Happy Mothers Day

Before I was a Mom, I made and ate hot meals, had unstained clothing, and enjoyed quiet conversations on the phone Before I was a Mom, I slept as late as I wanted, and never worried how late I got into bed. And, I brushed my hair everyday. Before I was a Mom, I never tripped over toys or forgot words to lullabies. I did not worry about whether or not my plants were poisonous, and I never thought about immunizations. Before I was a Mom, I had never been barfed on, peed on, spit on, chewed on, or pinched by tiny fingers. Before I was a Mom, I had complete control of my mind, my thoughts, my body, and I slept through the night. Before I was a Mom, I never held down a screaming child while a doctor did tests or gave shots, I never looked into teary eyes and cried with a child. I never got gloriously happy over a simple grin from a baby. And I never sat up late hours at night watching a baby sleep. Before I was a Mom, I never held a sleeping baby just because I did not want to put it down. I never felt my heart break into a million pieces when I could not stop a child's pain. I never knew something so small could affect my life so much. I never knew I would love being a mom. Before I was a Mom, I did not know the feeling of having my heart outside my body, or how special it could feel to feed a hungry baby. I did not know that bond there is between a mother and a child. I did not know something so small could make me feel so important. Before I was a Mom, I never got up in the middle of the night every ten minutes to make sure everything was OK. I never knew the warmth, the joy, the heartache, the wonderment or satisfaction of being a mom. I did not know I was capable of feeling so many emotions this deeply ... before I was a Mom

The Birth Story of Mya Rose

It was Sunday, December 21st, my due date was Christmas Day, and we were at the 11 AM mass at church. As I was leaning, bending and exerting myself trying to contain my 2 1/2 year old in the pew, I kept feeling these little "squirts" of fluid. After several times, I leaned over to my husband and told him "I think my water broke!". We decided it best to leave and we said a quick prayer!!

Once at home I called Sandy to let her know. Since I had no contractions, she suggested I stay at home and call her later when my contractions became regular. Several hours had passed and still no contractions, just continual leaking. Sandy and I agreed on between 5 and 6 PM to check into the hospital regardless of whether I was contracting or not due to the fact that I was Strep B positive.

I checked into the hospital at 6 PM. After all the paperwork, IV's, etc., it was time to focus on getting my contractions started! Natural stimulation was suggested and Nipple Stim had worked with the
birth of my first child, so I tried that, and again it worked like a charm. By 7 PM, I was having regular contractions. Again, as with my first, once things got rolling and became more intense, I spent all my
time in the shower. By approximately 10 PM, our baby was ready to come into the world. Everything was happening so quickly that I barely made it from the shower to the bed, I was sure I was going to
deliver on the floor. Mya Rae was born at 10:16 PM. She was 6 lbs 19 inches and was very beautiful. She now completes our family as she joins my husband and I and her big brother, Luke.

I am so pleased with the care provided by Sue, Gretchen and my midwife Sandy. With the help of all of them and my doula, Jan Mallak, I was able to accomplish by biggest challenge and goal in life without compromise which was to have both my children by natural childbirth. I know that without all their support, guidance and knowledge, I would have been unsuccessful in fulfilling my goals. I am so blessed to have two healthy children and to have had the people in my life I needed to make it happen.
Pam French, Trafford

Childbirth Crash Course

Our office will continue hosting our Childbirth Crash Course being taught by Jan Mallak, birth doula and owner of Hearts and Hands Doula Service. Topics covered in her class include labor and birth basics, positioning and movement, progress enhancement, pain management, doula tips, tools and techniques and how to create a birth vision. This class is held in two three hour sessions and our class schedule through the end of the year is
May 5 and 12
Sep 8 and 15
July 14 and 21
Nov 10 and 17
All sessions run from 6-9 PM. Preregistration is required by calling Sue at 724-527-9159 or Jan at 724-327-6063. This class is open to the public.

