From the WBWC Blog:

Month: January 2018

Thank You to Our 2017 Donors

We would like to thank our 2017 donors. Because of these gifts, we are able to bring more midwifery services to mamas and babies in our community.  As a charitable non-profit, we make our services available to women regardless of their financial means.  Your contribution to Women’s Birth & Wellness Center means you believe in our mission and support our work.  Thank you! Women’s Birth & Wellness Center is dedicated to providing women of diverse backgrounds with comprehensive well woman, maternity and preventative healthcare throughout the life cycle We believe that every woman has the right to a standard of excellence in her healthcare, to be treated with respect for human dignity and cultural preferences, and to be an active partner in her healthcare. Anonymous Benjamin Sligar Hannah Shumaker:  Dorthy B. Sullivan Memorial Fund Morgan Nettles Yu-jay Harris:  Dorthy B Sullivan Memorial Fund Emily  Herbert National Philanthropic Trust Corrie Bauer-Fitzsimons The Shoemaker Family Charitable Fund Joanne Dahill Triangle Doula Collective Cynthia Meurling Brianna Bennett James & Patricia  Huegerich Maureen Darcey:  Dorthy B. Sullivan Memorial Fund Virginia Sall Roxane S. Gwyn: Dorthy B. Sullivan Memorial Fund Yu-jay Harris Freya Wilk Eliza Sydnor Mary Carol Akers Susan Rotman If you would like to support the important work of WBWC, consider giving to the Dorothy B. Sullivan Memorial Fund today! To read more about this fund, click here.  

Holding Space for Pregnancy Loss

With Amy Wright Glenn Saturday, February 17 9:00 AM-3:00 PM Suite 304 (The Living Room) Cost:$150   Holding Space for Pregnancy Loss is a workshop designed to benefit midwives, obstetricians, doulas, nurses, prenatal yoga teachers, hospital chaplains, ministers, therapists, and pastoral care providers who support women and their families through pregnancy loss. You do not need to be employed in any of these fields to partipate – the training is open to all. Parents who have experienced perinatal loss as well as supportive family members and friends are also welcome. Register here Sponsored by WBWC and Journey of Motherhood

Baby FUNdamentals on Fridays at WBWC

2018 dates: Feb 2 & 16 · Mar 2 & 16 · Apr 6 · May 18 · Sep 21 · Oct 5 & 19 · Nov 16· Dec 7   Maryska Bigos is teaching her popular Baby FUNdamentals class evey other Friday at WBWC! FUNdamentals link touching, holding, positioning and playing with your baby to building their perceptual, relational, intellectual and movement foundations.   11am-12noon: Crawlers & Waddlers (Stability, Mobility and Problem-solving to Move through Life)   12noon-1pm: Newborn to 2+months (Reading Cues, Creating Comfort)   1-2pm: Tummy Timers (Rolling and Building Core Strength)   Registration & Donation ($5-20) cash or check at the door.  

Birth Announcements

*Balthazar Turing Christopher Everett – November 2 – 8 lbs., 8 oz. Oliver Paul Tucker – November 27 – 11 lbs., 3.7 oz. Cora Lynn Mangum – December 2 – 7 lbs., 8 oz. Mathilda Melody Cottrell – December 6 – 8 lbs., 2 oz. Phoenix Love Turner – December 7 – 9 lbs., 14 oz. Evelyn Anne Klewicki – December 7 – 7 lbs., 7.5 oz. Shiloh Rae Kooistra Bell – December 7 – 6 lbs., 15 oz. Hope Barbara Poston – December 8 – 7 lbs., 6.5 oz. Micah Stephen DuBose – December 9 – 6 lbs., 6 oz. Finn Rain Cutrara – December 9 – 7 lbs., 14 oz. Daniel Timothy Wright – December 9 – 9 lbs., 2 oz. Hayes Dylan Uspal – December 13 – 10 lbs,. 2.5 oz. *Gavin Timothy Robertson – December 17 – 8 lbs., 1.6 oz. *Owen James Sligar – December 22 – 7 lbs., 2.5 oz. *Ezra Lee Hill – December 23 – 8 lb.s, 4 oz.   December stats Total babies born: 28 Biggest baby: 11 lbs., 6 oz. Smallest baby: 3 lb., 7 oz.   To be included in this celebratory list, please email Missy at missy@ncbirthcenter.org  with your baby’s birth announcement information that includes  their name, date of birth, and birth weight as well as a photo, if available. If you would like to send us your birth story along with photos, we are happy to include that in a future newsletter! Also, if you have a printed birth announcement to share, we’d love to have a copy to  add to our bulletin board in the clinic! 

