Okay, how funny is it that a feature on working mamas, appearing in today’s Globe, is written by Joanne Cleaver? I wish the byline just read “J. Cleaver” but it’s close enough. Fed to the Globe via the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, this article focuses on a current trend in the workplace, that of younger mamas negotiating for flexible schedules in order to achieve better work-home balance.

Isis Maternity has become a one-stop mama tour de force in the Boston area. With locations in Brookline, Needham, and Arlington, Isis offers a host of programs such as childbirth education, parenting preparation, fitness, mom & baby groups, developmental groups, music and movement classes, workshops, massage & private consultations, and events.

I give Isis high marks for offering drop in playgroups for babes up to 3 years (separate sessions for immobile and mobile babes) given that committing to a weekly group can be tough. Drop in playgroups are free for members and $5 for non-members. See Isis’ website for details on the drop in playgroups and membership details. Membership fees are reasonable ($39 for first six months, $19 for every six month block following; members of Isis-affiliated organizations can receive a discounted membership) and include discounts on programs, products, and affiliated vendors.

Update 12/12/06: Membership fees are $7.50 per month (pay for the first four months upon joining; members of Isis-affiliated organizations can receive a discounted membership) and include discounts on programs, products, and affiliated vendors.

Although $30 seems steep for a tiny tee, your babe no doubt will bring back lots of concert revenue in this born to rock baseball tee. I saw this tee on the super cute son of a friend of a friend; I think my little babe was swooning in his rocker presence!

Available at Babystyle, this tee is 50/50 cotton/poly and machine washable. Baby sizes are $28, kid sizes $30. A short-sleeved pink (with rhinestone lettering) version is available for rocker chicks.

A mama from Medford highly recommends her pediatrician Dr. James Pert, of Harvard Vanguard
Associates in Medford. The practice has a 24/7 telephone service, Tel: 781-306-KIDS.

Thanks mama from Medford!

Is it too dramatic to say that the Baby Bjorn 1-2-3 Baby Sitter ($114 at Amazon) saved my life? Even on an indulgent day my typical shower routine takes 15 minutes tops. But for some reason, as a new mom I found it incredibly difficult to find the time to take a shower; impossible seeming actually, if my husband had already left for work and I was on my own during the day.

One day I realized that, by virtue of the spit up chunks in my hair, I was redefining the term “bad hair day.” So I set the babe up in the Bjorn bouncy chair right outside the shower, peeked out frequently while I lathered up, and emerged from the shower spit up free (even if only for a few minutes) and rejuvenated. A mere seven minutes in the shower left me with a massively improved frame of mind from which to embark on my day of baby adventures. After all, a happy mom makes for a happy baby. The Bjorn chair also served well when I tried bottles with the babe (if I held her, she was obviously confused by the lack of booby access), as well as when she started solid foods but was too little to sit up in a high chair.

The Baby Bjorn 1-2-3 Baby Sitter can be used up to 29 lbs and has a three-point fabric safety harness, three-position recline, and removable toy bar with solid (nontoxic paint) wood toys. It folds for storage and the seat padding is washable.

I will forever be indebted to restaurant owners who realize that foodies are still foodies, even if they have kids. Stone Hearth Pizza Company is just such a place. They offer thin crust pizzas and gourmet salads incorporating organic, locally produced, sustainable ingredients. Imagine, you can both enjoy your meal and know that you are supporting family farming, protecting natural resources, and strengthening local economies.

Stone Hearth knows it’s located in family suburbs and operates in a very kid-friendly manner, while still retaining warm décor that leaves no doubt that you are not at Chuck E. Cheese.

Located in Belmont and Sudbury. Open Mondays 5 - 9pm, Tuesday - Thursday 11:30am - 9pm, Friday & Saturday 11:30 am - 10 pm, and Sunday 11:30 am - 9 pm.

Is it a complete sign of regression that I want one of these super cute UncommonGoods Animal Lamps ($20) for myself? These paper lamp pals are about 8 inches long x 6 inches wide and come in the form of frog, piggy, puppy, kitty, and monkey. A 25W bulb is included.

Tending to a newborn is incredibly hard work; imagine trying to fulfill your loving duties while suffering from postpartum depression.

While awareness about postpartum depression has gained traction in recent years, many moms still suffer without treatment; not surprisingly, kids suffer too, Carey Goldberg of The Boston Globe (July 5, 2006) reports in “Pediatricians urged to focus on moms, too.”

The upside is that recent pediatric research suggests that responses to two simple questions: "Have you lost interest and pleasure in doing things lately?" and "Have you been feeling down?" are useful predictors of postpartum depression. The timeliness of diagnosis is particularly important given other promising research indicating that if a mother’s depression resolves within three months of treatment, her child’s psychiatric symptoms also tend to dissipate.
These research findings suggest that pediatricians, who often have more contact with moms than a mom’s primary care physician, should be responsible for asking the diagnostic questions and offering referral resources. But as many mamas know, pediatricians are time-strapped as is, and there’s no telling if and when postpartum depression screening will be incorporated into typical pediatric practice.

Meanwhile, if you feel like you or someone you know may suffer from postpartum depression, seek support. PCP's provide referrals; the Mass. Commission of the Status of Women also has a website which includes resources for: free/affordable care, reproduction/parenting, mental health, and women’s health. FYI, Depression After Delivery, Inc. has since combined resources with Postpartum Support International. Click here for the PSI resource section for moms. I will dedicate a separate post to resources for dads.

You love your partner for offering massages, but often it’s tough to coax them to go for more than 5-10 minutes. How can you blame them? They didn’t take Massage Therapy Stamina 101 last fall.

For pre/postnatal massage services, I highly recommend someone near and dear to me: Jennifer Koh, LCMT. I have received both pre- and postnatal massage therapy from Jennifer; both approaches were relaxing and therapeutic. I’m just always sad when it is time to slide off the table and re-enter the real world.

Jennifer operates her practice out of The Healing Center, 259 Massachusetts Avenue, Arlington. Give her a call (781-424-1060) or send her an email to book an appointment. Her regular hours are: Sunday (12-6pm) and Mondays & Tuesdays (6:30-9:00pm); other appointments may be available upon request. Fees are $70 for one hour, or $100 for 1½ hours.

Update (1/11/07): In addition to her practice at The Healing Center in Arlington, you now also can book appointments with Jennifer in downtown Boston at Boston Bodyworker.