June 2002

Birth Announcements
Savannah Rebecca-Lynn Beatty
was born to the proud parents, Jennifer Exton and Michael Beatty on February 20, 2002 at 5:10 PM. She weighed 8lbs 6ozs and was 20 inches long. Irwin, Pennsylvania

Rosemary McCormick and Erik Fedor are proud to announce the birth of their son, Patrick Charles Fedor. Patrick was born April 09, 2002 at 6:56 PM. He weighed 7lbs 4ozs and measured 19 1/2 inches long. A very special Thank You to Sandy for all of her support and encouragement during the labor and delivery of our son. Grindstone, Pennsylvania

Laura Elizabeth Hone was born April 28, 2002 sy 2:27 AM and was capably delivered by Gretchen, the tiredless. She (Laura not Gretchen) weighed 7lbs 11oz and was 19 1/2 inches long. She joined brothers Chris 14, Brian 12, Sam 5 and Matthew 2 1/2 and sisters Angela 9 and Maria 7. Welcome to the family Apollo, Pennsylvania

Adam and Wendy Duke are delighted to announce the birth of their second child, Amber Marie on May 6, 2002. Amber weighed 7 lb. 7 oz. and was 20 inches long. She was welcomed by her big sister Rachel, 2 years old. Greensburg, Pennsylvania

Anthony and Renee Rotolo are happy to announce the safe and healthy arrival of their second son, Noah Christian Emanuel on December 11, 2001 at 6:13 PM. He weighed 7 lbs 4 ozs and was 21 inches long. A special thanks to Sandy who helped bring this little one into the world Somerset, Pennsylvania

Monroeville LaLeche League Meets
Monroeville Morning LaLeche League meets the second Friday of every month from 9:30-11:30 AM a St. Bernadette's Church in Monroeville. For directions, phone help or further information call Lori at 724-327-2115. Nursing moms with their children, expectant moms, and interested women (grandmothers) are welcome to attend!!!

More Than Crumbs
From her personal experience with the crushing realities of dysfunction and a life that crumbled around her, Linda Mastromonoco often shares her insights on how to get ìmore than crumbsî out of life. Linda has built a reputation for her insightful and warm sharing as she encourages and propels others to act and reach their dreams. Part of her presentation includes her ìSelf-Help Tool Chestî She had developed this Chest to make it easier for others to apply her concepts to the real world, serving as a resource for the strategies and actions needed to succeed and enjoy life. Linda's presentation is a positive experience for all women in all walks of life to embrace the trials of living and to explore ways to enjoy the here and now. While attending her motivational talk, one learns ways to enrich their lives, celebrate their faith, find enjoyment in life, discover a healthier attitude and explore personal opportunities for happiness. Along with being a motivational speaker, LInda has also developed her own home based business and has written her own bibliography entitled "Rising From the Ruins-A Single Moms Takes Flight" For additional information about her book or to schedule her to speak at an upcoming event, you can call her at 724-832-1983 or log onto www.LMastromonaco.com. Linda is planning on speaking in our office this fall. Date and time to be announced in next newsletter or on our web site at www.JDMH-midwives.com

Latrobe LaLeche League
Just a reminder that the La Leche League of Latrobe has a monthly series of meetings on the third Tuesday morning of each month. LLL provides support and information for breasfeeding moms. All interested women are invited to attend, and children are always welcome, too. please call Amy at 724-532-3347 for more information and directions.

The monthly LaLeche Schedules for both Latrobe and Greensburg are available in our office. Ask Sue for an updated schedule Save The Trees Campaign We hope you enjoy and use the information given to you throughout your pregnancy. If you would like to donate your packet back to be recylcled to another patient after delivery, to help save the trees, you can return it at your post partum visit.

The Midwifery Model of Care

Women in the United States are learning that pregnancy and childbirth is a normal life event and not a disease and are finding that they and their families can benefit greatly by the care of a midwife. The Midwives Model of Care includes prenatal visits with ìhands-on" care throughout your pregnancy and right after. It can result in less chance of complication, few interventions and a healthier birth for you and your baby. Pregnancy and childbirth involves every part of you. Your feelings, hopes, fears, physical and practical needs and spiritual or religious beliefs, which can affect your pregnancy and birth. A midwife can address all of these aspects to help you give birth naturally, safely and confidently. In addition, women who experience the Midwife Model of Care, report feelings of great satisfaction and empowerment. compared to standard medical management, midwives have a fundamentally different approach to pregnancy and childbirth.

Midwives provide gentle, nurturing care that respects you, your family and your beliefs. They feel that it is very important that you make informed decisions regarding medical tests, recommendations and interventions. They have a willingness to support your birth plan and include family members and friends who want to be present at your birth. Much freedom is provided during labor to do what helps you the best, while
providing guidance and support. Midwives believe that every birth is unique. Even though being pregnant and giving birth is an amazing process, it is a normal life process in which women are well equipped.

