Jean's Journal
Celebrate International Day of the Midwife May 5
All of us at AABC celebrate Interational Day of the Midwife. See more info here:
http://www.internationalmidwives.org/Whatwedo/InternationalDayoftheMidwife/tabid/327/Default.aspx
AABC Duval Features New Zen Room
We are very proud to show off our remodelled room at AABC's Duval Rd. location. Formerly the French Country Room, the new Zen Room has a clean, peaceful look and an in-suite tub for laboring and birthing. Thanks to our client and photographer Sarah Kerver for these nice shots of the new room.
Is Elective Repeat Cesarean Surgery Truly Safer Than Planned VBAC?
A stimulating article:
http://www.scienceandsensibility.org/?p=4257
Midwife Wins CNN Hero Of The Year Award
http://www.cnn.com/2011/12/11/living/cnn-heroes/index.html?hpt=hp_t1
California Maternal Quality Care Collaborative Releases White Paper on Cesarean Deliveries
A leading maternity care research organization in California has released a study of the rise in cesarean deliveries in that state and the possible consequences for both mother and child. To read the entire white paper or a summary, go here:
http://www.cmqcc.org/white_paper
Birth center’s link to hospital reassures women who prefer care from midwives
Here's a link to a nice story in the Washington Post about a collaborative approach between a birth center and a hospital:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/health/2011/06/07/gIQAO6SuhN_story.html
Nitrous Oxide As A Pain Treatment During Labor
Here is a link to the American College of Nurse-Midwives' position statement on the use of nitrous oxide as a means to reduce pain during labor. The gas, commonly used in dentists' offices, is in use by trained midwives in many countries but is rare in the U.S. The ACNM supports the use of nitrous oxide by trained certified midwives and certified nurse-midwives.
http://www.midwife.org/siteFiles/position/Nitrous_Oxide_12_09.pdf
Funny Parenting Comment by Erma Bombeck
Joan Smith, CNM picked up this comment at the recent Association of American Birth Center Convention:
"Cherish your children while they are still breastfeeding.
There will come a day when they will refuse to eat anything that hasn't
danced on TV"
AABC Fan Meets Ricki Lake in Paris
This sounds like it came straight out of a tabloid at the HEB: a friend of AABC midwife Leonora Colen is working in Paris (France) this summer and ran into actress and "The Business of Being Born" executive producer Ricki Lake. Ricki wondered how Leonora's friend knew who she was, and the friend explained that Leonora works at this great birthing center in Austin and that she'd watched Ricki's DVD. Ricki arranged to get this great photo to us.
Are VBACs Safe Outside The Hospital?
There has been much confusion over the past few years about whether birthing professionals outside hospitals could safely handle vaginal births after cesarians (VBACs). The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG), the leading nonprofit organization for physicians specializing in women's health, has stated that VBACs can be safely managed by accredited birthing centers. The American Association of Birthing Centers, the leading nonprofit organization representing birthing centers in the U.S., agrees with ACOG that birthing centers such as Austin Area Birthing Center that meet stringent requirements for accreditation are qualified to give care to women who want a natural birth despite having had one or two previous births by cesarian section. Austin ABC is the only accredited birthing center in Central Texas and routinely provides care for women who want a VBAC.
FDA Confiscates Blow Up Birth Tubs
When I first read this headline, I thought there was a problem with the santitation of these portable tubs....but actually the problem is that they are "unregistered medical devices" according to the FDA.
It's interesting this happened one or two days after "OUT-OF-HOSPITAL BIRTH MORE POPULAR" was all over the news! At AABC, we use deep modified bathtubs that can be drained and freshened during a long labor. The inflatable tubs seized by the Feds are like those some birthing centers use and many home birthers rent, which can't be drained and refilled during labor and birth. The shipment was seized at the dock where, like everything else it seems, they were found to be imported from China.
Eating the Placenta After Giving Birth - Is It Tasty OR Taboo? By enslavedbyfaeries <http://www.squidoo.com/lensmasters/enslavedbyfaeries>
Ewww, Why Do People Eat Placenta? Eating human body parts may be considered taboo, but there are some people who do consume the placenta after giving birth to their baby. Some cultures believe that eating the placenta prevents postpartum depression and other health problems that are associated with childbirth. Most mammals eat their own placenta which helps the mammary cells to eject the milk for the newborn and also helps to clean and shrink the uterus after giving birth. Today, most medical professionals agree that there is no medical reason for well nourished mothers to eat their baby's placenta, but some do believe that it holds the medicinal power, vitamins, minerals and perfectly balanced hormones to help the mother recover from childbirth and avoid the postpartum "baby blues". If you are too squeamish to eat the placenta it can even be dried and encapsulated as a nutritional supplement (<http://www.squidoo.com/eat-human-placenta>). Our own Vicki Meinhardt performs this service for interested clients. Phone our South location to speak with Vicki.
Austin ABC William Cannon Location Featured In YNN Channel 8 Feature
Cameras, and Rules Against Them, Stir Passions in Delivery Rooms
We are proud of our skills at Austin ABC and have always welcomed families to photograph the most natural process: giving birth.
