From the WBWC Blog:

Month: July 2012

New Arrivals

Hatterras Hemingway Fleming – 11 lbs. – March 23 Caroline Ellis Cohen – 7 lbs., 2 oz. – May 3 *Eve Graham Kasper – 9 lbs., 10 oz – May 3Isaac Nathaniel Harrison – 8 lbs. – May 3 Sophie Keen Hart – 8 lbs., 12 oz. – May 4 *Miranda Sage Garibaldi – 7 lbs. – May 7 Callum Brenner Bates – 7 lbs., 9 oz. – May 7 Elijah Crouse – 8 lbs., 5 oz. – May 9 Gretchen Elise Viall – 7 lbs., 2 oz. – May 10 Zack Aiden Conklin – 8 lbs., 8 oz. – May 10 Dashiel Django Lockhart – 8 lbs., 8 oz. – May 10 Samir Richard Cameron – 9 lbs. – May 11 Brianna Grace Luciano – 9 lbs., 4 oz. – May 18 Norah Elizabeth Cyr – 7 lbs., 8 oz. – May 19 William Bernie Ward – 7 lbs., 4 oz. – May 23 Josephine Lily Desrosiers – 7 lbs., 9 oz. – May 23 Dylan James Boyd – 9 lbs. – May 27 Aaron Michael Evarts – 8 lbs., 4 oz. – May 27 Baby Girl Guajardo – 8 lbs., 8 oz. – May 28 Annabeth Herbert Traverse – 8 lbs., 6 oz. – May 28 Audrey Caroline Graff – 7 lbs., 9 oz. – May 28 *Thomas Noah Faustino Chapman – 6 lb s.,14 oz. – May 29 Thea Madison Daulton Aronne – 8 lbs. – May 31 Jakhairi Naasir Birkett – 8 lbs., 4 oz. – June 1 Ola Mae Margaret Nervo-Jabaut – 6 lbs., 9 oz. – June 2 Elsie Mae James – 7 lbs., 8 oz. – June 3 Alexander Ming De La Torre – 7 lbs., 4 oz. – June 5 Riley Katharine Davidson – 8 lbs., 13 oz. – June 7 Eddie Freeborn – 8 lbs., 1 oz. – June 11 August Isaiah Gurney – 7 lbs., 2 oz. – June 11 Kaleb Aaron Reid – 9 lbs. – June 11 Mackenzie Faith Pinnell – 7 lbs., 13 oz. – June 11 Malcolm John Ray – 6 lbs. – June 13 Sebastian Glenn Milke – 6 lbs., 11 oz. – June 16 Avery Berlin Smith – 7 lbs., 6 oz. – June 17 Cage Walter Brockman – 7 lbs., 13 oz. – June 17 Bruno Joseph Strecker – 10 lbs., 1 oz. – June 18 Zachary Michael Schroeder – 7 lbs., 11 … Read More

Group Prenatal Care – September Due Dates!

     Here are some of our beautiful Group mamas who are looking forward to meeting their little ones in September! If you’re interested in participating in Group Prenatal Care, give us a call at (919)933-3301, or mention it to your midwife at your next prenatal appointment.

The HypnoBirth and Water Birth of Our Little Mason

by Elizabeth Oldham Mason, this story is about you and for you.       The day that we found out we were expecting you we were so very excited. I remember standing in the living room in the house on Bellaire Drive with your daddy and neither of us could stop smiling. I was holding a little pregnancy test still in disbelief but starting to feel the magic of knowing I was pregnant.       We went to a family wedding knowing that you were there. You were our little secret for just a bit. We gave each other private smiles all night long. It is such a nice memory.      While we were all taking a rest from dancing at the wedding, Grammy leaned over and told me she got Rosser a new book. She said “I know it will happen one day, so I just bought it to go ahead and give it to you.”  The title of the book was I Am a Big Brother. I think Grammy knew before any of us that you were on your way.       We went for an early ultrasound because we had a few complications when I was first pregnant with your brother. We dropped Rosser off at Grammy and Pops and told them we were returning Christmas gifts. We were sneaky!      How relieved I was to hear your little heartbeat and see you for the first time. You were fine and I was fine, you were exactly where you were supposed to be. We were so ready to tell everyone that you were on your way and that our little family was growing!  You were given a due date of August 22, 2010. This due date is very near and dear to my heart. You see, little Mason, it is your first cousin’s birthday. Mommy’s oldest brother’s (Uncle Ron) first son. My very first nephew. An amazing fellow with red hair just like mommy and Rosser. A beautiful and handsome man with such a caring soul and a fighting mentality. A cool guy indeed.      Your cousin, Ron (or Pee Wee, as family and friends called him), passed away in a car accident a month before I looked at your pregnancy test.       Your due date meant so much more than a due date to Mommy and Daddy. It held special meaning and made us feel that you had an … Read More

Meet the New Boutique Staff

Courtney (with her adorable son) and Rose Rose Campagnola In 2006, Rose moved to NC from Colorado. She had recently become a birth doula and found the Birth Center to be a home away from home as a volunteer. In 2007, Rose helped open the Boutique and subsequently worked there for four years. After taking some time off to be with her son, Jonah, who was born in 2010, she is back as a clerk. She is very passionate about cloth diapering, baby wearing, and women’s health in general.  Courtney Scott Originally from Florida, Courtney and her husband moved to Durham in 2010 following completion of her Master’s in Social Work from NC State.  They have one son who was recently born at the Birth Center.  Since becoming a mother, Courtney is looking forward to creating ways to use her skills and experience to serve women and their families through the birthing experience.  She is passionate about helping women make choices about baby care that work for them!  Outside of working at the boutique, Courtney is creating a series of workshops and therapy groups for postpartum women.  She enjoys reading, singing, playing with her son, working in the garden, and hiking.

