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WOMAN
TO WOMAN
A Publication of Family Nurse Midwife Associates
520 Jefferson Avenue, Suite 520
Jeannette, Pennsylvania 15644
724-527-9159
www.JDMH-midwives.com
affiliated
with
Mercy Jeannette
Hospital
January 2005 Newsletter
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Birth
Announcements
Lirit
Douglas Murray Atticus Lafko born to Lisa, Doug, Laken, Eden,
Clem, Henry and Grace Lafko on Friday, August 27th, 2004 at 10:30
PM, weighing 8lbs, 12 ozs and was 21 inches long
Ohiopyle, Penna.
Nathan
David Garstecki was
born on October 21, 2004 at 1:15 PM. He was 10 pounds, 1 ounce.
Praise the Lord for such a beautiful blessing!! Nathan joins
big brother Caleb and big sister, Rachel. Parents are Daniel
and Kim Garstecki
Tarrs, Penna.
Jen
and Chris Swearman wish to announce the birth of their first
daughter, Deianarra Louise, on October 23, 2004 at 9:10
AM. She joins her canine brother, Noodles
Greensburg, Penna.
We
are pleased to announce the birth of our third child, Alex
Paul on October 27th at 8:45 PM Alex weighed 8 lbs 10 ozs
and was 20 inches long. He joins his two big sisters, Rachal
and Amber. Parents are Adam and Wendy Duke
Greensburg, Penna.
Bill
and Polly Stowers and big sister, Anna, would like to announce
the birth of their little girl, Karena Elizabeth. She
was born on November 03 at 3:20 AM. She weighed 6lbs 7ozs and
was 19 inches long
Export, Penna.
Lynna,
John and "big sister" Molly Thomas are happy and proud
to announce the arrival of William Terrance Thomas. Will
was born on Friday, November 05th at 10:24 PM, weighing in at
8lbs 6ozs and measuring 20 inches long. He is a beautiful, healthy
addition to the Thomas family!!
New Stanton, Penna.
Rebecca
and Patrick Florey announce the birth of Jack Patrick Florey.
He was born on Sunday, November 07, 2004 at 4:08 AM. Jack weighed
8lbs 8ozs and was 20 inches long. Jack joins his 4 year old big
sister, Hannah, who was also delivered by the midwives
Jeannette, Penna.
Chris
and Karen Bozich announcing the birth of Emily Grace on
October 05, 2004.
Irwin, Penna.
Mike
and Pat Hone would like to announce the birth of their 8th child,
on December 23rd at 2:30 AM. John Patrick weighed 8lbs
1oz. He was welcomed home by his big sibs: Chris 17, Bria 15,
Angela 12, Maria 10, Sam 7 1/2, Matthew 5 and Laura 2 1/2. What
a wonderful Christmas Present!!!
New Alexandria, Penna.
Maya
Sophia Scholl was
born to Leanne and Kelton Scholl on December 31, 2004 at 12:02
AM. She weighed 8lbs 13 ozs and was 21 inches long. She has two
big brothers, Devin (4) and Gavin (2)
North Huntingdon, Penna.
Pirate
Men are still AWOL!!!
Unfortunately,
even after many pleas for their return, the Pirate Men from our
Fisher Price Ship and Castle have not yet been returned. Many
children have been disappointed when they arrive to play in our
play area, that they have no figurines to play with. Our office
would like to request if you have any extra figurines that you
are no longer using, that you would consider donating to our
play area. It would be deeply appreciated.. We are still in hope
that the Pirate Men will return as quickly as they disappeared.
The
Birth of Jack Patrick
It
all started at 9:15 PM on Saturday. For the past week, I had
been doing everything from pedicures to Chinese food to allowing
the midwives to strip my membranes (twice) that might start my
labor. Nothing seemed to be working and since I had gained so
much weight and my body was starting to show signs of needing
this pregnancy to be over (high blood pressure, protein in my
urine), I had already agreed with Sandy and Gretchen that I would
try castor oil on Monday and scheduled an induction for the Wednesday
after (if all else failed).
