by Kari Ney
It’s time to give an update on what our midwifery team at Promise Community Health Center has been busy with these past few months.
In May of this year, we initiated a childbirth preparation curriculum in Spanish. We found there was a need for prenatal and childbirth education in our community as local hospitals have great programs in English but nothing established for our Spanish-speaking population.
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| Registered nurse Kari Ney leads a Spanish Childbirth Education Class at Promise Community Health Center in Sioux Center. Medical Assistant/interpreter Ruth Hernandez helped out with the course. |
We utilize the InJoy curriculum. The “Understanding Pregnancy” booklet is given out early in the pregnancy along with other important handouts to better prepare our moms for the exciting adventure of growing a baby.
“Understanding Birth” is the childbirth preparation booklet, and we have an interactive DVD in Spanish that we utilize in a two-session class lead by registered nurse Kari Ney and medical assistant/interpreter Ruth Hernandez. When clients are not able to attend the scheduled sessions, an express version is offered where the expecting parents can get the most important education in a condensed amount of time. Our goal is to better prepare parents for this journey and alleviate fear that can often lead to an increase in pain and interventions.
Our home-birth practice has also been growing these last few months as more women seek to continue with midwifery care for their birthing experience.
While midwife prenatal care is education driven, we are also planning to provide a birthing preparation class for our home birth parents and those interested in natural birthing. This opportunity is scheduled for 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 17, in the Promise community education room. Lunch will be provided. If you would like more details on this, please contact Kari at 712-722-1700. We welcome you to come to this class if you are interested in natural birth, home birth or the midwifery model of care concept.
We are excited more women are able to utilize midwives for home births in our area. Certified nurse midwives Belinda Lassen and Pam Hulstein are licensed to practice and provide the home-birth option in Iowa and South Dakota. It is important that women and families have a safe and satisfying alternative to hospital birth using the midwifery model of care.
Growth is happening here at Promise as we strive to provide exceptional care to all women and their families! Come and check us out!
Promise Community Health Center, headquartered in Sioux Center, Iowa, is the only Federally Qualified Health Center in the far northwest corner of Iowa. To learn more, visit www.promisechc.org.
