Praise for the Specialist Training Course
Feedback is coming in, and it is all positive! Here are a couple of comments from women who have recently completed the course created by Jodi Selander and PBi:

"The Placenta Encapsulation Specialist Certification Program through Placenta Benefits is a relatively easy to complete guided self study. Jodi Selander has done her homework and research. Jodi includes her intellectual property into the certification training to bring the specialist beyond just the task of placenta encapsulation, inspiring her specialists to critically think. Jodi empowers her specialists to have a comprehensive background knowledge to help them facilitate their own program. In addition, Jodi is in the public eye, having been interviewed by many national newspapers giving her PBi Specialists exposure. And once you are certified, Jodi makes everything easy and simple in providing you with the tools, marketing materials, and so much more."
Tiffani Lawton, Southern New Jersey Specialist

"I took my training with Jodi and PBi, and it has been a great experience! Jodi has worked diligently to put a thorough training program together and an informative web site for women everywhere. To date she has been a wonderful resource for me and been very helpful as I have been building a business in Vancouver Wa where I can assist women with an opportunity to utilize their placenta for a better postpartum experience. I am proud to be a part of an organization like PBi."
Jolene Wright, Vancouver WA Specialist

There are a lot of different philosophies about how to raise your children, and you have probably heard many of them from well-intentioned people in your life. A popular parenting philosophy that has been publicized in the past few years is attachment parenting. Many people don't understand exactly what it is. Attachment parenting basically means that the parents actively try to form a close, special bond with their children through cooperation and respect for their children's needs and points of view. A strong relationship with the parents helps a child develop strong, healthy, secure relationships in the future.

Attachment parenting can help ease stress on a new mother in the early weeks of a baby's life, as it allows her to "go with the flow" and follow her baby's cues. It lets her practice using her own intuition, which helps build confidence in her mothering abilities. Trying to place baby on a schedule (feeding, sleeping, diapering) can create conflict in the budding relationship, which causes unnecessary stress and can lead to feelings of frustration and undermine confidence in the new parents.

While there are many ways to develop these strong bonds with young children, Attachment Parenting International, a major proponent of this philosophy, has released a list of 8 ideals for attached parents. It is important to realize that these are ideals to strive for, not something every person can accomplish every single day.

Preparation for Childbirth. This involves educating yourself so you can be an active participant in your pregnancy and delivery. An active parent should take classes and strive to make important decisions early. A mother should also try to keep stress on the baby low during pregnancy

Emotional Responsiveness. This is probably the most important philosophy in attachment parenting. It involves being aware of and fulfilling your child's emotional needs. It stresses comforting your baby when they cry instead of letting them "cry it out" on their own. A parent should develop the ability to interpret and fulfill your child's needs by spending quality time with them.

Breastfeeding. Breastfeeding is not only the most nutritious diet possibly for babies, it also promotes bonding between the mother and child through closeness and hormonal reactions. Attachment parenting encourages breastfeeding until the mother and the baby are both ready to stop. It also advocates breastfeeding behaviors even if you're bottle feeding your baby, such as holding baby close and maintaining eye contact during a feeding.

Baby Wearing. Wearing your baby in a sling can have many positive benefits. It allows your child to feel safe and secure, stimulates their neurological development, and helps stabilize their biorhythms. It also brings a sense of closeness between the wearer and the baby. An added benefit is that you have your hands free to get things done around the house if you desire.

Shared Sleep. Sleeping in a bed with the parents can make a child feel safe and secure at night because their needs are being met. If a baby has to cry for a while before a parent arrives, it can threaten their feeling of nighttime security. With co-sleep, mom is always there to respond to baby's needs immediately. It also makes breastfeeding easier and further strengthens that bond.

Avoid long separations from your baby. Try not to be away from your baby for too long. If long absences are unavoidable, try to find one consistent caregiver who will treat your child as
you normally would, ensuring continuity of care.

Positive discipline. Attachment parenting stresses forming a strong bond with your child which helps them to trust you. If they have this trust, you can guide them to make good choices by making them yourselves. You should keep this trust by trying to understand and empathize with your child's point of view.

Balance your family life. This involves not only being there for your family, but also being there for yourself. Having a solid support structure and taking care of yourself will help you be better equipped to care for your family as well.

Practicing these techniques, adapted to your unique lifestyle and circumstances, will help you raise a happy, independent, and well adjusted child.

Fresh spinach
Brianna's Homestyle Poppyseed Dressing (light, if you can find it)
Dried cranberries
Roasted soy nuts

Fill a large bowl with fresh spinach leaves; use as much as you will need to feed your crowd. Add enough Poppyseed Dressing to lightly coat the spinach; toss to coat evenly. Add a handful of dried cranberries, a sprinkling of roasted soy nuts for crunch, and voilà - a beautifully fresh, tasty salad to compliment any meal.