by Sarah Akers, CNM  When I was asked to create an article for our newsletter about Healthy Weight Week, I hesitated for just a moment. After all, my BMI puts me far outside the “normal weight” range!  I agreed to write about Healthy Weight Week because I am both a healthcare provider and a woman who has struggled with her weight throughout her lifetime. While I know the health benefits of maintaining a normal weight, I know all too well the health effects of being outside of it.   My Struggle with Weight  Although I am in the “obese” category according to my BMI, I am at the healthiest weight I’ve been in 20 years. It is no exaggeration to say that my weight has been an issue for me almost my entire life. Manipulation of food and dieting is so widespread in my family that they have become a sort of pastime for many of us. What I have not learned to address until recently are the reasons that I manipulate food and consume it for uses other than the nourishment of my body. Food has been a comfort to me in hard times, and been a part of the celebration at joyous events. It has required vigilance and great effort on my part to find other ways to cope with difficult times and celebrate during the happy ones.  Motivation for Change  Change is difficult and, at times, even painful. One must have some sort of motivation to initiate and sustain change. New Year’s resolutions, graduations, and job interviews have been some motivators in the past. Those events have been strong enough to help me to lose as much as 30 pounds in the past, but when the occasion passed or “life got in the way”, I would go back to my old habits and re-gain every bit of weight I’d lost. A few years ago, I fell in love with my fiance and found my biggest and best motivator: becoming a mother. My desire to some day have a healthy pregnancy and be the best mom I can be led me to make drastic changes in the way I eat. It is also what drives me to get out of bed early in the morning to exercise!  Baby Steps  At my highest weight, I was more than 130 lbs away a “normal” BMI.  Setting that as my goal would … Read More

 by: Laura Morganti   On November 27th, my due date, I was SO ready to have my baby, as are most women at the end of their pregnancy. I was very uncomfortable and it was getting difficult to take care of and be patient with my other three young children who are ages 5, 3 and 2.              Also, I thought I was carrying a 10 pounder because my last baby was 9 lb, 10 oz. and each one had been bigger than the last! That morning I was happy to wake up with contractions that seemed stronger and more “real”, so I told my husband that oddly enough, it looked like baby might come on the due date. We did not know if we were having a boy or girl, as we had waited to find out with every pregnancy. We love surprises!   I was discouraged when the contractions seemed to get less intense and were only coming about every 15 minutes. I already had an appointment scheduled that afternoon, so thankfully a friend came over to watch our girls and my husband drove me to my appointment. I was 4 cm dilated, but was told I should schedule an ultrasound and a non-stress test just in case I was still pregnant in a week. That was not what I wanted to hear, but what could I do? I told my husband we should go to the grocery store before heading home because our cupboards were quite bare.    Remember, this was the day before Thanksgiving, so this store was crowded to say the least. Much to my surprise, I started having contractions VERY close together while walking through the store, all while trying to breathe deeply and maintain a fake smile for the sake of the swarms of concerned looking people around me. By the time we were checking out in the grocery store, I was gripping onto the cart so tightly that my hands were turning white. Now THESE were real contractions. I whispered to my husband (get a mental picture of the grimace on my face) “I’m dying. We need to go NOW.” I called the birth center and God bless Maureen, she told me to come back and they would get me set up in a room. When we came back less than an hour after leaving my appointment, I was 6 cm … Read More

 by: Rachel VanBree, FNP/WHCNP  Did you know that cervical cancer used to be the leading terminal cancer among women in the United States? We have seen a 70% decrease in cervical cancer rates over the last 50 years, thanks to the introduction of the Pap test. According to the CDC, cervical cancer still accounts for a quarter of a million deaths annually. However, 85% occur in developing countries due to lack of screening and access to preventative care.  In the United States, we are fortunate enough to have access to cervical cancer screening with the Pap test and the capability to detect human papillomavirus (HPV). Almost all cases of cervical cancer are linked to persistent HPV infections. The Pap test has allowed us to detect an increased risk of developing cervical cancer in women of all ages.  The climate surrounding cervical cancer screening is shifting toward a “less is more” approach. Historically, many women associate their annual exam with getting a Pap test. We now know that cervical cancer screening isn’t necessary every year for the majority of healthy women. Due to its sensitivity and our increasing knowledge about the progression of cervical cancer, annual Pap tests may create false alarms that needlessly subject women to painful follow-up tests. Evidence based research is finding that we can actually detect precursors to cervical cancer too soon. Most cervical cancers progress slowly and some of these precancerous cells will go away without medical treatment. Cervical cancer’s slow progression has allowed us to now recommend less frequent screening without compromising health outcomes. The idea is to improve health by avoiding unnecessary procedures and painful biopsies that may be harmful.  According to the American Cancer Society, Pap tests should begin at age 21 and be offered every three years for low risk, healthy women. At ages 30 to 65, we recommend a Pap test every three years or every five years if women are HPV negative. A shift in the frequency of testing is a significant and promising change in the health care environment that opposes the “more is better” mind-set. By understanding your risk and current recommendations, WBWC hopes to empower you to navigate your own health care. Our Birth Center offers cervical cancer screening and the time to discuss your individual screening needs during wellness appointments.  Always love your body, especially your cervix.  But, maybe not every  year. 