Recipe: Corn Chowder

by Michelle Stevens     Corn chowder is a great summer meal, especially with fresh corn and veggies from the garden. This recipe makes enough to feed my family of six. It’s great with sandwiches, salad, or bread and is an easy but satisfying homemade dinner! You can also try adding peppers, squash, or whatever your family likes — just add them in when sauteing the onions. Enjoy!  2 tbsp butter 1/4 cup onion, finely chopped 1 carrot, peeled and chopped 1 celery stalk, chopped 2 medium red potatoes, peeled and cubed 2 cups fresh or frozen corn OR 1 14-oz can corn (the sodium-free kind) 2 cans creamed corn 1 cup low-fat milk 1 cup fat-free half-and-half salt and pepper to taste Melt butter in large pot over medium heat. Saute onions, carrots, and celery until onions are translucent and carrots are fairly soft. Add a little salt and pepper. Meanwhile, in a separate small pot, cover potatoes with water and boil until tender. Add the fresh or canned corn and sautee for 2-3 minutes.  Add the creamed corn, potatoes, half-and-half, and milk. Salt and pepper to taste. Ready to serve as soon as it’s hot!

“We’re Havin’ a Heat Wave…”

By Allison Koch, CNM …And pregnant ladies are especially at risk to get dehydrated in a heat wave! Being well-hydrated can increase your comfort, improve the body’s ability to nourish itself, prevent preterm labor, and help avoid unnecessary inductions for oligohydramnios (low amniotic fluid). So how do you know when your hydration is adequate? First, be sure you are drinking AT LEAST 64 ounces of water daily. In the third trimester increase it by 8-16 ounces, to 80 ounces daily. If you don’t really like water, try electrolyte or vitamin waters. Popsicles count, too! (They are frozen water with a little flavor and color!) Second, your urine should be clear and colorless. You may pee frequently at first, but as your body gets better hydrated, you will adjust to the increased fluid intake. Eat foods that help to hydrate you – watermelon, cantaloupe, cucumber, summer squash, and greens are all high in water. Those foods also can have a diuretic effect on you and decrease swelling in hands and feet. Try getting in a pool for awhile. Your skin will absorb water and the osmotic pressure makes your kidneys get rid of excess extracellular fluid (the kind that collects in your extremities). A good rule for yourself: Fill two 1-quart bottles with water every morning. The first one has to be gone by lunch and the second one has to be gone by dinner. Here’s Why… The number one cause of preterm labor is dehydration. The pregnant body is required to make 1.5 times its normal blood volume just to support the pregnancy. Approximately 2 liters wash over and through the placenta every hour in order to nourish the baby and carry away the baby’s waste, which is excreted through the mother’s kidneys. When you become dehydrated from not taking in enough fluids, it creates a stressful environment for the baby. Hormone levels begin to rise, leading to an increase in Braxton Hicks contractions. The more Braxton Hicks contractions, the more prostaglandins are released, which leads to even more contractions. Sometimes, the stress is great enough to put the mother into true labor. If it goes on long enough, the cervix begins to change, and we are unable to stop the labor. Those contractions from dehydration can lead to a hospital transfer because of the risk of a preterm birth. You can end up with an IV and medications you … Read More

News from the WBWC Board

by Kaaren Haldeman                Happy summer, everybody! At our board meeting on May 9 we installed Connie Semans as Secretary and Bruce Nelson as Vice-Chair. We also launched three new committees: Human Resources (Kia Caldwell, Chair), Planning (Jane Brown, Chair) and Executive (Kaaren Haldeman, Chair). We’ll soon be seeking staff to help with committee work in HR and Planning.       The WBWC Board has also made substantial progress on re-negotiating our current lease, including additional space, more designated parking spaces and improvements in the 2nd floor air conditioning system. Here’s to a more comfortable and efficient work space!       At our next meeting, July 18, we will be scheduling a “meet the board” event. Please stay tuned and we look forward to meeting everyone soon!

Raising Great Big Brothers and Sisters!

by Claire C. McKiernan WBWC patients (much like the staff) are a select group of strong, caring, nurturing, independent-minded women. So, if you are expecting another child, I’m going to assume you know the value of preparing an older sibling for a new baby. Here are some tips and resources on how to go about this task. DO: 1)    Talk, talk, talk. No matter how young the soon-to-be older sibling is, talk to your child about the new baby long before the big day. Insert short conversations casually, not in a lecture. Give your child time to absorb snippets of information. Talking can include your expectations of what the baby will be like, pointing out what will be different in the house (baby furniture, baby gates, etc.) and with the family dynamics (such as relatives stopping by to help out).  If you are already overwhelmed by these changes, your child will know it, so for your sake and his, put a positive spin on things. Just as important, point out what will be the same. Kids and adults alike fear change, so make sure he knows how many things will remain unchanged, such as mealtimes, bedtimes, and story time. Talk to your child about his birth and what he was like as a baby. Once the baby arrives, this can help him connect with the baby (“Did I do that when I was little, too?”)  If you have siblings, share your own happy memories. Point out how he can do certain things, but a baby can’t. “You are using your fork so nicely. A newborn isn’t even allowed to hold a fork!” Give him a sense of pride in being his age, not to mention being more competent than a baby. 2)    Listen, listen, listen. When your child is talking about the baby, either with you or during the course of her play, notice what she already understands about a baby, any misinformation, and especially her fears and concerns. Ask questions and don’t be afraid to put into words what you think is worrying her. This can be difficult because you may be afraid that if you are wrong, you have just introduced a new fear. However, you know your child best, so follow your instincts, and don’t worry. Reassuring words are never wasted. 3)    Read children’s books about pregnancy and welcoming a new baby into the family. See “resources” … Read More