From the WBWC Blog:

Ways to Help

Support WBWC On Our Birthday

Birth days are important. I remember the birth of my oldest daughter like it was yesterday – the excitement of the first pangs of labor, calling the Women’s Birth and Wellness Center and finally getting to “press the NUMBER 4 to page the on-call midwife,” and my midwife’s familiar smile as we arrived at the birth center eager to have our baby. Most clearly of all, I remember the midwife’s reassuring words in my ear as nearly a dozen strangers in blue scrubs moved in a blur around me in the operating room where my healthy, precious daughter would ultimately be born by Cesarean section. This was not the birth experience I had expected while reading those natural childbirth books but because of my midwife’s guidance to transfer to the hospital and her ability to be the conduit between me and the UNC Hospital staff from the moment we arrived, our daughter’s birth was unexpected AND beautiful. My midwife gave me constant information on what was happening and why, then supported me in making my own decisions throughout the process. She even had the foresight to capture a photo of the moment I first held my daughter! The midwives and staff at the Women’s Birth and Wellness Center have supported so many birth days many of us will never forget. And now, we are asking for your support. We invite you to celebrate the WBWC’s (and/or your midwife’s) birthday by making a donation to keep this important work thriving in our community, particularly for expectant mothers with financial need. 1. $10 supports the cost of new patient education, so each birth giver receives a copy of the book “Our Bodies Ourselves In Pregnancy” at their first pregnancy visit. 2. $25 supports the exam cost at a baby’s home visit. 3. $100 provides breastfeeding classes and newborn care classes for a new birth giver. 4. $200 covers care needed for a wellness visit or an illness visit. 5. $1,000 supports a breastfeeding person by covering four breastfeeding consultations, support groups and breastfeeding supplies If everyone invited to our birthday party contributed at least $50, we could fund all breastfeeding classes and support groups for an entire year! Please click here to make your tax deductible gift to WBWC. Donation opportunities will also be provided at the party. Help us keep the Women’s Birth & Wellness Center strong while creating beautiful birth … Read More

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

WBWC Seeking Board Members

Would you like to help guide WBWC into the future? We are currently seeking applications for board members! We are looking for community members with backgrounds in public health, law, finance, marketing, social work, or any skills that could help WBWC continue to grow and serve our community! If you are interested, send your CV to Maureen Darcey at maureen@ncbirthcenter.org. We look forward to hearing from you!

Climb Out of the Darkness

Women’s Birth & Wellness Center is proud to co-sponsor Climb Out of the Darkness® 2018 events in both Chapel Hill/Carrboro and Durham. Postpartum Support International (PSI) took over management of this event in 2017.  Climb Out of the Darkness® is the world’s largest event raising awareness of maternal mental illnesses like postpartum depression, postpartum anxiety and OCD, postpartum post-traumatic stress, postpartum psychosis, perinatal bipolar mood disorders, and pregnancy depression and anxiety.   Climb Out of the Darkness® is held on or near the longest day of the year annually to help shine the most light on perinatal mood and anxiety disorders (PMAD). The event features mothers and others across the globe joining together to climb mountains and hike trails to represent their symbolic rise out of the darkness of maternal mental illness and into the light of hope and recovery.  The Climb will be held in Chapel Hill/Carrboro on Sunday, June 24, 9:00 am at Briar Chapel Clubhouse, 1600 Briar Chapel Parkway, Chapel Hill. The Durham Climb will take place on Saturday, June 30, 9:00 am at Emerald Doulas, 5317 Highgate Dr., Suite 115, Durham.   Many Climbers and sponsors choose to fundraise, but it is not a requirement to participate. However, for those choosing to raise money or donate to a team, please know that all of the funds will remain with the NC chapter of PSI. WBWC and PSI-NC are glad to have this opportunity to raise awareness and funds.  Funds will be used by PSI-NC to continue several initiatives throughout the state, including: Continuing to grow a state-wide PMAD resource list Using this resource list to help increase screening by medical providers Increased access to PMAD training for professionals (especially in under-served areas) Increased support for PMAD professionals Continued partnerships with existing public health initiatives like Community Care of North Carolina and the Office or Rural Health 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

Svea Oster

Svea Oster died February 19 from complications of the flu. Svea was a legend in the Triangle as an advocate of women, midwives, and natural birth. She was a home birth attendant, a childbirth educator, a doula, and my dear friend! The circle of life has closed too soon. I met Svea thirty-eight years ago, when I first moved to Chapel Hill, for my husband to go to school. I was a brand-new graduate of midwifery school with no job and no friends. When I attended a meeting about birth options at the Women’s Resource Center (now the Compass Center), I met this amazing woman who changed my life! As our friendship developed, she taught me to trust my instincts and trust the process of birth. She encouraged me to start attending births of folks she knew through her friendships and with women who were getting care at the Chatham Family Birth Center (CFBC), the precursor to WBWC. Svea and I attended births for almost a year before I “got caught” – attending home births was illegal per state law. Svea and her husband Arnie were instrumental in getting the midwifery law passed that opened the doors for CNMs to attend births in homes, birth centers, and hospitals. She helped me open WBWC twenty-two years ago when we met with people from the Carolina Association for the Advancement of Midwifery and were able to get a state grant. Svea continued to touch the lives of hundreds of families as she taught childbirth education classes in the community and at WBWC, until she retired a few years ago. Our connections spanned the generations. Svea was the birth assistant at the birth of my own daughter thirty-six years ago, and I was the CNM at her daughter’s birth at home thirty-five years ago. Over the years, we have continued to travel in the same birth circle. I had the pleasure of catching both her son’s and daughter’s first children at the birth center. Her daughter-in-law was also born at the CFBC. Thank you, Svea, for letting me freely participate in the “circle of life.” WBWC and I will never forget all you have done in the birth community over the years, your passion, and your smile, and your love! ~Maureen Darcey Arnie has requested that donations be made in Svea’s honor to WBWC. Visit our donation page for more information.   