 by Liz Blodgett  Introduction I’m a PhD student at UNC Chapel Hill,  I’m exclusively pumping and do five sessions a day, two at work and three at home. I was lucky that my mom paid for one pump and insurance paid for the other. Rosalind at Women’s Birth & Wellness Boutique helped us decide that the Hygeia EnJoye was the best fit for my needs. However, the durable medical equipment supplier that my insurance used didn’t offer Hygeia, so I chose a Medela Pump in Style Advanced. I keep the Hygeia at home and stash the Medela at Mercury Studio Durham, NC in a locker.  Overall Experience I like my Hygeia better than my Medela based on how they work. The Hygeia has two separate dials, one which controls strength and one which controls speed. The Medela has one dial that controls strength and a button that changes speeds to either fast (for let-down) or slow. Maybe it’s all in my head, but I feel like it’s easier to respond well to the pump when I can have more control over it. Both pumps are around the same size and weight. The Hygeia at full speed, full suction is louder than the Medela. The Hygeia comes with a set of buttons to record and play back sounds that can encourage letdown, but I never got in the habit of using them. I just occasionally accidentally play the sound of myself accidentally hitting the record button. It would be nice if there was a way to cover these so they don’t get bumped.  Cleaning The Medela does one thing better – it’s really good about not getting milk or moisture in the tubes, and the Hygeia tends to have a problem with that. However, it’s easier to clean out the Hygeia tubes because they’re softer and bigger.  I clean the Hygeia tubes this way:  1. Soak them in warm soapy water  2. Run tap water through them  3. Blow gently into one end with your mouth about an inch away to clear out most of the water.  4. Pour some rubbing alcohol through the tube and squeeze it through the tube from the outside.  5. Hang from the middle and squeeze out any additional liquid.  There are other methods but this is the one that I’ve found to work best. So far I haven’t needed to clean out the Medela tubes, I just let the pump run for a few … Read More

   Candor Plaza brings years of experience as a doula and advanced Birthing from Within mentor to this lively and empowering childbirth preparation class. In this six week series you will gain a good understanding of how labor works and what you’ll need to know about your new-born babe. You’ll learn effective pain-coping practices and comfort measures to get you through the intensity of labor; while being supported to address concerns or fears you have about giving birth. We will also explore what’s most important to you for your unique birthing journey. Other class participants have said: “I will always think of that class as one of the happiest, most fruitful, and meaningful parts of my pregnancy.” ~Mom “I feel like this class series brought us closer together. It helped us bond in preparing to become parents.” ~ Dad “She is fantastic! These classes truly encompassed the whole picture — not just the birth of our child, but all of the emotions and changes in our lives that come with a new baby.” ~ Mom   Small group size ensures individualized attention and limited space.  Contact candor.plaza@gmail.com or visit www.birthwithcandor.com for details.    Susan Rotman has been sharing her experience with The Bradley Method® since her first birth 12 years ago. Her evidence and experience based class covers all aspects of pregnancy and childbirth. Keys to staying healthy and low risk, the role of hormones, the stages of labor, positions and pain coping techniques are just some of the many topics explored in her Bradley Method® class. Her series includes breastfeeding instruction led by an IBCLC® board certified lactation consultant. Couples learn the benefits of breastfeeding, how the body produces milk, how to determine if baby is getting enough, and how to address common challenges. This comprehensive introduction helps ensure a rewarding breastfeeding experience for mom and baby.   New  for 2014… American Red Cross® Infant CPR! Susan has completed her instructor training with the American Red Cross® and is now able to train and certify her students in this lifesaving skill. Susan Rotman’s class prepares couples for the challenges of labor and ultimately parenting an infant. Susan teaches out of her Raleigh home and on Tuesday evenings at Women’s Birth & Wellness Center.   Please visit www.raleighbirthinstructor.com or  call Susan at 919-622-1668 to learn more.      Wanda Sundermann, a massage therapist and doula practicing in the community for the last 20 years, brings a knowledge base to her childbirth education classes … Read More

