From the WBWC Blog:

Month: June 2018

Eli’s Birth Story

By Bruna Novais On Thursday, March 22nd at 00:40, I started to feel some mild cramps. After weeks of Braxton Hicks and light cramps, I knew that this time, something was different. I waited about two hours until my contractions got stronger to wake up my husband. We called the birth center and decided to go there to check the baby’s heart and how dilated I was. At that time, I was just 3 cm dilated and the baby was fine. We decided to go back home and wait for the show to begin. At around 4 AM, I puked for the first time and started to feel very strong cramps/contractions. The only place that felt comfortable for me to stay was sitting on the Pilates ball. Around the same time my husband decided to call my doula and tell her to come to my place. My doula/angel arrived around 5 AM and helped me with massages and with her calmness telling me that everything was going just fine. Every time I had a contraction, I remembered to vocalize and open my throat. I puked twice more before deciding to take a shower (that’s when I think my water broke) and go to the birth center. We arrived at the birth center around 8:30 AM, and I was 5 cm dilated. Shortly, I decided to go into the bathtub and check if the warm water would help with the pain. Sadly, the bathtub was not the most comfortable place during the contractions, as every time I tried to find a position, nothing worked. After a while, I felt like pooping and I told my doula that I needed to go to the toilet. At that point, I knew the show was about to start. What I felt and thought was like pooping desires, was really pushing. My body started to push and I could not control that. I told my doula what was happening and she called Lydia, the midwife. Lydia asked if I wanted to sit at the birth chair, where I stayed for some pushes. After that, Lydia asked if I wanted to try staying on all fours on the bed and I decided for that, and it was the most comfortable position so far, and after that I just remember pushing for a while and hearing my husband saying that he was seeing the baby’s head! The … Read More

Birth Announcements

Welcome to the world, sweet babies! *Isaac Henry Kasper – April 28 – 7 lbs. Davi Felipe Brasileiro – May 1 – 7 lbs., 3 oz. Baby Boy Galuszka – May 2 – 9 lbs., 4.5 oz. Boaz Hudson Rimmele – May 2 – 9 lbs., 5.5 oz. *Lucia Ember Salomon – May 3 – 10 lbs., 9.5 oz. Jackson Owens Barrow – May 3 – 9 lbs., 3.5 oz. Artemis Wren Aponte – May 3 – 7 lbs., 13 oz. *Rosalee Carson Brookshire – May 7 – 8 lbs., 7 oz. *Ronan Fyr Ketwaroo – May 7 – 7 lbs., 12 oz. Olivia Helgevold – May 10 – 9 lbs., 7.5 oz. Steven Neil Visser – May 11 – 8 lbs., 15 oz. Lilianne Pegna – May 13 – 6 lbs., 13 oz. *Laurel Rose Kuchyt – May 13 – 7 lbs., 13 oz. Emilia Luna Perone – May 13 – 8 lbs., 9.5 oz. *Margaret “Mae” Rose Oliver – May 15 – 6 lbs., 9 oz. Atlas Connor Vettel – May 17 – 7 lbs., 15 oz. Iain Marcus Airey – May 19 – 7 lbs., 12 oz. Evelyn Rose Brownfield – May 19 – 8 lbs., 9 oz. Aviela Meena Pickle – May 24 – 7 lbs., 7 oz. Nicolas Martín Campos – May 29 – 8 lbs., 15.5 oz. *Amelia Catherine Cunningham – May 30 – 8 lbs., 6 oz. May stats Total babies born: 35 Biggest baby: 11 lbs., 2 oz. Smallest baby: 6 lbs., 5 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! 

