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What people are saying about the workshop:

This is a great workshop for first-time moms and dads alike. While you never know what your baby will be like, this is a good way to establish a baseline of expectations, to know what to expect and not to expect during those first few weeks of parenthood. I highly recommend it!
M. & B. C.

The information was extremely useful, a good mix of video, handouts and general information, easy to follow. It was great to get Dads involved and hands on.
N. & K. O.

We feel very comfortable about approaching you in the near future when our baby is born, even if all is going well!
E. & M. G.

Thought the presentation was great. Very concise, practical and useful. Enjoyed your perspective and common sense approach very much.
M. H & D. T.

It was very informative and fun!
A. L & V. W

Very relaxed, good fun and brought everybody into the experience.
T. & G.G.

The workshop was really informative (and entertaining).
J. & S. H.

A wonderful workshop in a very informal and comfortable setting where everyone felt at ease to ask questions and offer opinions. Thankyou so much!
R. & R. W.

I left the workshop feeling more confident about the birth and breastfeeding. Iona is generous with her knowledge and time! Thanks very much!
K.C & H.H.

Really worth it! Very informative, friendly, relaxed and enjoyable! Thankyou!
P. & R. F.

I feel much more confident about breastfeeding.
H.E.

Practical demonstration of baby care was very informative and helped us get the feel.
K. & S. K.

Package of materials is excellent.
D. G.

I definitely feel more confident about breastfeeding now!
H.A.

I had already decided to breastfeed, it just made me feel I had made the right decision.
J.H.

I like that we got to practice the various breastfeeding positions.
C.S.

Very informative with lots of real-life examples.
B. & J. W.

Good for the husbands, very interesting and useful.
C. & M. G.

I liked the small group setting, the videos, and I love the handouts. I found the class to be extremely helpful.
J.L.

There was a wonderful amount of information and documents to refer back to. I enjoyed the husbands being involved. They learned as much as we did. You were kind enough to answer all our questions too.
V. & M. A.

Relaxed and light-hearted and still professional. Overall a very good experience and we would recommend this class to any future "expecting" friends.
A. & L. H.

Very comforting, knowing that we can call you.
E.S. & V. M.

Very good mixture of video, presentation, papers, and practice with the baby doll was very helpful.
F. & K. B.

I really like Iona's positive attitude and the use of positive words.
I. & I. B.

What we liked: small and intimate setting, and being able to ask questions throughout.
J. & M. G.

Getting the guys involved was key!
D. I.







Video reproduced from
Stanford School of Medicine









Breastfeeding and Parenting workshop


Are you having a baby in Tokyo? Hoping to breastfeed? With accurate information and good support, you will be better prepared to succeed at breastfeeding your new baby.

Blue Sky offers the only breastfeeding and parenting workshop for expectant couples taught by an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC) in English in Japan, and is currently the only IBCLC qualified Lactation Consultant practising within the foreign community in Tokyo.

* Workshops
* Private lactation consultations and breastfeeding help
* New parents' meet-up Heart 2<3 ("heart to heart")
* Breast pumps and accessories
* Babycafe Japan blog
* Recommended reading
What is a Lactation Consultant?
A certified Lactation Consultant is a health care professional who specializes in the clinical management of breastfeeding. In order to be eligible for certification, over 2500 hours of experience helping mother and babies with breastfeeding is necessary. IBCLCs must recertify every five years in order to keep the prescribed standards of the profession.

Click here to read about the work of Lactation Consultants, or to find an IBCLC in other parts of Japan.


Blue Sky Breastfeeding and Parenting Workshop

Why have a workshop for breastfeeding?
Isn't it a natural process?

Before you own baby arrives, you may not have spent any time with a newborn baby nor seen breastfeeding in action. We like to believe that breastfeeding will come naturally to a mother after her baby is born, but sadly, this is not always the case. Over time, hospital procedures and schedules have impacted upon the establishment of breastfeeding, and many new mothers find themselves struggling in the early days.

The Blue Sky Breastfeeding and parenting workshop addresses these issues and more, with a focus on good breastfeeding practices, supported by plenty of up-to-date research. If you have accurate and reliable information, you can make the birth and feeding decisions that best suit you and your family. By preparing for breastfeeding during pregnancy, you are increasing your chances of success.