Study Shows Birth Center Care Improves Outcomes

From 2013-2016 Women’s Birth & Wellness Center participated in the Strong Start for New Mother and Newborns Initiative through the American Association of Birth Centers (AABC). This study provided funding to collect data on Medicaid patients at birth centers, including WBWC. AABC’s Strong Start program aimed to use birth center care to help prevent preterm birth, low birthweight, and costly interventions for those at the highest risk for complications. From the time that enrollment began in June of 2013, a diverse group of more than 8,300 women have participated in AABC’s Strong Start program at 46 birth center sites, with over 6,100 Strong Start births. This study found that the birth center model of care achieved the aims of improved population health, patient experience, and value. What does this really mean? Choosing to birth in a hospital was associated with nearly 4 times the risk of a cesarean birth compared with a birth center among medically low-risk Medicaid beneficiaries. Strong Start participants also had a decreased risk preterm birth and of low birth weight Birth centers showed the highest rates of satisfaction with both the prenatal care and delivery experience. 96% of patients were very satisfied or extremely satisfied with their prenatal care at birth centers and 84% were very satisfied or extremely satisfied with their delivery experience. Additionally, by lowering the rates of caesarean births and pre-term births, Strong Start patients saw an estimated $28 million in Medicaid savings. This study supported what we know and have seen through our experiences – that the birth center model of care lowers the risks of complications and honors and supports the preferences of the birthing person. Birth Center prenatal care is time intensive and relationship-based. Enhanced prenatal care includes referrals to needed resources, health education and emotional support. Midwives provide longer visits to achieve these outcomes. Women’s Birth & Wellness Center is the only free-standing birth center in the Triangle that accepts Medicaid patients. The Strong Start grant funding has ended, but through your support we can continue to provide this exceptional midwifery-model of care in a place of wellness to all women and birthing individuals. Please visit https://ncbirthcenter.org/donate/ to learn how you can help. As a Paypal Giving Fund recipient, there are no fees associated with your online donation, and your entire donation is used to serve our mission. Thank you in advance for your support!

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.  

The Dorothy B. Sullivan Memorial Fund at WBWC

By Maureen Darcey, CNM On March 30th of this year, my mom, Dorothy B. Sullivan (a.k.a. Grandma Buddy) passed away.As I was packing up her apartment, I found this card, hand-painted by one of her patients. Dear Mrs. Sullivan, Though we only know each other by flashlight, I feel that I want to say thank you for your nightly services. From the very first night of my illness, I sensed something wonderful about you – and I still cannot describe what it is. I only know that I looked forward to your presence as you took my pulse, temperature and evaluated my needs…during the nights of the past 6 days. When I am home in my own bed tonight I shall think of you. You have taught me much about nursing…somehow you have told me that it is more than a job.  May the dawn always fill you with light to see you though each day and night. This note summed up the woman, the mother, the wife, the RN, the aunt, the neighbor my mother was. My whole life, I wanted to be a nurse, just like my mom. She was one of the hardest working women I ever met. She worked 25 years of nights in order to be home during the day, in case we needed her. My parents were “co-parenting” before it was fashionable! The telephone was her umbilical cord to the world where she kept up with friends from 70-80 years ago, aunts in nursing homes, cousins at home, and all her children, grandchildren, and great-grandkids. To honor her memory, I have started the Dorothy B. Sullivan Memorial Fund at WBWC. She wasn’t quite sure of my desires to become a midwife, but once I graduated and started working in birth centers, she was my biggest supporter! Please consider donating to help us continue our “homegrown, home-owned” practice for women in our community. Your tax-deductible contribution will go towards the endowment in my mother’s name that directly helps the birth center continue to provide its invaluable services.  You can donate now by clicking here. Please specify that you want your gift to go to the Dorothy B. Sullivan Memorial Fund. Thank you so much for your support!

Great Outcomes from Strong Start & WBWC

From 2013-2016, WBWC participated in the 3-year Strong Start grant and WBWC patients who were Medicaid recipients, and who identified as low-income, received extra support including assistance from our peer counselors, Sofia Marks & Tracey Jones.  WBWC Strong Start patients were also given access to free breastfeeding education classes and received free breastfeeding pillows.  And like all WBWC patients, our Strong Start moms received time-intensive, high-touch, low tech midwifery care.  WBWC is the only birth center in the Triangle that accepts Medicaid patients.   The AABC Strong Start for Mothers and Newborns was a multi-year federal grant awarded to the American Association of Birth Centers in 2013. It studied the birth center model of care as a means to reduce the rate of preterm birth for vulnerable populations. Outcomes have been overwhelmingly good including lower cesarean rates, higher rates of breastfeeding and higher rates of satisfaction with their care. Learn more about these phenomenal outcomes. If we can lower these complications, we can decrease infant mortality and maternal mortality and reduce disparities. We are proud to be actively improving the lives of women and their families and grateful to serve our community through the work we do. With gratitude,   Brianna Bennett Business Director Women’s Birth & Wellness Center