2016: Upcoming Events and Resources

Updated 28 September 2016

I am currently only offering breastfeeding support in the Osan area. Please see this post to find people who work in the birthing field, such as birth doulas, breastfeeding counselors, childbirth educators, Dunstan Baby Language educators, HypnoBirthing® practitioners, IBCLCs, infant massage instructors, nutritionists, postpartum doulas, placenta encapsulation specialists, pre and post-natal massage therapists, and pre and post-natal yoga instructors. Feel free to contact me with any questions.

Upcoming Events

Baby Fairs

• This post has all the baby fairs of 2016.
  

La Leche League: a breastfeeding support group.

• LLL's International page and LLL International group info
• Osan: 4th Wednesday of every month at the Chapel Annex on base from 10am-12noon. Details about their meetings can be found at La Leche League Osan. They also have a lending library. Contact Sharon for more info.
• Seoul: Contact Joy for dates and times or check their Facebook page.

Milky Mamas Meetings: a breastfeeding support group.

• Seoul: 4th Thursday of every month at the Yongsan Family Health Centre on the 3rd floor in a brand new building right next to the Hannam Dong Jumin Centre (한남동 주민 센터) from 11am-1pm. More info can be found at MMKorea Nursing Support. You can also contact Melanie, Leila, or Sheila.

Support

Breastfeeding Support

• I offer breastfeeding support that can be done in person, on the phone, or via Skype. I can help with latch, positioning, knowing whether your baby is hungry or getting enough milk, and common breastfeeding problems.

Resources

Tender Embrace Birthing contains a number of resources such as . . .

• a list of doulas, postpartum, and breastfeeding support 
• a list of foreign friendly hospitals and birthing centers
• much more information about general pregnancy, birthing, breastfeeding, postpartum, and parenting issues as well as Korea specific information can be found on the resources page

About Me

I've been involved in the birthing field since early 2013. I am certified as a childbirth educator, postpartum doula, breastfeeding counselor, and Dunstan Baby Language Educator. Check out my about me to learn more about my training and experience.You can also see what people have said about my blog and services.


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Tender Embrace Birthing offers childbirth, breastfeeding, and newborn care classes and support.

Childbirth All or Nothing: BBC Documentary 2015

This documentary follows four women and the different choices they make to birth their babies. It focuses on extremes, hence the name "All or Nothing". From a home birth with a midwife, a home birth in water, an unassisted birth aka a free birth, and a planned C-section you'll see why they made the choices they made. Other topics discussed are . . .

• A blessing way
• Consuming the placenta in a smoothie 
• Cord prolapse
• Delayed cord clamping
• Doulas
• Gestational Diabetes  
• Hypnosis for childbirth
• IVF
• A lotus birth
• Natural induction

You can watch the full 50 minute documentary on YouTube and read more about it at In Pursuit of Midwifery. You might also be interested in The Business of Being Born. There's also a sequel, called More Business of Being Born, which has four parts.

1. Part 1: Down on the Farm
2. Part 2: Special Deliveries
3. Part 3: Explore Your Options
4. Part 4: The VBAC Dilemma

Two other good films are: Orgasmic Birth and Organic Birth and Organic Birth. 
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Tender Embrace Birthing offers childbirth, breastfeeding, and newborn care classes and support.

Doctors and Midwives Who Will Do Home Births in Korea

Updated 23 September 2017

Home births aren't that common in Korea and only a few doctors and midwives who do them speak English. If you're going to have a home birth, read the information in The Essential Homebirth Guide. It will definitely help you and your partner out.

Buy from Amazon

The Korean Midwives Association has a handful of midwives who usually don't speak English, but are willing to do home births and travel. Below you can find a list of doctors and midwives that speak English. They are all in Seoul and Gyeonggi-do, however, they may be willing to travel. Here is more information about birthing centers and hospitals in Korea.

Some places accept Korean health insurance. I also wrote an extensive article on Tricare. Keep in mind that Tricare does not cover home births overseas.You will be paying completely out of pocket if you have Tricare and want to have a home birth in Korea.