Attending a workshop may also prove to be more economical in the long run, as you may not need ongoing specialised breastfeeding help after your baby arrives. The money you invest in a good start to breastfeeding can help save you time, money and energy in solving feeding problems after baby arrives. This workshop is an investment in your baby's and your future health and wellbeing!

Workshop details:
Sunday afternoon workshops are available in Tokyo on the dates below or other mutually agreeable dates. If you live outside Tokyo (eg. in other parts of Japan or overseas) or cannot make it to one of the workshops listed below, Iona is happy to make arrangements for private consultations over the internet, using skype and/or simple online meeting software.

The workshop requires a minimum of three couples, so why not get together with a group of expectant friends and make your own group?

Workshops are usually hosted by one of the participating couples in central Tokyo. If you would like to host the workshop at your home, the only requirements are that you have enough space for a minimum of 7 people to sit (3 couples plus Lactation Consultant) and that you can provide the use of a DVD or VCR. If no one is able to host the workshop, it can also be held at Blue Sky in Setagaya.

Upcoming dates for 2009
April 26
May 10th
June 21st
July 12th
Contact Iona for more details.

Wednesday afternoon and Thursday morning workshops are also available for private groups on request. Other days of the week and dates during the year may be available on request for groups of 3 couples or more.

When is the best time to attend the workshop?
The optimum time to attend the Blue Sky Breastfeeding and Parenting workshop is between 32 and 36 weeks of pregnancy. This way the materials will be more meaningful to you and you will be well prepared even if baby makes an appearance earlier than expected. But you are welcome to attend any time you like. If your preferred workshop date falls around your 37th week or later, it may still be possible to attend, so please email to discuss your situation.

Topics covered in the breastfeeding and parenting workshop include:
  • What do I need to do to prepare for breastfeeding before my baby arrives?

  • How can I avoid pain when I am breastfeeding?

  • How do I know my baby is getting enough milk?

  • How can I increase my milk supply?

  • My mother/sister/friend had trouble breastfeeding. What can I do to avoid the same problems?

  • I'm going back to work. How can I continue breastfeeding?

  • How soon can we expect our lives to return to normal?

  • What about Dad, how can he be involved?

  • Patterns of newborn behaviour.

  • Holding, bathing and changing your new baby: a hands-on section for Dads too!

  • Comforting your crying baby  
  • Night-time parenting for the breastfed baby

  • Breastfeeding in public in Japan

  • Travelling with a little baby


Why should fathers go to a breastfeeding workshop?:
While breastfeeding is not something a father can do, the breastfeeding mother and baby benefit significantly from his encouragement and support as they learn their new skills together. Breastfeeding is about so much more than just technique!

By attending a workshop together during pregnancy, fathers can learn about how breastfeeding works, what is normal behaviour for a newborn baby, and why breastfeeding is such an important health choice for your baby. As you adjust your lives to include this new little person, a father is in a unique position to sustain and encourage the breastfeeding mother.


Cost: 15,000 yen per couple, payable on registration to confirm your place. Late bookings are accepted if space is available, and special arrangements for payment will be made. The fee includes materials. If you require a personal lactation consultation after your baby is born, face-to-face consultations incur additional fees. Workshop participants receive a discount on the first face-to-face consultation only.

See below for workshop cancellation terms and conditions. Click here to register for a workshop or for further enquiries.

Payment:
* Japanese Postal transfer
Account number: 00130-3-572805 Name: BLUE SKY

or
* Paypal: Pay by credit card securely online via Paypal.
Email for further information. Please be aware that there is an additional 600 yen accounting charge for payments via Paypal. (Blue Sky does not receive credit card details from PayPal.)


The fine print: Terms and conditions. Cancellations of bookings within 2 - 7 days prior to the class incur a cancellation fee of 50% of the class cost. Cancellation within 48 hours of the workshop incur a 100% cancellation fee. The only exception is if your baby arrives early, and then workshop fees will be refunded less a processing fee of 1000 yen. If Blue Sky cancels the workshop due to sudden unforeseen circumstances, an alternative date will be offered or the workshop cost will be refunded in full. Blue Sky is a small business, dedicated to providing all clients with the most up to date and evidence-based breastfeeding information, practices and care. Registration implies acceptance of these terms and conditions.


