From the WBWC Blog:

Month: August 2013

New Arrivals

  *Zemra Moon Ogranaja – 10 lbs., 2 oz. – June 10th Naomi Rose Shaw – 8 lbs., 3 oz. – July 1 Greta Maëlle Tauschinger-Dempsey – 8 lbs., 9 oz. – July 2 Daniel Jeremiah Futrell – 8 lbs., 3 oz. – July 4 Zoe Sylvia Eliazar – 6 lbs., 13 oz. – July 4 Diego Jonathan Chicharro-Schoonmaker – 7 lbs., 4 oz. – July 5 Claire Piper Wittenberg – 7 lbs., 11 oz. – July 6 *Kathryn Sophia Reeves – 7 lbs., 13 oz. – July 8 *Raenan Eliyah Porch – 8 lbs., 15 oz. – July 10  Suinina Maryam Hatley – 8 lbs., 4 oz. – July 11 Elliot Sheridan Stocki – 8 lbs., 4 oz. – July 12 Rayhana Zainab Khalil – 8 lbs., 14 oz. – July 14 Rebecca Marie Goldstein – 7 lbs., 1 oz. – July 15 Piper Noelle Ray – 9 lbs., 3 oz. – July 16 Zaiden Lee Decker – 8 lbs., 6 oz. – July 16 Malcolm Chalmers MacLean – 7 lbs., 5 oz. – July 18 Caplan Matthew Phoenix – 8 lbs., 2 oz. – July 18 Gillian Joelle Bullard – 7 lbs., 1 oz. – July 19 Christian Sergey Bottolfson – 8 lbs., 13 oz. – July 21 Nalin Averey Adhikari – 6 lbs., 12 oz. – July 25 Lydia Geneva Blodgett – 8 lbs., 6 oz. – July 26 Abigail Grace Shyshnyak – 7 lbs., 10 oz. – July 27 Jackson Elijah Tapley – 9 lbs., 13 oz. – July 30 Clayton Fox Pearce – 7 lbs., 4 oz. – July 31  Kendall Maria Dixon – 8 lbs., 6 oz. – August 7 Embry Savannah Harrison – 8 lbs., 6 oz. – August 7 Cyan Miles Read – 7 lbs., 2 oz. – August 8 Martigan Dale Vaughn – 8 lbs., 9 oz. – August 9 Wesley Robert Marks – 7 lbs., 2 oz. – August 12 *Cecelia Rae Jewitt – 7 lbs., 12 oz. – August 13 William Leigh Richards – 8 lbs., 1 oz. – August 14 Eldon Christopher Mumma – 8 lbs., 4 oz. – August 14 Amelia Ida Ramsey – 7 lbs., 12 oz. – August 15 Graham Elliott Mayhew – 8 lbs., 6 oz. – August 16 Oliver Thomas Higgins – 8 lbs., 12 oz. – August 16 Elena Angel – 8 lbs., 6 oz. – August 17 Noa Rayne Pipkins – 8 … Read More

Kree Everet Wells – Your Birth Story

  By Mary Ellen Wells         Your due date (April 28th) came and went, as I expected (your brother was two weeks late). I planned to have you at the Women’s Birth and Wellness Center, which is a midwife practice, one of only two in our state. The Birth Center is low intervention, so I don’t have the option of any pain medications unless I want to be transferred to the hospital. I was a little nervous because my first delivery (with your brother Kai) was long and difficult, and I ended up with an epidural so I could rest before pushing him out. Many seasoned moms told me the second one would be easier, so I trusted I could do it. I really wanted a simple, no-intervention birth, because I felt it was best for you.   On May 9th, I was only dilated to 2 cm, so the midwife did a membrane sweep. It was really painful, but would hopefully get things going. Contractions didn’t start, though. On May 10th, I went in at 10 am for a second membrane sweep (Sarah did this one). I was 4 cm dilated. It was excruciatingly painful, but I started having contractions around 11 am. They were between 3-5 minutes apart and went on all day. I describe them as mild, so I just went about my business. I didn’t think you would come by that night.   I had been frantic getting things ready at work, in prep for maternity leave. At 2 pm, I did a webinar for my new students. I sat outside on the deck at our house and actually had my contraction timer going and took a pause every few minutes for one to pass. My students probably had no idea, and I really didn’t take the contractions seriously either. I still thought it would be another day or so, and I was dreading the thought of induction, so I blew them off. After the webinar, I had a conference call for work that lasted until around 4 pm. After I got off the call, I told your Dad that I had been having contractions regularly, and he said, “You might want to call the Birth Center.” I called and talked to Emily. She said to get in the tub and see if they eased up. And, to call back in an hour … Read More

