If there was any question about the quality and safety of midwifery-led birth centers, the 2nd National Birth Center study has created billboard headlines to provide the answer.  Safe !  More vaginal birth ! Lower Cesarian Section Rate ! Lower Cost !  It gives an update on what we already knew to be true.  I believe this study adds the needed firepower to create an inflection point in the birth center movement.  Every woman should have access to midwives and birth centers.   In context to our nation’s dialog on the need to decrease our health spending; why would an insurance company choose to deny women to this model of birth ?

“No one likes a bully” they are aggressive jerks!  Bullies are found everywhere!  Bullies are defined as people who use intimidation and sarcasm to “get their way” and “in their minds” they somehow believe they have the authority to demean anther person.  Bullies are self-governed by their narcissistic motivation to elevate themselves.  Bullies actually get satisfaction when they belittle another individual.  The bully will do anything and everything they can verbally to tear down another person. They do this by laughing at them, not listening, interrupting and even “telling them off”.  Bullies thrive on being right and letting everyone know it!

Everyday while working with women,  I listen to stories from clients  about how they believe they failed at birth.  I hear words like ” failure, wimp, didn’t try, “they made me get an epidural”, and “not a ‘real’ natural birth”.  They will tell their “birth story” and over and  the common thread of defeat is ” I feel like a failures” because they did not experience birth like their friends, co-worker, and family.  Women will talk of a so called “friend having a painless easy birth” and question why they could have them same, they must have failed.  The feelings of failure arise from conversations whereas women challenge each other on their birth options and outcomes.  Often, one can hear the conversations “well I had my baby at__________, why would you ever think of anything else? If you go to that facility  ____________they will _______, and _________, or ________.”

Sometimes one can hear ” that can’t be safe”……. or ”you’re crazy to consider that”

Just fill in the blanks, it can be fun.  No matter where you are the birth bullies try to make their personal opinion and outcome the one that is best for others.  It can be such a strong influence that one can feel reject and like a failure if they don’t even try what the bully suggests.  Bullies often use fear to make to coercive their opinion.  They will attempt scare you into believing that options are not options by using the biggest scare tactic of all, “they will take your baby”.

My philosophy is that all babies are born.  Think about it -they are born.  Very few are born in a “blissful breathing baby out with harmonious singing and happiness and no pain.”  This is not the norm, and it definitely doesn’t happen often.   Believe it or not, in our world today, over 90% of all  babies are born as “natural .”    The birth itself  is also one of the most powerful athletic events of all times!  This event surpass all team sports,  olympics,  gold medals and trophies.  This event uses an entire body to rhythmically and gently move a living being out of another. Yes, there is pain, exhaustion, physical, mental and emotional work and most importantly there is great reward.  Birth requires training, health, and strength, it is not for wimps, failures, and cowards. Even bullies can give birth!

Every athlete in our world endures pain, training, exhaustion and reward.  Athletes need encouragement, coaches, trainers and the cheering audience, not bullies.   GOD’s plan was for women to be the champions.  He chose women because they are strong, wise, fearless and able to complete the task.  Each women who desires and is chosen to given birth will win and receive the prize!  It is a miraculous event that can happen.  BIRTH IS FOR CHAMPIONS -NO BULLIES ALLOWED.

The bible describes the evilness of the tongue in Psalms 52, reading the the tongue is deceitful, devises destruction like a two edgedsword.   Reading these scriptures one can understand how words can be so painful that the cut to the heart of an individual. Our words to one another are very strong, and can either uplift or tear one down.  I am challenging myself and you to champion positive influencing words to empower women in having an INCREDIBLE BIRTH DAY!

New Birth Company’s 100th birth will be any day…wow it has happened so quickly !  We want to celebrate this milestone by honoring the lucky mama and her family with a few gifts…check out the growing list below.

While we plan for this important moment in our history, I am thinking about birth 99 and birth 101.  All of our mamas, families and babies are equally precious in our eyes…how do we honor them too?  One way I reconcile this is to consider we are all standing on the shoulders of others that have come before us.  To celebrate birth #100 is to also celebrate the moms who gave birth before we were open.  The moms that convinced their insurance company to invite us into their networks but didn’t get the benefit themselves.  The midwives and families who helped start the Topeka birth center 30 years ago and the mothers that gave birth on the very trails that gave our community its name.  Its a little overwhelming to think about all the women and men that have worked over the years so that women can have better birth choices….Thank You !

What we can do is count our blessings and pay them forward.  Spread the word, share your story, contribute to Friday Mama’s group.  Everyone has a  part to play to keep lifting up natural childbirth and birth centers in your commmunity.  Whose shoulders are next?

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As Cathy can be heard in the birth center hallway before a birth, “let’s have a parttttttyyyyyyyyyy !!”

