What We Offer
Abdali’s Maternal Wellness Program now offers evidence-based courses to provide families with the right tools and resources to manage life’s stressors, improve mood, and promote parent-child bonding during the perinatal period – that’s the year before and after having a baby.
During that transition to parenthood, it is normal to experience a range of emotions – from excitement and joy to frustration, stress, and anxiety. Although these feelings are common, they are not always expected or easy to manage. The global Covid-19 pandemic has added new challenges and stressors for mothers and the family system. We have been forced to abandon many new parenthood traditions and to embrace social distancing and isolation. It is important to remember that although you might be distancing, you are not alone, and all of your emotions are valid. We are here to support you through the transition to parenthood with evidence-based, informational courses.
How We Can Help
You are your child’s first teacher. In addition to teaching them to walk and talk, play and eat, you will also be well-equipped to teach your children how to be emotionally healthy after taking the Wise Mothers and Babies course!
Courses
The Wise Mothers and Babies Course
The Wise Mothers and Babies course focuses on teaching expectant and new moms concrete strategies to help manage stress, improve mood, and foster a strong foundation of emotional health for mom and baby alike.
Topics covered include:
- Fostering a healthy bond with your baby
- Infant soothing strategies and the fundamentals of family sleep hygiene
- Infant, child, and maternal development across the lifespan
- Healthy communication with your child(ren) and partner
- Building and maintaining a social support system
- Techniques and activities to help your baby learn
- Ways to manage life stress to improve your mood and how to pass these skills on to your children.
The group class has a maximum of 10 participants that meets once a week, for two hours, for six consecutive weeks. The course is also offered in a one-on-one format.
Postpartum Strategic Planning Course
The postpartum period (defined as the first six weeks following birth) is filled with great joy, challenges, change, and - quite often - not enough sleep. In this short course, expectant parents will work with Kate to map out familial expectations and responsibilities during what can be a uniquely challenging - and joyous – period.
This course comprises three one-hour sessions with both mom and her current partner. Topics include:
- Mother and baby care in the hospital
- Fundamental needs and self-care of parents
- Building a solid social support system
- Postpartum parenting: responsibilities and division of labor
- Visitors
- Childcare
- Schedules: how to create balanced, fair schedules
- Communication: Assertive communication and validation
The Nest Course: Postpartum Self and Baby Care Group
This course offers mothers practical tools to care for themselves and their newborns as well as concrete support from other new moms.
It is a 9-week group, research-based, course that will cover:
- Your motherhood story
- Feeding, sleeping, and soothing
- Attachment and bonding
- Infant development and play
- Changing relationships
- Your postpartum body and mood
- Identity and self-care
- Work, childcare, and balance
Testimonials
- Working with Kate was such an empowering and educational experience, even as a second time mother. Kate herself was such a pleasure to work with, she was patient, gentle, understanding and supportive in all ways. I always felt safe sharing the most personal details with her. The program itself helped prepare me for the unexpected and armed me with tools to manage my mood, my schedule, how I communicate with my support system, amongst others. Most importantly, this program gave me the confidence to plan for whatever the postpartum experience throws my way and knowing I had Kate’s support throughout was such a blessing. – Wise Mothers and Babies Course Participant
- I thought I had everything under control and whatever emotions I had I would brush aside, however this course illuminated so many of the thoughts and feelings I was experiencing with Kate acting as a calming guide to help us connect with our thoughts but also give us the roadmap and tools to manage this period. I enjoyed connecting with other women who despite our very different backgrounds found so many commonalities in our shared experience.
- I would highly recommend this course to all moms out there, as I can see myself going back and continuing the use the tools I learned to help me not only be a better mother but a healthier and happier one at that.