Kim Ok Jin (Rosa) Agitanseun Natural Birth Center (김옥진조산원)
Kim Okjin, Midwife aka "Rosa"
401-1, 3F Saeyang Chungmaru Sang-ga Naeson 2-dong, Uiwang, Gyeonggi-do 
경기도 의왕시 내손2동 401-1 세청마루상가 3F
Telephone: (031) 410-8597
Cell: 010-2447-8231 and 019-447-8231
ojkim80@hanmail.net
Near Indeogwon station

• Expect to pay about 3.5 mil for a home birth.

Lee Myung Hwa (행복한이명화조산원) they used to be Happy Birth
Seonbu-dong 1070-12 Gwangwon Building Office 208, Danwon-Gu, Ansan, Gyeonggi-do
경기도 안산시 단원 선부동 1070-12관원빌딩 208호
Telephone: (031) 410-3573 and 010-2803-3573

• Lee Myung Hwa is the midwife.

Mamas' Birth Center 
3rd floor, Daesakwanro 60 Yongsan-gu, SeoulTelephone: (02) 797-3573
Danica: 010-7170-1099.

• They also work with Jinny, a doula who speaks English and Korean.
• They do home births in Seoul only.  Home births are 1.2 mil and are only done in Seoul. All prices are with Korean National Insurance.  If you don't have KNI, it will be more expensive. Expect to pay about 3 mil.

Medi Flower
Dr. Hwanwook Chung
2nd Floor of Lotte Castle Medici, 1656-4 Seocho-dong, Seocho-gu, Seoul
Telephone: (02) 548-9400 (Press 9 for English)
Near Kyodae subway station

• They attend home births. Expect to pay about 3.5 mil if you have Korean insurance or about 8 mil if you don't.This is the most expensive home birth option available.
• Dr. Chung is the most amazing "labor whisperer". 

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Tender Embrace Birthing offers childbirth, breastfeeding, and newborn care classes and support.

How to Become a Doula, Breastfeeding Counselor, or Childbirth Educator in Korea

Natural birthing has really taken off in the past few years in Korea. Doulas have become more and more popular among both foreigners and Koreans. Doctors are seeing the benefits of doing less interventions if possible and are even opening up new natural birthing clinics. In addition, they are realizing the importance of childbirth education for both moms and dads. Breastfeeding is lagging a bit behind due to beliefs and culture, but there are still staunch proponents of breastfeeding infants and toddlers. Here's some information to help you enter the birthing profession.

Enroll in a Course
Many people go through CBI (Childbirth International) since the requirements can be met while living overseas. CBI doesn't require doulas to renew their certification either. There are other options as well, such as DONA. You can find a more comprehensive list here.

Join the Korea Doula Facebook Group
Once you enroll in a course you can join the Korea Doula group. It's for childbirth educators, breastfeeding counselors, birth doulas, and postpartum doulas. People come from a variety of backgrounds and live all over Korea, though most are in Seoul. Be sure to message one of the admin and explain why you want to join.

Joining the group will allow you to connect with other doulas and shadow their births so that you can fulfill all the requirements for your certification. You will also learn how much to charge, legal issues about working as a doula, contracts, how to choose a back-up doula, and more. There are fewer breastfeeding counselors and childbirth educators than doulas, but you should still be able to get observe classes if necessary. The group is very close-knit and helpful.

Get Clients
There are a number of Facebook groups where you can find clients. Some forbid advertising, so be careful. You might be able to PM people. Word of mouth is definitely the best. Once your name is out there, people will start to recommend you.

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Tender Embrace Birthing offers childbirth, breastfeeding, and newborn care classes and support.

Getting a Breast Exam in Korea

Breast exams aren't normally a part of a woman's annual exam in Korea. Some obgyns will do them, but most don't and you might have to go elsewhere. I'm sure you already know that you should be doing monthly BSE (breast self exams). In Korea they recommend Asian women to start getting mammograms at age 40 and western women to start at age 50.

I went earlier this year because I found a lump in my left breast. I went to the doctor in the US and they said it might be a cyst and were worried because it was big. They also found one in my right breast. I don't have American insurance and the mammogram alone would have run me $1000 and they said it could take a few weeks for the results. I decided to just wait until I got back to Korea.

Once I got back I went to SCH (Soonchunhyun) Hospital in Hannam near Itaewon. With NHS the mammogram was only about 23,000. NHS covered the other half of it. The sonogram was not covered and it was 170,000.