Spotlight: Erin Robertson, RN, IBCLC, and Lexa Henry, CNM

Erin Robertson, RN, IBCLC, returns to the birth center after spending the last two years as a home birth assistant and Lactation Consultant in Portland, Oregon.  Prior to that time, she worked as a nurse for the Women’s Birth & Wellness Center for six years from 2005-2011.  During her time at the birth center she helped create the Birth & Wellness Boutique and served as the buyer until 2011.  She still loves the boutique immensely but has returned to the birth center in the exciting leadership role of charge nurse.  Coming back to the birth center feels just like coming home to a family of warm, welcoming arms. She is so happy to be home.                    Erin is the mother of three beautiful kids – Liam (13), Lillie (10) and Maeve (5).  All three of her births were waterbirths into the hands of midwives.  In her time away from the birth center, Erin enjoys running, yoga, hiking and meditation.  She spends as much time as possible out in nature.  She loves crafting and sewing, especially with her kids.  She has a passion for sustainable living, gardening and dedicates her extracurricular studies to holistic and preventive modes of healing and health promotion.         Alexandra “Lexa” Henry, began her midwifery journey when she witnessed her first birth at the age of 15.  After receiving a BSN from the University of South Florida in 2008, Lexa worked as a labor and delivery nurse at Tampa General Hospital.  She earned a MSN degree from Frontier Nursing University in 2013.  While pursuing her certification in nurse midwifery, Lexa also worked in the newborn nursery unit, where she cared for newborns and mothers together immediately following birth, promoting bonding and early breastfeeding.  After graduating, Lexa moved to North Carolina with hopes working in a birth center setting.    Lexa lives in Chapel Hill where she enjoys going on bike rides and trying out local restaurants.  She spends much of her free time with her longtime boyfriend, who also resides in Chapel Hill. Lexa also enjoys traveling as much as possible and cooking for friends and family. We are excited to welcome Lexa to our staff of wonderful and gifted providers.

Easy No-Cook Summer Pasta Dish

by Claire C. McKiernan What’s better than a light, fresh pasta meal for summer? This dish can be served warm, cold, or in-between. Bonus, this is a one-bowl recipe! All ingredients are rough estimates: add or subtract based on your tastes. Ingredients: ½ cup olive oil 1/8 cup balsamic vinegar 3 cloves garlic, minced (if raw is too strong for you, lightly sauté minced or sliced garlic in olive oil over medium heat until lightly tanned—about 1 minute—don’t burn it!!) 6 basil leaves chopped or julienned salt and pepper, to taste 2 cups or more tomatoes (halved cherry tomatoes are ideal, but chop into bite-sized pieces whatever is fresh and delicious) 6 oz. fresh mozzarella, cut into bite-sized pieces 1 box cooked pasta (any kind, rotini works well) fresh-grated parmesan, as a garnish Mix olive oil, vinegar, garlic, basil, salt, and pepper in a large bowl. Add tomatoes and lightly toss. Ideally, let this sit covered on the countertop for at least 30 minutes so the flavors meld (if you are in a hurry, don’t sweat it). Add mozzarella and pasta (I told you to use a large bowl!) and toss until well-coated.  Plate it and top with parmesan. Optional Protein Addition:  add bite-sized pieces of cooked chicken or a drained can of garbanzos (a.k.a., chick peas). Either protein will absorb the flavors well, so add them when you add the tomatoes (if you add chicken, refrigerate it while it rests). Buon appetito!

News from the Board

by Kaaren Haldeman We hope you have all had a restful and relaxing summer and are ready for the cool fall weather and warm colors we adore here in Chapel Hill. We look forward to our upcoming celebration of ten years as an independent freestanding birth center and ringing in another ten to come! Thank you all for your hard work and dedication to such a special place.