Community Corner

GM 'Hybrid Mamas' and Their 'Hybrid Babies' Celebrate First Year

Seven children of engineers at the Milford Proving Grounds were born within three months of each other last year.

Kayla Eakes of Fenton, who turns 1 Tuesday, is affectionately known as a "Hybrid Baby."

Kayla is among seven babies born within a three-month span to mothers who work in the Hybrid Integration Controls Department at the General Motors Milford Proving Grounds.

All seven babies were born between March 10 and June 15, 2010, and all seven of their moms worked through their pregnancies as long as possible, earning the nickname "Hybrid Mamas."

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"Considering that there are very few women in engineering, and then to have so many of us pregnant, it was very unusual." said Kayla's mom, Jenna Pechauer.

"It was crazy," said Danielle Cory of Brighton, another of the seven moms. "We all are engineers—and almost all the meetings we go to, it's all men, and we were all pregnant."

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Cory estimates that only 10 percent of the building's 600 employees are women, leaving long odds that seven of the 60 would be pregnant at the same time, much less that they all would be engineers.

Many guests who visited the grounds were surprised by all the bulging bellies, Cory said, while some were downright scared.

"Women were afraid to drink the water," joked Cory, whose son, Shane, celebrated his first birthday March 26.

Lynette Popma of Brighton said it could be intimidating when all seven of them gathered for lunch in the cafeteria.

"There were pregnant women everywhere," she said. "At the end, everyone was a little nervous when we showed up together because they thought one of us would go into labor."

Still, Popma, whose son, Will, marked his first birthday April 15, said it was fun to swap stories about pregnancy and doctor's appointments. Some had complications, including Popma, who was forced to go on maternity leave early to rest and avoid preterm labor.

The Hybrid Mamas continue to work together and still have lunch occasionally. They plan to get their children together once a year, Cory said. This month, they gathered at Castaway Cafe in Howell for a group birthday party.

"We discuss all of the different stages the babies are going through and the challenges of being working moms," Cory said. "Some people have to search out mother-baby support groups, but we're lucky enough to have one built in."

Marissa West of Hartland said GM has been very supportive.

While they were pregnant, each of the seven Hybrid Mamas worked in various areas of the department and reported to different managers, West said, making it easier to schedule maternity leaves.

West was the first to deliver her baby and the last to return to work, taking a five-month extended leave so her daughter, Eva, could have surgery for an abdominal wall defect. West said she leans on management—and the other Hybrid Mamas—to help her balance work and family.

Before her maternity leave, West was responsible for hybrid safety controls, ensuring that high-voltage batteries integrated with the Chevy Volt, Silverado pickup and Tahoe sport utility vehicles to the strictest of safety standards. She has since transferred to a lead development engineering position.

"GM has been excellent, really, in working with us," West said. "It's all about trying to make sure that you get the job done, but you also focus on prioritizing family as well as work. It's a juggling act."

In addition to Popma, Cory, Pechaur and West and their babies, the other Hybrid Mamas and Hybrid Babies are Carlene Sienkiewicz of Brighton, mother of Tyler; Teresa Cerbolle of Troy, mother of Ally; and Marjorie Bassham of Grand Blanc, mother of Savannah Hall.


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