Welcome to Mother In Touch

Welcome to Mother In Touch - our newsletter.
This project has had almost as long a gestation as a baby elephant (Two years! Poor mama elephant.) We are so glad it has finally arrived in your mailbox. We hope that this newsletter will allow us to communicate more efficiently with the Mothering Touch community.

One of my greastest joys is seeing how Mothering Touch has fostered a community. It makes me so happy to know that people who met here in childbirth classes are still providing each other with support and company two, three, even five years later. I have always known how important that is. My mother is still friends with Naomi, whom she met in childbirth classes in London, England, when she was pregnant with me in 1960! If you have any stories to tell about friendships you've made through our classes and groups, I would love to hear them. Maybe we could include some in future newsletters.

The purpose of this newsletter is to let you know about events, classes and groups here at the Centre. We want to be able to make you aware of special sales or tell you about new products we have brought in. We also hope to share important news and information about pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding and early parenting.

Margaret Guillen, one of the lovely doulas and mothers who staff our store, is the editor of this newsletter. She will be collecting cool news and info to share with you all.  If you have anything you would like to suggest, please contact her by calling the store at 250-595-4905.

You have received this newsletter because we think you will be interested in hearing our news. If this is not the case, please  click here to be unsubscribed. If you would prefer to view this newsletter online click here.

And to all you Mothers out there, I hope those who love you make you feel very special on your special day.  Happy Mothers' Day!

Warmly,  Eva

Recipe of the Month

We know how hard it can be to find foods that the whole family enjoys eating. Here's a delicious (and quite simple) recipe for Broccoli Risotto that is suitable for babies 8 months and up, and would make a lovely grown-up side for grilled chicken. This recipe is from the book The Baby's Table by Brenda Bradshaw and Lauren Donaldson Bramley, MD, and can be found in Mothering Touch's book section. Enjoy!

Broccoli Risotto

1 cup arborio rice

2 cups broccoli florets, washed

2 1/2 cups low-sodium chicken or vegetable stock

1/2 onion, diced

1 tbsp olive oil

1 cup grated Parmesan cheese

1 tbsp unsalted butter

Rinse rice and set aside.

In a saucepan, blanch broccoli in boiling stock for 4 to 5 minutes; drain and set stock aside. (This preserves nutrients that would otherwise be lost.) Once cool, chop broccoli into bite-size pieces.

Meanwhile, in a frying pan, heat oil and saute onion over medium heat until translucent, about 5 minutes. Add rice and 1/4 cup stock and cook. As the rice becomes dry, add stock, keeping the rice moist; stir after each addition. Stock should be added in small increments throughout the entire cooking process, 20 to 25 minutes.

During the last 5 minutes of cooking time, add broccoli and stir gently.

When rice is cooked it should be just tender. (Do not be tempted to add extra stock, as it will cause the rice to clump.) Once cooked, remove from heat and stir in cheese and butter. 

Serve warm for the whole family, or freeze in cubes for baby. For younger babies you may choose to pulse risotto in a food processor to achieve desired consistency.

A Parent's Guide to Packing

Summer's almost here and that means camping trips, visits to grandparents and holidays near and far. Here's a packing list we think is useful for parents whether you're just going up-island for the weekend, or travelling the globe.

Medicine, Toiletries

• Thermometer
• Toothbrush and toothpaste
• Nail clippers
• Emery board
• Baby Tylenol or Motrin
• Nasal aspirator
• Infant saline drops
• Your favourite diaper cream
• Gravol
• Q-tips for applying meds
• Band-aids in various sizes
• Unscented moisturizer
• Polysporin

Other items for your carry-on/diaper bag

• Disposable diaper wipes.
• Diapers
• A diaper change pad
• Receiving blanket
• Small picture books and non-rolling toys
• Sippy cup or water bottle
• Two changes of pants; 1-2 changes of socks and 1-2 changes of shirts. … or 2 pairs of pjs.
• 1-2 good coverage bibs
• 3 face clothes, and a small plastic bag for wet ones.
• Barf bags
• A portable DVD player with headphones
• Magnetic travel games or decks of cards - 52 Fun Things to Do on the Plane by Lynn Gordon is a neat deck of cards with plenty of activities to keep kids of all ages busy
• Your child's favourite comfort object - blankie, soother, teddy, etc

Dressing for the Plane

Choose clothing for the easiest possible diaper change/trip to the toilet, for example:
• Pants with snaps through the crotch  that don't need to be taken off completely
• An undershirt that is just a shirt, not a onesie
• If using pjs, one-piece zippered ones are great
• A sweater or extra shirt that buttons so that you can just undo it, or take it right off easily

Tip: If your travels are taking you out of the country, we've found Prism Imaging on Fort St to be the most child-friendly place in Victoria to get passport photos done.