Resources
Official birth certificates can be ordered from the Texas Department of State Health Services – Vital Records. Birth certificates are available after the Social Security card arrives in the mail, usually about two weeks after birth.
Breast milk provides the ideal nutrition for infants. It has everything your baby needs to grow. And it’s all provided in a form more easily digested than infant formula. Breast milk contains antibodies that help your baby fight off viruses and bacteria. Breastfed babies have fewer ear infections, respiratory illnesses, and bouts of diarrhea. They also have fewer hospitalizations and trips to the doctor. (See also Lactation Consultants)
La Leche League of San Antonio
San Antonio Lactation Support Center
Online Resources
Westover Hills Birth Center offers vaginal breech birth to low-risk clients including those desiring a VBAC and first time mothers. We accept late transfers for breech on a case-by-case basis. The first step to transferring to the birth center is to schedule a meeting with Robin to discuss your options. A Webster-certified chiropractor may help a breech baby turn. See our list of chiropractors.
Breech Without Borders website or Breech Without Borders on Facebook
Chiropractic care is safe and highly recommended in pregnancy. Chiropractors help align the pelvis, reduce pain and swelling, and can even help a breech positioned baby turn head down. Keeping the pregnant body in alignment helps it to work more efficiently in labor.
Angie Artho, D.C. – Abundant Life Chiropractic
Doulas are trained and specialize in labor support. They help provide physical and emotional support through the labor process. They help laboring families to relax and work with contractions, eat, drink, and move during labor, and help the family to advocate for the things that are important to them in labor.
Research shows that women who use a birth doula are:
- less likely to need Pitocin
- less likely to have a cesarean birth
- less likely to use any pain medication
- more likely to rate their childbirth experience positively
Here are some of our favorites:
Rooted Birth (Birth & Postpartum Doulas)
Doula Organizations
Photos of pregnancy and birth capture a special moment in the life of a family. The remarkable moment is captured with beauty and privacy the mother desires. Photography and video are always welcome at Westover Hills Birth Center.
Mamarazzi Photography – Jennifer Hamilton has been capturing birth and newborns since 2012. Her studio is located in the birth center and offers our clients special discounts.
Sara K. Blanco – I am a lifestyle photographer in San Antonio, TX using natural light to capture those little moments that mean everything to you. My sessions are unscripted conversations, focusing on the connection of your relationships.
Frog Prince Photography – I am Crystal, owner and photographer for Frog Prince Photography. I am a mom to two beautiful boys here on Earth and three angel babies in Heaven. I am married to my wonderful husband Paul, who is my partner in everything, including Frog Prince!
Chelsea Lietz Photography – Newborn photography makes me happy. My husband claims I just play with babies all day. And he isn’t wrong! But the job takes a tremendous amount of patience and a soothing touch. There are many hours of waiting for babies to eat or sleep, straightening clutched fingers, cleaning poopy blankets, editing out jaundice, designing beautiful albums, and constantly soaking in more knowledge and training.
Kaitlyn Scruggs Photography – Capturing an expectant mother’s twinkling eyes, a father’s loving gaze, a newborn’s yawn, a breastfeeding mother’s perfect embrace, a chubby baby’s drooling grin… those are the moments we love capturing the best.
While there is little evidence based information available regarding placenta encapsulation, anecdotal reports suggest that it has many benefits. The possible benefits of placenta encapsulation include: a decrease in postpartum mood disorders, increased production of oxytocin, a decrease in stress hormones, restoration of iron levels following bleeding after birth, and increased milk supply. Data, in a small study, has demonstrated that following the preparation process, hormones do remain present in placentas. Researchers have found that levels of both progesterone and estradiol are present at high enough levels that they could cause physiological effects when consumed. According to the American Pregnancy Association, placenta encapsulation has demonstrated to assist with mood stabilization through supplementing oxytocin levels. Additionally, this suggests that placenta encapsulation has a potential regulatory effect on postpartum hormones, which can affect both postpartum mood and milk supply.
Julie encapsulates placentas for our clients. Her fee is $200 for a single and $250 for a twin placenta.
Westover Hills Birth Center provides care for low-risk clients desiring a VBAC (vaginal birth after cesarean) or VBA2C. Here are our favorite resources for those considering a VBAC.