June 2002

JDMH-midwives.com

I hope you have taken the opportunity to log onto our newly updated webpage www.JDMH-midwives.com. Thanks to the talented Ron Gigliotti of Intergrated Health Systems, many new applications are now available. Remember that patient information can be updated online. So if your address, phone, pharmacy or insurance information has changed since you were last seen, just log on under the Applications page make the necessary changes. Also, we would like to know how we are doing so a patient questionaire has been included which you can complete after delivery to let us know how your experience was with our service. Sometimes we get so involved in doing what we do, that we do not always see things from the patientís perspective, so let us know the things that we are doing right and the things that need corrected or changed in some way.

All of our Moms Groups and Workshops are listed under events. We would also like to include community events and workshops that would be of interest to our patients, so if you know of something going on, please forward the information to us.

Please also use our web site to tell your friends and relatives about midwifery. There are many pages of information on what midwives are and the birth stories are all included. Just mark this site as your favorite and pass it along.

Keep in mind that we would like to add more e mail addresses to our data base. That way you can receive reminders about workshops via the internet. If you have not been receiving reminders during the last few weeks and your e mail address has previously been given to us, perhaps it needs corrected, so please e mail us. E-mails can be sent to at either susanklosky@hotmail.com or pappolice@hotmail.com

Moms Group
Our final Moms Group for the summer will be on Wednesday, June 12th at 7PM. Craig French (chiropractor) will be our guest speaker. He will be talking about ways to cure ear infections in children naturally. Guests and children are always welcome. Moms Group will resume in September 2002

Doula Raffle
Jan Mallak, in celebration of International Doula Month is having a raffle in our office for either a Basket of Fun or a free Birth Doula for a June or July delivery. Sign ups can be done either in our office or online at our website. Raffle will due June 10th

A Parents Prayer

Help me give my children the best, not of trappings or toys, but of myself. cherishing them on good days and bad, theirs and mine. Teach me to accept them for who they are, not for what they do: to listen to what they say, if only so they will listen to me: to encourage their goals, not mine: and please, let me laugh with them and be silly. Let me give them a home where respect is the cornerstone, integrity the foundation, and there is enough happiness to raise the roof. May I give them the courage to be true to
themselves: the independence to take care of themselves and the faith to believe in a power much greater than their own. See That I discipline my children without demeaning them, demand good manners without forgetting my own and let them know they have limitless love, no matter what they do. Let me feed them properly, clothe them adequately and have enough to give them small allowances, not for the work they do but the pleasure they bring. Let me be moderate in all these things, so the joy of getting will help them discover the joy of giving. See that their responsibilities are real but not burdensome, that my expectations are high but not overwhelming and that
my thanks and praise are thoughtful and given when they are due. Help me teach them that excellence is work's real reward, and not the glory it brings. But when it comes.. and it will... let me revel each honor, however small, without once pretending that it is mine; my children are glories enough. Above all, let me ground these children so well that I can dare to let them go. And may they be so blessed

Unknown Author

The Best Laid Plans
I've been hesitant to write our birth story. We did not have a successful VBAC and I did not want to be a discouragement. However, in this life, one does not always get everything one wants. Emer Ashley was born on 24 April 1999.

We started out going to BirthPlace in Pittsburgh, where I'd been going for my annuals. We'd wanted to have our first there back in 1990, but an over zealous doctor at West Penn felt that asthma was a contraindication for Midwifery care. Everything was going fine this time until West Penn in its infinite wisdom decided to close BirthPlace. "Not economical," well what did they expect by keeping it secret?

Thank goodness for Family Nurse-Midwives. Sandy and Gretchen helped me make the transition through hassles as WP messed up with sending records, through the emotions of missing my previous CNM's, the frustrations of not being where I had wanted to be, and the anger at policies that put economics ahead of people, through all the usual pregnancy hassles and some extras-like morning sickness for all but the last month of the pregnancy.

As the Big day approached we felt ready. We'd watched the childbirth tape my aunt, an L&D nurse and childbirth educator, had made with my Mom and two of my sisters (a private class done for a pregnant sister and her hubbie) for review. I'd practiced relaxation and done my yoga stretches. I'd packed my bags. Mom had come up from West Virginia and knew the way to JDMH.

The Saturday morning that Bob had go take a State Test I woke up very early and restless, finally falling asleep in the rocking chair. We saw him off to his test with the admonition that if there was no answer here, head straight to the hospital. About 2 hours later the contractions began to be shuddering push contractions. Mom was not comfortable with being at home if that was how things were going to be. So we sent Brendan off with his local Grandma and headed to JDMH to meet Gretchen.

I hear the nurses found Mom following me around the desk circle to be funny. I'd walk, bend over with a contraction, and Mom would roll the rolling pin on my back. This went on for awhile, then I tried the shower. I wouldn't wish back labor on anyone; it seemed to blow all the usual tools' usefulness for me. I finally asked for some pain relief, opting for a shot of Nubain rather than an epidural. I guess it helped me to relax, as I recall sleeping between contractions. I apparently talked in my dreams too. Mom,
and I remember this too, said I mentioned going to meet Bob at Hechinger's. Mom told me she remembers thinking "I don't think so Honey."