Gifts for Mama & her family include:

• Ring Sling Baby Carrier and Pacifier Clip  by Erin Kate Creations
• Organic Ultimate Receiving Blanket by Swaddle Designs
• Guava Mitts by Guava Kids
• New Baby Essentials Kit by Better Life
• GroVia Hybrid Trail Pack by The Soft Landing
• $50 gift certificate for YaYa’s Euro Bistro
• Diaper clutch by Lillybit

Thanks to all our sponsors for supporting our 100th Incredible Birth Day !

Why do those words grate in my ears ?  Could it be that we still harbor expectations that pregnancy is a condition to be endured instead of treasured?  At New Birth Company, we believe that pregnant women and their families are fufilling a unique and important role in our community and deserve extra love and attention during this special time in their lives.  Women of all ages are encouraged to take care of themselves and stay healthy, but we do need to pay special attention to our bodies when are pregnant.  We are finding out more and more what an impact our pregnancies make on our babies future and our own health.  What can we do to help these mamas?   Today let’s start with giving her a big smile, acknowlege and thank her for running the race !

 We offer a number of classes, services and products that complement your pampered pregnancy and birth experience.   We will be introducing many of them to you this spring including :

New service providers: Amanda Box, Naturopath,  Kim Cornwell, Family Nurse Practioner and ***a new Midwife, Jamie Harrington, CNM*** Welcome Jamie !

New Class times for Use of Water in Labor & Birth & Childbirth Education

New Products: Washable birth pads, perfect for mommy to take home with her on birth day, now available for purchase

New Birth Company is proud to announce the addition of two more service providers to the New Birth Company community of health.

Amanda Box, Traditional Naturalpath will be available for consultations at our facility on Fridays 10-6, starting April 6 !  You can make an appointment by calling her at 816-294-6732 or email at amandaboxnd@gmail.com .  Check out her complete scope of services here.

Kim Cornwell, Nurse Practioner, is available Fridays 9-5 for all of your healthy woman (and when you are sick) needs.  Yes, this is the same Kim that has served you at your births.  Spread the word, you don’t have to be pregnant to receive services at our beautiful facility…we love taking care of all women, no matter what your age !  Kim starts April 6 in this capacity.  You can request an appointment with Kim on our web page or calling 913.735.4888.

Title: Movie Night: More The Business of Being Born
Location: Overland Park Birth Center
Link out: Click here
Description: Please join us January 22nd and February 12th at 6pm in screening More Business of Being Born, the follow up to Ricki Lake’s and Abby Epstein’s breakthrough movie on Birth in America. On January 22nd, we will watch “Down on the Farm, Coversations with Ina May Gaskin” and “Doulas, Birth Centers” and C-Sections”. February 12 we will screen “Celebrity Mothers Talk Straight on Birth” and “VBAC Dilemmia: What Your Options Really Are”. The screenings are free and open to the public. We will be accepting good will donations and prenatal vitamins to a non-for-profit whose mission is improving mother birth outcomes globally and abroad.
Start Time: 06:00 PM
Date: 2012–01-22

When Cathy and I first discussed New Birth Company, one of our objectives was to bring together pregnancy and birth services that mommies really wanted and needed.  We are so pleased to tell you that Nadah Cartmill & Friends have chosen to bring their gifts of massage and massage instruction under our roof.  Mommies, we are stressed out, working, traveling, taking care of other little ones.   Sadly, we pass that stress on to our babies.  Learning about and accepting touch to lower the stress in our life isn’t a luxury, its an important part of a healthy pregnancy, loving our babies and our own bodies.   I have to tell you, Nadah is the spirtual and massage equivalent of the best comfort food you will ever eat.  Her gentle hug always puts a smile on your face.  Nadah will be at the tour tomorrow Monday the 5th at 6pm.  Ask about Massage at your next visit and book an appointment to relax with Nadah and Friends.

Part of the fun of New Birth Company is making the Infused Water that sits on the Smoothie Bar.  A short article explains the concept here. We encourage  Mamas to bring their water bottle with them and fill up.  It’s beautiful, tastes good and drinking it during your pregnancy helps your baby aquire a natural preference for water over soda and sugary drinks. 

One of the secrets to easy infused water is to steep your favorite tea in the water before adding fruit and ice.  Here is a recipe for approx 1 gallon of “Lemon Ginger Mama” ….one of our favorites.

Ingredients (Lemon Ginger Tea, 3 Lemons, 3 Limes, 1 Orange)

Steep two bags of Lemon Ginger tea in 2 liters of water…we are currently using the STASH brand…ingredients are rosehips, lemongrass, orange peel, hibiscus flowers, lemon flavor, citric acid, safflower and grapefruit.

Cut up your fruit while you are waiting.  Load the ice (1/2 the container) pour the tea water in, and throw the fruit on top of the ice.  As the ice melts, the tea will continue to steep and the fruit will infuse into ice…..add some fresh ginger to take it up a notch !  Enjoy