From the WBWC Blog:

WBWC Committee Members Needed

 Are you passionate about supporting the good work happening at Women’s Birth & Wellness Center?  Do you want to volunteer on a committee and work with the WBWC Board of Directors and Leadership team to help improve and sustain this non-profit organization that you love? If you answered YES to these 2 questions please see the opportunities below and send your resume and letter of interest to  women@ncbirthcenter.org with the subject ‘Committee Volunteer.’ Finance & Operations Committee Duties: Oversees finance, personnel, facilities, business strategy. The Operations Committee provides financial review, guidance and oversight for the overall operations of Women’s Birth & Wellness Center. Members develop insight into the business operations in order to suggest strategic business directions and business policy implementation. Chair: Treasurer, Cynthia Meurling Members: Board Treasurer, 2-3 additional persons + Executive, Business and Clinical Directors §  QUALIFICATIONS REQUIRED Education Bachelor’s degree required; degree in business administration, finance, accounting, or another relevant field preferred. §  Related Work Experience Two or more years of work experience in: administration, accounting, management or finance §  Skills · Excellent written and oral communication skills. · Strong problem-solving skills, analytical abilities and attention to detail. · Proficiency in Microsoft Office, comfort level reviewing financial statements. · Discretion, tact, and the ability to function as part of a team. · Flexibility in work schedule to accommodate occasional evening or weekend meetings §  Preferred Skills & Experience Experience in budget management and strategic planning Knowledge of issues related to health care. Fundraising & Development Committee Duties: Fundraising and events. The Fundraising Committee is dedicated to planning and orchestrating promotions and events to raise funds for Women’s Birth & Wellness Center. The Fundraising Committee is in constant contact with key staff members to determine the needs that must be funded. Chair: Vacant Members: Seeking 3 people §         Related Work Experience: Experience in grant writing, fundraising, event planning or marketing  Executive Committee Duties: To oversee committee activities, advise Executive and Clinical Directors and develop board meeting agendas. The Executive Committee supports and encourages the diversification and ongoing growth of Women’s Birth & Wellness Center’s governing body.  The Executive Committee performs ongoing needs-assessment among the full board to ensure board operates at its full potential. Chair: President, Elizabeth Kasper Members: Board officers and committee chairs. Seeking 2 people.

Funding Needed For Groundwater Approach Presentation

Dear WBWC supporters, We have a specific funding request and would love to give you the opportunity make a community investment. WBWC wants to further walk the walk of racial equity by hosting a “Groundwater Approach Presentation.”    We want to provide an on-site, one-day training with the Racial Equity Institute for WBWC staff and volunteers that will help us work harder to improve equity in our community. In an effort to stay focused on the structural and cultural roots of racial inequity, the racial equity institute developed the “Groundwater” metaphor and accompanying analytical framework to explain the nature of racism and it currently exists in the US.   https://www.racialequityinstitute.com/groundwaterapproach  Please help WBWC cover the costs associated with this important training by sponsoring a staff person’s training. It is $146/person and we have 41 folks on staff. Perhaps you want to help us train 3 staff for $438.   Click here to donate. In the “donation message” field please type Groundwater Training.  Thank you, Brianna Bennett, Business Director

BeSpree App Early Launch

You are invited to participate in the early launch of BeSpree – a new, ultra-convenient way for individuals and families to connect to affordable health and wellness activities in Durham and Orange Counties.  The mobile app is free and connects you to:  – yoga – gardening – walking – cooking classes – art in the park – boot camps – kid-friendly programs – and many, many more activities!!!   Download BeSpree to explore activities, including our Birth Center sponsored activities: iOS / Android.  You can share community activities with friends and chat with our instructors ahead of the event.  Please help us get the word out to help more of our community know about our WBWC preventative health offerings.   If you are a certified professional organizing health and wellness activities, sign up as an organizer to post activities by emailing info@bespree.com to sign up to become a verified health advocate.  Be Healthy.  Be Free.  BeSpree.  

