Does the legislative process feel intimidating or confusing? Join us to demystify it all and learn how to become an active participant!

Objectives

This webinar is designed to help attendees:

1. Understand the state policymaking process in Maine

2. Identify ways to engage

3. Feel confident participating in advocacy

Speaker

Brooke Barron has devoted her career to public service, with experience working for the Maine State Legislature, U.S. Congress, the Biden-Harris Transition Team, and the Obama-Biden White House. She lives in Harpswell with her husband and two kids. Brooke aims to help simplify the sometimes mystifying state policymaking process!

Your donation is much appreciated and helps us offer these educational programs.

The MSBC Connecting the Dots meetings are a chance for people who work with new families to come together and share what's going on in their worlds and learn from each other.

Topics we often discuss are:

• What is happening legislatively that could impact our work?

• What else is going on in Maine that you’d like to share – one or two updates that the group can help you or others achieve, solve, or think about?

• What new research ideas are emerging?

• What challenges are you having in your work that colleagues could help you with?

Feedback from participants includes comments like:

“I always walk away feeling like a better human after attending these meetings!”

“I learned a lot about legislation and am grateful for the information.”

“I appreciate the opportunity to have open dialogue about new guidelines.”

Sign up for our newsletter or contact us for the Zoom meeting info.

Objectives

This virtual webinar is designed to help providers:

1. Understand the impact of traditions and customs of the African population and society.
2. Learn about food culture in pregnancy and postpartum for Central and South African families: food avoidance during pregnancy; food recommended during pregnancy; nutrition during postpartum period; and food recommended for recovery and encouraging lactation.
3. Understand the food challenges for New African Migrants in Maine.

Speaker

Pauline Lumumba (She, her, hers) is currently working with The Opportunity Alliance as a Multilingual Nutrition Counselor for WIC Special Project based at Maine Medical Center. The project focuses on enrolling Pregnant and Postpartum Patients, and also children under 5 not receiving WIC benefits but who are eligible. Pauline works in teamwork with Providers at Women's Clinic, Peds, NICU, Labor and Delivery and Mother & Baby Care. She provides nutrition education, benefits, breast pumps, and referrals to local resources for participants. She speaks French, English, Lingala and Tetela.

Lumumba is originally from DR Congo where she got her master's degrees in economics and education. She worked on different projects for community development, Public Health and teaching in Congo and outside of Congo. She moved to Maine in 2010 and volunteered for several years as Women Leader for Congolese Community of Maine (Cocomaine), where she was assisting new Mainers how to integrate into their new life in Maine. From 2011 up to now, she worked in different fields as a CNA, Medical Interpreter, Community Healthcare Worker and Multilingual Nutrition Counselor.

The MSBC Connecting the Dots meetings are a chance for people who work with new families to come together and share what's going on in their worlds and learn from each other.

Topics we often discuss are:

• What is happening legislatively that could impact our work?

• What else is going on in Maine that you’d like to share – one or two updates that the group can help you or others achieve, solve, or think about?

• What new research ideas are emerging?

• What challenges are you having in your work that colleagues could help you with?

Feedback from participants includes comments like:

“I always walk away feeling like a better human after attending these meetings!”

“I learned a lot about legislation and am grateful for the information.”

“I appreciate the opportunity to have open dialogue about new guidelines.”

Sign up for our newsletter or contact us for the Zoom meeting info.

Objectives

This webinar is designed to help providers:

1. Learn changes that occur in the pregnant body and how these changes influence early postpartum recovery

2. Learn differences between vaginal and C-section deliveries have on early postpartum recovery and mobility

3. Learn tips to provide birthing parents to help optimize their comfort and healing during the early postpartum period

4. Learn overview of the pelvic floor and why pelvic floor therapy assessment should be standard of care for all postpartum people

5. Learn signs and symptoms that would indicate pelvic floor dysfunction and when to refer to a pelvic health PT/OT

6. Overview of what you can share with birthing parents about what to expect from pelvic floor therapy postpartum

Speaker

Dr. Jenn Gelfand, PT, DPT, E-RTY

Physical Therapist, Pelvic Health Specialist, Yoga Instructor, & Owner of Root To Rise Physical Therapy & Pelvic Health

Dr. Jenn is a Doctor of Physical Therapy and a specialist in pelvic floor therapy with over 14 years of clinical experience. She received her Bachelors of Science in Exercise Physiology from the University of Massachusetts in 2003 and her postgraduate degree in Physical Therapy from Simmons College in 2008. Dr. Jenn is also a yoga and barre instructor and the Owner of Root To Rise Physical Therapy & Pelvic Health located in Scarborough and Saco, Maine.