 Who runs the breastfeeding workshop?
The workshop is run by Iona Macnab BA(Hons) LLB IBCLC RLC, a long-term Tokyo resident and mother of 3 children, all breastfed. She has been working with breastfeeding mothers and babies in Tokyo since 1997. A former lawyer, she trained as a volunteer counsellor with an international breastfeeding support network after the birth of her first child, and later decided to pursue a career as a Lactation Consultant (IBCLC). In addition to her work as a Lactation Consultant, she still volunteers her time running the breastfeeding support network meetings, and also volunteers as an international support team administrator for trained breastfeeding counsellors in Asia, Africa and the Middle East. She is a member of the International Lactation Consultant Associaton, the Japanese Association of Lactation Consultants, and is accredited in Australia as a Baby Friendly Hospital Assessor. She aims to keep her workshops relaxed and informal, with interactive and fun segments to help you feel confident and prepared for your baby's arrival and breastfeeding.

* Private lactation consultations and breastfeeding help

Contact Iona here to arrange a private consultation at your home or in the hospital, addressing your individual questions and concerns. Working closely with you, Iona will design an individual plan with suggestions to help you achieve your breastfeeding goals. Prices available on request.

Heart2<3 (Heart to heart)
Meet-up for new parents with new babies under two months of age!

Why don't new babies come with an instruction manual?!
This is an opportunity to get together with other new parents so you can get some tips, share experiences and ask questions about newborn baby topics like sleeping, crying, feeding, weight gain and more.

Features: Breastfeed AND get more sleep, transitioning from mixed feeding to more breastfeeding, planning to return to work, question time for the Dads, help with your sling or carrier, enjoying your amazing newborn.

TIME: Drop in any time during the hours listed for each session. Stay as little or as long as you like.
PLACE: 6F Shibuya Josei Center Iris Building, 1-17-7 Shibuya, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo
( 3 minutes from Shibuya station.) Map here

COST: 4000 yen per family

*DATES: Saturday, April 18 (babies born in Feb, March & April 2009) 10 - 11.30am
Sunday, April 26 (babies born in Feb, March & April 2009) 10 - 11.30am
Sunday, May 24 (babies born in March, April & May 2009) 1.30 - 3.30pm
Saturday, June 13 (babies born in April, May & June 2009) 1.30 - 3.30pm

Babycafe Japan Blog
Iona also runs the Babycafe Japan blog : the spot for information and resources on babies and breastfeeding in Japan, and writes for Tokyo Families magazine. She established the Babycafe Japan store in conjunction with Amazon Japan, which has an excellent selection of books on breastfeeding and parenting, breast pumps (rental and sale) and nipple cream, all in the one convenient location. (All sales are handled by Amazon, which offers free shipping for purchases over 1500 yen.)

Products available exclusively from Blue Sky:

SNSMaya Wrap Baby slings: the best way to carry your baby! This is the sling that started the sling boom in Japan! Available in 12 different fabrics. All slings come with a free DVD or video of instructions.

Specialty feeding devices:

SNSSNS - Supplementary nursing system (Medela) - helps mothers with low milk supply, helps with relactation, and is useful with premature babies or even adopted babies. With an SNS, the baby is supplemented at the breast, maintaining the important physical and emotional contact while stimulating your breast to increase your milk supply.

Haberman Haberman feeder - a specialized feeder designed for babies with cleft palate and other special feeding problems. It can also be helpful with colic. This type of feeder rewards babies who have even the weakest feeding effort. The one-way valve prevents flooding and overwhelming the baby.

Soft cupSoft cup feeder - The Medela SoftFeeder is a specialty feeding device for use when cup feeding is recommended. Soft silicon construction and special fluid reservoir controls fluid unlike regular cups.
PurelanPurelan nipple cream is available here through Amazon Japan.

Symphony Breast Pump Breast pumps are available for rent or purchase through Amazon Japan here or through Hoxon Japan here.



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