I had heard that mammograms were extremely painful, but it really didn't hurt that much at all. It was uncomfortable because my whole side and face was pressed up against the machine but it really didn't hurt. They took two X-rays of each side: one horizontally and another diagonally. It was fast and over in minutes. I now regret having had a mammogram now that I know how harmful they are and that there are facts against using them. The sonogram was painless. They just put some gel on you and run the machine up and down your breasts and in your armpits. I got the results right away and they were negative: no cysts, nothing.

If you're looking to get a breast exam you can try going to a large hospital near you. You can also call the Global Centers and they can tell you if there are any small clinics near you that offer this service. If you find anything it's best to go ASAP.

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Tender Embrace Birthing offers childbirth, breastfeeding, and newborn care classes and support.

The Many Benefits of Infant Massage

Updated 5 September 2016

Massage has been proven to have many benefits both mental and physical. These benefits can be extended to infants, toddlers, and children as well. It's never too late to start massaging your baby. Some parents make it part of their bedtime routine. Infants aren't able to sit still for long and massages may only last five minutes or so. However, even this short time provides lots of benefits.

Born to Play has free handouts about how to give infant massage. You can watch a short infant massage at the end of Thalasso Bain Bebe par Sonia Rochel which is based on the principles of Fredrick Leboyer, famous for his book, Birth Without Violence.  Some birthing professionals might offer baby massage classes or be able to recommend someone who does. You could also try asking at your hospital or clinic. You can always learn how to massage your baby yourself. 

According to the IAIM (International Association of Infant Massage), Loving Touch, and Infant Massage USA, infant massage can help by stimulating, relaxing, providing relief, and helping with bonding. Below you can find some of the mental and physical benefits of infant massage. Buy from Amazon

Keep in mind that as with other massage therapist specialisations, there is no licensing, certification, or verification to teach infant massage. Those who are already massage therapists are legally allowed to call themselves infant massage therapists. Those are aren't massage therapists can only legally call themselves infant massage instructors and cannot touch other people's babies. They can only demonstrate on dolls or their own baby. 

Mental Benefits

• Promotes bonding through eye contact, touch, voice, smell, movement, and thermal regulation
• Assists with verbal and non-verbal communication
• Develops trust
• Stimulates the senses
• Provides a special time that shows love, respect, compassion, and being valued
• Helps with moods
• Reduces stress hormones
• Stimulates mind and body awareness
• Reduces crying
• Enhances brain development by sparking neurons
• Stimulates learning and concentration

Physical Benefits

• Stimulates circulatory, hormonal, digestive, and immune systems
• Stimulates coordination and balance 
• Improves the flow of oxygen
• Stimulates muscular growth and development
• Relieves gas, colic, constipation
• Assists with bowel movements
• Relieves growing pains
• Relieve teething pains
• Improves sleep and regulates their sleep-wake cycle
• Improves flexibility and muscle tone

Benefits for the Parents or Caregivers
According to Loving Touch, here are a few of the benefits the parents or caregivers get by massaging their baby.

• Promotes bonding through eye contact, touch, voice, smell, movement, and thermal regulation
• Encourages pre-communication
• Helps parents feel more confident in their parenting abilities
• Eases stress, especially for working parents who are separated from their babies for extended periods of time
• Helps parents learn and respond to their baby's cues
• Provide one-on-one quiet time
• Creates a routine
• Gives fathers a way to interact with their babies

Online Classes
Here are some online classes to learn how to become a baby massage instructor.

• Certified Infant Massage Therapist/Instructor
• Diploma in Teaching Infant Massage for childcare professionals

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Tender Embrace Birthing offers childbirth, breastfeeding, and newborn care classes and support.

Speech Therapists in Korea

Updated 25 June 2017

Here are some speech therapists in Korea. Look into telepractise as well! If you know of any others that should be added to the list, please let me know.

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Mindcare Institute

• They might offer English speech therapy (there are mixed reviews about the quality).

Seoul Foreign School

• They may have hired a new speech therapist, but I don't know if they are allowed to see children who are not students.

Severance International Hospital Yeson Voice Center in Apgujeong

• Part of a big hospital. 