Midwives provide plenty of time during office visits for one on one care. Most appointments are 30 minutes long. This allows for meaningful discussion to help you explore and resolve fears and concerns that you and your family may have. Much attention is given to developing a trusting and nurturing relationship with their patients so they can help you to labor and give birth naturally and safely.

Midwives are well known for the abundance of information provided to their patients. Many practices offer a patient library. Information is available about pregnancy, birth and the newborn and breastfeeding. Suggestions are continually being given to help you take care of yourself and the baby with encouragement to maintain good nutrition and to make healthy lifestyle decisions. Information is always available on any recommended tests, procedures or treatments, so that you can make informed choices regarding your care.

During your pregnancy, midwives provide regular monitoring of your health and the baby's through regular checkups to make sure you both are doing well. Not only do they educate you about a normal vaginal delivery, but also help you plan for any unexpected emergencies. If you should develop medical conditions which makes your care high risk, midwives will refer you to the appropriate health care provider.

When you are receiving care from a midwife, you are helped in discovering your own body's ability to give birth, in its own way and in its own time. No routine treatment is provided or no arbitrary time tables established, as these may interfere with your body's ability to labor and give birth. Midwifery care is truly individualized. You are supported for doing the work of giving birth. Rather than have someone deliver the baby, you are empowered to give birth to your own baby yourself.

Midwives suggest many ways to help their patients cope with the discomfort of labor. They have found that encouragement, massage, relaxation, laboring in water, changing position and other approaches are very effective. These all help and encourage the process of labor to help you give birth to your baby gently and lovingly.

Midwives stay with their patients during labor. They provide attentive, sensitive care and emotional support in tune with their needs throughout labor. Research has shown that having a sympathetic female companion with you throughout labor and delivery reduces the chance of complications. The word "midwife" means "with women", which means that your midwife is with you and mothers the mother.

Care from a midwife does not stop at birth. Midwives provide post partum care and help with breastfeeding. Along with prenatal care, midwives also provide well women gynecological care and pre-conception counseling.

How to Prevent Tearing
There are several steps you can take before and during delivery to prevent tearing. The first being to have good nutrition and avoid smoking, this assures that you tissues are supple. Kegel exercises done in the weeks preceeding birth help maintain tone and blood flow. It is important not to do too many a day. The recommendation is between 20 and 30. During the final weeks before birth, some women use Perineal Massage to stretch the perineal area and it is helpful to practice learning to relax in this area as you will need to do this during birth. According to a book written by Janet Balaskas entitled ìActive Birthî there are several ways to avoid tearing during birth. She advises giving birth in a quiet environment using an upright or squatting position and to follow your own cues as to when to push. Hot compresses are often helpful. It can not be overstated the importance of moving around during labor. Upright positions, including squatting, standing using support and all fours are ideal for taking the pressure off of the perineum. Lying on one's side is also suggested. Going slow during the actual birth and working with the contractions to slowly ease the baby out, without tearing the perineum. The final suggestion is panting. This tends to slow the birth. Many women do this instinctively.
Information obtained from Mothering Magazine

Alzheimer Awareness Meeting
The public is invited to attend a meeting at the St. Edwards's School Hall in Herminie to listen to an respresentative from the Alzheimer Association. He will be providing a presentation regarding the needs and concerns of Alzheimer patients and their families. The date is June 19th and will begin at 6PM. Pizza and pop will be served as refreshments. Time will be available for questions and answers. This event is free, but it is necessary to RSVP so that the correct amount of refreshments are available.
For more information, you can call Al and Pat Martinoski at 724-547-4655, Susan Covalesky at 724-850-9633 and Mary Jo Conrad at 724-863-8149

Library Books
This is just a reminder to please return any overdue library books as soon as possible, so that other patients can have the opportunity to read them. Thank you

Women's Expo Being Planned
The Western Pennsylvania Branch of the Moms Network is hosting a women's expo event in September and they are looking for any interested parties that have a home business and who might want to set up a booth for the day. They are also looking for speakers on topics of interest to women such as hobbies, health, education, business and others. Space is limited. Hours will be from 9AM-3PM. Cost per table will be 12.00. If any group or individual is interested in selling beverages and food, they will be interested in your services. You can contact Pam at 724-668-8800 or by fax at 724-668-8852. Interested parties can also contact her by email at expo@newalexandriapa.com

Orientation Night
Our office will be hosting its Next ìConsider Your Optionsî Orientation Evening on Wednesday, July 10, 2002 at 7:30 PM. This is a great way to learn more about the practice of midwifery. A video will be shown and informational packets distributed. For those unable to attend, private orientations can be scheduled or packets can be mailed upon request

I hope you have enjoyed this edition of Woman To Woman. All articles and stories are the opinions of the author. If you would like to contribute a birth story or announcement, ìHow They Have Grownî announcement, article or would like to announce a community event, call Sue at 724-527-9159 or e mail her at susanklosky@hotmail.com

Have a Great Summer!!!

The Staff of Family Nurse Midwife Associates
Gretchen Cohen CNM
Sandy Mauro CNM
Sue Klosky, Office Manager and Editor

Back * Newsletter Menu * Forward