NIH Recommends American Hospitals and Doctors allow for VBAC
03/12/2010This is big news in the world of birth in America. Finally an organization with lots of scientific clout has reviewed the statistics and is recommending that vaginal birth after C-Section be an option to all mothers.
This follows closely on the heels of another news item last week revealing that the maternal death rate has skyrocketed in the USA partially due to elective C-Sections.
In a nutshell, the numbers reveal that the risk of surgical complicatons offsets the tiny risk that the C-Section scar will be weak during a vaginal delivery.
The national success rate for vaginal birth after c-section in birthing centers is around 85% which closely mirrors our statistics here at Austin ABC in the last 25 years.
Austin ABC is committed to offering normal birth to moms who have had a C-Section in cases where the medical history indicates that it would be a reasonable, safe choice. If this sounds like you, make a free appointment to review your individual birth history with one of our great midwives.
http://www.webmd.com/baby/guide/vaginal-birth-after-cesarean-vbac-overview
New Location on Wm Cannon Opens on Labor Day
01/11/2010
Several folks have asked me about the evolution of the new AustinAreaBirthingCenter South at 2500 W. Wm Cannon between Manchaca and Westgate.
We are very excited about this new project! In 2005, we posted on our web site that we were planning on opening a center in South Austin for the convenience of our moms from south of the river. We did a Zip Code study and realized we drew equally from all parts of the city despite our North location but we had an exceptional large group from 78745 and neighboring areas.
At that time, we began to save and plan for the South location. After much looking with our real estate agent in 2006 and 2007, we took a short break in 2008 to focus on expanding our original office.
Finally, Templar Construction, the developer that built our lovely location on Duval Rd., notified me that they were building a new project on Wm. Cannon that met our requirement for Class A (top of the line), medically-zoned office space. We have worked with this company before and knew how to make it happen!
We bought one of the best units in the complex. It looks like Cinderella's castle! It will have wonderful signage, easy parking and meets our requirements. Our architect and designer have outdone even our current location with great design and amenities.
Each room will have its own small kitchen, private bath, deep water birth tub, and "Austin Theme".
Our staff will rotate to cover both centers, and our billing specialist is working closely with insurance companies to make sure the center is affordable for everyone!
Expected date of opening is Labor Day, 2010.
Keep a close eye on the progress at www.austinabcsouth.com or on our Facebook Page.
Cartoon
11/18/2009Something to laugh at...
Birth Centers make Progress with Medicaid
09/30/2009This article reflects the current problem which occured last year. Some Texas Medicaid official decided to stop paying birthing center facility fees.
Even though Austin ABC does not currently take Medicaid, there are many centers that depend on it, especially closer to Mexico.
When the new Health Care Reform Bill gets passed, it is important that Birth Centers are in line to be paid. By making sure we are medicaid approved NOW, we increase our chances of being part of the main stream with insurance reimbursal.
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5jwHAbNRHRHIUYpPtHW4AaZpdC_fwD9B0F0MG3
Being Born is Important by Carl Sandburg
08/24/2009Being Born is Important
You who have stood at the bedposts
and seen a mother on her high harvest day,
The day of the most golden harvest moons for her.
You who have seen the new wet child
dried behind the ears,
swaddled in soft fresh garments,
pursing its lips and sending a grouping mouth
toward nipples where sweet milk is ready.
You who have seen this love's payday
of wild toiling and sweet agonizing
You know being born is important.
You know that nothing else was ever so important to you.
You understand that the payday of love is so old,
So involved, so traced with circles of the moon,
So cunning with the secrets of the salts of the blood
It must be older than the moon, older than salt.
C-sections hurt baby's immunity
HealthDay (7/2, Preidt) reported, "Babies delivered by cesarean section experience changes to the DNA of white blood cells, which might explain why they're at increased risk for immunological diseases such as diabetes and asthma later in life," according to researchers in Sweden who "analyzed blood samples from 37 infants." Investigators found that the "16 infants born by C-section had higher DNA-methylation rates immediately after delivery than the 21 infants born by vaginal delivery," according to the paper in Acta Paediatrica. Yet, "three to five days after birth, both groups of infants had similar levels of DNA-methylation." Although the team isn't sure exactly why the rates are higher after delivery, they point out that "animal studies have shown that negative stress around birth affects methylation of the genes, and therefore it is reasonable to believe that the differences in DNA-methylation that we found in human infants are linked to differences in birth stress."
Staff Learning Session
05/20/2009Last Fridays workshop by Kelly Boyd, a local psychologist who specializes in the emotional aspects of reproduction was very helpful and interesting.
Dr. Boyd leads a group of new moms here in town who are experiencing postpartum depression. She also does private psychotherapy at her office for anyone having anxiety about pregnancy, infertility, or new motherhood.
Our staff asked Dr Boyd questions that related to our work with patients prenatally, during the birth and afterwards. She gave us some excellent guidelines to follow in order to recognize depression and anxiety in our clients and deal with it in an upfront direct manner.