Working with your child
If you are unable to find an English speaking speech therapist, you might want to try working with your child at home. The book, The Teaching of Talking has lots of good information.

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Tender Embrace Birthing offers childbirth, breastfeeding, and newborn care classes and support.

Recommended Books

Here's a list of all the books I've recommended.

Buy from Amazon

• Birth and Labor
• Breastfeeding
• C-section and VBAC
• Disabilities and Abnormalities
• Doulas
• Fatherhood
• Fertility and Infertility
• Grief and Loss
• Parenting
• Postpartum Depression
• Pregnancy
• Sleep

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Tender Embrace Birthing offers childbirth, breastfeeding, and newborn care classes and support.

When Will My Baby Sleep Through the Night?

Updated 6 April 2016

Many parents ask this question and there are a lot of factors that come into play. The good news is that by the time your child is in kindergarten they will sleep through the night. (I'm not even kidding.) Babies aren't meant to sleep through the night, and research backs this up, for a variety of reasons.

1. Babies enter sleep through REM sleep meaning that it's easier for them to wake up. They also have more REM cycles than adults which means they are more likely to wake up. The fact that they wake up so often is due to a survival mechanism. 
2. No one knows what causes SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome) but one theory says that babies simply forget to breath. While this sounds ridiculous to us as adults, look at babies and you can see how helpless they are. They can't even burp by themselves. This theory says that if a baby wakes up more often they are less likely to forget to breath, which is another reason why babies aren't meant to sleep through the night.
3. Another reason babies wake up a lot is because they have small stomachs. Food is digested quickly and they want more. Breastmilk is more easily digested than formula and breastfed babies may wake up more often.
4. Babies know that their moms are essential to their survival for food, safety, comfort, and warmth. They wake up because they want to make sure their mom is close to them. 

Officially "sleeping through the night" is when your baby sleeps for 5 hours straight. Remember that infants should be waking up every 3-4 hours to feed, so this isn't likely to happen until your baby is around 5-6 months old. With our parenting skills being put under the microscope due to social media, parents often feel pressured to lie about their baby sleeping through the night. Stop comparing yourself and your baby to others. It's simply not fair. Some people find that when they co-sleep with their baby their baby wakes up more, while for others the opposite is true. You'll have to find what works for you.

There are lots of different ways to put a baby to sleep. Babies seem to like rocking, bouncing, white noise (there are apps and some people try hair dryers, vacuum cleaners, or tennis balls in the washer), singing, car rides, etc. Here's a cute video showing how one parent uses a tissue to get a baby to sleep. The key is to creating a routine and sticking to it if at all possible. Here are some recommended books to help get you started.

Some parents are more strict than others and put their baby on a schedule as soon as they get home, while others are more laid-back. For me personally, my 4 year old has slept through the night (8+ hours) twice. Once when she was jet-lagged at 9 months old and once when she was sick at 3.5 years old. I know eventually she will sleep through the night and that this is just a phase. A long phase at that, but still a phase. I also know I'll miss it when she no longer needs me to comfort her. Enjoy every moment, both the easy and the hard, because they really do grow up fast.
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Tender Embrace Birthing offers childbirth, breastfeeding, and newborn care classes and support.

Recommended Books about Disabilities and Abnormalities

There are so many books out there that it's easy to get overwhelmed. Here are some books that consistently get good reviews. The Book Depository has free shipping to Korea. What the Book in Itaewon can get most books for you. Amazon might be a good option if you have someone coming to visit or can buy the Kindle version of the book. The descriptions are based off of Amazon's descriptions.


Choosing Naia: A Family's Journey
Written by Mitchell Zuckoff

This book discusses one family's journey through genetic counseling, medical jargon, and disability rights. You can buy it from Amazon or the Book Depository.



Raising Henry: A Memoir of Motherhood, Disability, and Discovery
Written by Rachel Adams

Rachel had a perfect life: a wonderful husband, and a two-year-old, a Manhattan apartment, and a tenured job at Columbia University. Everything changed after the birth of her second child. Diagnosed with Down syndrome, she knew that her life would never been the same. She talks about the first three years of his life and how she has changed because of her experiences. She also discusses social prejudice, disability policy, genetics, prenatal testing, and inclusive education. You can buy it from Amazon or the Book Depository.