Her practice specializes in pelvic floor rehabilitation including the treatment of bladder and bowel dysfunction, pelvic pain, prenatal care, and postpartum recovery. Dr. Jenn and her team provide evidence-based, individualized care and combine whole body approach to physical and occupational therapy with yoga-based movement practices to promote lasting relief and optimize our quality of life. Dr. Jenn is passionate about making these topics accessible and educating anyone who will listen about the importance of pelvic health.

In addition, Dr. Jenn leads yoga and pelvic floor workshops and educates yoga teachers in training in applied anatomy for 200 and 300hr Yoga Teacher Training programs.

Join us for the 2024 Patchwork of Parenthood Storytelling Fundraising Event! Go here for more info…

https://www.mainebreastfeeds.org/pop2024

This May meeting is our Annual Meeting. Please join us for an update on the MSBC followed by time for Q&A and an opportunity to connect with one another.

12:00 - 12:05 pm

Getting Grounded - Welcome, agenda review

12:05 – 12:45pm

MSBC Annual Update

12:45 – 1:00pm

Q&A: Your opportunity to share brief updates and ask questions of the MSBC board and/or fellow meeting participants.

Sign up for our newsletter or contact us for the Zoom meeting info.

This webinar has been rescheduled from April 4th to Wednesday May 1st!

Join us for this webinar to learn about disaster preparedness in Maine and the critical role of human milk feeding and lactation support.

This webinar is designed to help providers:

1. Describe the vital role of breastfeeding during disasters.

2. Examine lactation providers' role in disaster preparedness and response

3. Identify resources that lactation providers can use to support breastfeeding during disasters.

Speakers:

Jennifer Russell

Jennifer Russell, MSN, RN, CCRN-K, IBCLC, NHDP-BC, CHEP, and Ph.D. Candidate, is a seasoned registered nurse with a career spanning over 25 years, encompassing pediatrics, lactation, public health, and emergency preparedness. She holds a BSN from Union University and an MSN from the University of Phoenix. She has served in numerous leadership and committee roles, including two-time past president of the Memphis Area Lactation Consultant Association. She now represents the Tennessee Breastfeeding Coalition on the Infant and Young Child Feeding in Emergencies Constellation with the United States Breastfeeding Committee. Currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Nursing Science at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center, she passionately researches the impact of natural disasters on breastfeeding dyads. Her dedication to improving maternal-child health, increasing access to lactation support, and enhancing the capacity for disaster health response propels her to bridge the gap between nursing, lactation, and emergency management.

Bill Guindon

Bill Guindon serves as the Mass Care Coordinator for the Maine Emergency Management Agency, a position held since May 2022. He previously served position with the American Red Cross Northern New England Region as Disaster State Relations Liaison/Mass Care Coordinator since February 2020. As Mass Care Coordinator, Bill serves as the Maine State lead during a Natural or Human-Caused Disaster or Public Health Emergency in Mass Care Duties which include Sheltering, Emergency Feeding, Distribution of Emergency Supplies, and Family Reunification.

Bill has served in a variety of public and private sector leadership positions in Oregon, Colorado and Maine which included a 40-year Career in the Fire Service in stints as Fire Chief, Deputy and Division Chief, Fire Training Center Director, Fire Chaplain, Fire Service Liaison, Fire Training and Safety Officer, State Fire Training Director, Interim City and Town Manager, General Manager, and Maine VOAD Co-Chair. During his career he has responded to several incidents in a variety of roles which has included the Columbine High School Shooting, Fires, and other situations. During his career he has actively been involved in collaborative efforts in emergency planning, response, and community risk reduction and performed numerous organizational and safety assessments.

Bill has a Bachelor of Science Degree in Organizational Management from Colorado Christian University and a Master’s degree in Public Administration from Anna Maria College.

The MSBC Connecting the Dots meetings are a chance for people who work with new families to come together and share what's going on in their worlds and learn from each other.

Topics we often discuss are:

• What is happening legislatively that could impact our work?

• What else is going on in Maine that you’d like to share – one or two updates that the group can help you or others achieve, solve, or think about?