Most maternity caregivers have had very little education in these issues and lack the verbal skills to even bring up the subject comfortably with a client. Dr. Boyd helped us with identifying emotional problems and taught us how to speak with the mothers about this and how to make the appropriate referrals.
If you know someone who is depressed or anxious due to pregnancy or new motherhood, her contact number is : 512-733-5224
There is lots of help out there for new moms in Austin.
C-Sections affect mom's response to baby
04/01/2009In this new research, the author has discovered that delivering by C-Section changes the mother's brain response to her baby's cry, making her less reactive. Very interesting and not surprising. Years of evolution have resulted in vaginal birth normally being superior. Jean
Conflict of interest statement: No conflicts declared.
KEYWORDS
Parenting • cesarean section • maternal behavior • brain imaging • fMRI • empathy • infant
ABSTRACT
A range of early circumstances surrounding the birth of a child affects peripartum hormones, parental behavior and infant wellbeing. One of these factors, which may lead to postpartum depression, is the mode of delivery: vaginal delivery (VD) or cesarean section delivery (CSD). To test the hypothesis that CSD mothers would be less responsive to own baby-cry stimuli than VD mothers in the immediate postpartum period, we conducted functional magnetic resonance imaging, 2??"4 weeks after delivery, of the brains of six mothers who delivered vaginally and six who had an elective CSD. VD mothers' brains were significantly more responsive than CSD mothers' brains to their own baby-cry in the superior and middle temporal gyri, superior frontal gyrus, medial fusiform gyrus, superior parietal lobe, as well as regions of the caudate, thalamus, hypothalamus, amygdala and pons. Also, within preferentially active regions of VD brains, there were correlations across all 12 mothers with out-of-magnet variables. These include correlations between own baby-cry responses in the left and right lenticular nuclei and parental preoccupations (r = .64, p
Blood Test may predict Baby Blues
03/04/2009This is an interesting article about the current research being done to predict who will get postpartum depression. Apparently, this test is 75% accurate!
Eating the Placenta??
03/04/2009Check out this new article!
Austin and pregnancy go together
03/04/2009This article can also be accessed if you copy and paste the entire address below into your web browser.
http://www.statesman.com/blogs/content/shared-gen/blogs/austin/mamadrama/entries/2008/01/23/austin_makes_list_of_top_place.html
Sounds right to me!!!!
CORD BLOOD BANKING
03/02/2009Austin ABC has been recommending cord blood banking for several years. We first heard about the option from some of our informed clients and now work with a private bank to collect the cord blood and store it for possible future use of our babies and mothers.
The complete article can be viewed at:
http://www.latimes.com/features/health/la-he-cordblooddonate2-2009mar02,0,6397428.story
This article was excellent, though, in that it explained some of the PROS of using a public bank. It seems to be essentially positive about the idea of banking the cord blood.
Why AABC does not recommend circumcision
11/12/2007One of our childbirth teachers shared this new article with me recently and I have to admit it is well researched and really says it all with regard to circumcision.
http://www.mothering.com/articles/new_baby/circumcision/against-circumcision.html
Increase in elective C-Sections
09/29/2007This news article explains that the increase in C-Sections has created more maternity childbirth deaths due to complications from major surgery.
Inductions and admitting too early
09/20/2007Dr. Elliott Main from California recently published a brand new study concluding that the best way to get a C-Section is to go to the hospital too early in labor, or to consent to a routine induction.
This is why we consider the midwifery model of care to be the guardian of normal birth. We often send moms home to sleep here at AABC when they accidentally show up too early in the labor process.
Our New Evaluation Form
08/21/2007Recently we implemented an evaluation form which we are giving out to each client following their birth. Our moms are being very helpful and consistently filling the forms out and returning them to us.
We are trying to get a feeling for how good a job we are doing on prenatal, birth, and postpartum care.
The forms are consistently reflecting POSITIVE experiences. The moms all comment how organized the prenatal care clinic is. They are thrilled they do not have to wait for their appointments like in a doctor's office. They are very pleased with their interations with the midwives and most mention Tamara by name as being very warm and friendly.
I was emotionally touched by their gratitude about their birth care. The only negative comment I found after reading 22 forms was a mom who felt her after birth caregiver was a bit noisy...(we are ON IT, guys!)
Thanks moms for taking time out from your busy day to help us help you better!
Jean
Contact
Feel free to contact us by email
Austin Area Birthing Center Duval Location
Bldg. #2, Ste. #101
Austin,TX, 78759
Phone:(512) 346-3224
Fax: (512) 345-6637
Austin Area Birthing Center Wm Cannon and Manchaca Location
2500 W. William Cannon Drive
Bldg 5, Ste. #503
Austin, TX 78745
Phone (512) 243-8066
Emergency After Hours Answering Service:
(512) 473-6642
Forms
Fill in your medical history form before your first tour/interview appointment. You can type it in and email it right from our web site! We will review it and call or email you right away to set a time to visit with us at either or both locations that works for you. See our forms here.
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