Uncommon Fathers: Reflections on Raising a Child with a Disability
Edited by Donald J. Meyer

A collection of essays written from the father's perspective. They discuss how the birth and life of their child has changed their lives. It shows how disabilities affect families. The stories are written from the heart and discuss both the positive and negative issues. You can buy it from Amazon or the Book Depository.


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Tender Embrace Birthing offers childbirth, breastfeeding, and newborn care classes and support.

What to Bring to the Hospital When Having a Baby

Most people end up over-packing when they go to hospital or birthing center to have a baby. That's good though, because it's nice to have something in case you need it. Yeon and Nature has a sample packing list of what you could bring.

One thing I recommend is making a list and keeping it near your bags. This way you can ensure that you won't forget anything, like chargers for your phone. You can make a list in the third trimester just in case you need to go to the hospital earlier than planned. Pack your bags around 37 weeks. This is when a baby is full-term. 
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Tender Embrace Birthing offers childbirth, breastfeeding, and newborn care classes and support.

Spinning Babies

Created by Gail Tully, CPM, Spinning Babies is a technique that allows babies to get into the correct position for birth. By focusing on lengthening muscles, balancing your body, and getting to know your pelvis you can help get your baby into the optimal position. Spinning Babies can help breech babies and backwards facing babies flip without invasive methods.

Buy from Amazon

They have workshops and events that are held all over the world.  They also have online classes:

• Belly mapping: see what position your baby is in
• Daily essentials: an exercise program.
• Spinning babies parent class: highly recommended to get your baby in the right position

These daily activities will balance your body and make space for your baby to be born. This amazing video is unlike anything you’ve ever seen! It's 79 minutes and has information about:

• Daily Activities, a gentle 35-minute stretch into birth
• Move Smart – walking, standing, getting in and out of the car without sparking sciatica, and more! 
• Rest Smart – because Gravity works 24/7. Play the flashlight game.
• Forward Leaning Inversion – really!
• Sarah Longacre’s 28-minute Blooma Yoga Flow 

By practicing these exercises daily you're more likely to have an easier labor and birth.  Renowned midwife, Gail Tully, offers practical know-how for birthing naturally in today’s modern civilization. Spinning babies is famous and rightly so for having helped thousands of women around the globe. You won’t learn this approach anywhere else! This 120 minute video has information about:

• Avoiding unwanted and unexpected cesarean surgery for lack of progress 
• Using the Fantastic Four balancing activities for pregnancy and labor 
• Tips for flipping breech or transverse babies in pregnancy 
• Engaging baby by early labor to shorten labor and avoid surgery 
• Overcoming a posterior or transverse arrest 
• How to tell if labor is progressing normally or has a stall that you can resolve!

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Tender Embrace Birthing offers childbirth, breastfeeding, and newborn care classes and support.

Recommended Books about Fatherhood

There are so many books out there that it's easy to get overwhelmed. Here are some books that consistently get good reviews. The Book Depository has free shipping to Korea. What the Book in Itaewon can get most books for you. Amazon might be a good option if you have someone coming to visit or can buy the Kindle version of the book. The descriptions are based off of Amazon's descriptions.


Do Fathers Matter?: What Science is Telling Us About the Parent We've Overlooked
Written by Paul Raeburn

Traditionally fathers have been authoritative figures who provide for their children financially. New studies show how fathers changes when their partner is pregnant, how they affect their child's speech, if a child can influence their father's health, and more. You can buy it from Amazon or the Book Depository.



Great Expectations: Becoming a Dad: The First Three Years
Written by John C. Carr LCSW

The author is a social worker and psychotherapist who discusses all the how-to's as well as the emotional side of being a father. He also talks about the crucial impact a father has on his child and why they need to be there from the start. You can buy it from Amazon or the Book Depository.



When I First Held You: 22 Critically Acclaimed Writers Talk About Triumphs, Challenges, and Transformative Experience of Fatherhood
Written by Brian Gresko

Becoming a father is a life-changing event. This book contains stories about deciding to have children, birthing, tantrums, and letting a teen out into the world. You can buy it from Amazon or the Book Depository.


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Tender Embrace Birthing offers childbirth, breastfeeding, and newborn care classes and support.

