Earl Grey CC to host fair for bellies and babies

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This article was published 12/10/2011 (5407 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

There will be a lot of baby love cradled inside Earl Grey Community Centre on Oct. 15.

That’s when the first Fit 4 Two Belly & Baby Fair will stroll into Winnipeg. The free, interactive event is designed to help pregnant women and their families or families with young children by showcasing local organizations, products and services.

“I’ve been inspired to do this for a while. When you have a baby, you do need lots of help,” said event organizer Aileen Hunt, owner of Fit 4 Two Pre and Postnatal Fitness-Winnipeg West.

Hunt — who took control of the franchise in 2009 and lives in Crescentwood — said she hopes the event will fill a need in the community.

“I’m hoping it will help new mothers find resources they need to be healthier and happier,” said the married mother of three-year-old identical twin boys.

“There’s definitely a need here. That’s why I started the business to offer different types of classes, as there wasn’t that many options for mothers who often had to travel to other neighbourhoods,” Hunt added.

The event will showcase numerous local businesses and organizations, including East St. Paul-based Baby Butz, Donna Sarna Physiotherapy & Rehabilitation in Fort Rouge and the Manitoba Association for Childbirth and Family Education, located in West Alexander.

There will also be plenty of activities crammed into the four-hour schedule — both for little fingers and grown-up bodies.

These will include Halloween crafts, massage techniques, mini music lessons and a look at the most popular birthing positions. There will also be healthy lunch options, a comfy corner for babies and parents and draws for 25 door prizes that will be held throughout the session.

One expectant mother is happy there are resources available — such as Hunt’s prenatal aqua class at Rady Jewish Community Centre — to help ease the physical challenges of pregnancy.

“The main thing about being pregnant is everything hurts. In the water, we get a workout, which gets the muscles moving, and it’s also lots of fun,” said Charleswood resident Lisa Tremblay, who is five months pregnant.

“You don’t feel like you’re carrying 15 extra (pounds) until you get out of the water and hit the stairs.

Also, I don’t have much of a physical job, so the classes give me the chance to use muscles I don’t use.”

Jenelle Carbert, who is six months pregnant, agreed that expectant mothers face unique challenges.

“Your hips are sore, your back is sore and your joints get really sore — that kind of stuff. That’s why being in the water is so nice. It’s the one hour of the week you don’t feel like you’re carrying around another person for the entire day,” said Carbert, who lives in River Heights.

Hunt said that while her business doesn’t have a storefront, she is currently expanding her classes beyond southwest Winnipeg to venues that include Southdale Community Centre and the Sunova Centre in West. St. Paul.   

The event will run from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Oct. 15 and will be held at 360 Cockburn St. N. For more information about the event, or to register for door prizes, visit www.fit4two.ca.

simon.fuller@canstarnews.com