Meet the latest Promise baby: Noah!

Noah Emmanuel, son of Matt and Heather Siebert of Yankton, SD, was born Sunday, Oct. 11, in a home birth, weighing 8 pounds, 4 ounces. He has two siblings, Ben, 4, and Evie, 2. The family received its prenatal care from the midwifery team at Promise Community Health Center in Sioux Center.

Heather Siebert holds her baby, Noah
Emmanuel, during an appointment at
Promise Community Health Center
in Sioux Center.

Baby Noah

Meet the latest Promise baby!

Anna Marie, daughter of Joni and Jeremy Spaans of Rock Valley, was born Wednesday, Oct. 7, in a home birth, weighing 9 pounds, 6 ounces, and measuring 21.5 inches long. Three proud brothers welcomed her into their home. The family received its prenatal care from the midwifery team at Promise Community Health Center in Sioux Center.

Joni Spaans holds her baby, Anna Marie,
during a checkup at Promise Community
Health Center in Sioux Center.

Baby Anna Marie

Midwifery program continues to grow at Promise

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.

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.

Meet the latest Promise baby!

Lili, daughter of Samuel and Lori De Groot of Sanborn, was born Monday, Sept. 28, in a home birth, weighing 7 pounds, 10 ounces, and measuring 22 inches. The family received its prenatal care from the midwifery team at Promise Community Health Center in Sioux Center.

Lori De Groot holds her baby
during a checkup at Promise
Community Health Center
in Sioux Center.

Baby Lili

Meet the latest Promise baby!

Cohen, son of Josiah and Melissa Christoffer of Sioux Falls, SD, was born Thursday, Oct. 1, in a home birth, weighing 6 pounds, 12 ounces, and measuring 20 inches. They came to Promise Community Health Center in Sioux Center for the midwifery model of prenatal care. Cohen has an older sister, Cali, who is nearly 3 years old.

Parents Josiah and Melissa Christoffer and sister,
Cali, hold their baby, Cohen, during a checkup at
Promise Community Health Center in Sioux Center.

Baby Cohen

Meet the latest Promise baby!

William, son of Tim and Janel McFarland of Spencer, was born Sunday, April 26, 2015, weighing 8 pounds, 6 ounces, and measuring 22 inches. He has an older sister, Aubrey, 4.

Mother Janel McFarland holds her baby boy, William, during a
checkup at Promise Community Health Center in Sioux Center.

Baby William

Meet the latest Promise baby!

Anneliese, daughter of Ryan and Molly Dowell Baum of Sioux City, was born Thursday, April 30, with the assistance of certified nurse midwives in their home. She weighed 8 pounds, 4 ounces, and measured 23 inches.

Baby Anneliese was born April 30 to Ryan and Molly
Dowell Baum. She has an older brother, Dietrich.

Baby Anneliese