Baby Fairs in Korea

Updated 10 December 2016

Baby Fairs are great since you can see and try many things you might want to buy for your baby. Some fairs have an entrance fee, though usually if you pre-register, it's waived. Prices range widely for the items. My suggestion would be to try the items out and then buy them at home or have friends or family ship or bring them to you. You should also definitely consider a baby registry. You can then have people ship you the items, go get them when you visit, or have family bring them when they visit.

Even if you don't buy anything from the fair, it's still nice to be able to see the item ahead of time and sometimes you can get samples. Some booths even give out generous gifts. Many people order online or have friends or family members bring things when they come to visit since it's usually cheaper that way.

Below you can find links to information about baby fairs for specific years. For more information check out their websites or call them. All of them are held in big malls and should have English speakers. If they don't, call 120 and they will do a three-way call and translate for you. Or you could try Go Wonderfully.

• 2016 Baby Fairs
• 2017 Baby Fairs: I don't have much info right now. If anyone knows anything about them, please let me know! 

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Tender Embrace Birthing offers childbirth, breastfeeding, and newborn care classes and support.

ICAN of Seoul: International Cesarean Awareness Network

Updated 12 November 2017

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*ICAN of Seoul no longer meets. If you're interested in starting ICAN in Seoul, please contact them.

If you're trying to avoid a C-section or trying for a VBAC, choosing a good hospital or clinic is key. VBACs aren't common in Korea, though more doctors are willing to let women "try" for one. Below you can find some other articles written about VBACs or C-sections.

• 7 things to do to get the birth you want
• Birth plans for Korea
• Recommended C-section and VBAC books
• Signs your doctor will perform an unnecessary C-sections
• VBACs in Korea

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Tender Embrace Birthing offers childbirth, breastfeeding, and newborn care classes and support.

Recommended Books for Parenting

There are so many books out there that it's easy to get overwhelmed. Here are some books that consistently get good reviews. The Book Depository has free shipping to Korea. What the Book in Itaewon can get most books for you. Amazon might be a good option if you have someone coming to visit or can buy the Kindle version of the book. The descriptions are based off of Amazon's descriptions.


The Attachment Connection: Parenting a Secure and Confident Child Using the Science of Attachment Theory
Written by Ruth Newton PhD

This book discusses the facts about attachment parenting. It discusses why the first five years of development are key and how you can help your child grow up to be happy, secure, and confident. You'll learn about your child's brain development. You can buy it off Amazon or the Book Depository.



The Baby Book, Revised Edition: Everything You Need to Know About Your Baby from Birth to Age Two
Written by William Sears, Martha Sear, Robert Sears, and James Sears

Written by the famous Sears, this book discusses the questions that concern parents most: from eating, sleeping, development, health, comfort, and more. You can buy if off Amazon or the Book Depository.



Kids: How Biology and Culture Shape the Way We Raise Young Children
Written by Meredith F. Small

A follow-up to the book Our Babies, Ourselves, this book discusses how we raise our children. Scientific research on human evolution and biology is presented. The author talks about how parents can enhance or hold back the emotional and psychological growth of their children. You can buy it off Amazon or the Book Depository.



Our Babies, Ourselves: How Biology and Culture Shape the Way We Parent
Written by Meredith F. Small

This book suggests that we reconsider our culture's traditional views on parenting. You'll find out that somethings that are culturally done may not be the best for our children. Learn about babies sleeping alone, bottle vs. breastfeeding, how long you should wait to pick up a crying infant, and whether it's important to talk to your baby. It's an interesting book that challenges many of our beliefs about parenting. You can buy it on Amazon or the Book Depository.



The Vaccine Book: Making the Right Decision for Your Child
Written by Robert W. Sears

This book is fact-based and offers impartial data about vaccines. There is also an alternative vaccination schedule. Information about how common the disease is, what the ingredients in the vaccinations is, how serious the effects of the disease are, and what side effects the vaccine may cause are also covered. There is also information about Canadian vaccinations. You can buy it off Amazon or the Book Depository.


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Tender Embrace Birthing offers childbirth, breastfeeding, and newborn care classes and support.

