Community

Village BirthCommunity

Community

Village Birth is a place to meet new parents, connect with your transition into parenting, and find support in community. Our gatherings are an opportunity to feel less alone in your postpartum time and feel safe enough to ask for help as you grow further into parenthood.  Our Postpartum Support Group and Village Prenatal (Pregnancy Circles) are the core of our community gatherings, but our other offerings allow for you to grow and stay in touch with the Village Birth Community.

Some of our events are casual, while others are more structured, led by a specialist and call in reverence for this beautiful rite of passage. Most take place in our space in Pasadena, some at a residence, and others at parks and gardens throughout Northeast LA.

 

Postpartum Support Group • Lactation & Mindfulness • Village Prenatal • Matrescence• Village Meetup • Village Play Date • Single Parents Circle

Stay up to date on newly added classes and events by joining our mailing list or following us on Instagram.

Postpartum Support Group

The Postpartum Support Group is a safe space for people who have recently given birth, designed to help them navigate and celebrate the shift that comes from this event. We meet to relax, to learn, and to build a community among newly postpartum mothers (and birthing people). Led by postpartum doula, come get your questions answered, sit in circle with other postpartum moms, and feel heard. We do breathing exercises, share birth stories (optional), normalize the postpartum experience and have tea.

This postpartum support group is open to anyone who birthed within last 6 months. Babies are welcome. After 6 months postpartum, we invite you to join our monthly “Parents Community Meetup.”

In-Person

March Series: 1, 8 & 15 at 10 AM

April Series: 5, 12, and 19 at 10 AM

May Series: 3, 10 and 17 at 10 AM

$125 per person per series

Covid Precautions: Please stay home if you have any cold & flu symptoms. Starting in April, masks will be optional. There is a HEPA air purifier in the room. Requirements are subject to change.

Lactation and Mindfulness Group

Mondays 10:30 AM – 12:00 PM
(Winter schedule: no group on Dec 26 or Jan 2)
$15 drop-in

A space for cultivating connection with other breastfeeding (and pumping) parents, led by a holistic lactation consultant, newborn care expert, and intuitive healer. In this breastfeeding support group, share experiences, learn from each other, weigh your baby, get support on the tough days and celebrate your breastfeeding wins with people who get it. See you in the circle!

Village Prenatal

A village prenatal is a communal gathering that nourishes and celebrates pregnant people – in mind, body, and soul – at any stage of gestation. Our gatherings support you in speaking words that empower and build trust in yourself and your baby. Activities may include grounding visualizations, belly mapping, belly art, pampering, or portraits.

In community, those who have birthed before share their personal moments of strength, power, humor, realization, and joy, demonstrating the beauty inherent to birth in all its variation. Midwives, doulas, and health practitioners will be among our circle of attendants, holding space as you navigate your pregnancy and enter parenthood, whether for the first or fourth time.

Location: Outdoors in a beautiful, tree-lined residence in La Crescenta

Admission is included in our Childbirth and Hypnobabies class registration. This is event is designed for the birthing parent only. 

If you would like to bring a pregnant friend or if you are not an existing Village Birth client, the suggested donation is $20.

Next Dates:
Sunday, March 12: 10 AM
Sunday, April 16: 10 AM
Friday, May 12: 6 PM

Matrescence

Matrescence refers to the physical, emotional, hormonal and social transition to becoming a mother.  A season of life when limits are tested and change is a constant, all wrapped up in the joy of raising tiny humans.

This time more than ever is one that should be shared. Join us in a monthly circle to listen, honor, support and meditate with other mothers.  Led by April Trettel, doula and therapist, each circle will focus on a dedicated theme and incorporate sharing, discussion, an exercise and guided meditation.

Unlike our Postpartum Support Group, this circle is designed for newish mothers (young children, under the age of 5) and open to all people who identify as mothers.

Format: A series of 3 monthly meetups. Each series starts at the top of the season (or quarter).

$150 per person per series

Winter Series:   6:30 PM
Jan 12 Shifts in Family Roles and Dynamics Among the Generations
Feb 2 Guilt and Shame
Mar 2 Mothering the Mother – An Adornment Circle

Spring Series:   6:30 PM
April 6 Identity: What has changed and what remains
May 11 Voicing your Needs
June 1 Honoring summer and the joy of motherhood

Village Meetup

This is a parents community meetup. Community is everything when growing a family. Whether you are expecting or have a baby at home, join us in getting to know your village. No topic is off the table. Come with questions, your new carrier that you’re still figuring out, and experiences you want to share. Come to listen. Come for the fresh air.

If you have attended a postpartum support group, this is a similar time and a great opportunity to stay in touch with your group.

Babies, partners and older kids are welcome! We offer meetups at Silver Lake Reservoir and Arlington Garden in Pasadena. Please RSVP so we can communicate any change of plans and so you can receive the event reminder.

Arlington Garden
March 22
April 26
May 24

10:00 AM

No fee!

Silver Lake Reservoir
March 18
April 12
May 10
June 14

10:00 AM

No fee!

Village Play Date

Get together with your village at Two Strike Park in La Crescenta. We meet at 9:30 AM. We will try and claim a picnic table, but have a blanket handy if we end up on the lawn. Lots of playground and space to hang. Bring the whole family.

Please RSVP so I can communicate any change of plans and to receive the event reminder.

Always the second Saturday of the month at 9:30 AM

March 11
April 8
May 13

No fee!

Single Parents Circle

A time for single and choice parents to connect. Run by Dawn Batson and Sydney Reyes, there will be some structure for sharing (all optional) and time to chat and play. Circle is designed for all parents (pregnant, newly postpartum and seasoned). Bring your kid(s) or come solo!

Third Saturday 9:30 AM – 11:30 AM (come at any time)

March 18
April 15
May 20
June 17

Silver Lake Reservoir at the playground by the recreation center.

Coffee provided!

Please RSVP so Dawn and Sydney can send updates if needed. They are birth doulas, living the on-call life!

Donation based $5-$20. No one will be turned away.