Our boutique will hold a “meet & greet” tasting of the newly released dairy-free, vegan, Milk Boy. original chocolate chip & Milk Boy+ choc. chip with Fenugreek   lactation cookie doughs Wednesday February 12th 5:30 – 6:30 pm.  Sold by the dozen, these wonderful, delicious, refridgerated cookie doughs help-out nursing mamas produce milk and are made right here in Durham, NC.  Since they’re vegan they can safely be eaten raw too. Made with organic, unrefined, extra-virgin coconut oil & organic golden flax to replace the traditional butter and eggs making each cookie contain 6g of heart healthy natural saturated fats and 4g of protein.  Roxanne Bellamy, the creator & maker of these handmade doughs, will co-host our hour long event to chat about her “one-woman” company and answer any questions about her product’s nutritional data and the like.  For the entire event’s hour any pouches sold  will be $2.00 off the regular price!  Truly a healthy indulgence for all — we hope you will come by to taste these cookies! ————————————————————————————————————————————    Roxanne is a Hillsborough, NC resident. She’s a home-birthing,  breast-feeding mother of one.

 Nora is a writer, oral historian and doula. Born and raised in upstate New York, she has spent some of her most valued years traveling, singing, and collecting stories in varying cities, villages and rural outposts around the globe. She has lived in Germany, Bolivia, The Republic of Georgia and a handful of places in the Northeast.      Nora first began attending births in 2003. She is a ToLabor (formerly ALACE) trained doula and has been involved in birth work in a variety of settings. She has provided education and advocacy for women and their families through pregnancy, birth and postpartum and has facilitated birth story circles and other related community events. She believes deeply in encouraging opportunities for people to make informed choices. In December of 2010, she graduated from The New School University in New York City where she studied writing, documentary methods and oral history. In 2012, Nora moved to Durham to pursue a Certificate in Documentary Arts at Duke’s Center for Documentary Studies which she completed in May 2013. Nora is the creator and director of The Birth Narratives Oral History Project www.birthnarrativeproject.org that collects archives and produces stories about childbirth from women and men around the United States. She is very excited to be joining Women’s Birth & Wellness Boutique team!

 Candor Plaza brings years of experience as a doula and advanced Birthing from Within mentor to this lively and empowering childbirth preparation class. In this six week series you will gain a good understanding of how labor works and what you’ll need to know about your new-born babe. You’ll learn effective pain-coping practices and comfort measures to get you through the intensity of labor; while being supported to address concerns or fears you have about giving birth.  We will also explore what’s most important to you for your unique birthing journey. Small group size ensures individualized attention and limited space.  Register now for the Monday evenings upcoming class: 6:30 – 9:00 pm.  Jan 13th – Feb 17th 2014    Contact candor.plaza@gmail.com or visit  www.birthwithcandor.comwww.birthwithcandor.com for details.

Erika Grace, DPT, MPH, MSW of Grace Pelvic Health, will present a patient education seminar, on January 25, 2014, 10:30 am at WBWC. You can learn more about preparation of your pelvic floor for delivery and postpartum recovery, return to exercise after having your baby, proper posture and body mechanics during pregnancy and infant care, and help for common body core discomforts before and after birth. Please contact Erika at 919-929-7990 or erika@gracepelvichealth.com for more details.

 by Melissa Capps  We sing “It’s the most wonderful time of the year,” but sometimes the way we feel is far from the lyrics of that great song.  Holidays can be stressful, and sometimes we feel like everyone else is having a great time while we are just spending every last ounce of energy we have.  It shouldn’t be that way!  I have a few simple tips that will help you maximize enjoyment  and minimize stress in this season.   ·         As much as you can, hold off on new projects  This is not a great time of year to undertake redecorating the room you’ve been putting off, or ripping up flooring to install something new in time for Christmas.  We learned this the hard way, as one season we spent Christmas and New Years in the middle of a major DIY renovation.  It really took away from our joy and time as a family.  I say “as much as you can,” because we ourselves are now undertaking a small project that just arrived at the top of the “list.”  It’s been a long time coming. However, it’s not something we’re doing ourselves but paying someone else to do, and it’s quick.  So if you need to dive into something, make sure it’s small and aim to steer clear from DIY. ·        Delegate  If you are hosting for a family meal, party, etc. always say YES when someone asks if they can help or bring something.  Consider yourself the organizer, and delegate out everything that can be done by someone besides you. ·        Purge as you clean  The spaces you should focus on cleaning/de-cluttering are: kitchen, dining room, and living area.  Grab a box for items to donate and a bag for trash, and go for it.  Do not grab armfuls of stuff and throw them into a spare bedroom or your master closet.  Yes, I’ve been reading your mail. J Understand though that this is not a good time to undertake a huge organizing project on your own.  So you won’t exactly be able to find homes for everything floating around.  But, let go of the things that can go.  If you have large items that you want to sell on EBay or Craigslist, post one of those every couple days.  This is a good time to sell, as people are looking for gifts. Find a temporary solution for everything else.  ·        Do what works for you We are all different in how we prefer to shop, decorate, make preparations, … Read More