In accomplishing our mission, we will help women rediscover the joy of motherhood in all its beauty and complexity.
Celebrating the feminine, empowering women and helping them find their place in the circle of life are all closely held ideals
that the Whole Mothering Center strives to advocate in our community. Education, Information, Support and Resources are the
cornerstones of Whole Mothering Center Philosophy, which is summarized in the following statements:
The ideals and principles of mothering which are the foundation of Whole Mothering Center beliefs are further developed in
our Childbirth Preparation, Breastfeeding and Parenting classes and support groups.
We believe that in order to be an effective teacher, one must have real experience in the subject she is teaching. For this reason,
the services we offer to families in our community are led by other women, mothers and professionals, who have personal
experience in their subject matter.
We're women who come from a variety of backgrounds, both socially and economically. We've been pregnant in, given birth
in and become mothers in Southeast Texas and we know firsthand the environment that has been fostered in our community.
When necessary, we've bucked the system to have the kinds of births and mothering experiences or to have the health-care
options we've wanted for our children.
Our childbirth educators have had a variety of birth experiences, from the traumatic to the transcendant. Our Breastfeeding
Educators are all women with personal experience in breastfeeding after a birth actually in Southeast Texas, where support and
information aren't always readily available.
One of our goals is to help bridge the gap in services, resources and support between mothers and health professionals in
Southeast Texas and to help make natural parenting practices the cultural and social norm in our community.
Rather than foster unrealistic expectations, we want to provide you with the resources you need to achieve the experience that
promotes optimum health for you, your baby and your new family.
Celebrating the feminine, empowering women and helping them find their place in the circle of life are all closely held ideals
that the Whole Mothering Center strives to advocate in our community. Education, Information, Support and Resources are the
cornerstones of Whole Mothering Center Philosophy, which is summarized in the following statements:
- Mothering begins when a woman plans to become, or realizes that she is pregnant. Together with the baby's father or
mother's partner, they are their baby's first and strongest advocates.
- Parents have a responsibility to their children, especially the unborn, to become knowledgeable about the choices
available and the possible risks and potential benefits of each possible situation in order to make fully informed
decisions for their families.
- Babies have an intense need to be with their mother or parent as the primary caregiver. Keeping baby close through
baby-wearing or constant 'in arms' care-giving promotes breastfeeding and bonding on a biological level.
- Breast milk is unquestionably the superior infant food and it is the birthright of every child to receive his or her mother's
milk. Breastfeeding as mothering should be promoted, supported and protected for maximum health of mother, child
and family, and ideally should be continued until the child outgrows the need, irrespective of society's current views.
- Breastfeeding is enhanced and the nursing couple sustained by the loving support, help, and companionship of the
baby's father or mother's partner. A father's unique relationship with his baby is an important element in the child's
development from early infancy on.
- Alert and active participation by the mother in childbirth is an important aspect of the parent-child relationship and can
affect the mother significantly during the postpartum period. Proper support and care during labor and childbirth and
afterwards are essential to having satisfying birth and early mothering experiences. Birth can safely take place at
hospitals, birth centers and homes.
- From infancy on, children are whole, complete individuals with the same needs, feelings and emotions as adults and
should be treated with respect as such. Discipline and loving guidance should reflect understanding and acceptance of
their capabilities and sensitivity to their needs and feelings.
- Family Health is maintained when good nutrition habits are formed during pregnancy and are continued after the baby is
born. Good nutrition means eating a well-balanced and varied diet of foods in as close to their natural state as possible.
- Communities must remain conscious and respectful of cultural beliefs, practices & customs, integrating them into their
education and recreational resources.
- When mothers are nurtured, they are better nurturers . We have a responsibility to ourselves and our children to create,
model, maintain and promote social practices that meet the needs of the mothers and children they serve, including
breastfeeding, flexible work schedules, on-site childcare, sequencing and paid family leave benefits. Having access to
education, resources and services regardless of their ability to pay greatly affects the physical and emotional health of
families and can significantly reduce health related disparities.
The ideals and principles of mothering which are the foundation of Whole Mothering Center beliefs are further developed in
our Childbirth Preparation, Breastfeeding and Parenting classes and support groups.
We believe that in order to be an effective teacher, one must have real experience in the subject she is teaching. For this reason,
the services we offer to families in our community are led by other women, mothers and professionals, who have personal
experience in their subject matter.
We're women who come from a variety of backgrounds, both socially and economically. We've been pregnant in, given birth
in and become mothers in Southeast Texas and we know firsthand the environment that has been fostered in our community.