• What new research ideas are emerging?

• What challenges are you having in your work that colleagues could help you with?

Feedback from participants includes comments like:

“I always walk away feeling like a better human after attending these meetings!”

“I learned a lot about legislation and am grateful for the information.”

“I appreciate the opportunity to have open dialogue about new guidelines.”

Sign up for our newsletter or contact us for the Zoom meeting info.

Join us for this FREE webinar to learn more about expected feeding patterns and troubleshooting common challenges in the first weeks.

This webinar is designed to help providers:

1. Identify expected feeding patterns and volume transfer between days 3 and week 2

2. Understand how to assess and trouble shoot problems in the first few weeks

3. Describe next steps in supporting these families

Speaker:

Speaker: Paula Norcott, CLC, IBCLC. Co-Owner of Maine Mother and Company, a perinatal resource center in Brunswick Maine.

Paula is a lactation consultant with over 23 years experience serving feeding parents. Paula got her start in this work as a peer counselor for WIC in Plymouth Massachusetts in 1999. She worked in a fast paced hospital setting for 5 plus years. She currently works in private practice, in the infant feeding tech world and consults for both the state as well as a well known pump company. Frustrated by how nipple pain is brushed off and how slow infant gain is blamed on feeding parents, Paula has made it her mission to help these families feel confident in their plan and their ability to feed their tiny humans with a mental health first approach.

When not helping other families, Paula can be found at home, with her husband and at least a few of her five children, likely drinking GOOD chai, knitting and obsessing about when the next Percy Jackson episode will be released.

The MSBC Connecting the Dots meetings are a chance for people who work with new families to come together and share what's going on in their worlds and learn from each other.

Topics we often discuss are:

• What is happening legislatively that could impact our work?

• What else is going on in Maine that you’d like to share – one or two updates that the group can help you or others achieve, solve, or think about?

• What new research ideas are emerging?

• What challenges are you having in your work that colleagues could help you with?

Feedback from participants includes comments like:

“I always walk away feeling like a better human after attending these meetings!”

“I learned a lot about legislation and am grateful for the information.”

“I appreciate the opportunity to have open dialogue about new guidelines.”

Sign up for our newsletter or contact us for the Zoom meeting info.

Join us for this FREE webinar to learn more about the latest in breast pump technology!

Objectives:

This webinar is designed to help providers:

1. Analyze common breast pump terminology

2. Discuss and compare possible benefits of different breast pumps

3. Identify support necessary to improve pumping experiences for lactating individuals

Speaker:

Brittany Regan Fisher has worked in the health and wellness field for over 8 years with a focus on education as well as birth and lactation support. She has worked as a birth and postpartum doula, a HypnoBirthing® practitioner, and a CPST.

Brittany is currently on the board of the Massachusetts Breastfeeding Coalition and is the National Director of ZipMilk, a project of the Coalition. She is also the Regional Account Manager at Acelleron, a local DME. 

The MSBC Connecting the Dots meetings are a chance for people who work with new families to come together and share what's going on in their worlds and learn from each other.

Topics we often discuss are:

• What is happening legislatively that could impact our work?

• What else is going on in Maine that you’d like to share – one or two updates that the group can help you or others achieve, solve, or think about?

• What new research ideas are emerging?

• What challenges are you having in your work that colleagues could help you with?

Feedback from participants includes comments like:

“I always walk away feeling like a better human after attending these meetings!”

“I learned a lot about legislation and am grateful for the information.”

“I appreciate the opportunity to have open dialogue about new guidelines.”

Sign up for our newsletter or contact us for the Zoom meeting info.

Join us for this FREE webinar to learn more about pasteurized donor human milk in Maine.

Objectives:

1. Outline safety standards in donor milk banking.

2. List reasons why an infant might be offered supplementation with Pasteurized Donor Human Milk (PDHM) in hospital or at home.

3. Explain how families can access donor milk in hospital and at home.

4. Recall where to go to find out more about MaineCare and private insurance coverage for donor human milk in the state.

Speaker:

Kylia Garver is Director of Hospital Relations and Community Education at Mothers' Milk Bank Northeast. She earned her Master of Public Health Degree at Boston University with a concentration in Maternal Child Health. In her role at the milk bank, Kylia builds partnerships with a wide range of medical personnel, conducts educational trainings and supports families and clinical staff who have questions about donor milk. Kylia has three children of her own, now well beyond their breastfeeding years, but she continues to be passionate about supporting families particularly during postpartum.