The Birth Story of Nova Genevieve

by Alyssa Wells In July of 2016, I became a mama to a beautiful baby girl named Iris. I delivered her at Women’s Birth & Wellness Center with my husband, mother, doula, and wonderful midwife, Belinda. I gave birth in the water and all in all had  a marvelous experience! It’s no surprise when I found I was expecting again, I chose the midwives at WBWC again! Everything about this pregnancy was very similar to my first pregnancy. We were overjoyed to find out we were expecting another girl since our babies were going to be so close in age. My due date was October 27th, making my girls about 16 months apart. Built-in best friends! At 40 weeks and 5 days, labor began exactly like my first birth with contractions beginning at midnight. With my first, I was able to go to sleep for about 5 hours, so after timing a few contractions and realizing this is probably real, I decided to get some rest. Unfortunately, I woke up after only an hour to strong contractions that I couldn’t sleep through. After trying to fall back asleep and realizing I couldn’t, I woke up my husband around 2 AM to let him know I was in labor. We decided to call my doula. I knew I was in active labor, but since I had only been laboring for 2 hours, I told my doula it was too early for her to come. I was so tired, and I was going to try again to get some rest. After about an hour and half, I was beginning to have to really work through each contraction. My husband began applying counter pressure on my hips, and I felt that I really needed him to get me through the contractions. I sent him downstairs to get me something to eat and had a few contractions alone, and knew I needed my doula with me. At about 4 AM, I called her and told her I needed her and she let me know she could get to my house at 5:45am. I then called Laura, the on-call midwife, to let her know I was in labor. When she heard me go through a contraction, she suggested I come in. After being in labor for only 4 hours, it seemed too early for me to head to the birth center, but I did have … Read More

Spotlight: Emma McCook, RN

Emma is a third generation Chapel Hill native with formative roots in the historic Pine Knolls Neighborhood. Over the past five years, she has enjoyed and been honored by the privilege of observing, listening, witnessing, assisting, and empowering women throughout their birth journeys. Beginning as a birth doula in 2012 for a teen mother-to-be program through the YWCA of Greensboro, NC, Emma’s passion developed for the importance of unconditional support that all women deserve in this vulnerable and transformative time of life. This experience propelled her to the nursing field of labor and delivery. She received a bachelor’s degree in nursing from Winston-Salem State University in 2015 and went on to cultivate her labor and delivery nursing experience with both high and low risk pregnant people at Emory University Hospital in Atlanta, GA, and New Hanover Regional Medical Center in Wilmington, NC. Emma feels honored to come full circle – back to her roots of Chapel Hill – to join such a mindful group of women at WBWC. Emma is passionately dedicated to helping people of all backgrounds find strength in their birth process and commune with a sense of empowerment and confidence in their abilities to birth the babies that their bodies have taken such good care to grow and nurture. You may see Emma out and about Chapel Hill enjoying time with her two beloved dogs, or sharing joyful moments with her sister and WBWC-born nephew.

Free Yoga Class for WBWC Clients

  Did you know that Women’s Birth & Wellness Center shares a building with an awesome yoga studio? Triangle Yoga offers lots of great classes including Prenatal and Postnatal Yoga. Click here to learn more. Mention you’re a WBWC patient and get a FREE class with the purchase of a passcard!    

MILC Moments: Are You Breastfeeding in Combat Boots?

by Rebecca Costello, IBCLC   Over the years, WBWC has served many military families. Some drive multiple hours from bases elsewhere in NC to be able to enjoy access to a birth center! But once baby arrives, military duty can provide special barriers to breastfeeding – especially if you are breastfeeding and needing to return to active duty. You may find yourself confronting questions that you feel no one around you can answers for, like: o Can I breastfeed while I’m in uniform? o Can I pump while in the desert for training exercises? o Is my pump allowed onboard ship? o Do I need to pump and dump if I’ve been exposed to particular types of HAZMAT? Happily, there are resources out there for you! The website and associated book Breastfeeding in Combat Boots has a wealth of information and tips. For peer support, Mom2Mom Global is a breastfeeding support organization specifically for military families, with chapters on military bases around the world – including one here in NC at Fort Bragg! All these resources can reassure and empower you that yes, you CAN breastfeed even while you and/or your spouse is active duty. Finally, you have the resources here at WBWC here to support you! Our midwives, nurses, and lactation consultants are always available for support, encouragement, and advice – no matter where you are in the world. Give us a call any time!

