Promise Community Health Center prenatal care team

Promise Community Health Center prenatal care team
Promise Community Health Center's midwifery care team consists of (standing) certified nurse midwives Belinda Lassen and Pam Hulstein and their support team, clinical assistant/interpreter Ruth Hernandez and registered nurses Erica Robertson and Kari Ney.

Wednesday, November 23, 2016

Meet one of our Promise Babies: Walter!


Walter Christopher, son of Jaron and Elizabeth Wilson of Paullina, IA, was born 3:09 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 12, in his home, weighing 7 pounds, 4 ounces, and measuring 21 inches. He is the first child in the family.

Certified nurse midwife Belinda Lassen of Promise Community Health Center in Sioux Center provided the prenatal care for the family and attended the home birth.

"We really, really enjoyed working with a midwife. We would use Belinda again," Elizabeth said. "They were very caring and took the time with us and answered all of our questions. We were very comfortable."

Jaron and Elizabeth Wilson welcomed baby Walter
into their family. He was born in their Paullina home
on Saturday, Nov. 12, with the assistance of midwife
Belinda Lassen of Promise Community Health Center.


Baby Walter

Tuesday, November 22, 2016

Making sense of 'marvelous' placenta at birth


By Pam Hulstein, Ph.D., CNM

Who in the world actually wants to see a placenta? Me! I am always in awe of a placenta when I attend a birth.

Pam Hulstein, CNM
The placenta’s birth often occurs quietly while the new mom is relishing in the joy and relief of having just given birth. Most times, when given due patience and careful observation, the placenta slips out with very little coaxing.

A first glance, the placenta is a large lump of reddish-bluish tissue, usually circular shaped with slippery membranes covering one side and an umbilical cord securely attached. As a certified nurse midwife, I inspect every placenta at each birth to note its normalcy or any unusual findings.

It is at this point I typically ask the new mom/dad or any other family members present for the birth if they would like to see the marvelous placenta! Some folks are very receptive to this invitation; some are hesitant, but fewer still decline. With gloved hands, I lift the placenta out of the basin and show off the shiny fetal side and the delicately strong amnion and chorion layers. Then I turn it over and show the substantive cotyledon side of reddish firm flesh that sustained the circulation between mom’s uterus and baby.

We then marvel that this “thing” provided nutrition, oxygen and waste elimination for the baby you now hold in your arms. This incredible organ produced vital hormones during the pregnancy and provided immune protection to the growing baby. This uniquely made circulation tissue was formed very early in the pregnancy and was completely established by about week 13.

It is at this point that I verify with parents what they would like “done” with their placenta. Double bag it and dispose of it? Send it off to be dehydrated and encapsulated? Bury it in the back yard and plant a tree near it? Or maybe put it in the freezer until they decide what they want to do with this wonderful, incredibly underappreciated part of pregnancy!

Pam Hulstein is a certified nurse midwife at Promise Community Health Center in Sioux Center. To learn more about Promise's midwifery team and prenatal services, visit www.promisechc.org/services/prenatal.aspx. For more tips and advice on various topics from Promise's midwifery team and baby announcements, visit promisechcmidwives.blogspot.com.

Friday, November 18, 2016

Meet one of our Promise Babies: Oliver!


Oliver Doerksen Matthews, son of Jeff and Lisa Matthews of Alta, IA, was born 11:22 p.m. Wednesday, Sep. 21, in his home, weighing 7 pounds, 12 ounces, and measuring 22 inches. He is the first child born in the family.

Certified nurse midwife Pam Hulstein of Promise Community Health Center in Sioux Center provided the prenatal care for the family. Hulstein and nurse Kari Ney also attended the home birth.

"Having a home birth was such a beautiful, intimate and empowering experience," Lisa said. "Pam and Kari had such a calming presence as they helped guide Oliver into this world, and we were so pleased with the prenatal and aftercare we received. Thank you so much for such a wonderful experience."

Lisa Matthews holds her baby, Oliver,
during an appointment at Promise
Community Health Center in Sioux
Center. He was born in their Alta
home on Wednesday, Sept. 21.


Baby Oliver