When Bob arrived he got very creative with finding items with which to apply counter-pressure to my lower back. If you ever forget to bring a tool for that, try the knobs for manually adjusting the beds in case of power failure; they're a good size and shape, and they helped.

When I finally got dilated enough to push we must have tried every position in the book and then some. Four hours later it was obvious that this wee one was stuck, even though, according to Mom, a small bit of her head had seen air. So close, and yet so stuck! Fortunately she was doing well every time we were hooked up to the monitor, so while it wasn't a dire emergency, it was time to call in the Dr.Khalil cavalry.

Despite my preoccupation with coping with contractions, hoping maybe more walking would shift the baby, I found all the preparations to get me set up the way he expected to be rather amusing. Emer Ashley came into the world at 2210 hours weighing 7# 14 oz., 19.5" long. Gretchen was with me the whole time and took the time to stay for a bit while I was being sewn up. That helped so much. Knowing that Mom and Bob were holding Emer while I was stuck in recovery helped, but that was the longest hour of my life that I can remember.

I want to thank Gretchen and Sandy for being so kind while I made a difficult emotional adjustment. I also want to thank the nurses who cared for me so well, Mary being the only one whose name I can remember at this point. She set me up for the night a bit before two natural births occurred. Childbirth in stereo while I looked after my sweet treasure, what a night!

I also want to thank JDMH in general for being so on the ball and aware of latex allergy and being able to make the necessary changes to keep those of us so "blessed" safe while we are there.
Mary Kukura-Straw, Murrysville

Let us Know!!!
Please let Sue know at the front desk if any of your information has changed, especially your insurance coverage. Thank you

Jeannette District Memorial Hospital Announces Opening of the Norwin Health Care Center in Norwin Hills Plaza in North Huntingdon - Jeannette District Memorial Hospital is planning for the Open House of the new Norwin Hills Health Care Center in the Norwin Hills Plaza in North Huntingdon. The festivities will be held throughout the week of June 10, 2002 with each day of the week designed for a specific audience. The Hospital is working in conjunction with a group of some 50 volunteers who have taken responsibility for the week long event.

The business community will be invited to a luncheon on Monday, June 10 from 11:30 AM-2:30 PM. A jazz band will kick off the festivities with a ribbon cutting ceremony highlighting the event. Tours of the facilility will take place throughout the afternoon. Pat Rega is serving as chairperson to this program. Members of the committee include Jack Butler, Barbara Braun, Gary Dinsel, Chuck Urtin, Dr. Bill Roscoe and Jack Maskowitz. A Spiritial evening has been planned for Tuesday, June 11th beginning at 6:30 PM. Marie Huss is spear-heading this committee along with Bernie Scozio
and Lois Bennett. Scripture readings, the Voices of Jeannette and a children's choir will be featured. The evening festivities will conclude with a Candle Light Service. Members of local Social Organizations willl be invited to attend an Open House on Wednesday, June 12th, beginning at 5:30 PM. Local groups such as the Rotary, Kiwanis, Lions and AARP will be welcomed to tour the facility until 8 PM. Heading up this committee is Dr. Ken Johnson, Dr. Bill Scalise, Larry Anlauf, Bill Scalise, Jim Shirley and Rep. Jim Casorio. On Thursday, June 13th, members of the Education community will be welcomed to a ìFamily Friendly Nightî with family centered entertainment and activities in cooperation with the area school districts. The Suziki Violen Ensemble will perform, along with a clown and a magician. Beverly Hahn serves as chairperson with committe members Jack Boylan, Patrick Tray, George Huss and Norwin Pezze. The Local/State Government Committee, chaired by Joe Kucic, will hold it Open House on Friday, June 12th. Local, county, state and federal government officials will have an opportunity to view the facility at this time. Members of the committee include Lenny Santmyer, Rey Peduzzi, Rich Grey, Dan Rose, John Kisic and Mike Salvatore. The week-long event will culminate on Saturday, June 15th, with a Public Open House beginning at 12:00 noon. The day will be highlighted by visits from sports personalities, a mini health fair, tours, refreshments, LifeFlight and much more. The event will run until 3:00 PM and all are welcome to attend. The Public Open House committee is comprossed of members Victor Ketchman. Ron Peduzzi, Bill Kunkle, Margaree Pertle and Tony DeNunzio.

Volunteers are being sought for everyday of this week long project. If you are interested in volunteering, please contact the Public Relations Department at JDMH at 724-527-9364
Information Provided to us by Patti Buhl
Public Relations Office, JDMH

Norwin Health Care to Open in June - JDMH is proud to announce that the Norwin Health Center will be opening in June 2002. They will offer a broad spectrum of rehabilitative and surgical services, diagnostic imagery and health education to people living in and around the Norwin area. This facility will provide direct access to traditional hospital departments and physicians directly to the local neighborhoods. There will be a surgical facility with a full operating room and full anesthesia services. GI Medicine, radiology, mammography, ultrasounds, lab and physical, occupational and speech therapies will be several of the services that will be offered locally. The Norwin Health Center will not be an emergency center. All medical emergencies should continue to go to the Jeannette location. The hospital is pleased to be able to breathe new life into the vacant Hills building. It is their intent to re-use existing structures and aid in the economic development of the Norwin Area. This is all part of the hospital's strategic plan which calls for the Catholic Hospital to expand its services into the community.