When necessary, we've bucked the system to have the kinds of births and mothering experiences or to have the health-care
options we've wanted for our children.
Our childbirth educators have had a variety of birth experiences, from the traumatic to the transcendant. Our Breastfeeding
Educators are all women with personal experience in breastfeeding after a birth actually in Southeast Texas, where support and
information aren't always readily available.
One of our goals is to help bridge the gap in services, resources and support between mothers and health professionals in
Southeast Texas and to help make natural parenting practices the cultural and social norm in our community.
Rather than foster unrealistic expectations, we want to provide you with the resources you need to achieve the experience that
promotes optimum health for you, your baby and your new family.
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| Our Purpose |
During our research, we've explored available services and resources in other cities across the United States and found that in comparison,
Southeast Texas is lacking in programs to support the ideals that we promote. In opening the Whole Mothering Center, we will
bring together trained professionals and expectant parents in one central location to make locating information, education and
support easy and enjoyable.
Our goals are to:
We encourage program participants to make conscious choices that cultivate feelings of empowerment and self esteem and to
take personal responsibility for their health and the health of their children.
The Whole Mothering Center endorses the Baby Friendly Hospital Initiative created by the World Health Organization (WHO)
and UNICEF, and the Mother Friendly Childbirth Initiative . It is our goal to help area health care providers and facilities make
the changes necessary to qualify as certified "Baby Friendly" and "Mother Friendly" facilities and to support area health care
providers and facilities who have begun to work toward these initiatives.
The Whole Mothering Center is a research facility that seeks to raise breastfeeding rates and to lower postpartum depression
rates by fully utilizing available local resources. We seek to compile data that proves that community support centers like ours
are key in achieving these goals.
Our vision is to be recognized and respected both locally and nationally for changing the lives of new and expectant parents
through our comprehensive and cutting-edge programs.
The Whole Mothering Center is governed by our Board of Directors, formally elected in October 2007.
Southeast Texas is lacking in programs to support the ideals that we promote. In opening the Whole Mothering Center, we will
bring together trained professionals and expectant parents in one central location to make locating information, education and
support easy and enjoyable.
Our goals are to:
- promote principles and philosophies in mothering and parenting that are more eco-friendly and biologically compatible,
and to normalize these ideals in Southeast Texas.
- offer a variety of services, from private, one-on-one consultations with expectant mothers or couples to group classes
and support groups for the postpartum period and beyond.
- help expectant parents recognize that the quality and experiences of birth and early parenthood are important and have
far-reaching consequences for individuals, families and society as a whole. This critical period of transition presents a
unique opportunity for personal growth and transformation.
- prove that our model of providing on-site childcare to our employees and promoting mother-baby togetherness during
the early years will set an example of progressive, positive changes in the work environment and that such arrangements
increase employee satisfaction and productivity.
- promote community responsibility and encourage volunteerism. The services we provide are available to all women,
regardless of their ability to pay and one way we are able to continue to make this happen is by encouraging mothers
we've worked with to volunteer at the Center.
- increase the availability of unique resources for the antepartum, intrapartum and postpartum periods that are unavailable
locally or hard to find in the mainstream commercial and informational markets.
- foster a community of support and to provide a space for that community to thrive, encourage networking, and partner
with other organizations with similar goals.
- reduce disparities and improve maternal & infant health outcomes for all families by ensuring equal access to
education, information, support and resources to all women.
We encourage program participants to make conscious choices that cultivate feelings of empowerment and self esteem and to
take personal responsibility for their health and the health of their children.
The Whole Mothering Center endorses the Baby Friendly Hospital Initiative created by the World Health Organization (WHO)
and UNICEF, and the Mother Friendly Childbirth Initiative . It is our goal to help area health care providers and facilities make
the changes necessary to qualify as certified "Baby Friendly" and "Mother Friendly" facilities and to support area health care
providers and facilities who have begun to work toward these initiatives.
The Whole Mothering Center is a research facility that seeks to raise breastfeeding rates and to lower postpartum depression
rates by fully utilizing available local resources. We seek to compile data that proves that community support centers like ours
are key in achieving these goals.
Our vision is to be recognized and respected both locally and nationally for changing the lives of new and expectant parents
through our comprehensive and cutting-edge programs.
The Whole Mothering Center is governed by our Board of Directors, formally elected in October 2007.
| Whole Mothering Center Southeast Texas Maternal Resources |
| Mission Statement |
Our mission is to promote healthy families by fostering a community that educates, empowers and supports pregnant women, their growing families and the professionals who work with them. |
| Copyright 2007 Whole Mothering Center This page updated February 1, 2008 |
| What We Believe: |