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Birth Announcements

Nathaniel Bryan Swartz was born on March 04, 2003 at 12:20 AM to Bryan and Daphne Swartz. He weighed 7lbs, 10ozs and was 20 inches long.................Greensburg

Hope Eileen Schubert was born on March 30, 2003 at 8:40 AM. She weighed 8lbs 3ozs. Proud parents are John and Jennifer Schubert ....................Monroeville

Dennis and Jennifer Fetter proudly announce the birth of their daughter, Julianne Marie Fetter, born on April 15, 2003 at 9lbs. 4ozs. ........................Blairsville

Joseph Daniel Bacco was born on May 01, 2002 at 7:19 PM. He weighed 7 lbs 2 ozs and was 20 inches long. After 42 hours of labor and about 4 hours of pushing we are extremely happy to have a health baby boy and Mom. Parents are Don and Jeanne Bacco
Belle Vernon
Cyrus and Brenda Urie are proud to announce the birth of their little precious bundle of joy!! Chelsea Anne Urie. Born June 14, 2003 at 4:18 PM. 6lbs 11ozs and 19 inches long. Sisters are Whitney 9 and Savannah 4
Everson

Birth of Betha Grace

My pregnancy with Betha Grace was a difficult one from the start. Hyperemesis set in early, but that was normal given my previous 4 babies. This time, though, it had it out for me and did not leave like it normally did around 20-24 weeks. Instead, it hung in there until a bit after she was born. Then, in my third trimester, it was found that my blood pressure was slightly elevated. There was also a concern about the fluid level in the womb. Between the two, I was sent to bed rest-which was hard with four other small children, but was really welcome due to how weak I was feeling from the Hyperemesis.

On October 18th, 2002, I was in the hospital for yet another non-stress test and another ultrasound scan. I had the non-stress tests on a biweekly basis and ultrasound scans more often than I wanted, but I know both were necessary. I was very ill this day, pretty much the same as the many days before, but was weak physically and emotionally. I had had it. Sandy felt bad and I could tell she was concerned. So I agreed, against my deepest wishes, to be induced on Monday, October 21, 2002.

That day came and I was feeling excited about finally being back on track to feeling good, yet I was very sad. I did not want the pregnancy to end. I love pregnancy, even though it seems to be my worst enemy. I always win in the end and get a beautiful healthy baby. I was scared because it was an induction. Not what I had wanted. I wanted another natural birth. I wanted to be able to walk around, get in the shower and try out that new birthing tub that I just missed when my last son came, just a bit before they got the tub in. But, alas, it was not meant to be.

Gretchen was there with me. If it was not for her and the nicest nurse anyone could ask for, and my husband, I would have never been able to do this. I was put on pitocin drip when I arrived at the birthing center that morning. In the past,when I had Pit,it always acted immediately, but that was because I was already in labor. This time though it took several hours before it got going. I felt that I would not be able to the handle the labor and delivery very well because of how weak I was due to the great lack of nutrition from the past. So against my better judgment, I agreed to the dreaded Epidural. And dreaded it was. It worked at first, but quickly wore off. The subsequent doses, did nothing to help the pain-it had quickly became useless. I was terrified at that point, I felt I was too weak to cope. I was still throwing up during the labor as well and just did not see me making it through.

Somehow, though, I did it. With Gretchen and the world's sweetest nurses and my beloved husband at my side, I did it. Early in the morning on October 22, 2002, our fifth beautiful baby was born. We did not know the gender until that moment and when I saw she was a girl, I just cried and cried and kept repeating. "It is a girl!! She really is a girl?!". I was hoping for her to be a little girl. She is our third daughter.

The recovery was very very hard. I was so very weak from the pregnancy that I never dreamed of it being that hard. But now, 7 months after her birth, I can not believe that she is here and that the pregnancy and birth is now just a memory.

I want to thank Sandy, Gretchen and Sue for all of their kindness and support through this pregnancy and my last. I miss not seeing you guys!! It is going to be different since Betha "Gracie, is our last. I encourage anyone and everyone to seek out a midwife for their care, especially during pregnancy. The midwives at Jeannette Family Birth Place are the best!!!
Thank you for all that you have given me and my family

Brenda Anderson, Northern Cambria

We hope you have enjoyed this edition of our newsletter "Woman to Woman" Our next publication is scheduled for the Fall of 2003. If you have a birth announcement, birth story or article of interest, that you would like included, please submit it to Sue by fax 724-527-9409, mail or e mail at susanklosky@yahoo.com.

We hope everyone has a wonderful and safe summer!!!!

Gretchen Cohen CNM
Sandy Mauro CNM
Sue Klosky, Editor and Office Manager

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