8 Seriously Cool New Year's Eve Celebrations for Maine Kids

Fireworks, clam drops, and skating! What's on your agenda for counting down 2015 with your family? We searched the area; from Biddeford to Portland to Yarmouth to Freeport. Here are Maine Doulas' top finds for the seriously cool events happening on New Year's Eve day.

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1. Yarmouth's 4th Annual Clam Drop at Yarmouth First Universalist Church

97 Main St, Yarmouth ME | 7pm

Steamer, the Clam Festival mascot, will be lowered from the church belfry at 7pm. Music, cookies and cocoa! What could be better (or more Maine)?

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2. Children's Museum New Year's at Noon

142 Free Street, Portland, ME | 11:30am

Children are encouraged to wear their PJs to ring in the new year (at noon)! This shindig is free with admission to the museum. Be sure to arrive by 11:30 to join in all the fun. At 12 noon they will drop balloons to mark the occasion.

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3. Portland Library 2nd annual Family Contra Dance

5 Monument Way, Portland ME | 11am

Learn a variety of fun and easy dances suitable for children and adults.  Maggie Robinson, who has been calling dances for 8 years, will be the caller and local musicians will perform. No experience necessary!

From the library event listing:

Contra Dance is a type of social dance where parallel lines of dancers stand opposite — or “contra to” — their partners. A caller, usually working with a group of live musicians, guides new and experienced dancers alike through a variety of dances. Contra dancing is about social interaction, meeting people, and making new friends, set to music. The accompanying music for contra dances includes, but is not limited to Irish, Scottish, and French-Canadian folk songs. The fiddle is considered the core instrument, though other stringed instruments such as the guitar and mandolin are used as well.

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4. South Portland Library's 3rd Annual Noon Year Party

482 Broadway St, South Portland ME | 11:30am

Can’t stay awake until midnight? Come ring in the new year with our 3rd annual Noon Year Party instead! This all-ages event will take place on Thursday, December 31 from 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at the Main Library. Featuring fun crafts, story time, balloons, and a fantastic countdown to noon, this is sure to be a blast for the whole family! Feel free to wear your favorite PJ’s, dress to impress, or just come as you are. We can’t wait to welcome in the new year with you!

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5. LL BEAN'S NEW YEAR'S EVE CELEBRATION

LL Bean Campus, Discovery Park, Freeport ME

LL Bean always makes it exciting for the whole family. Ring in the New Year with their festive "KidNight," featuring live music from Rick Charette and a wintertime fireworks display at 6pm. 

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There are a few venues for ice skating, which always has great opportunities for silliness and laughter. Not to mention how much energy it uses! Can you say "early night"?

6. The Rink at Thompson's Point

10 Thompson's Point, Portland ME

This is the perfect place for the whole family to enjoy some skating fun. With their beautiful warming room and heated lounge, there are great spaces for even the smallest ones to stay warm while family and friends skate. They also feature on-site food vendors and warm beverages to keep your energy up. A great NYE day adventure for everyone!

7. Biddeford Ice Arena

14 Pomerleau Street, Biddeford ME

Another great option for family fun. They offer snacks and cocoa to keep you skating the day away! Open for all ages and abilities.

8. Portland Pirates New Year's Eve Celebration at Family Ice Center

20 Hat Trick Drive, Falmouth ME | 1:20pm

Portland Pirates' New Year's celebration from 1:20pm-2:40pm will feature Salty Pete, a Pirate's shooting bay, free food, and giveaways!

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Or how about these options? Cozy up with your favorite hot beverage & a winter fairy tale, or put on some festive music & have a rockin' living room dance party! 

Whatever you do, we hope this final celebration of 2015 brings you and your family lots of joy! Happy New Year!

“Hug, handshake, or high-five?”

Holiday lights, songs and parties. The festive atmosphere, the fun outfits and the cheer. Welcome to the season of friends and family you see often and those you see rarely. In a child's eyes, some of these people may seem like strangers. As we grow in our understanding of how children learn to make decisions for themselves we are offered opportunities to shape their early options. Willow Smith was offered an incredible opportunity here and here:

“We let Willow cut her hair. When you have a little girl, it’s like how can you teach her that you’re in control of her body? If I teach her that I’m in charge of whether or not she can touch her hair, she’s going to replace me with some other man when she goes out in the world. She has got to have command of her body. So when she goes out into the world, she’s going out with a command that it is hers. She is used to making those decisions herself. We try to keep giving them those decisions until they can hold the full weight of their lives.”