But
back to Saturday... my husband went to a party and I put my 4
year old daughter to bed at 8 PM. By 9 PM, I was lying on the
couch. I felt the baby turn abruptly and felt a warm discharge.
Suddenly the realization that it was not stopping hit me, my
water had broken!!! I called the hospital and when Gretchen called
back she told me to go to the hospital When she asked if the
contractions had started, it suddenly occurred to me that I needed
that to happen. I remember asking her "they will start,
won't they?" She assured me they would. Next on the list
was calling my husband. He did not answer his cell when I called
( I later found out he had taken it off for the golf game and
since it was on vibrate, no one heard it). I ended up having
him paged at the restaurant and found him that way. I made him
stay on his cell with the me the entire 10 minute ride home.
I just did not want to be alone with my thoughts as I began to
think about the job in front of me.
He
arrived, packed up Hannah and then me. We dropped Hannah at my
cousins at 10 PM and proceeded to the hospital. When we arrived
at the hospital, they wheeled me to the Family Birth Place and
got me settled. My younger sister poked her head in and told
me that my and my husband's entire family (sister, mothers and
fathers) were in the waiting room. I reminder her it could be
HOURS, but she said they were settling in for the duration. My
older sister, who had helped me through my last labor and was
going to be there for this one, arrived about 20 minutes after
us from Monroeville.
Since
I had tested positive for Strep, I had to be hooked up to an
IV for antibiotics.. They got me hooked up and put me on the
monitor for a little while. By 11 PM I was walking circles around
the halls. I had some very mild contractions, but nothing much
stronger than the Braxton Hicks I had been having for months.
I had in the back of my mind the fact that I had 24 hours to
get this baby out from the time my water had broken, so I was
a little worried. But the walking did the trick. After about
2 hours of walking, they had gotten pretty strong and my legs
needed a rest, so I tried sitting on the ball, leaning on the
bed and getting into the shower. Although the shower had really
been something helpful in my first labor, I really did not like
it this time. I wanted to stand. The labor pains were getting
pretty intense, so Gretchen checked me and I was 5 centimeters.
5 sounded like little progress, but she reminded me that once
I got to 7, I would hit "transition" and it would probably
go pretty quickly. By 2:00 AM or so, I was really feeling the
baby moving down. I would lean on my sister or husband, and the
other would squeeze my hips to help relieve the pressure.
We
got through another hour or so, and I felt the need to push.
Gretchen checked me again and said I could. I wanted to lay on
the bed for pushing, so I got on the bed and was so thankful
to know my baby was almost here. But suddenly, I was scared.
Throughout my pregnancy, everyone who saw me commented on my
size and the potential size of my baby. Suddenly the reality
of a HUGE baby was scary. I remember saying to Gretchen, once
the head was visible. "Can I do this?" She said "yes"
and I breathed a huge sigh of relief. I knew pushing was the
hard part, but knew that if Gretchen said I could do it, then
I could do it. And everyone there was so helpful. With the encouragement
of Gretchen, my sister and husband, and a wonderful nurse, I
pushed Jack Patrick Florey out at 4:08 AM on Sunday, October
07, 2004. Only 7 hours of labor, from my water breaking to him
in my arms. I felt so relieved !!!!! He latched on right away
and within 20 minutes my (very sleepy) family was meeting our
newest member.
Now
four weeks later, I know my two sweet children are gifts from
God, but the wonderful, natural experiences I have in labor and
delivery are gifts from the Midwives. Thanks to Gretchen, Sandy
and Sue
Rebecca
Florey, Jeannette
Story
Time Available in Norwin
The
Norwin Public Library at 100 Caruthers Lane in Irwin offers toddler
storytimes featuring stories, songs, and fingerplays on Mondays
and Wednesdays at 11:15 AM year round. No registration necessary.
Why
Mothers Cry
Why are you crying?" he asked his mom,
"Because I am a mother" she told him
I don't understand" he said
His mom just hugged him and said "You never will"
Later the little boy asked his father why Mother seemed to cry
for no reason
"All mothers cry for no reason" was all his dad could
say
The little boy grew up and became a man, still wondering why
mothers cry.