Climb Out of the Darkness Walk

On June 24 Women’s Birth & Wellness Center co-sponsored the Chapel Hill Climb Out of the Darkness walk to raise awareness and funds for perinatal mood disorders. The Climb brings people together all over the globe near the solstice (the longest, brightest day) to shine a light on a darkness we often don’t speak about. We shared stories of hope and celebrate recovery as we gather together to raise money, raise awareness and give a voice to those who no longer have one and walk together to symbolize our ‘Climb’ Out of the Darkness.   Fit4Mom Chapel Hill Carrboro hosted the event in Briar Chapel and together we raised $2,745 for the North Carolina offices of Postpartum Support International. It was a wonderful celebration of those who have survived perinatal mood disorders and in recognition of those currently battling. Thanks to those who shared their stories! For those currently struggling, WBWC hosts a Coping with Motherhood (link: https://ncbirthcenter.org/groups/coping-with-motherhood/)  support group on the first and third Thursdays of each month, 10:30 am – 12:00 noon at WBWC, in the Living Room (Suite 304). Email Nancy (nancy@ncbirthcenter.org) for more information. WBWC is also a co-sponsor of the Durham Climb Out of the Darkness this Saturday, June 30 at the offices of Emerald Doulas – https://ncbirthcenter.org/event/climb-out-of-the-darkness-2/. Join us for a day of celebration for the many survivors in our community. Join us to shine light on the need for better information and better treatment for families with perinatal mood disorders. Join WBWC as a Climber or donate to our team at https://climb-out- 2018.causevox.com/WBWC-team.

Peer Counseling Breastfeeding Support Program

By Dzidzai Muyengwa We have some exciting new changes coming to WBWC this summer and we wanted to take this opportunity to give you some information about our new Peer Counseling Breastfeeding Support Program. This program is being offered to provide birth center breastfeeding parents with some extra support during pregnancy and for the length of their breastfeeding journey.   What is a peer counselor? A peer counselor is a parent who breastfed at least one child, who then completes specialized training to learn about supporting other breastfeeding parents. The peer counselor is trained to support typical challenges in breastfeeding, and can also help you decide when it may be time to seek support from a Lactation Consultant. There is a strong evidence base for the effects of peer counselors on improving breastfeeding outcomes.   Our peer counselor is someone you all know and love – Tracey Jones, who you see in the lab at almost every visit! We will begin enrolling interested patients starting in the coming weeks, with a special focus on those who may not otherwise have easy access to breastfeeding support or education.  We are excited about this new opportunity to better serve WBWC families!

Fit4Baby Testimonial

Becca Lynn, mom of 2 (Saylor, age 4, and Murphy, 14 months) The statement ‘no two pregnancies are alike’ is truer than true. During my first pregnancy, I spent much of my time reading, researching, and preparing for the baby.  During my second pregnancy, I turned the focus on caring for myself. This meant taking care of the magnificent body I already had, that was meanwhile housing another human being. Taking care of myself meant that my baby, nestled deep in my womb, was getting the best care possible before the magical day of birth. This also meant I would be at my physical best to care for not only a newborn, but a toddler as well, after baby’s birth day.   The two most important pieces of this care were Women’s Birth and Wellness Center and Prenatal Fitness Fit4Baby program through FIT4MOM Chapel Hill. While my first baby was born at a birth center (in a different state) as well, WBWC was amazingly supportive, in regards that my strong opinions regarding my health and birth were heard, validated, and taken seriously. My questions were answered honestly, resources provided, my desires for the pregnancy and birth were honored, and I felt empowered. From the front desk, to the nurses, to the midwives and beyond, my time at WBWC was wonderful!   I found Prenatal Fitness Fit4Baby while researching prenatal exercise programs.WBWC encouraged me to keep up with a consistent exercise routine (which had been lacking in my first pregnancy). Fit4Baby was the perfect complement. Not only was I able to take a couple hours a week to focus on my body and the baby it was growing, but being with other women who were experiencing the same things I was, from sugar cravings to sleepless nights, was reassuring and comforting. These women became a consistent part of my week, and quite frankly, the favorite part of my week. The classes consisted of cardio, strength and core exercises. The instructors were so knowledgeable and were able to provide modifications for all levels of abilities and stages of pregnancies. They always checked in to see how each of us was feeling and created classes that supported the pregnant mama, wherever she was that day. Even if it meant, I did zero exercise that day. It was a judge-free, supportive, and positive environment, where I could chit-chat with other women, all while getting … Read More

What’s New At The Boutique

Keep your money local and support WBWC by shopping at the Boutique!   Just a few of the fabulous things you’ll find at the Boutique! Monday-Friday, 9 AM-6 PM Saturday 10 AM-5 PM Sunday CLOSED Stop by the Boutique. You won’t regret it.