— Will Smith + Jada Pinkett Smith

Kelly from The (Reformed) Idealist Mom has offered a truly wonder filled option I look forward to seeing unfold. She suggests that your child can offer a "hug, hand shake or high-five" when meeting or re-meeting someone in a social situation. This gives your child more control over their own body, helping them recognize that they have a choice. No more pressure to get closer than an individual feels comfortable with. Instead opportunities for connection and self confidence. Check out The Magic Greeting Every Kid Should Learn Before Visiting Family before your next gathering. We're hoping for lots of smiles.

Are you drinking that? I thought you were breastfeeding!

‘Tis the season for holiday gatherings, celebrations and festivities. For breastfeeding mothers it often feels like a really gray area – breastfeeding and alcohol consumption. Champagne toasts, festive cocktails, egg nog, hot toddies, wine with dinner or appetizers, whatever you like to indulge in during the season it all comes into question when we are now breastfeeding a new or even an older baby. What are you supposed to do? Pump and dump? Supplement? Breastfeed as usual? It's all so confusing!

Let the doulas and the lactation professionals ease your mind a little bit.

Current research shows that the occasional use of alcohol does not appear to be harmful to breastfed babies (1-2 drinks) and the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) states that no more than 0.5 g alcohol per kg of body weight – SAY WHAT? 

Here's the breakdown -  a woman weighting about 60 kg (132 lbs) can have approximately 2 oz liquor, 8 oz wine (two 4 oz glasses) or 2 beers (two 12 oz beers). They recommend that nursing should take place 2 or more hours after the alcohol intake to “minimize its concentration in the ingested milk”. But when it comes to pumping and dumping breast milk, let's use our judgement and consider all the facts: 

• Less than 2% of the alcohol you drink actually reaches your blood and milk and alcohol peaks in your system ½ - 1 hour after ingestion (of course variables include whether you've eaten or not, your body weight, percentage of body fat, etc.).
• There is nothing that shows it speeds the elimination of the alcohol from the breastmilk. 
• Alcohol does not hydrate you, in fact it does the opposite so it will not increase your milk supply
• Alcohol can also slow the milk ejection reflex or “let down” process so it may take longer to let down during your post alcoholic beverage nursing session.
• Alcohol does not accumulate in breastmilk.

THERE IS NO NEED TO PUMP AND DUMP - OTHER THAN FOR YOUR COMFORT.

What does that look like to the breastfeeding mother at a holiday party? 

One option might be to nurse your baby before the alcoholic beverage and, if it makes you feel comfortable, wait two hours after the beverage to nurse the baby again.

Fairly simple, right? 

With all the information out there, and guidelines available, the bottom line is use your best judgment: if you don't feel able to drive, you should not breastfeed your baby. 

We hope this eases your mind a little to enjoy a beverage or two at your festivities this holiday season. 

Happy Holidays and Cheers!

Our contributor today is the lovely Alison Vanderburgh; CLC, and birth & postpartum doula. She is mom to son, Luke, 4, as well as two step-daughters. Her passion for breastfeeding education and support was ignited when her son was born and she hasn’t looked back! It is her goal: 

to support mothers and partners through this incredibly life changing time.  To help mom bring her baby earth side in a peaceful, loving, supportive manner.  To help support mom transitioning to a new normal in the postpartum period and facilitate feeding assistance and education when needed.  I am honored to be chosen by you and consider this time very sacred.

You can reach her at alivanderburgh@gmail.com or 207.446.0276.

Why We Care About Kim Kardashian's Birth (And You Should Too)

On December 5th, Kim Kardashian gave birth to her son, Saint West. It's her second child with singer Kanye West. This may or may not be of significance to you. When you hear either name, you might have a connection to them or you might roll your eyes. 

But this birth matters.

