Health Foundations Birth Center is 1!

One year ago, Health Foundations Family Health & Birth Center became the Twin Cities’ first freestanding birth center. We are truly blessed to have this wonderful birthing option. Celebrate this Saturday at the birth center’s birthday party. The details:

Yummy treats, great door prizes and fun activities.  We are having an Open House to celebrate on February 26th from 2-5pm…everyone is welcome!  Questions?  Call the office at 651.895.2520. Learn more about us at www.health-foundations.com and join our blog at www.healthfoundations.ning.com.

Health Foundations Family Health & Birth Center
968 Grand Avenue
Saint Paul, Minnesota 55105

It’s always a great weekend to celebrate birth!

xoxox
Love,
Jenni, Sarah & the women of Blooma

Shanti Uganda Birth Center Update: It’s a girl!

At this time one year ago, Blooma owner Sarah Longacre was in Uganda helping to build a birth center— with all of your much-appreciated support.

Good news! The birth center’s first baby came into the world on Jan. 28, attended by three midwives. It’s a girl!

It was the mama’s ninth baby, and after the birth, she told the midwives that she had “never felt so cared for or welcomed.” Read the entire story at the Shanti Uganda blog.

We are elated for this mother, for the existence of this birth center, and full of gratitude for all that you’ve done to help support the building and ongoing operation of this birth center.

Om Shanti Shanti Shanti,

Alisa, Sarah & the women of Blooma

Update: Shanti Uganda’s birth center

The Maternity & Learning Centre Team at the birth center in Uganda where Sarah Longacre traveled to last year!

This time last year, Blooma founder Sarah Longacre was preparing for her month-long trip to Africa. As part of the Off the Mat, Into the World SEVA Challenge team, Sarah and 20 others raised a total of $574,000 (thanks in large part to each of you!) and traveled to Uganda to help build a birth center.

It’s unbelievable to us that almost a full year has passed since Sarah’s trip. We thought you’d like an update on what’s happening with the birth center since each of you were so integral to raising funds for it to be built!

Sarah helping to make bricks to build the birth center. Such hard work to make one brick!

“The maternity centre has been running in full swing and getting busy and we’re very excited to have our first baby born at the centre in January,” reports Shanti Uganda. You can click here to learn about the midwives who work at the center.

If you would like to stay involved with the work that Shanti Uganda does, you can! Much help continues to be needed.

Yoga mat bags, made by the Shanti Uganda Woman's Group and available online for just $30!

There is a sponsor a midwife program (helping to pay her salary) or you can shop online for fair-trade jewelry, handmade yoga mat bags, and more, all lovingly made by the Shanti Uganda women’s group. Yet another option: purchase a $15 birth kit, which includes everything a woman needs to have  safe, sterile, and supported birth.

Sarah and Blooma continue to be eternally grateful for your help in raising funds to build the birth center. As we reflect on how lucky we are to have so many birthing options available to us here in the Twin Cities, we are especially grateful for all the ways you make Blooma shine and for your help and dedication to help women in Uganda have safer births.

Love,

Alisa, Sarah & the women of Blooma

Birth center open house

We’re loving all the new birth space options we’re seeing around the Twin Cities these days! A couple of weeks ago we went to the Health Foundations Family Health & Birth Center open house in St. Paul, and this afternoon you can check out the new Morning Star Birth Center in St. Louis Park (6111 Excelsior Blvd).

Swing by today, any time between 2-6 p.m., for Morning Star’s open house. The birth center officially opened March 20, and it’s Morning Star’s second location (the first is in Menomonie, Wisc.).

We’re looking forward to checking it out. Hope to see you there!

Love,

Alisa, Sarah & the women of Blooma

Pioneer-Press covers two new Twin Cities birth centers

(Pioneer Press: Ben Garvin) 30-year-old Andrea Rinehart listens to the heartbeat of her baby during a checkup at Health Foundations Family Health & Birth Center on Grand Avenue in St. Paul.

Two new, freestanding birth centers recently opened in the Twin Cities, one in St. Paul and one in St. Louis Park. The Pioneer-Press printed a story today about them, focusing mostly on Health Foundations Family Health & Birth Center in St. Paul. Read the story here. Moms-to-be, what do you think about the local emergence of birth centers? And if you plan to have your baby at a freestanding birth center, we’d love to hear about your experiences so far!

Love,

Alisa, Sarah & the women of Blooma