We know it's been hard to stay connected in this new remote world that we live in and our hopes are that these small changes will bring us all a little closer. In this monthly newsletter we hope to share updates on our upcoming classes as well as updates that you may have to share. Our thoughts are to have a provider spotlight and a doula spotlight each month. We hope this effort will be seen as a type of career networking and experience sharing forum.
If you're interested in learning how to get your information on the newsletter, please contact blossom@blossombirthandfamily.org. 

- original post 11/2021 -- merged over from our Provider Blog

​Dr. Ava Satnick is a board certified pediatrician and lactation consultant who practices integrative medicine and works with children of all ages through her center, Holbrook Health. In Thursday's talk, titled "A Call to Teen Spirit" she will be discussing how the pandemic especially affected pre-teens and young adolescents and offers some insights and solutions for alleviating anxiety and depression. ​


What is anxiety?Anxiety – feeling worried, nervous, or plain scared about something like an interview or other important event – is natural. These feelings normally come and go in response to your situation, but with an anxiety disorder, they become persistent and overwhelming.

Children, teens, and young adults may suffer from anxiety and panic. Panic attacks cause physical symptoms such as a racing heart, shaking, and nausea and may sometimes result in chest pain.  Those who suffer from anxiety and/or panic may find it increasingly hard to take part in everyday activities. At young ages, such intense fear that you or your child may be unable to function, remaining immobile, or crying uncontrollably. In older children and teens they may refuse to go to school or college because these experiences have become anxiety-inducing. They will need to relearn how to constructively use these emotions and understand their stressors so they can live to their highest potential. 

We'd like to share these resources with you, in an effort to provide support:

Ways to Help:

• Promote self-compassion and possibly reduce your stress and anxiety with Metta Meditation. Metta Meditation (also known as loving-kindness meditation) is a practice of chanting repetitions to send out collective energy and "kind wishes" to the world. (see an example below)
• Consider hosting a family fundraiser to raise money for your cause. CharityWatch can help you find a credible relief organization. Other reputable organizations include UNICEF, the International Committee of the Red Cross, and the International Rescue Committee. 
• Befriend a refugee family. Get matched through an organization like:  VolunteerMatch.org.
• Share the Ukraine Take Shelter: an independent platform connecting Ukrainian refugees with potential hosts and housing. 

How to Support Your Children:

• "As a parent, I want to protect my children from great sadness and information they may not be ready for, but I also want them to learn empathy, kindness, generosity, and compassion for those in need." -MiaLisa Millares, Executive Director of Doing Good Together. We couldn't have expressed this any better and they have some great resources on conversations, books, and ideas on how to engage with your children. 

And please don't forget to give yourself grace. We are living and experiencing heavy times and we are all in this together.  Sending heartfelt peace and kindness and prayers for a quick and peaceful resolution and resilience to rebuild. 

Additional Resources from Posts around the world:​

Dr. Sareena Jaspal Chopra is a pediatrician who embraces an integrative approach, combining conventional and complementary practices. In caring for children, she strives to work collaboratively with families and to empower patients (when developmentally appropriate) to take an active role in their health. She also makes a point of being well versed in factors that influence wellness and disease, while taking into account each patient's mind, body, spirit and community.

Chopra is passionate about nutrition and intestinal health, and the roles they play in preventing and alleviating medical issues. With an emphasis on preventive care, she works with children and families on addressing lifestyle factors that contribute to health and educates them on the benefits of good nutrition, getting enough sleep and engaging in mind-body practices. She particularly enjoys teaching kids about the rewards of meditation and helping them find ways to address stress that work for them.

Join us at our upcoming Happy Hour on Facebook Live | March 10th @ 5PM (replays are available on our YouTube channel or on our Blog) where Dr. Chopra will guide us through a relaxation exercise through breath and will share insights from her studies, experiences, and passion on the mind and body connection!  Tune in to learn some things we can all do to nourish our mind, body and soul especially through the challenges of the pandemic and the current climate of uncertainty abroad.