Here's why: 

In our HypnoBirthing class, we talk about the history of birth. In the mid-1800s, Queen Victoria requested chloroform for the birth of her eighth and ninth children. This was a very new technique administered by physicians in a time when most women were still having their babies at home. When the social elite in London heard about this augmentation, they all started requesting chloroform for their births. 

They wanted to give birth like the Queen.

So here we are, centuries later. As we prepare for our own births in the modern age, we turn to trusted sources for information about where, how and with whom to give birth. We ask our families and friends. We seek trusted doctors and midwives. We listen to podcasts and read bestsellers. We see the headlines and read about our modern kings and queens. Like it or not, people like Kim Kardashian and Kanye West are the royalty of our times. We may not emulate them or their lifestyle, but when they are having a baby, the world pays attention. We learn about the latest "fad" around how to give birth. We note if it was "natural". We hear about expensive suites and exclusive doulas. We may not want to care, but our subconscious is listening.

From everything In the news, it seems that Kim was clear on her preferences for birth: 

She had clearly thought through her options. She expressed her fears and knew the risks associated with her particular pregnancy. She secured a doctor and facility who supported her choice to have a Version and attempt a vaginal delivery. She exhibited a level of sophistication around her preparation.  

By all accounts, she had the birth she was hoping for. We'll see how it plays out if the cameras caught any of the action, but all reports say that she had a vaginal birth and is in total bliss with her newborn baby.

The more positive stories we hear around birth, the more normal it will become. Care that focuses on the individual experience rather than the pathological potential of pregnancy will become more standard. Kim Kardashian, and the royalty of our times, can change the face of birth. Big task! Let's hope they do it justice.

For our thoughts on a true royal's birth, check out our post on The Duchess Kate's birth back in May!

6 Things to Do in Portland, Maine With Littles This Holiday Season

The days are getting shorter. The air is growing cooler. The holidays are upon us. It's time to put on your cutest boots, put the toddler in a marshmallow-man style coat, and head out to enjoy the season! 

1. Nutcracker:

The music and imagery of The Nutcracker has become synonymous with the holiday season. This year there are a few options if The Nutcracker is on your "must see" list.The Children's Museum is presenting a reindeer version suitable for the youngest viewer, the Portland Ballet is offering a Victorian Nutcracker, and the Maine State Ballet brings the traditional performance.

2. Polar Express:

Every December for the past 8 years, the narrow gauge railway has transformed into a magical adventure to the North Pole. Stories, hot cocoa, cozy pjs, carol singing, santa - What could be better? Tickets are limited, so visit Port Tix for more info on dates, times and prices. They've just added the last of the first class tickets tonight!

At the LL Bean musical light show

3. Trees, trees and more lighted trees!:

Some of the Christmas trees had lighting ceremonies last month, but there are more happening this weekend and lots of opportunities to admired the lights through the season. This weekend there will be lightings in Biddeford, Cape Elizabeth, and North Yarmouth, among others. If you are dazzled by the bright lights, you don't want to miss the big tree in Monument Square or the display at LL Bean. The trees in front of the home store on the LL Bean campus feature an impressive musical light show from 5-9pm until the end of the month. 

4. Trains at the Maine Mall:  

Do you have a train fanatic? Make sure you stop at Starbucks if you are heading to the Baby Gap because you will be delayed at the train display there, assembled by the Maine Garden Railway Society! There are more than 10 trains on multiple tracks with buttons for interactive fun. The volunteers from the society are very friendly and happy to explain any part of the set up. The trains will be there until the mall closes on December 24th. Good for a rainy day! 

5. Holiday at Hadlock:

This annual event is happening on December 5th from 10-2. The Sea Dogs are decking out Hadlock Field in a scene of Winter Wonderland. The fun seems limitless here: horse-drawn wagon rides, face painting, live music, petting zoo, and more! Of course, Santa will be in attendance. 

6. Choose your own tree:

Whether or not you are a celebrator of Christmas, going to a tree farm can be a magical experience. At Old Farm Christmas Place, you can take a tractor-drawn wagon ride up the farm hill to rows and rows of perfect evergreens. There's hot cocoa and a place to sit by the fire. So bundle everyone up and go before the sun sets! You may leave with a tree, but you'll definitely leave with a memory.

What are your favorite memories of traditions your family had when you were young? We'd love to hear them!