Meeting with Senator Mikulski's office to lobby for paid FMLA Leave and futher research!

Hello all.

I am honored to say that Better Bedrest along with Mamas On Bedrest are meeting with Senator Mikulski's office on Monday July 12th, 2010 to lobby for paid FMLA leave for women on bedrest with high-risk pregnancies. We are also lobbying for further research on High Risk Pregnancies as the research now is inconclusive and dated.

Many women around the US are struggling financially when the surprise of pregnancy bedrest occurs. I have always called this the "Invisable Crisis" and we need more then ever to try to get this legislation written.

Darline Turner-Lee from www.mamasonbedrest.com has come up from Texas to team up in the effort. California has been successful with getting paid FMLA leave. Maryland could be a forerunner in hopes that more states with follow. We recognize that there are other populations that would also greatly benefit from this as well. Parents of critically ill children, Families with health issues etc.. I spoke recently to a woman who after having twins who were critically ill, had to quit her job and bills were over a million when done.

The US is behind when it comes to this leave and we need to get with the times! Please stay posted as I will continue to write about this issue.

On another note. Save Novemeber 13th, 2010 for the Better BedRest Holiday Gala! We will have a one week vacation raffle to Park City, Utah with available tickets in the fall. This will be a national raffle. We also will have another raffle, thinking about an IPAD for the gala attendees. Raffle tickets with be $20.

We are in great need of Better BedRest phone volunteers. If you have been on bedrest or have a connection to it, please think about this rewarding experience. Our application is on our website at www.betterbedrest.org

Take care all,

Joanie Reisfeld
Founder
Better BedRest, Inc

Guilt and other negative emotions!

Recently read a little on a parenting site, parenting.com , that I follow regarding guilt and parenting.  It is so important to stay healthy and demonstrate healthy behaviors to our children.  It is especially important to manage our negative emotions or stressors when on bedrest so I thought I would share this short note with Bumps on a Blog!

 

Yes parenting is the toughest job on the planet! I say it all the time to parents. And yes there are so many negative emotions that can overwhelm parents (as we all know too well) and this is normal...however, the important things to remember are that we must develop healthy skills in order to return as quickly as possible to a healthy frame of mind in order to be the best parent we can be. Yes these negative emotions, such as guilt are helpful in order to recognize a need to make a change. We must identify the cause for the guilt (or other negative emotion) and learn. Also every interaction does teach our children something. So it is important to demonstrate good coping skills, communication skills, and conflict resolution skills. As each of the comments indicated there was some time of issue/conflict..oops ( all part of life and especially parenting)..what to do next and how to teach our children in each challenging moment is what is most important! Great job to all of you.

A tribute to Better BedRest from an Emergency Grant Recipient!

This was such a beautiful letter, I just wanted to share. Please pass the word on to friends and co workers that Better BedRest exists to support moms on bedrest due to High Risk Pregnancies. We offer a $500 emergency grant to those women who can prove a loss of income while on bedrest....Help us spread the word. Howard County is our home and very important to us. We are also national so please spread the word. Thanks so much. Joanie Reisfeld, Founder BBR


Oh my goodness!!! wow! Thank you so much! I don't even know where to begin! This really means so much to me and my family! It really is a blessing, that there are women [and i'm sure men] who really understand the hardships one can face, upon being placed on bed rest. It is so comforting to know that there are people out there that recognize this can be a major issue for some women/families. It is an even better feeling to know that somewhere out there, there is a large group of people that donate their time and energy into helping women [like me] when they are put on bed rest, that there are people that care enough about this issue to start an outreach group, especially when many people do not recognize this as an issue at all.



Not only do you help women like us financially, but emotional and moral support as well. It's a great feeling knowing that everyone at Better BedRest inc. can relate to each of the women placed on bed rest in one way or another and care to take the time out of there day for months to call and talk with women like me that are on bed rest to just chat and see how things are going, and what's on your mind, and also help to provide with any other resources they can give.



Better BedRest inc. is a true blessing for many many reasons, and i will definitely be one to donate to this program once i get back to work, and be a voice for this program for all the other pregnant women out there that are placed on bed rest. If you have a facebook, please let me know, i would definitely become a fan of your page, {and if you don't have one, you may consider getting a facebook page -[it is free] and a great way to get out there and be heard and known! again i absolutely cannot thank you enough for all the support and great conversations your program has provided me with thus far. a great thank you from the bottom of my heart. stumbling upon your website was a true blessing in disguise for me for many many reasons. Thank you, Better BedReds inc. so much!

-Elizabeth R.

Search and shop online and Better BedRest makes $ and it is a DONATION for you!!

Founded in 1993, Better BedRest, Inc. is an advocacy, public awareness and volunteer-driven non-profit whose purpose is to provide support, resources and information to pregnant women who are prescribed bedrest by their physicians or midwives. Together with our premier partner, Howard County General Hospital: A Member of Johns Hopkins Medicine, Better BedRest shines a light on a growing prenatal problem that affects over 700,000 women in the U.S. each year.


Free Ways to Help Better Bedrest Raise Much-Needed Funds.
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> Start iGiving at: www.iGive.com/BetterBedrestInc &
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PLEASE PASS THIS ON TO FAMILY, FRIENDS AND CO-WORKERS!! THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH!

JOANIE REISFELD
FOUNDER, BBR

Remember Better BedRest w End of Year Donations!

I just want to take this opportunity to say Happy Holidays as the spirit of the season is upon us. When you are thinking of your end of year donations, please remember Better BedRest,Inc as well as other non-profits that are important to you in your life. Share this with your family and friends as well. Times are hard and we all have to help eachother.

Donations to Better Bedrest will go towards our Emergency Grant Fund and expansion of services.

I wish you all a wonderful holiday season to you and your families and only good health and happiness in 2010.

Sincerely,

Joanie Reisfeld
Founder, Better BedRest, Inc
www.betterbedrest.org

Better BedRest Event is SOLD OUT...BUT....

Better BedRest is working hard to obtain week long vacation home auction items. If anyone knows of a person with a 2nd home, looking for a tax donation we welcome the donation in support of women on bedrest due to high risk pregnancy.

We will accept any donations for our silent auction up until November 14th. Please send an email to info@betterbedrest.org for any donations, or to be put on a waiting list for tickets or if you have a vacation home you would like to donate for a week.

We greatly appreciate the communities support of our event. Howard County embraces our cause and we are very grateful.

Sincerely,

Joanie Reisfeld
Founder
Better BedRest

Nov 21st...Viva Las Vegas...Be there!

Better Bedrest, a non-profit support supporting moms on bedrest due to High Risk Pregnancies is proud to announce Viva Las Vegas! A glorious evening at Chartwell County Club in Severna Park. Elvis will perform, dinner, dancing, gaming tables and our famous Silent Auction, just in time to shop for the holidays.

Mindy Basara WBAL TV 11 News anchor will be our emcee! We are looking forward to a wonderful evening.

Proceeds from this event go to our Emergency Grant Fund and expansion of services. The grant fund helps a bedrest mom pay a bill during pregnancy bedrest. Moms are sometimes losing thousands of dollars a month during this time.

Tickets available from info@betterbedrest.org

Lets have a great evening while supporting a great cause.

Joanie Reisfeld
Founder
Better BedRest