Sandy Mauro CNM Visits North Huntingdon Moms Group

Sandy Mauro CNM, made a presentation on the philosophy of Midwifery at the March meeting of the North Huntingdon Moms Group which meets monthly at Christ United Methodist Church in North
Huntingdon. Moms in attendance had many questions and Sandy enjoyed answering all of them. The Midwives on staff at Family Nurse Midwives are available to address groups on midwifery, breast feeding and well women health concerns. If you know of a group, who would like to have a quest speaker, please let Sue know and she will be happy to set it up for you.

Midwifery and Well Woman Gynecological Care

Midwife means "with woman" and when a woman schedules her yearly gynecological exam with the midwives, this is exactly what she gets. Midwives provide gentle, one on one care with ample time for questions and answers. When you schedule your initial gynecological exam, adequate time will be set aside to meet with you. The midwife will sit down with you prior to your exam to go over your medical history and address any concerns you may have. Along with concerns regarding your gynecological health, midwives spend time with you discussing diet and exercise, recommending lifestyle changes if needed and referring you to other professionals if deemed necessary. For those considering pregnancy, preconception counseling is available. For women approaching menopause, the midwife will discuss with you the various options that a woman has and will provide plenty of educational resources for them. Advice will be given on when to get your first mammogram, getting your cholesterol checked and when to get a bone density scan. Smoking cessation material is also available. Your exam will consist of a pelvic exam, clinical breast exam and either the Standard Pap Smear or Thin Prep depending on patient's preference or insurance coverage. Not only do midwives see patients for yearly gynecological screenings, but will see patients to screen for vaginal or urinary tract infections. Lactation consulting is another service provided and is available to everyone, not just those who have delivered through our service. To schedule your gynecological exam or learn more about our lactation services, please call the office at 724-527-9159

Infant Massage Class

Want to learn ways to soothe your baby? Then, register to attend our next Infant Massage Class being held on Friday, June 25th from 9:30-11:30. Class is taught by registered Infant Massage Therapist, Connie Capar. Due to limited class size, registration is required no later than Wednesday, June 23rd. To register call Sue at 724-527-9159. The Fall Class is tentatively scheduled for Friday, November 05, 2004

Thought for the Day

We convince ourselves that life will be better after we get married, have a baby, then another. Then we are frustrated that the kids are not old enough and we will be more content when they are. After that, we are frustrated that we have teenagers to deal with. We will certainly be happy when they are out of that stage. We tell ourselves that our life will be complete when our spouse gets his or her act together, when we get a nicer car, are able to go on a nice vacation, when we retire.

The truth is, there is no better time to be happy than right now. If not now, when? Your life will always be filled with challenges. It is best to admit this to yourself and decide to be happy anyway. One favorite quote comes from Alfred D. Souza. He said, "For a long time it had seemed to me that life was about to begin- real life. But there was always some obstacle in the way, something to be gotten through first, some unfinished business, time still be served, or a debt to be paid. Then life would begin. At last it dawned on me that these obstacles were "life" This perspective has helped me to see that there is no way to happiness. Happiness is the way"

So, treasure every moment that you have and treasure it more because you shared it with someone special, special enough to spend your time, and remember that time waits for no one. So, stop waiting until you finish high school, until you go back to school, until you lose ten pounds, until you gain ten pounds, until you have kids, until your kids leave the house, until you start work, until you retire, until you get married, until you get divorced, until Friday night, until Sunday morning, until you get a new car or home, until your car or home is paid off, until spring, until summer, until fall, until winter, until you are off of welfare, until the first or the fifteenth, until your song comes on, until you have had a drink, until you have sobered up, until you die, until you are born again to decide that there is no better time than right now to be happy. Happiness is a journey, not a destination. Thought for the day: Work like you do not need money, Love like you have never been hurt, and dance like no one is watching. Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, today is a gift. That is why it is called the Present!! I think this is special .... live and savor every moment..... this is not a dress rehearsal.

