Birth Centers: A Great Option for Families

Read about why birth centers like WBWC are terrific for moms and babies!
 

www.birthcenters.org/research

News from the Board

by Kaaren Haldeman

Happy Summer, WBWC! We hope you're enjoying the unusually cool June and July. Last month, members of the Board met with Maureen and Brianna and an outside consultant who spent time at WBWC to help us understand more fully our mission and identity as an organization. Her insights have been helpful in Board discussions and have guided our current work with Maureen as Executive Director. The full Board met June 27th to recap the experience with our consultant and to begin work on some of the objectives she laid out for our organization.

Finally, we are looking forward to discussing the qualitative research that has been ongoing at WBWC with Dr. Palmquist and team. It has been great to have some extra insights into our organization and how to maintain its health and sustainability well into the future. Thank you for all you do to make the WBWC who we are!

Restoring Balance Placenta Encapsulation

 

Offering placenta encapsulation, tinctures and salves

Serving Chapel Hill and the Triangle area

 

Placenta Encapsulation Benefits

 

♀    Decrease in baby blues and postpartum depression

♀    Increase and enrich breastmilk

♀    Increase in energy

♀    Decrease in postpartum bleeding

♀    Decrease iron deficiency

♀    Decrease insomnia or sleep disorders

♀    Decreases postpartum “night sweats”

 

 

Please contact Nicole (919) 699-0980  info@restoringbalanceplacenta.com

 

Services performed by qualified professionals:

Nicole Splenda, RN, LMBT

Mariah Velazquez, CNM 

Kathy Parry, MPH, LMBT, IBCLC

A Nursing Session: From Your Baby Piranha’s Point of View

By Claire C. McKiernan

Here I am, seven months old, resting comfortably in Mommy’s arms. We sway back and forth in the rocker together, and I look into her eyes as I nurse contentedly. We do this every evening. She smiles lovingly down at me and I feel safe. But something isn’t right…

My gums are sore and they hurt. Mommy says I am getting teeth. She loves me so, so much. Her breast feels so soft…so warm… and just right…so I think I will…

CHOMP!!

Why did Mommy screech like that? Why has Mommy taken away her breast? Doesn’t she know it felt good on my sore gums?

Ahh, she is returning me to her breast. That’s better.

Mmmm, warm sweet milk. That yelp was interesting, though. She has never done THAT before. I wonder if she will do it again?

CHOMP!!

Yep, same reaction. I smile and laugh. What fun! I can make Mommy yelp! Those must be tears of joy in her eyes. She is always proud of me when I learn something new.

Her voice doesn’t sound proud, though. She says she will give me one more try. She moves me to the other breast. I’m happy again. I grin at her.

Hey!  She took me off the breast! She says I had a gleam in my eye. She says she’s onto my little game. She repeats her new saying for the night: “No bite! That hurts Mommy!” and then slowly, slowly, with her lips pursed and her eyes squinting accusingly down on me, she allows me to latch back on.

What funny faces she makes! I giggle, with her nipple still in my mouth. Milk runs down my chin. She lets down her guard and smiles again as she wipes my chin. We’re happy together. We love each other.

This new power I have over Mommy really should be tested again. My belly is filling up but my gums still hurt. I look up at her slowly, trying to act real casual. But I blow it and start to grin. “Noooo bite,” she warns, but it’s too irresistible…I start to press down slowly but firmly…maybe she won’t notice. I grind my gums back and forth.

What’s this? She is pulling me closer to her instead of unlatching me! Surprised, I open my mouth and she quickly takes me off the breast.

“No bite,” she says, as she lifts me up to change me. She says my older siblings went through this phase, too, and it doesn’t last forever. We will get through it together and be a happy nursing duo again.

She tells me that tomorrow she will try putting me further back on her breast in hopes that a full mouth will give me less chomping room. Sleepily, I study her face while she changes me. She’s a smart cookie, my Mommy.

But, then again, I’m a stubborn kid!

 

Now Offering Massage and Acupuncture at Women’s Birth and Wellness Center

Come relax and renew your spirit!

Nicole Splenda RN, LMBT and Kim Calandra L.AC

Massage is a wonderful way to ease discomforts of pregnancy. It has been used for centuries to improve overall health, reduce stress, and relieve muscle tension. Studies indicate that massage therapy performed during pregnancy can reduce anxiety, decrease symptoms of depression, relieve muscle aches and joint pains, and improve labor outcomes and newborn health. Nicole specializes in Pre- and Postnatal massage, Aromatherapy, Reflexology and Labor Stimulation Massage.  And although she loves to work on pregnant women, she is happy to work on non-pregnant family members too.

 

Prenatal - massage is a natural touch treatment aimed at alleviating many pregnancy related symptoms

Postnatal - Massage for physical and emotional health after childbirth

Lymphatic Drainage for Edema (pre and postnatal)

Aromatherapy- Inhalation of essential oils stimulate the limbic system and affect heart rate, stress level, blood pressure, breathing, memory, digestion and the immune system.

Warm towel wrap and relaxation- When combined with massage, moist heat towels will produce general relaxation, which helps to reduce muscle spasm and joint stiffness

Labor Preparation  * AFTER 40 weeks and with consent from midwife*-Treatment with massage of acupressure points, herbs, herbal tea and aromatherapy

 

 

Kim Calandra L.Ac is our new Acupuncturist at WBWC. Acupuncture is a holistic health care system that can treat many conditions, including gynecologic, intrapartum- such as breech presentation - morning sickness and other common pregnancy related conditions. During your postpartum period, Acupuncture can be helpful for depression, mastitis, insufficient or excessive lactation.  Acupuncture is also a great tool for induction of labor.

Gift Certificates Available

Call Nicole 919-699-0980 or Kim 919-971-3934

Or by stop by the boutique to pick one up.

 

Boutique Bulletin

The WBWC Boutique is Hiring!