Sept-Dec 2015: Upcoming Events and Resources

Updated 15 October 2015

I work with Morning Calm Birthing Services to provide a variety of pregnancy, birth, breastfeeding, postpartum, and parenting support in Seoul. Feel free to contact me if you have any questions.

Upcoming Classes and Events

Childbirth, Breastfeeding, and Newborn Care Classes: a 12-hour class covering a variety of topics from pregnancy to postpartum. Classes are Sundays from 2-6pm near Gongdeok subway station. 

• November: Sundays, the 1st, 8th, and 15th (One space left)

Milky Mamas Meetings: a breastfeeding support group that meets from 10:30am-12:30pm.

• Thursdays at Yongsan Healthy Family Center: Oct 22, Nov TBA, Dec TBA
• Saturdays at Homestead Coffee: Nov 14, Dec 12

Breastfeeding and Newborn Care with Dunstan Baby Language Classes: this class teaches you breastfeeding basics, newborn care, and how to interpret your baby's cries. Classes are on Sunday from 10am-3pm near Gongdeok subway station.

• December: Sunday the 20th (Two spaces left)

Baby Fairs

• Korea Baby and Education Fair at KINTEX in Goyang, Gyeonggi-do. October 1-4th, 2015
• Seoul Baby Fair at SETEC in Gangnam. October 22-25th, 2015 
• Seoul International Mom and Baby Fair at Seoul International Baptist Church in Yongsan. November 7th, 2015

Support

Breastfeeding Support

• I offer breastfeeding support that can be done in person, on the phone, or via Skype. I can help with latch, positioning, knowing whether your baby is hungry or getting enough milk, and common breastfeeding problems.

Postpartum Support

• I can help you adjust to life with your new baby. I will visit you at home and help you with breastfeeding and newborn care, such as bathing, breastfeeding, diapering, and sleeping. 

Resources

Tender Embrace Birthing contains a number of resources such as . . .

• a list of doulas, postpartum, and breastfeeding support 
• a list of foreign friendly hospitals and birthing centers
• much more information about general pregnancy, birthing, breastfeeding, postpartum, and parenting issues as well as Korea specific information can be found on the resources page

Upcoming Blog Posts

• Sept 3: Recommended Books for Parenting
• Sept 17: ICAN of Seoul: International Cesarean Awareness Network
• Sept 25: Recommended Books about Fatherhood
• Oct 3: Spinning Babies
• Oct. 6: What to Bring to the Hospital When Having a Baby 
• Oct 12: Recommended Books about Disabilities and Abnormalities
• Oct 15: When Will My Baby Sleep Through the Night?
• Oct 20: A List of All the Recommended Books
• Nov 8: The Many Benefits of Infant Massage
• Nov 14: Getting a Breast Exam in Korea  
• Nov 28: How to Become a Doula in Korea

About Me

I've been involved in the birthing field since early 2013. I am certified as a childbirth educator, postpartum doula, breastfeeding counselor, and Dunstan Baby Language Educator. The about me page contains more information about my training and experience.You can also see what people have said about my blog and services.

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Tender Embrace Birthing offers childbirth, breastfeeding, and newborn care classes and support.

Free Online Childbirth and Breastfeeding Classes

Updated 25 September 2016

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Some people are not able to attend a face-to-face class. Here are some places where you can do a free online course.

Breastfeeding 

• The Colorado government has some information about breastfeeding and baby-friendly hospitals.  
• Northside Hospital: Sign up needed.
• Pregnancy.about.com: Sign up needed.
• Pregnancy.about.com: No need to sign up.
• The Newborn Baby: 30 minute webinar.

Childbirth, Breastfeeding, and Newborn Care

• Baby Center: 51 videos, no need to sign up.
• Lesly Notes: 20 part class, no sign up needed.
• Very Well: 6 part class, no sign up needed.

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Tender Embrace Birthing offers childbirth, breastfeeding, and newborn care classes and support.

Event: Normalize Breastfeeding June 27th, 2015

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Updated 25 September 2016

Normalize Breastfeeding is trying to raise awareness and address the taboo of breastfeeding. They have a website and a Facebook page, and even sell t-shirts. August is Breastfeeding Awareness Month.

I'm happy to say that breastfeeding in public in Korea isn't a problem. There are also plenty of nursing rooms that can be found in subway stations and department stores.

