From the WBWC Blog:

Month: January 2012

UNC Recruiting for Study on Postpartum Depression

Postpartum depression is a debilitating condition that affects 10-15% of new mothers.  Researchers at UNC are investigating a promising new treatment for postpartum depression and recently came to speak to the WBWC staff about it.  Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (rTMS) is a treatment that uses magnetic fields to generate electrical currents in the areas of the brain believed to control mood.  This is a non-invasive, outpatient procedure.  40-minute sessions are performed five days a week over the course of 6 weeks.   The researchers are interested in recruiting women age 18-45 who have given birth to a healthy singleton baby in the past 12 months, and are currently depressed but are NOT taking antidepressants.  If you are interested in participating in the study, call the birth center for more details.

Group Prenatal Care is Coming to WBWC!

     You may have read or heard about Group Prenatal Care coming to the Birth Center. Thanks to the overwhelming positive response from our patients, we will be officially starting our first session of “The Group” in February! This program was created specifically to meet the needs of our Birth Center patients. Allison Koch, CNM and Kate Layman, CNM will be the leaders of the The Group at WBWC.      Our pilot group includes eight mamas who will begin their sessions in February. They will meet for ten 2-hour sessions of group prenatal care. We plan to start a new group each month. If you or someone you know has an August due date and is interested in participating, let us know. The next group, which will be led by Kate, will start in March and is tentatively considering meeting on Tuesday mornings.      We’d like to give a great big thanks to everyone who took the time to give us their feedback. It’s because of you that we are able to launch this wonderful program for our moms-to-be! 　

New Arrivals

Malachi Elijah Wells – 10 lbs., 2 oz. – December 2 Harper Olive Bell – 6 lbs., 13 oz. – December 2 Lucia Rose Richards – 8 lbs. – December 5 Emma Frances Romanchuk – 9 lbs., 3 oz. – December 5 Ezra Wright Ballard – 7 lbs., 9 oz. – December 7 Grant Henry Miceli – 6 lbs., 5 oz. – December 7 John Brady Willis – 6 lbs., 13 oz. – December 10 Ryan Douglas Shoaf, Jr. – 9 lbs., 5 oz. – December 12 Tilden Elliot Hart – 9 lbs., 1 oz. – December 13 Ewan Michael Pellas – 8 lbs., 2 oz. – December 15 Pippa Corinne Clark – 7 lbs. – December 16 John Walker Mobley – 8 lbs., 6 oz. – December 18 Navilee Amber Jones – 9 lbs., 5 oz. – December 18 Elliot Elizabeth Schulien – 6 lbs., 9 oz. – December 21 Nora Anne Dezendorf – 9 lbs., 10 oz. – December 22 Adah Joy Frey – 7 lbs., 2 oz. – December 25 Opal Merriweather Wood – 9 lbs., 4 oz. – December 27 Zora Rose Graber – 6 lbs., 8 oz. – December 28 Ryan Andrew Navarro – 7 lbs., 14 oz. – December 29 Eleanor Ruby Oldham – weight – December 29 Daisy Lynn Bacon – 8 lbs., 10 oz. – December 29 Penelope King – 7 lbs. – December 30 Lucius Alexander Mealer – 7 lbs., 7 oz. – December 30