So he finally put in a call to God and when God got on the phone
the man said "God, why do mothers cry so easily?"
God said, "you see son, when I made mothers they had to
be special.
I made their shoulders strong enough to carry the weight of the
world,
yet gentle enough to give comfort.
I gave them inner strength to endure childbirth
and the rejection that many times comes from their children.
" I gave them a hardiness that allows them to keep going
when everyone else gives up, and to take care of their families
through sickness and fatigue without complaining. I gave them
the sensitivity to love their children under all circumstances,
even when their child has hurt them very badly.
This same sensitivity helps them to make a child's
boo-boos feel better
and helps them to share a teenagers anxieties and fears.
I gave them a tear to shed.
It is theirs exclusively to use whenever it is needed.
It is their only weakness
It is a tear for mankind."
Orientation
Visits Available
This
is just a reminder that our office offers Orientation Visits
for those who are interested in learning more about midwifery.
This provides those who are interested in midwifery an opportunity
to sit down with the midwife to learn more about other options
of care and to answer any questions they may have about having
a midwife for their care. Informational packets can also be mailed
upon request. Information on midwifery is also available on our
website at www.JDMH-midwives.com
Insurance
Changes
Along
with the flip of the calendar to the New Year, also comes major
insurance changes. A lot of employers switch insurance carriers
or offer policy changes the first of the year. Remember that
claims can only be processed correctly with correct information,
so it is very important that you notify our office as soon as
possible with any insurance changes. It is your responsibility
to provide our office with the correct information and you will
be responsible for any claims not paid due to incorrect insurance
information. If you receive a bill in which your claim has been
denied and you feel that this is in error, please contact our
billing office at 724-527-9525 for correct resubmission.
We
would like to request that all invoices be paid within 30 days
from receipt and that all co-payments are made at the time of
service. This will significantly reduce our billing expenses
and these funds can be used to buy more educational materials
for the office.
The
Number One Reason to Use a Midwife
Empowerment!!!
A midwife's role is to provide expectant parents with information
and recommendations to help them prepare and plan for their birth.
Parents' opinions and preferences are solicited and respected
and decision making power remains with them.
Birthing
Balls Now Available At FNMA
The
birthing ball is often referred to as a doula's epidural. The
idea is that if a woman uses the ball, she is utilizing position
changes, rhythm, and relaxation to cope better with labor. Plus,
she is generally out of bed which makes her feel less like a
patient. The ball can be used in a variety of positions and techniques
to enhance progress, allow for rest, realign a baby or promote
the natural rhythyn of birth. Suggested techniques include: Sitting
on (bounce, sway, rock or do circles), Leaning over (put the
ball on chair or bed which helps support upper body weight. leaning
over by getting on all fours and Leaning against(in bed for rhythm
or on the wall for support of squatting)
Most
women use the 65 cms ball for birth. Be sure the ball is inflated
to 90-100 percent of the diameter indicated on the ball. It accommodates
women from about 5 ft 2 to 5 ft 8 and up to 500 lbs. To know
if the ball is the right size for the woman, her legs should
be at a 90 degree angle while sitting on it (for safety and comfort).
It should not be exposed to heat or sharp objects and should
be kept clean. Ten parts water to one part Clorox or other anti-viral
products are recommended for cleaning. The ball can be wrapped
up in a sheet to keep it clean, dry and easy to transport. The
ball should always be covered when being used by the mother and
the partner should be nearby to "spot" her. Some partners
like to place the mom sitting on the ball in between them and
the end of the bed. The mom can lean forward onto pillows to
rest in between contractions or she can lean back into the arms
of her partner. She can then be pushed gently forward to deal
with the contractions when they begin again. Plus, the women
feels stable "wedged" in between the bed and seated
partner. And remember, the ball can be placed in the shower for
a comfortable place for mom to sit while benefiting from an upright
position and nipple stimulation. If the woman is not using the
ball herself, it is a comfortable place for her partner to sit
and rest while still providing support.
