Moving to RI - Need Recs for daycare, pedi, ob/midwife/doula

[lyssn122]

I will be moving to RI in late Sept/early Oct with my husband and 2.5 yo daughter. I think we are going to end up in the Warwick/East Greenwich/N. Kingstown area.  I am looking for recommendations for several things:

* a part-time daycare/preschool for 2.5 yo... she currently goes to a nature-based preschool 1 day a week and we love it.  I would like to find another part-time option (probably 2 days/week).  I'd prefer a center-type program rather than home-based but would appreciate any recommendations!

* a pediatrician with a holistic approach.  we're on a standard vac schedule so that's not a concern for now.

* a midwife/ob practice that handles high-risk pregnancies but is supportive of natural birth.  I'm expecting our second child in January and have a history of fetal neural tube defects as well as deep vein thrombosis so I need to deliver in the hospital.  However, I would really like to have another natural birth and would like a doctor/practice that would support that in the hospital.

* a doula for the birth.  I used hypnobirthing with my first child and would like to try the hypnobabies program this time around.  If anyone has  recommendations for a doula or hypnobabies program in the area I would appreciate it.

If anyone has recommendations for any or all of the above I would love to hear them!  Thanks so much!

[lovebeingamomma]

My midwife is Deb White, Tollgate OB-GYN in Warwick, I can't say enough good things about her.  I don't know about high-risk births, but she's in Warwick and would be worth interviewing and finding out.  That would be the closest provider in that area that I could recommend as being natural-minded.

	390 Toll Gate Road Ste 101 Warwick, RI 02886 [phone]

Here is the website for the only Hypnobabies instructor I know of (I've met her she seems lovely!): http://www.oceanstatehypnobabies.com/

You can find doulas here: http://doulasri.org/, and note that Erica Shea is a certified hypnobabies doula (I think the only one in RI), she would probably be the most beneficial to you if you're using the hypnobabies program, as traditional doula training is quite different (but she's DONA certified as well). 

My kids go to Dr. Stokes in Westerly, I travel a ways to see him, as I find his approach perfect for our lifestyle (and he's so good with kids), a ped I recommend putting on your interview list. 

Visit RIbirth.net for a lot of good information.

Good luck!

Edited by lovebeingamomma - 8/11/11 at 7:24am

[JustAnotherJenny]

Hi!

In addition to the resources that have already been posted, you may also want to check out the RI Birth Network http://www.ribirth.net/ .  They have a huge directory of providers from many different modalities.

Currently, there are 3 certified Hypnobabies hypnodoulas in RI.  I am a hypnodoula based out of Warwick/East Greenwich Area,  Erica Shea and Kim McNiece both practice together through Blessed Beginnings out of North Kingstown.  Hypnobabies trained (not yet certified) hypnodoulas are Meghan Henry - East Greenwich, and CT based Susanna Merrill-Bernath.  Contact information for all of these doulas can be found on the DoRI website that was previously mentioned.

Amanda Santo is the only Hypnobabies instructor in RI -- she holds classes in East Greenwich.  She is really awesome.  She also teaches Happiest Baby on the Block classes, Itsy Bitsy Yoga, and is a co-leader of the ICAN of RI chapter.

Welcome to the tiniest little state in the union!

[lovebeingamomma]

Oh sorry I didn't notice that others had been certified as well, so you have a few to choose from them that's great. 

[JustAnotherJenny]

:-) No problem l!  It all just happened.

[lyssn122]

Thank you so much!  I'm excited to be moving back to RI (I grew up there) but a little overwhelmed at the moment trying to get everything organized! :)

[laneysprout]

You've gotten lots of great info so far, here are my recs:

• You might want to check out Learning Brooke for your DD.  It is nature-inspired based on the Reggio philosophy and very highly regarded.
• The pediatrician and family practice docs at Ocean State Holistic Medical Collaborative are wonderful
• Mary Mumford-Haley, CNM or the team of Drs. Susanna Magee and John Morton are pioneers in family-centered births, including gentle cesarean births (all of them attend births at Memorial Hospital in Pawtucket, which is the only hospital in the state to receive a Mother-Friendly designation)
• The Rhode Island Birth Network resource directory for care providers of all kinds, including doulas (DoRI is a good resource, too, though many of the most experienced doulas in the state, myself included, are not members) and as previous posters have stated Amanda Santo for HypnoBabies.

I live on the Warwick/Cranston line, in Pawtuxet Village, which is ten minutes from the East Side of Providence.  It's on the water and I LOVE that it really does feel like a village (lots of beautiful old Victorians and Craftsman bungalows, coffee shops, post office, bank, etc. in walking distance) but is still so close to the city and only about 30 minutes from the beaches in South County.

Originally Posted by lyssn122 

I will be moving to RI in late Sept/early Oct with my husband and 2.5 yo daughter. I think we are going to end up in the Warwick/East Greenwich/N. Kingstown area.  I am looking for recommendations for several things:

* a part-time daycare/preschool for 2.5 yo... she currently goes to a nature-based preschool 1 day a week and we love it.  I would like to find another part-time option (probably 2 days/week).  I'd prefer a center-type program rather than home-based but would appreciate any recommendations!

* a pediatrician with a holistic approach.  we're on a standard vac schedule so that's not a concern for now.

* a midwife/ob practice that handles high-risk pregnancies but is supportive of natural birth.  I'm expecting our second child in January and have a history of fetal neural tube defects as well as deep vein thrombosis so I need to deliver in the hospital.  However, I would really like to have another natural birth and would like a doctor/practice that would support that in the hospital.

* a doula for the birth.  I used hypnobirthing with my first child and would like to try the hypnobabies program this time around.  If anyone has  recommendations for a doula or hypnobabies program in the area I would appreciate it.

If anyone has recommendations for any or all of the above I would love to hear them!  Thanks so much!

[Abylite]

Hello! We just moved to EG with our 4 and 6 year olds. We are happy to be back in RI too.... I'm looking for some of the same info as you (MD or pediatrician) .... As far as a preschool/daycare is concerned, our son is enrolled at Sweet peas Village and we love it....and of course so does he. It's a very loving environment. Good luck to you!

[DaughterOfKali]

I'm subbing to this thread because I still haven't given up the hope on moving back to RI.

[lyssn122]

Thanks everyone for the great info.  We've been really busy trying to get everything ready.  We're making a trip up next weekend and hope to find a house to rent for a year or so.

Laneysprout - Pawtuxet Village is actually one of our top picks for a place to live, along with EG.  I grew up partly in Edgewood so I know the area but it has changed a lot in the last 15 years or so! 

Abylite - thanks for the heads-up on Sweet Peas!  We will definitely put it on the list to check out.

[Abylite]

Good luck!

[justmama]

Sweet Peas is wonderful.  My neighbor is a preschool teacher there and I've toured the place and it's beautiful.  They are very patient and kind and loving, the facility is gorgeous, and it's definitely worth it if you can afford it.  Tuition is MUCH higher than any daycares around the area though.