NEWS FROM THE MADISON BIRTH CENTER
October 2, 2003
WEST TOWNE MALL CELEBRATES WOMEN
Aszani will be staffing a booth at West Towne Mall this Saturday (October 4). She’ll be joined by birth center staff members as well as clients and their babies. If you have an opportunity, stop by anytime between 10am and 6 pm and say hello!
NURSE-MIDWIFERY WEEK
Nurse-Midwifery Week is October 5-11, acknowledging the important role midwives play in women’s lives. Whether assisting women giving birth, or providing personalized well-woman health care, midwives are truly “with women.” Midwifery is highly respected worldwide, where midwives provide most of the maternity care with excellent outcomes. In the United States, there are more than 11,000 nurse-midwives. This is a good time to recognize midwives for their dedication and contribution to women’s health. Look for our ad honoring midwives in the current issue of Isthmus.
FLU SHOTS
The Centers for Disease Control highly recommends a flu shot for pregnant women over 14 weeks gestation. This is because pregnancy increases the risk of complications of the flu, and pregnant women are more likely to be hospitalized from flu complications than non-pregnant women. The flu shot is made from inactivated flu viruses and is considered generally safe for women after the first trimester. However, the flu vaccine does contain trace amounts of Thimerosal, a mercury derivative.
Informed consent is an important part of prenatal care. If you are pregnant, we advise you to consider the flu vaccine, and contact your care provider to discuss its risks and benefits. While there is currently no flu vaccine available without Thimerosal, the Madison Birth Center carries the vaccine with the lowest dose available on the market.
MADISON BIRTH CENTER IN THE NEWS
Aszani was interviewed for the October issue of Wisconsin Woman. The article examined choosing a primary care provider, and a side-bar profiled nurse-midwives as providers of holistic care to women throughout their lives.
INFANT MASSAGE
Two weeks ago the New Parents Group hosted an infant massage class at the birth center. Taught by Beth Simons, RN, nine babies were treated to a massage by their parents. Not surprisingly, the babies loved the attention, with several cooing and “singing” the whole way through. Click here to see a picture of this heart-warming spectacle: madisonbirthcenter.com/massage/152.jpg. We will be offering Infant Massage again in the near future. If you are interested, please let us know and we will inform you when it is next scheduled! The New Parents Group meets every Wednesday evening from 6:30-8 pm and is open to all new parents.
YOGA INVITATION
Yoga is offered three times/week at the birth center. If you print this newsletter out and bring it with you, your first class is free. For details on “Yoga for Everyone,” visit the website at madisonbirthcenter.com/classdetail.asp?eventid=24. For “Pregnancy Yoga,” click madisonbirthcenter.com/classdetail.asp?eventid=4. Come and experience this wonderful, relaxing activity!