The MSBC Connecting the Dots meetings are a chance for people who work with new families to come together and share what's going on in their worlds and learn from each other.

Topics we often discuss are:

• What is happening legislatively that could impact our work?

• What else is going on in Maine that you’d like to share – one or two updates that the group can help you or others achieve, solve, or think about?

• What new research ideas are emerging?

• What challenges are you having in your work that colleagues could help you with?

Feedback from participants includes comments like:

“I always walk away feeling like a better human after attending these meetings!”

“I learned a lot about legislation and am grateful for the information.”

“I appreciate the opportunity to have open dialogue about new guidelines.”

Sign up for our newsletter or contact us for the Zoom meeting info.

Summary:

This webinar will review some of the common feeding struggles in early infancy from the clinical perspectives of a pediatric gastroenterologist and speech language pathologist. We will review reflux, food allergies vs. intolerances, and common challenges with breast and bottle feeding.

Objectives:

1. Learn to troubleshoot feeding challenges in the first 6 months of life

   • Reflux and when to worry

   • Intolerances and when to eliminate

   • Difficulty with breast or bottle feeding from an SLP perspective

2. Obtain additional resources to help manage some conditions and educate families

Speakers:

Julia Fritz, MD is a Pediatric Gastroenterologist at Maine Medical Partners and the Barbara Bush Children’s Hospital. She graduated from Mount Sinai School of Medicine (now Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai) in 2011 before completing her pediatric residency at Maine Medical Center. She then moved to Milwaukee, WI to complete her fellowship training in GI at Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin before returning to MMC in 2017. She is a clinical assistant professor of pediatrics at Tufts University School of Medicine and the rotation director and inpatient service director for pediatric gastroenterology at BBCH. In addition to her clinical work and role in medical education, she is active in advocacy, serving on the North American Society for Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition committee of Public Affairs and Advocacy.

Virginia Weill, M.Ed., CCC-SLP holds a Master of Education degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders from the University of Virginia. She is a Speech-Language Pathologist and Clinical Specialist with 13 years of experience in pediatrics. She primarily works at Maine Medical Center, and per diem at MaineHealth Care at Home-Cumberland and The Maine Chatterbox. She specializes in neonatal and pediatric Feeding and Swallowing Disorders, the aerodigestive and cardiac population, and conducts neonatal and pediatric swallow studies (MBS/VFSS and FEES).

The MSBC Connecting the Dots meetings are a chance for people who work with new families to come together and share what's going on in their worlds and learn from each other.

Topics we often discuss are:

• What is happening legislatively that could impact our work?

• What else is going on in Maine that you’d like to share – one or two updates that the group can help you or others achieve, solve, or think about?

• What new research ideas are emerging?

• What challenges are you having in your work that colleagues could help you with?

Feedback from participants includes comments like:

“I always walk away feeling like a better human after attending these meetings!”

“I learned a lot about legislation and am grateful for the information.”

“I appreciate the opportunity to have open dialogue about new guidelines.”

Sign up for our newsletter or contact us for the Zoom meeting info.

Join us for this informative webinar to learn more about the importance of human milk and the microbiome.

Objectives:

1. Brief overview: what is the microbiome, and why does it matter?

2. Factors that affect the maternal and child microbiome; how do human milk and feeding fit in?

3. The microbiome’s effect on disease and other outcomes in children.

Presenter: Dr. Jessica Rosenthal

Jessica currently practices as a primary care pediatrician at Maine Medical Partners South Portland Pediatrics. She completed medical school at the University of Rochester in 2009 and pediatrics residency at Massachusetts General Hospital in 2012.

She is the breastfeeding champion for her practice and has a passion for supporting families in their breastfeeding journeys. She helped create and facilitate a breastfeeding peer support group at her previous practice in Massachusetts. Outside of work, she loves spending time with her husband and two children.

If you are not on our mailing list, please join here to receive info about upcoming webinars and meetings.

Join us for our storytelling event: Patchwork of Parenthood! Hear from 6 different speakers about their parenting journeys.

FMI: www.mainebreastfeeds.org/pop2023

This meeting will be the MSBC’ Annual Meeting. It will include a presentation from the Board President followed by a community discussion, much like the bimonthly Connecting the Dots meetings. This is another chance for people who work with new families to come together and share what's going on in their worlds and learn from each other.