Not
only can the ball be used during the birth, but before and after
as well. Beforehand, the woman can sit comfortably on the ball
to reduce back ache by promoting good spinal alignment. She can
practice labor techniques so she will feel more confident and
comfortable actually trying them while birthing. After the baby
comes, it is a comfortable place for mom to sit as she recovers
from the birth. Family members like to sit on the ball while
holding the newborn because it is easy to get off of it. Safety
is always an issue. Plus, it is a rocker to boot!! Fussy babies
really like the variety of movements that can be done on the
ball. Fussy babies seem to like being rolled back and forth slowly
on a covered ball on their tummy (the pressure helps to relieve
the discomfort). New moms can use the ball to get back in shape
through a variety of exercise (like supported crunches). Lastly,
I have never met a toddler that does not like a BIG BALL for
playtime. It quickly becomes the family's favorite tool or toy.
For
more information on Birth Balls or to purchase one, ask Sue at
the front desk or call Jan at 724-327-6063
Childbirth
Crash Course
Our Childbirth Crash Course will continue in 2005 and is best
taken in the Third Trimester. Topics in this class include Labor
and Birth Basics, Positioning and Movement, Progress Enhancement,
Pain Management, Doula Tips, Tools and Techniques and Creating
a Birth Vision. Class is comprised of two three hour evenings
from 6-9PM. Dates in 2005 are:
January
19th and January 26th
March 16th and March 23rd
May 18th and May 25th
Class
size is limited, so early registration is requested. Please register
by calling Sue at 724-527-9159 or Jan at 724-327-6063
Healthy
Eating is in the Cards
A
healthy portion is equal in size to a deck of cards. Nutritionalist
and dietitians have found this to be the easy way to eat correct
portion sizes. Another visual for portion control is "does
it fit into the palm of my hand?" If each serving on your
plate is no larger than a deck of cards and will fit into the
palm of your hand, you probably will have a winning hand Begin
2005 by eating smaller portion sizes and increasing your activity
level!!! Your health depends on it.
Child
Passenger Safety Week
Child
Passenger Safety Week is February 13th-19th, 2005. Please make
sure that you are observing the PA law on car seats and using
them correctly. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's
recent study has observed use and misuse of child restraints.
The critical misuses included loose installation of harness straps,
transporting an infant facing forward and placing the infant
in the front seat with a passenger air bag.
Here are some car safety tips to keep in mind:
1.
Maintain and follow the instructions for your car seat.
2.
Your infant should never be in the front seat with passenger
air bags. If toddlers have to be in the front seat for any reason,
place seat as far back as possible
3.
Infants should ride backwards until they are at least 20 lbs
and at least one year of age or until they reach the rear-facing
weight limits for their seat
4.
The shoulder straps should be in the lowest slots for infants
riding backwards and in the highest slots for children facing
forward
5.
The belt must go in the correct path to hold seat in place
6.
The belt positioning booster seat helps protect your child until
they are big enough to use a seat belt alone, If you have a booster
seat with a shield, remove the shield after the child reaches
40 lbs and use it with a lap and shoulder belt
This
information was forwarded to us by Nancy Gesner, RN and Educator
Infant
/Child CPR for Famlies and Friends
Second Tuesday of Every Other Month
6-8 PM
This
Course is for family members, new parents, grandparents and baby
sitters. This class will provide training in the basic CPR skills
and foreign-body airway maneuvers for infants and children. The
course has been developed in accordance with the standards of
the American Heart Association and is taught by certified CPR
instructors. By the end of the class, you will be able to perform
infant and child CPR, resuscitation of the unconscious and conscious
and assisting infants and children who are choking. Part of the
class is also focused on prevention and safety. No testing is
required and no certification is given for this course. A participation
card will be awarded. Class size is limited, so pre-register.
Registration can be done by Contacting the SmartHealth Norwin
Hills Outpatient Center at 724-527-8023. Class fee is 15.00 .
