Laine Podell–Camino MA, CLE, CIIM, is the founder of A Mother’s Haven. She has Masters Degrees in Parent-Infant Education and Deaf Education. She has studied and taught Early Childhood Development and Education since 1991. Prior to opening A Mother’s Haven, she was with Los Angeles Unified School District educating parents of young children for more than a decade. She worked with families of hearing-impaired infants in the areas of parenting, child development and language development in group and one–to–one settings. Additionally, Laine has been an Adjunct Professor at California State University in Northridge, teaching Early Childhood Special Education and Deaf Education graduate students for the Special Education Department.
Laine became a Certified Lactation Educator through UCLA after experiencing her own challenges to breastfeed her son, Zachary. Zachary had been given many bottles during his brief stay in the NICU and was not latching on to the breast properly. Laine struggled with nipple pain, overabundant milk supply, and chronically blocked milk ducts. Having learned prenatally about all the health benefits of breastfeeding, Laine was committed to breastfeed Zachary. However, after consultations with a few different Lactation Consultants, where she felt rushed or not listened to, and five weeks of struggling she was ready to give up. By sheer coincidence (or divine intervention), she was referred to a support group with Terry Gass, RN, IBCLC. Terry provided a guidance, instruction and support in a calming and encouraging manner, and the other mothers offered support and encouragement. It is only because of the support and encouragement she received that she persevered through a challenging start to nurse for over two years. Laine's goal is to provide non-judgmental and supportive guidance and support to women, who are experiencing difficulties or feelings of uncertainty as they learn to breastfeed their babies.
Laine is a presenter for the SIGN with your BABY Network. American Sign Language, which she has been studying since 1987, is her second language,. She watched many deaf and hearing children of deaf friends begin to communicate at a very early age and always knew she would share ASL with her own children. She has been using ASL with Zachary since he was very young. After experiencing first hand, with Zachary, the power of his early communication, she became compelled to share it with her friends and other parents and began teaching Sign Language for Baby classes.
Laine is also a Certified Instructor of Infant Massage. Laine has been sharing Massage with Zachary since he was two–months–old, when she was trained to teach Infant Massage to other parents. When he was an infant, the strokes for gas and colic were essential to relieve his distress and the massage time helped Laine to begin to trust herself and her instincts as a mother. Now, the daily massage that she shares with Zachary provides a quiet, focused time for them to connect at the end of a busy day. She is passionate about sharing this bond-deepening experience with other parents through Infant Massage and Communication classes.
Laine has recently had the honor and life-expanding experience of being Certified in The Khalsa Way: Kundalini Prenatal Yoga, with Gurmukh Kaur Khalsa, Sada Sat Kaur Khalsa, and Davi Kaur Khalsa (and many other wonderful teachers) of Golden Bridge Yoga. Laine has been practicing various styles of yoga on and off for many years. It wasn’t until finding Kundalini Yoga while she was pregnant did she feel the real meaning of Yoga– “to yoke or union” body, mind and soul. Prenatal Kundalini Yoga helped Laine to prepare her whole being for her labor and she is thrilled and honored to share this ancient technology, brought to the U.S. by Yogi Bhajan, with other pregnant women!
Laine has been working with parents of young children for many years. In that time, and reinforced since becoming a mother herself, Laine has always believed that there is no one right answer for issues related to parenting and child-rearing and that parenting is an on-going learning process. Laine believes strongly in the importance of encouraging parents to help their babies develop secure attachments. She practices many aspects of Attachment Parenting and advocates responding to a baby’s cues in regards to parental expectations, feedings, weaning, nap and bed-time schedules, and sleeping through the night, etc.
Laine holds that as each child and family are different, so are their approaches to and beliefs about child–rearing. While her parenting styles may differ with someone she is working with, she is always supportive and makes sure that parents have the knowledge they need about various philosophies and strategies so they can make educated decisions based on what is appropriate developmentally and physiologically for their baby, as well what works best for their particular child and family.
Laine has personally experienced, and sees on a daily basis, the real need pregnant women and new mothers have for warm and nurturing support. It is for this reason that she started A Mother’s Haven. She looks forward to meeting and supporting each mother, father, couple that comes in to A Mother’s Haven.
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Leslye Adelman, LCCE, IBCLC, CLC, has a B.S. In Physical Therapy and an M.S. in Special Education. Leslye had a wonderfully memorable birth experience and a not so wonderful (but extremely unforgettable) breastfeeding experience. Her experience led back to school where she trained at UCLA as a Childbirth Educator and a Lactation Consultant. Today, as the mom of 3 adult children, and with more than 30 years experience in the field of pregnancy, labor, postpartum, and parenting, she has a breadth of education and expertise to offer.