Topics we often discuss are:

• What is happening legislatively that could impact our work?

• What else is going on in Maine that you’d like to share – one or two updates that the group can help you or others achieve, solve, or think about?

• What new research ideas are emerging?

• What challenges are you having in your work that colleagues could help you with?

Feedback from participants includes comments like:

“I always walk away feeling like a better human after attending these meetings!”

“I learned a lot about legislation and am grateful for the information.”

“I appreciate the opportunity to have open dialogue about new guidelines.”

Sign up for our newsletter or contact us for the Zoom meeting info.

In this webinar, Attorney Tozier will present on the importance of breastmilk for children and how workplace policies, practices and stigmas can potentially support and/or interfere with a parent's ability to provide children what they need. She will discuss what the Fair Labor Standards Act, the Affordable Care Act, the Family and Medical Leave Act, the PUMP for Nursing Mothers Act, and the Maine Human Rights Act all have to say about this issue, what current-day challenges look like, and what solutions may be to allow more parents in America to freely express milk at work without issue. (This will be a great opportunity to learn all about the new PUMP Act, and how to feel more confident speaking to families about their rights.)

Presenter: Ali Tozier, Employment Attorney

Attorney Ali Tozier specializes in employment law. She has helped both employers and employees navigate workplace laws and challenges for about eight years. She focuses on conflict resolution and effective communication. She grew up in Falmouth, Maine and graduated from Williams College in 2009. She lived and worked in various places, including London, before returning to her roots. She graduated from Maine Law in 2015, where she became enchanted with employment law during an internship at the Maine Human Rights Commission. Attorney Tozier has practiced in Portland ever since, and she will be joining the Bennett Law Firm on April 1, 2023. Attorney Tozier has been named a Super Lawyer's "Rising Star" six years in a row, was appointed by the governor to Maine's Board of Bar Examiners to help safeguard the legal profession in 2018, is an American Bar Foundation Fellow, a former District Representative in the American Bar Association and Chair of the Maine State Bar Association's New Lawyer's Section, has a leadership role in two local organizations that encourage diversity and inclusion in Maine, and is a member of the Maine State Breastfeeding Coalition. Attorney Tozier's mother, Pam Tozier, is one of the state's leading lactation consultants. She has inspired her daughter to help workplaces become more accommodating to the needs of nursing parents. Attorney Tozier lives in Portland with her dog and enjoys salsa dancing, being in the mountains of New Hampshire, and spending time on Bustins Island in Casco Bay - where her family has lived every summer since the 1930s.

The MSBC Connecting the Dots meetings are a chance for people who work with new families to come together and share what's going on in their worlds and learn from each other.

Topics we often discuss are:

• What is happening legislatively that could impact our work?

• What else is going on in Maine that you’d like to share – one or two updates that the group can help you or others achieve, solve, or think about?

• What new research ideas are emerging?

• What challenges are you having in your work that colleagues could help you with?

Feedback from participants includes comments like:

“I always walk away feeling like a better human after attending these meetings!”

“I learned a lot about legislation and am grateful for the information.”

“I appreciate the opportunity to have open dialogue about new guidelines.”

Sign up for our newsletter or contact us for the Zoom meeting info.

Speaker: Petrichor Kneeland-Campbell

Learning objectives:

1. Participants will develop a basic understanding of the meaning of each letter of DEIJB (diversity, equity, inclusion, justice, and belonging).

2. Participants will understand how DEIJB relates to lactation and birth care.

3. Participants will learn more about the MSBC DEIJB statement and where to find resources.

Contact us for login info!

The MSBC Connecting the Dots meetings are a chance for people who work with new families to come together and share what's going on in their worlds and learn from each other.

Topics we often discuss are:

• What is happening legislatively that could impact our work?

• What else is going on in Maine that you’d like to share – one or two updates that the group can help you or others achieve, solve, or think about?

• What new research ideas are emerging?

• What challenges are you having in your work that colleagues could help you with?

Feedback from participants includes comments like:

“I always walk away feeling like a better human after attending these meetings!”

“I learned a lot about legislation and am grateful for the information.”

“I appreciate the opportunity to have open dialogue about new guidelines.”

Sign up for our newsletter or contact us for the Zoom meeting info.