A New Year’s Gift: The Birth Story of Rowan Juedi Kirkley

by Amber Kirkley I always knew I wanted a natural birth. My mother, my mother-in-law, and my sister-in-law had a total of 8 children naturally. My brother had been delivered 27 years ago by Maureen Darcey and her partners at the birth center in Siler City, Chatham County.  Although I only remember pieces of it, I was present at his delivery. Hence, I had met Maureen when I was just 5 years old.  The day I found out I was pregnant, I called the birth center to schedule a tour. I was excited about the prospect of continuing the tradition of natural birth in my family.           In the months leading up to my daughter’s birth, I talked to many people about my plans for a natural birth. I was always interested to see people’s reactions. It seems that natural birth causes a polarity of responses. People often are either really into it or simply think you are crazy.  People asked if I was scared about the pain of natural birth. Since this was my first child, I could not say that I was scared. In fact, I had no idea what to expect. I had read every book I could get my hands on, spent countless hours on the internet, and taken a wonderful natural childbirth class taught by a close friend’s mother, but I still had no idea what labor was going to be like. What I did have was the confidence that many women had gone before me in giving birth naturally, and I felt strongly that I, too, would be able to have a natural labor and birth. I also felt increasingly confident in the midwives I would be working with during this experience.           I was nervous throughout my pregnancy that it would not work out for me to have the baby at the birth center. I had borderline high blood pressure, and I was always concerned I would develop pre-eclampsia. As my due date approached, I was so thrilled to not be pre-eclamptic, I gained mental energy and strength.  I am a nurse, so I worked 12 hours on December 30th, my last scheduled shift. I was hoping that my baby would be born very soon. My due date was New Year’s Day and honestly, I did not want to be sitting around without a baby in my arms for 2 weeks at the start of … Read More

Aromatherapy Blend: Morning Sickness Relief

By Allison Koch, CNM 10 drops peppermint essential oil 10 drops bergamot or a citrus like orange or lemon oil Add to a small amount of a carrier oil like almond, jojoba, or apricot kernel. Mix well. Put a few drops in an aromatherapy diffuser, or on a tissue tucked in your pocket – whatever will keep it accessible to you as you go about your day. I liked the tissue in my pocket, because I found the nausea hit me at odd times, and I could just take a sniff as needed. Another scent to try is cinnamon oil, which is good for a variety of things, including anxiety, but also nausea. Cinnamon has a strong aroma and is best alone or blended with something light like neroli (orange blossom). There are some oils that are considered unsafe for use in early pregnancy due to their ability to make the uterus contract: oregano, basil, thyme, marjoram, and sage. I have also heard conflicting things about lavender oil in first trimester, so probably best to avoid it early in pregnancy.

WBWC Board Update

by Kaaren Haldeman Happy New Year to everyone! We are starting off the new year by bringing in some great new people to serve on our board. You may even see some of the nominees at the birth center for tours and interviews. We are excited about expanding and beginning the process of raising money for our new birth center. We will welcome new board members in February, so keep an eye out for the next newsletter when we will introduce them. Have a great January, and let’s all look forward to the Year of the Dragon!

Feedback: Help the WBWC Help You!

By Claire C. McKiernan           Nine years ago, when I gave birth to my first child, I was given an in-depth Postpartum Care Guide from the birth center on what to expect of my baby and myself, and how to get myself back into the swing of things. I have no doubt that someone put a great deal of time into the guide, most likely in her very hard-to-find spare time. I found it enormously helpful, but as a former technical writer and editor, I was put off by the typos in the booklet. They just kept catching my eye. At first I overlooked it, but it gnawed at me. I was so thrilled with the care I received at the birth center that I truly wanted everything, right down to the dotted i’s and crossed t’s in the Postpartum Care Guide, to be impressive. I saw an opportunity for improvement and mentioned it to Maureen Darcey. It seemed so trifling that I’m not sure I expected much of a response. However, Maureen took my request very seriously. In fact, before the end of our conversation, she had already found a top-notch former technical writer and editor to revise the booklet! What’s my point? Maureen and the staff at The Women’s Birth and Wellness Center want you to know that they strive to make your visits as stress-free and pleasant as possible. In order to provide the best care possible, the staff needs your feedback, both good and bad. Even if it seems trifling, if it bothers you, it can probably be improved. If you are unhappy for any reason, have concerns, or suggestions for improvement, let Maureen Darcey or Brianna Honea (women@ncbirthcenter.org) know. All emails sent to Brianna concerning patient care will also be forwarded to Maureen. Additionally, you will receive a 6-week postpartum survey or GYN survey that prompts you for feedback. PLEASE fill this out, and if you have a grievance, leave your name so that Maureen or Brianna can contact you. They review each and every survey carefully and will follow-up with you if you had any concerns. Since its birth, the WBWC has grown, much like a child, by leaps and bounds. But also like a child, there may be times when caring guidance and advice are necessary for it to reach its full potential. While the WBWC staff asks for your patience and understanding … Read More