 2008, 6-8 PM and Saturday, June 14, 2008, 2-4 PM at the Large Meeting Room, Jones Library, Amherst.  This is a great chance to speak with many birth doulas, postpartum doulas, massage therapists, midwives, chiropractors, and others who serve families in the childbearing year. Admission is free and open to the public, and there will be free refreshments and free 15-minute massages for pregnant women.  For more information, see the Green River Doula Network website.

Infant Massage USA will hold a certification training for infant massage parent educators in Northampton on February 13-16, 2008.  For more information on the training, see www.infantmassageusa.org

Advertise on our site!

The Pioneer Valley Breastfeeding Task Force is seeking sponsors for our website - a growing source of information for expecting and new families.  All revenue will offset hosting fees for this website and support our projects.  Contact Tanya for more information.

Meet the Doulas night

The Green River Doula Network will hold a "Meet the Doulas" night on Tuesday, December 4th, from 6-8 pm at the Jones Library (large meeting room), Amherst.  This is a great chance to speak with many birth doulas, postpartum doulas, massage therapists, midwives, chiropractors, and others who serve families in the childbearing year. Admission is free and open to the public, and there will be free refreshments and free 15-minute massages for pregnant women.  For more information, see the Green River Doula Network website.

Screening of The Motherhood Manifesto

Moms Rising of the Pioneer Valley (advocacy arm of Motherwoman, Inc.) will hold a screening of The Motherhood Manifesto on Thursday, October 25th at 7pm 7:30 pm at the Media Education Foundation Community Room in Northampton (adjacent to Woodstar Cafe).  $3-7 donation requested.  See motherwoman.org for more information.

Wednesday, February 6
9:30-11:30am
9:15am: refreshments and networking
Upstairs Resource Room, Community Action
56 Vernon St, Northampton
FREE

The open house will begin with a 45 minute training on prenatal and postpartum emotional difficulties presented by MotherWoman staff and Coalition members.  The training will be followed by an introduction to the Coalition and a regular business meeting.

This is a great opportunity for professional networking, to learn about resources available for your agency and clients, and to learn valuable information about a serious and omnipresent women's health issue.  For more information, please call MotherWoman at (413) 253-8990.

Write your representative in support of legislation to protect nursing in public in Massachusetts.

Join our local Moms Rising chapter's letter writing campaign in support of Senate Bill 78, which would protect the right of mothers to nurse their children in public and would also require employers to accomodate mothers who pump at work.  Download this letter and send it to your representative, who you can find here.  For more information contact Tanya.

Buy raffle tickets to support our coalition!

The Pioneer Valley Breastfeeding Task Force is holding a raffle to support our projects, including the establishment of a breastmilk collection station for the Mothers Milk Bank of New England.  Prizes include a $50 Motherwear gift certificate, a gift basket from Medela, a gift certificate to the Artisan Cafe.  Tickets are $1 each.  To purchase or sell tickets, contact Alison or Tanya.

Film screening:  The Business of Being Born

Sacred Birth Midwifery will host two screenings of the film "The Business of Being Born," a film about birth in the U.S. produced by Rikki Lake.  Screenings are Thursday, September 25, 7:00 pm, Media Education Foundation (60 Masonic Street, Northampton), and Thursday, September 27, 7:00 pm, Mercy House, 365 North Pleasant Street, Amherst.  Tickets are $10 at the door, seating limited.  For more information contact Kirsten.

Volunteers needed to staff the nursing mothers' station at the Big E.

Volunteers are needed to staff the nursing mothers' station at the Big E, Sept 14 - 30 from 10 - 10.  Anyone who can offer a 4 - 6 hour commitment will receive a free entrance and parking pass.  Bring a friend or spouse to help and get a ticket for them as well.  Children under 5 are free.  Check out the schedule for the Big E to see if there's something special you'd like to see at www.thebige.com.  To sign up contact Lezlie at LezlieDen@charter.net

Nurse-in to be held at Chicopee Applebee's restaurant.

As part of a national protest over Applebee's treatment of a nursing mother in Kentucky, a protest will be held at the Chicopee Applebee's restaurant on September 8th, from 12 noon to 1 pm.  For more information, see this posting.

Donate breastmilk for a UMass breast cancer risk study.

UMass Professor Dr. Kathleen Arcaro is seeking breastfeeding women to participate in an approved University of Massachusetts environmental health study funded by the Avon Foundation.  Participants will be asked to donate a single breastmilk sample and will recieve $20 in appreciation.  Milk can be picked up from your home.  For more information, visit www.breastmilkstudy.net or contact Kathleen Arcaro, Ph.D., Univ. of Massachusetts,    (413)545-1037       , e-mail: breastmilkstudyinfo@yahoo.com

Massachusetts Breastfeeding Coalition 2007 Conference

The Massachusetts Breastfeeding Coalition is holding its annual conference on Monday, September 27th, at the Massachusetts Medical Society Headquarters.  For more information see the Coalition's website.

Moms Rising seeks stories of nursing in public.

Moms Rising of the Pioneer Valley, the advocacy arm of Motherwoman, Inc., is working to help pass legislation which would protect nursing in public in Massachusetts, and is looking for stories about being harassed for nursing in public in our community.  Email Moms Rising for more information.

BIRTH - A play by Karen Brody

This production will help raise money for Motherwoman and other organizations supporting women through the childbearing years!

Birth is a play based on over one hundred interviews Karen Brody conducted with mothers across America who gave birth between 2000-2004. It tells the true stories of 8 women painting a portrait of how low-risk, educated women are giving birth in America today.  See Birth on Labor Day for more information about the play.

Show dates:      Friday, September 7 @ 7:30pm
                       Saturday, September 8 @ 7:30pm
                       MATINEE Saturday, September 8 @ 2pm

Location: Pioneer Arts Center of Easthampton, 41 Union Street - directions available at their website (www.pioneerarts.org)

Advance tickets are $9 ($10 at the door)

World Breastfeeding Week Celebration at Cooley Dickinson Hospital, Northampton.

The Childbirth Center at Cooley Dickinson Hospital will host a celebration in honor of World Breastfeeding Week on Friday, August 3rd, 2007.  Pregnant women who plan to breast-feed and breast-feeding moms and their babies up to the age of 6 months are invited to attend a luncheon that will be held in the Dakin Conference Room at CDH from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Guest speakers will introduce family foods to baby and the importance of skin-to-skin contact. Demonstrations of baby massage will be provided and door prizes will be available. To register for the lunch, call 582-4787.

World Breastfeeding Week walk in Amherst. 

August 4th, 2007 at 9:00 am, at park across from Police Station/Black Sheep.  2 mile walk ending with refreshments, children's entertainment, vendors, babywearing and infant massage demonstrations, prizes, letter writing on Massachusetts bill protecting nursing in public.  Sponsored by La Leche League of Amherst, Belchertown, Northampton. All are welcome!  For more information, email Kissy Mathewson.