In addition, there's lots of support both online and in-person. You can find more info though here about La Leche League and MMKorea Nursing Support.


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Tender Embrace Birthing offers childbirth, breastfeeding, and newborn care classes and support.

Recommended Sleep Books for Babies

There are so many books out there that it's easy to get overwhelmed. Here are some books that consistently get good reviews. The Book Depository has free shipping to Korea. What the Book in Itaewon can get most books for you. Amazon might be a good option if you have someone coming to visit or can buy the Kindle version of the book. The descriptions are based off of Amazon's descriptions.


The No-Cry Sleep Solution: Gentle Ways to Help Your Baby Sleep Through the Night
Written by Elizabeth Pantley

While some people believe that you can either let your baby cry it out or constantly comfort them, there is a third choice and that's presented in this book. She will give you tips on what may be preventing your baby from going to sleep, how to work with your baby's natural sleep schedule, creating a customized plan for your baby, and how to teach your baby to fall asleep without breastfeeding, bottles, or a pacifier. You can buy it from Amazon or the Book Depository.



The Sleepeasy Solution: The Exhausted Parent's Guide to Getting Your Child to Sleep from Birth to Age 5
Written by Jennier Waldburger and Jill Spivack

This book discusses the emotional needs of both the parent and the child. It's a family-friendly guide that will teach parents how to identify their child's sleep needs and create an individual sleep planner. There's also information about older children, such as moving to a big kid bed. You can buy it from Amazon or the Book Depository.



Sleeping with Your Baby: A Parent's Guide to Cosleeping
Written by James J. McKenna

This book contains information on how to safely co-sleep with your baby. James McKenna is the world's authority on co-sleeping. You can buy it from Amazon or the Book Depository.



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Tender Embrace Birthing offers childbirth, breastfeeding, and newborn care classes and support.

Breastfeeding and Newborn Care with Dunstan Baby Language Classes in Seoul

Buy from Amazon

Updated 25 September 2016

* I am currently only offering breastfeeding support in the Osan area.

Please see this post to find people who work in the birthing field, such as birth doulas, breastfeeding counselors, childbirth educators, Dunstan Baby Language educators, HypnoBirthing® practitioners, IBCLCs, infant massage instructors, nutritionists, postpartum doulas, placenta encapsulation specialists, pre and post-natal massage therapists, and pre and post-natal yoga instructors. Feel free to contact me with any questions.

If you're looking for sanhujuriwons, which are traditional postpartum facilities in Korea, you can find out more here.

Dunstan Baby Language

Made famous by Oprah, DBL has helped millions of parents around the world. Priscilla Dunstan discovered DBL (Dunstan Baby Language) shortly after her son was born. With her photographic memory for sound she soon discovered that all babies, no matter what their background or language, make the same sounds which each have distinct meanings.

As a certified DBL instructor with Morning Calm Birthing Services, I will teach you how to interpret your baby's cries. Crying is instinctive and is an auditory response to a physical need. These reflexes are used by healthy full-term babies around the world during the fourth trimester (0-3 months). Parents can learn to distinguish the different cries and know what their baby needs.

Topics Covered

• Aftercare for moms
• Baby blue and postpartum depression
• Breastfeeding latch and positions
• Bottle feeding, formula feeding, and pumping
• Breastfeeding problems and solutions
• Breastfeeding tips
• Newborn care: sleeping, bathing, feeding, burping, changing, and crying
• Dunstan Baby Language 
• Finding time and space as a couple of the baby is born

Teaching Methods Used

• Grab bag
• Critical thinking
• Lectures
• Partner activities 
• Hands-on practice, such as breastfeeding and changing
• Power Point Presentations
• Physical activities, such as those for labor and birth positions
• Role Plays
• Scenarios  
• Videos

You might also be interested in . . .

• Breastfeeding Support in Seoul 
• Childbirth, Breastfeeding, and Newborn Care Classes in Seoul
• Postpartum Support in Seoul

About Me

I have been involved in the birthing field since early 2013. I hold a number of certifications, such as Dunstan Baby Language educator and breastfeeding counselor. If you have any questions about anything, please do not hesitate to contact me.


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Tender Embrace Birthing offers childbirth, breastfeeding, and newborn care classes and support.