Leslye is teaching A Mother’s Haven’s Prepared Childbirth Intensives, the Breastfeeding 101 prenatal workshop, and the Caring For Your Newborn prenatal workshop. She also facilitates the Breastfeeding Support Group, and is available for private Lactation Consults. For years, Leslye has been teaching group and private classes in childbirth and breastfeeding preparation and parenting education, as well as coaching women through labor, counseling breastfeeding moms, and running parenting programs. Leslye has always considered it a privilege to have maintained contact with anyone she has taught or assisted. Leslye is here to answer a breastfeeding question, to help refresh before a subsequent birth or even to offer advice on parenting skills as the children grow. She looks forward to getting to know and assisting parents with pre and post childbirth needs. Leslye wants parents to remember that we bring babies into this world with no instructions and the world of parenting is a lifetime of learning. Love, care and commitment and a little help from the people at A Mother’s Haven, will make becoming a parent a wonderful time for you.
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Richard Pass, R.N., B.S., is the Save A Little Life Program and Course Director. He has been a health educator for many years and had several decades of acute care experience, including ER experience at Cedars Sinai. Since, 1988, as a Certified Instructor with the American Heart Association. Richard has trained many parents and care providers in the Los Angeles and surrounding communities.
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Synthia Praglin M.A., J.D., CIMI. Synthia began teaching Mothers' Gatherings (Mommy&Me) & Infant Massage classes after the birth of her own son Jake over eleven years ago. She found it was the perfect fit for her child development background and her own experiences of being a mom. Her professional background includes 15 years of experience in the fields of social services and law with at–risk children and their families. Synthia is certified by the International Association of Infant Massage Instructors and believes strongly that massage is a valuable way to promote bonding and communication between parents and their children.
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Jill Campbell, Psy.D. is a mother and a licensed clinical psychologist who specializes in early child development. Dr. Campbell received her B.S. from Boston University in 1988, her M.A. from New York University in 1991, and her Psy.D. from Ryokan College in 1995. Dr. Campbell completed her post-doctoral training at Cedars Sinai Early Childhood Center in Los Angeles. Jill has worked with parents of infants and toddlers in private practice, and has also conducted workshops on a variety of child development topics for a group pediatric practice in Encino. She has been a guest speaker on different issues for preschools and moms clubs in the Los Angeles area, and currently leads mommy and me classes through the San Fernando Valley. Dr. Campbell has received over 60 continuing ed credits in mindful meditation and spiritual psychology.
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Danielle Vorzimer, Psy.D. is recently a new mother who earned her doctorate in clinical psychology from Pepperdine University in 2010, after receiving her B.A. in psychology from Indiana University in 2004 and her M.A. in clinical psychology at Pepperdine University in 2006. Danielle has several years of experience working with adults and children of all ages, including parents & infants, at the Child Development Institute in Woodland Hills, The Help Group in Sherman Oaks, and The Maple Counseling Center in Beverly Hills. Danielle has received a year of training facilitating Mindful Parenting groups with mothers and their babies, and has a special interest in Mindful Parenting theories. She also has experience researching parent-child interactions in the field of third party reproduction. Danielle is excited and honored to be working with mommies and their tiny ones at A Mother’s Haven.
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Danielle Brooks, M.F.T. is a committed leader in parent education and child development. She is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist with her BS in Human Development and Masters in Clinical Psychology (with a specialization in children and adolescents). Danielle continues to deliver psychologically based information on cognitive, neurological, physical, emotional, social, and interpersonal development as a Clinician, Professor, Guest Lecturer, Mommy and Me Instructor, Parent Consultant, and Educational Consultant. With over 14 years of professional experience working with children and families, Danielle strives to elevate new parents' abilities to be attuned and effective in how they relate to their children. As a mother of two, Danielle understands both personally and professionally the responsibilities parents have to maximize their children’s emotional health, desire to learn, motivation to be productive in society, create a strong sense of self, and engage in meaningful relationships. Being a Co-Founder for Parent Source solidifies Danielle’s passion and motivation to provide parents with informative and highly useful tools to become more effective as parents.
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Alisha Tamburri CCHT, Masters N.L.P has been teaching HypnoBirthing® The Mongan Method of Childbirth Education at A Mother’s Haven since they opened. Alisha is a clinical hypnotherapist, childbirth educator, birth doula, domestic violence counselor and HypnoFertility Therapist. Her Peaceful, Calm & Relaxed CD has gained in popularity to assist with stress relief, sleep deprivation and rejuvenation. It is endorsed and sold by the HypnoBirthing Institute.
Alisha has over two decades of experience as a hypnotherapist helping people overcome medical, personal, career and relationship issues. Her practice has transformed the lives of children, teens and adults from all walks of life, including medical professionals, athletes, executives and celebrities.
Alisha is passionate about helping pregnant couples prepare for a peaceful pregnancy and fearless childbirth. Her HypnoBirthing classes are taught in a fun and safe environment. Alisha herself experienced two drug and pain free births using hypnosis.
Alisha’s involvement in HypnoBirthing has been featured in numerous publications and TV shows. Recently she was interviewed on Good Day LA, and Fox 11 News. Her daughters and grandson have been raised using hypnosis techniques. Alisha is working toward her Master’s Degree.
View Alisha on Fox 11 News and two HypnoBirths on Dateline NBC at www.hypnobirthingca.com
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