Easy “Pumpkin Pie” Oatmeal

by Claire Caprioli Among other benefits, pumpkin contains fiber, potassium, and Vitamin C, so adding it to calcium and protein-rich milk and whole-grain oatmeal (which contains Folic Acid and B vitamins) makes for a fast, healthy, and filling breakfast. Per person: ½ cup of old-fashioned oats, or other hot cereal ½ cup milk (I’ve used skim, but the higher the fat, the creamier this will be) small pat of butter or spread 1 rounded tbsp. of canned 100% pumpkin ¼ tsp or less of pumpkin pie spice and/or cinnamon (depending on how much spice you like—you can just sprinkle it to taste) 1 tbsp. maple syrup or brown sugar Pinch of sea salt Optional: sprinkle some walnut or pecan pieces on top Microwave: Dump everything but the sugar, salt, and nuts into a microwave safe bowl (large enough for oatmeal to bubble and swell) and heat for 1 minute. Stir and microwave 1 more minute. Add the pinch of salt, brown sugar/syrup, nuts and enjoy! Stovetop: Cook oatmeal according to directions, take off heat and stir in other ingredients, topping with the salt and syrup/sugar, and nuts. Notes: If you are pregnant/nursing, the higher fat content of milk is good for baby’s brain development. I put the remaining pumpkin in an airtight container or glass jar and refrigerate. If you are only making 1 serving at a time, the can will last awhile, so consider freezing it in dollops on wax paper or in ice cube trays (once frozen, the cubes can be put in a freezer bag to take up less room and prevent it from taking on other odors.) Bonus: The thawed pumpkin cubes can also be used in cookies, muffins, and pancakes!   Claire Caprioli is a mom and local writer.

Fit4Baby

Fit4Baby is a prenatal fitness program offered by FIT4MOM that teaches women how to exercise safely and effectively throughout their pregnancy. The hour long Fit4Baby class is interval based, combining elements of strength training, cardiovascular exercises and stretching and balancing exercises. All instructors are certified in pre- and postnatal fitness and trained to lead pregnant women in exercises that are safe and appropriate for their changing bodies. The program is for all stages of pregnancy. Fit4Baby classes are held Sundays 5:30-6:30pm at the Women’s Birth & Wellness Center and Thursdays 7:30-8:30pm at Fleet Feet Sports Carrboro. Come try your first class for FREE! For more information, visit: https://chapelhill.fit4mom.com/programs/prenatal-fit4baby#/today

What’s New at the Boutique

Keep your money local and support WBWC by shopping at the Boutique!  The Boutique’s hours have changed: Monday-Friday, 9 AM-6 PM Saturday 10 AM-5 PM Sunday CLOSED Stop by the Boutique. You won’t regret it.

Upcoming Events – February 2018

  Click to view detailed calendar Coping with Motherhood – Thursday, February 1 & 15, 10:30 AM-12 PM, FREE Baby FUNdamentals – Friday, February 2 & 16, 11 AM-3 PM, $5-20 donation Babywearing Class – Saturday, February 3, 10-11:30 AM, FREE Fit4Baby – Sunday, February 4, 11, 18, & 25, 5:30-6:30 PM, First class FREE Breastfeeding Basics – Tuesday, February 6 & 20, 6:30-8:30 PM, and Sunday, February 25, 2-4 PM, $30/couple Caring for Your Newborn – Wednesday, February 7, 6:30-8:30 PM Breastfeeding Cafe – Friday, February 9 & 23, 10:30 AM-12 PM, FREE Meet the Doulas of Triangle Doula Collective – Saturday, February 10, 2-3 PM, FREE La Leche League Meeting – Wednesday, February 14, 7-8:30 PM, FREE Black Moms Meet-Up – Thursday, February 15, 6:30 PM, FREE Holding Space for Pregnancy Loss – Saturday, February 17, 9 AM-3 PM, $150 Cloth Diapering Class – Saturday, February 17, 10-11:30 AM, FREE Meet the Doulas of Piedmont Community Doulas – Wednesday, February 21, 7-9 PM, FREE Craniosacral Therapy Clinic – Saturday, February 24, 2-4 PM, FREE Express Yourself – Tuesday, February 27, 6:30-8:30 PM, $30/couple Register for classes here or by calling (919)933-3301