Free Class: Your Pregnant Body/Your Postpartum Body

Introducing “Your Body” Series of FREE Classes developed by Dr. Lori O’Neill, PT, DPT from Vitality Physical Therapy, LLC. These 1 hour free classes are taught the first Sunday evening every month and include information not likely presented in any other  childbirth/parenting class on how to proactively optimize your transforming body during the childbearing years. Class highlights include: Your PREGNANT Body Strategies for encouraging baby positioning and why it matters The biomechanics of a birthing body Protection of vulnerable areas to prevent/relieve common pain patterns Proactive habits to optimize postpartum physical recovery Advantages and disadvantages of various delivery positions Your POSTPARTUM Body Immediate perineum care and scar healing (perineal and c-section) Protective movement strategies for the first month What is “normal” bowel/bladder/sexual functioning after birth? Breastfeeding implications to vulvar tissue and body mechanics Safe return to exercise recommendations including “core muscle” training Questions: www.VitalityPT.org Click here to register

Birth Healing Support Group

Sometimes birth doesn’t go the way we hope it will. When this happens, it can be difficult to find the support we need to move forward with ease and joy. If you are still struggling to make peace with your birth story, you might be interested in WBWC’s new birth healing support group. This will be safe space where deep listening and whole-hearted support can happen. A place where your story can be heard and healed. We will incorporate mindfulness skills to help us stay with what is and, at the same time, move towards greater awareness, clarity, and ease around your birth story. We hope you will join us. We begin August 2nd at 10 AM and will continue every first Friday at the same time. Lorraine Rocco RN, IBCLC and mindfulness teacher will be facilitating. You can contact her with any questions at: lorraine@trianglemindfulbirthing.com or through her website www.TriangleMindfulBirthing.com

Maternal Mental Health Matters!

By Nancy Albrecht MA, RN, BSN Facilitator: Coping with Motherhood Support Group May is Maternal Mental Health (MMH) month, with the fourth annual World Maternal Mental Health Day held on Wednesday, May 1, 2019. We need special focus on MMH to: · Increase visibility because NO ONE IS IMMUNE! · Combat social stigma because ILLNESS IS NOT A CRIME! · Improve detection and treatment because 1 IN 5 NEW MOTHERS EXPERIENCE MMH DISORDERS and 7 IN 10 WOMEN HIDE OR DOWNPLAY THEIR SYMPTOMS! · To earmark more resources to maternal and infant mental health because NO HEALTH WITHOUT MENTAL HEALTH! If you are a mom struggling with mood changes or anxiety, the WBWC midwives, nurses, and staff are here to help. Whether you are pregnant, newly postpartum, or have a toddler, you are not alone and will recover! You may regain your life as you: · Turn to those around you and ask for help. · Seek professional support from your midwife or a referral to a therapist. · Find peer support from a support group like Coping with Motherhood or online at PSI (www.postpartum.net). · Acknowledge and grieve the loss of the “ideal” motherhood experience. · Look ahead to wellness. Spouses, family members, and friends may be the first to notice these changes. You can help by: Ask her “How are you doing, how are you really doing?” LISTEN to what she says! No matter how many people you think are supporting her, there are often way too few who ask and listen. Everyone wants to know how the baby is: how baby is growing and moving or how baby is sleeping, eating, pooping, etc??? Nobody is asking mom if she’s getting rest; if she’s eating regularly; if she gets to take a shower when she needs or wants to. Ask her “How much did you sleep last night?” “What did you eat today?” Help her make a sleep plan and bring her food. Ask her “Are you okay?” Be prepared if she says NO: Call us! Moms and family members can become MMH activists: Support PSI. Participate in the annual Climb Out of the Darkness events sponsored by PSI-NC (https://psichapters.com/nc/): Chapel Hill, Saturday, June 8, 2019 and Durham, Saturday, October 19, 2019. Make sure your professional support team has been trained by PSI. Emily Joubert, CNM will be the most recently trained member of the WBWC staff, attending … Read More