Class Dates are January 13th, March 10th and May 12
Strong
Bones-Better Health!!
Calcium
is essential to build and maintain strong bones, and our bodies
need between 1000 and 1200 mg per day. Good sources of calcium
include:
*
low-fat dairy products
*dark
green, leafy vegetables
*cold
water fish (salman, mackerel, sardines)
*fortified
cerials and breads
Adding
Vitamin D to calcium intake helps the body absorb calcium. Consider
a calcium supplement that includes Vitamin D
Now
that the Holidays are over, please take the time to schedule
your yearly gynecological exams. These visits are a very important
part of your health care....... The "Pap Police"
The
Birth of William Gabriel
If
one, at least for myself, is invited to write a "birth story",
having never done so before, it is not as easy as I thought it
could be. This invitation was in my discharge instructions, but
at that time I felt (probably due to emotional changes due to
hormones) still a little embarrassed that during my transition
phase of labor I did not stay as strong as I had hoped I would,
this being my third baby. And, as this passed, and I realized
compared to my first two childbirth experiences, I actually was
much stronger really. As each day has gone by since my son's
birth , as I have cared and nursed for him, the details or feelings
about childbirth fade in my memory. I am filled with experience
and joy of motherhood instead. However, even with this, I can
offer a few notes that made a difference and were important to
me about the birth of this baby.
First,
my labor was very fast, my son being born only about four hours
after my admission to the hospital, but unlike my former fast
labors, this time the professional caring for me, my midwife,
spoke directly to me about my progress and the condition of me
and my baby. Former to this, I had experienced the opposite,
the professional always speaking about me, not to me, but to
other doctors and nurses, instead. This let me feel like a person,
woman and mother also, not simply and only a patient.
Second,
when Gretchen felt she needed to monitor the baby's heartbeat
better than the belly monitors would allow. While using an internal
lead is a scientific intervention with the baby's scalp, it just
did not feel like a majorly invasive procedure at the time. It
felt like the health care professional caring for me was simply
concerned enough to do this monitoring, and she presented and
handled this in such a way that I didn't panic about neither
myself nor my baby.
Third,
there had been meconium in my amniotic fluid. I remember the
second assisting nurse telling me "Gretchen will make sure
she suctions him very well." Now my husband tells me that
as soon as his head presented, Gretchen immediately suctioned
him even before any further pushing on my part or his care by
the nurses after his complete birth. But again, something that
could have caused me panic, worry and fear handled some other
way did not on this day.
Yes,
I used the birth ball during my active phase that Gretchen brought
to me and yes it helped a lot. Yes, my husband and I were allowed
privacy when it was medically wise and practical to give it to
us. And yes, it was a first time experience for me to have the
person who gave me prenatal care actually also be the person
there to deliver my baby, something else I had never experienced
before and something that had originally influenced my decision
to see a midwife this pregnancy. But, MY birth story is really
about how the midwives are prepared and competent to handle any
unexpected eventuality of childbirth and able to do so in such
a way as to nurture and protect the trust involved in the patient-practitioner
relationship. At the end, one of the assisting nurses reported
my son's Apgar score to Gretchen, and she looked directly at
me to say "that's perfect"......
Desiree
Marziale, Greensburg, Pa
Post Partum
Questionnaires
We would like to Thank all of our patients who have taken the
time to return their post partum questionnaires. Our practice
strives very hard to provide a high level of quality care and
we want to know of any suggestions you may have to continue or
improve on this level of care. Surveys can also be completed
online at www.JDMH-midwives.com.
We hope you
have enjoyed this edition of our newsletter. If you would like
to contribute an article of interest, birth story or birth announcement,
please forward them to our office by mail, fax (724-527-9409)
or e-mail at susanklosky@hotmail. Our next edition will be published
in the Spring of 2005. Previous editions of our newsletter are
available on our website at www.JDMH-midwives.com
The Staff
of Family Nurse Midwife Associates
Gretchen Cohen CNM
Sandy Mauro CNM
Sue Klosky, Office Manager and Editor
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