Author Unknown

MOPS......because mothering matters

Mothers of Preschoolers are welcome to attend MOPS, which stands for Mothers of Preschoolers. Meetings are held at the Armbrust Wesleyan Church in Armburst and run from September-May and are held the second Saturday of each month from 10AM-Noon. MOPS Bible Study is held every Thursday at 9:30AM. Please call 724-925-9110 for more information.

Questions or Problems About Breast Feeding?

There is another resource out there for breast feeding moms. A Certified Lactation Consultant is available through the Family Health Counsel by calling their Hot Line at 1-877-MILK-LUV
(1-877-645-5588)

We would like to thank Sarah Klaum for donating the following Used Books to our library:
The Girlfriends Guide to Pregnancy by Vicki Iovine
What to Expect When Are Expecting by Arlene Eisenberg
Husband Coached Childbirth by Robert Bradley MD
How to Raise A Healthy Child, In Spite of your Doctor by Robert Mendelsohn, MD
Natural Childbirth, the Bradley Way by Susan Cutcheon
All donations are deeply appreciated by our practice. This is also a kind reminder for those who currently have books overdue from our library to please return them as soon as possible, so that other patients may also enjoy them. Thank you

Reminder: Please call to schedule your yearly gynecological exam...... The Pap Police

FDA Issues New Tuna Limits to Women

To protect developing babies from high levels of potentially brain damaging mercury, the government has warned women who are pregnant, nursing, or are considering having children to eat no more than two servings of fish each week. The FDA and EPA jointly issued new guidelines. They are recommending that women who are pregnant, nursing or may become pregnant or feeding a young child, limit the amount of fish they are eating and choose fish with low levels of mercury. Mercury occurs naturally in the environment and can also be released through industrial pollution. Mercury falls from the air and can accumulate in streams and oceans, where it turns into the type of mercury that can be harmful, especially in the developing brain of an unborn child. Fish absorb this mercury as they feed in these waters. It builds up more in some types of fish than in others, depending on what fish eat. If you regularly eat fish that contain this type of mercury, called methylmercury, it can accumulate in your bloodstream. Methylmercury is removed from your body naturally, but it make take well over a year for the levels to drop according to the FDA. Thus, it may be present in women even before she becomes pregnant. By following their recommendations and guidelines, government officials say that women will receive the benefits of eating fish and shellfish and be confident that they have reduced their exposure to harmful levels of mercury. The recommendations are as follows: Do not eat shark, swordfish, king mackerel, or tilefish due to their high levels of mercury. Eat up to 12 ounces (two average meals) a week of a variety of fish and
shellfish that are low in mercury. Five of the lowest in mercury are light tuna, shrimp, salmon, pollack and catfish. Another commonly eaten fish, albacore or white tuna, has more mercury than the canned light tuna, therefore it is advisable to eat only 6 ounces or one serving of this type a week. Tuna steak tends to contain more levels of mercury than the standard canned types. Fish sticks and "fast food" sandwiches are commonly made from fish with lower mercury levels. Officials say that you should check local advisories about the safety of fish caught by the family in local lakes, rivers and coastal areas. If no information is available, limit portions to 6 oz. a week. These recommendations should also be followed when feeding young children.