Restoring Balance at WBWC

Restoring Balance is now located on the 3rd floor of the Women’s Birth and Wellness Center. We are a collective of woman-owned independent businesses and share a common commitment to holistic health and well-being for women, men and people of diverse gender identities. Many of us specialize in women’s health, pregnancy and postpartum care. We strive to be safe, inclusive and welcoming and we are thrilled to join this community. We offer: Massage Therapy and Bodywork Thai Yoga Massage Reflexology Cranio-sacral Therapy Polarity Therapy Acupuncture in both a private and community setting Chinese and Western Herbal Medicine Ayurvedic Medicine Placenta Encapsulation Check out our website www.restoring-balance.com to see all our services and get to know us! Additionally, we have a doctor of physical therapy specializing in women’s pelvic floor health that shares the space with us. As the Triad’s leading Prenatal and Postpartum Rehab Specialist, Vitality Physical Therapy is privileged  to provide highly specialized preventive and supportive services with a uniquely holistic approach. Common areas of expert care include treatment of pregnancy pain and postpartum care for abdominal/pelvic health. Vitality PT shares the same core mission of WBWC and offers sliding scale services for qualifying established patients of WBWC. Visit www.VitalityPT.org for information on FREE educational classes and ways to optimize caring for your body. Dr. Lori O’Neill, PT, DPT www.VitalityPT.org

Let’s Celebrate Maureen!

After over 30 years of service and tireless dedication to midwifery, women’s health and the nonprofit community, Maureen Darcey has retired. Please help us honor Maureen as she receives the governor’s highest award, The Order of the Long Leaf Pine.  All are welcome to join us for a celebration at the Rigmor House on April 20th from 1-5 p.m. A buffet of NC BBQ and all the fixins’ will be served at 1:30 p.m. If you play, bring an instrument. If you sing, bring your voice. If you have a story to share, bring your memories. Love, hugs, and joy are the order of the day, and we expect to have them in abundance as we celebrate Maureen! You may also wish to make a tax-deductible donation to Women’s Birth and Wellness Center’s “Dorothy B. Sullivan Fund” as we carry on Maureen’s vision for our “home-grown, home-owned” practice serving women and families in our community. The “Dorothy B. Sullivan Fund” is an endowment named after Maureen’s mother which directly helps the birth center continue to provide its invaluable services. You can donate now by clicking here. Thank you so much for your support! View the Evite

Fresh, Locally-Grown Flowers for Mother’s Day!

Order a Mother’s Day bouquet for someone you love! Featuring fresh cut flowers from local growers. Mother’s Day pre-order bouquets will be available for pick up at Women’s Birth and Wellness Center Boutique on Sat, May 11th (the day before Mother’s Day). For more information and to place an order, please visit https://www.alimdonnelly.com/

Prenatal & Postnatal Yoga at Triangle Yoga

Prenatal Yoga (Sunday at 12:30pm) focuses on postures that are appropriate for pregnant women with an emphasis on connecting with the baby, breathing, relaxation, and muscle toning. Benefits include building stamina, strength, balance, soothing the nervous system, releasing tension in the lower and upper back and preparing you for labor through conscious breathing. No experience necessary. Postnatal Yoga (Tuesday at 12:30pm) helps new and returning mothers stay centered, strong and aware during their first months together. Bring your little one from as young as 4 weeks to this nurturing class. The majority of the class is for moms and we also do baby yoga incorporating poses that help baby with digestion and development. Common postpartum and baby handling/carrying issues, are addressed with toning, core strength, and stretching. No experience necessary. No experience necessary, drop-ins welcome! PRENATAL YOGA’s Elyse Ribbons structures her prenatal classes to offer a well-rounded safe combination of poses for strength, flexibility, and endurance with opportunities to increase mental awareness and time for bonding and sharing expectations POSTNATAL YOGA’s Brianna Bennett is a certified yoga teacher, and works at Women’s Birth & Wellness Center. As a new mom, she is forever grateful to her son for the opportunity to learn from his youthful wisdom as she leads her yoga classes!

WBWC Sponsors Film Screening of “These Are My Hours”

Join us on Tuesday, October 16 from 7:30-9 PM for a screening of the birth documentary, These Are My Hours. These Are My Hours is an intimate sensory immersion into one woman’s physical, emotional and psychological experience of giving birth. It is the first documentary filmed entirely during a labor, told from the perspective of a woman giving birth. This documentary delivers the intimacy and intensity of childbirth as an expression of women’s empowerment in a way that reveals the special dignity of the event that ushers us all into life. The film will be followed by a panel discussion with filmmaker Scott Kirschenbaum and the featured mother, Emily Render Graham. WBWC is a sponsor of this event, which will take place at UNC’s Mandela Auditorium in the FedEx Global Education Center, located at 301 Pittsboro Street in Chapel Hill.   For more information, visit https://thesearemyhours.com/.