New Study: We are Eating Ourselves to Death

Inactive Americans are eating themselves to death at an alarming rate, their unhealthy habits are passing up tobacco as the top underlying preventable cause of death, a new government study has found. In 2000, poor diet including obesity and physical inactivity caused 400,000 deaths in the United States, which is more than 16 percent of all deaths. "This is tragic" said Dr. Julie Gerberding, a CDC director and the author of this latest study. "Our worst fears are confirmed" "It is taking over tobacco", if this trend continues, stated Gerberding. "At the CDC, we are going to do everything we can to prevent it," she said. "Obesity has got to be job Number 1 for us in terms of chronic diseases" Not only is obesity becoming the number one killer, it is also increasing other top killers such as heart disease, cancer, strokes and diabetes, which makes this problem more compoundable. The results of the study appeared in the Journal of the American Medical Association. The US Department of Health and Human Resources officials also discussed these findings, in which they announced a public service ad campaign using humor to get Americans to pay attention to the dangers of inactivity and obesity. They CDC is working very hard to walk the talk. They are encouraging employees to take the stairs by painting the stairwells in light colors and playing music and improving lighting. Along with their current ban on indoor smoking, they have banned smoking from all outside areas around the buildings. Poor diet and exercise, tobacco, microbial agents, toxic agents, motor vehicles, firearms, sexual behavior and illegal drug use are the most common underlying causes of preventable deaths. Together they accounted for about half of all deaths in the United States. A comment made by Dr. Michael McGinnis and William Foege stated that "Wisdom is knowing what to do next, and virtue is doing it" Please take the time to discuss with your medical provider ways to prevent obesity. Learn better eating habits and become more physically active. It is never to late to start, and with just making small changes in your everyday habits, can increase your life span greatly.

Stories of The Celebrations of Birth

Our newsletter is celebrating its 7th year of publication and we would like to take the time to thank all of the new mothers who took the time to sit down to write and submit their birth stories. These
stories are a very important element to our newsletter. By sharing your birth story, you are sharing the celebration and joy of the process of birth and by doing so, you provide inspiration to our readers. Many women who have read our stories, have commented on how they have seen their own self within the stories and have gathered knowledge and empowerment. Women obtain hope that they can have the birth experience that they are looking for. Thank You again for sharing your very personal birth experiences with us!!

All of our birth stories are available on our web site at www.JDMH-midwives.com. If you are interested in reading any previous editions of our newsletter, several copies and editions are available on the shelf in our hall way by the scale. Birth stories can be submitted by mail, faxed to 724-527-9409 or e mailed to susanklosky@hotmail.com

Mothers Day Mammograms

This Mother's Day give your Mom a gift that will be truly be appreciated, the gift of life. The Mother's Day Mammogram program, supported by the Rite Aid Women's Health Foundation, the
Pennsylvania Breast Cancer Coalition and the Pennsylvania Department of Health, offers free mammograms to uninsured and underinsured Pennsylvania women. Women can call 1-888-RITE-NOW for more information about this program or stop by any Rite Aid Pharmacy. The program continues through May 24th. This is the programs thirteenth year and they hope to continue making this a yearly event.

Centering Pregnancy

Centering Pregnancy is a multi-faceted group model of care that integrates the three major components of prenatal care: health assessment, education and support, into a unified program within a group setting. The basis of this program is that women choose to join the Centering Program as an alternative to the standard prenatal care system. They will join an established group of women with similar due dates and will have pre-established scheduled prenatal visits during their pregnancy in which they will have a group visit. These sessions will be arranged as follows; the women will arrive approximately 30 minutes before the group session is to begin and check in with Sue and get their weight and visit with the midwife privately for a short prenatal visit to obtain fetal heart tones, do measurements and check blood pressure. At an established time the women will meet in a group to continue with the educational and support component of their prenatal visit. The midwife will provide information regarding a particular part of their pregnancy, with time following for questions and discussion in which the women in the group can discuss their concerns, supply support and bond with other members. Groups provide an atmosphere for learning and sharing that is impossible to create in a one-to-one encounter. Hearing other women share concerns which mirror their own helps the women normalize the whole experience of pregnancy. Groups are also empowering as they provide support to the members and also increase individual motivation to learn and change.

The main goals of the Centering Program are as follows
1. Improve the health and well-being of childbearing women and their families
2. Empower women through a process of education and self care
3. Create a network of support for women and their families, thereby strengthening their communities

Family Nurse Midwife Associates is considering starting a Pilot Program for this type of care which will provide our patients with another alternative for their care based on their particular needs and
concerns. We would love to have your input, which can be done by logging onto our web site at www.JDMH-midwives.com and completing our questionnaire or by calling our office