When Should My Child Have a First Gynecologist Visit?

For many young people with a uterus, the thought of seeing a gynecologist for the first time can feel scary or even embarrassing, but this should be a time when they feel comfortable and able to ask questions about development and body changes. We talked with Dr. Valary Gass of Women's Care of Wisconsin to provide you with the information you need to help your child feel more positive and ...

Read More

Meet Jenny Taubel, Certified Nurse Midwife

We are proud to welcome Jenny Taubel, CNM to Women's Care of Wisconsin. Jenny brings an extensive background and limitless positivity to our Appleton clinic, providing support and care to her patients during pregnancy, labor, and birth, as well as health services to women through all ages and stages of life. This quick Q & A will help you get to know Jenny. We're certain you'll think the ...

Read More

Patient-Controlled Nitrous Oxide: What's It All About?

At Women's Care, we believe in providing our patients with options so we can develop a health plan that meets both their physical and emotional needs. That means having the most advanced techniques, which is why we're happy to offer patient-controlled nitrous oxide to assist with pain relief and anxiety during gynecological procedures.

"We have a lot of women who are now choosing to use ...

Read More

Achieving Your Ideal Birth (X3): One Mother's Story

Author's Note 1: Natalie had reservations about sharing her journey as first submitted. While our views of the finished product differed, we are in complete agreement about whose editorial vision is most important.

She is adamant this piece should reflect that she's a person speaking honestly and candidly about her own individual experience, insisting that in no way, shape or form should it ...

Read More

An Important Time to Raise Awareness

Pregnancy is one of the most exciting and vulnerable times of a woman's life. Most of us have thought about pregnancy and how our pregnancy would go long before we were actually pregnant. Most of the time, everything goes just right. However, almost one in ten women deliver preterm (defined as less than 37 weeks). These babies miss out on the important growth and development that happens in ...

Read More

Nikki's Journey

"I was so blessed to have the twins," said Nikki Riehl.

Still, when you have a toddler and hear that you have twins on the way, it's an attention-getter.

"I'll admit there was some worry going through my head," said Riehl.

Once the impact of the news was processed, Riehl's focus shifted immediately to the health of her babies, as a twin pregnancy can mean an increased chance of health ...

Read More

Chrissy's Journey

After several years of marriage, Chrissy O'Connell and her husband Patrick decided it was time to start a family.

"We were trying and it just wasn't happening," she said. "I went to see Dr. Reed to get tested; the results revealed I had poor egg quality and low egg quantity."

That begs the question of how O'Connell came to meet the provider who would be with her on her fertility journey.

"As a ...

Read More

Nicole's Journey

"Surprises aren't my thing," Nicole West said.

Reflecting on her first pregnancy, well, that's just what she got.

"I wasn't ready for the pain I felt," West said. "I was young, unprepared, and didn't know what to expect from the experience. I didn't know I had options."

But she knew she didn't want to experience that kind of pain again.

"With my second pregnancy, I wanted to be prepared," ...

Read More

Chelsy's Journey

"I'd have to say the stars aligned that day," said Chelsy Jannusch.

Jannusch reached out to discuss the relationship she's developed with Dr. Sara Swift of Women's Care of Wisconsin, but she wanted to make clear her motivation for doing so.

"I know there are a lot of women who struggle to conceive or have children," she said. "Knowing there are doctors out there who are not only willing to ...

Read More

Alyssa's Journey

With four children now-all girls-Alyssa Pederson and her husband are contemplating a move into a new house soon. Pederson has a general vision of what that will look like, with one rock solid stipulation.

"We're gonna need two bathrooms," she said.

With the biggest sister (Nora, 6) holding the baby (Lydia), and the next biggest one waiting to pitch in (Kinsley*, 5, who likes to throw the ...

Read More

Angie's Journey

In a recent survey, respondents voted hosting a dinner party with family as the number one stress inducer during the holiday season. Yeah, right. Angie Christopherson's tale includes a positive Covid test on Christmas Day and a rescheduling of her inducement date, moved from December 26 to January 3. Oh, and because Santa's gift to her regular OB/GYN was appendicitis, Christopherson would be ...

Read More

Sarah's Journey

Serendipity can be a powerful thing. 

When Sarah Hanaway's insurance changed and she needed a new OB/GYN, she decided to call Women's Care of Wisconsin in the hope that they had a provider who was accepting new patients.

Sarah Hanaway, meet Dr. Adriana Schaufelberger.

Hanaway was being introduced to her new provider just as she and her husband were trying to get pregnant for the first time; ...

Read More

Sam's Journey

When you call a mom with an 11-month-old for an interview, leading with the question "Are you good to go?" is a given, even if you know what the answer will be.

"Got a baby right here but I'm ready," was Sam Hawkinson's reply.

Of course she's ready. She's a mom.

Hawkinson is the proud mother of 11-month-old Louie.

She's proud of her five-year-old son Finn, too.

And Archie, age seven.

Jack ...

Read More

Meet Adriana Schaufelberger, MD, Women's Care of WI

"What do you think your patients appreciate most about you?"

There was a distinct pause following the relatively standard question, at least when you're interviewing a physician. A conventional answer was certainly the expectation.

Dr. Adriana Schaufelberger's answer was anything but.

"I don't know. Maybe it's because I'm funny," she said. "I try to make things lighter and take any ...

Read More

Ashley's Journey

The Cotten Family: Zayden, Kyleigh, Ashley & Casey

It's good to have a plan. Might not work out exactly as envisioned, but that's life.

Ashley mentioned "the plan" right away.   

"I have a 12-year-old daughter," Ashley began. "When my husband and I got married, we knew were going to try to have a child together. That was the plan. And since I got pregnant the first time, I just assumed that ...

Read More

Whatever Makes Your Heart Happy: A Mother's Story

The conversation began playfully, as the response to how things were going now with three children was decidedly mathematical.

"My husband and I are officially outnumbered," said Melodie.

But then, a quick caveat.

"I will try not to get emotional about my doctor and the relief she brought to a . . . well, just a very stressful experience."

Melodie took a deep breath, paused, and told her ...

Read More

Jessy's Journey

Jessy reached out to us via Facebook recently about her OB/GYN, Dr. Amanda Reed:

Dr. Reed was fantastic. I was lucky enough to have her deliver all 3 of my babes with c-sections, with the first emergent and being put under general, the 2nd early with a NICU stay, and the 3rd with a rough spinal stick insertion. She brought the calm, each and every time!

Well, call us nosy, but we wanted to ...

Read More

Meet Allison Brubaker MD, Women's Care of WI

A Women's Care of Wisconsin fertility specialist, Dr. Allison Brubaker can immediately identify a catalyst and inspiration for her interest in the field.

"My mom was told at one point she wouldn't be able to have children," said Brubaker. "I'm one of five she gave birth to."

After being put in such a position-basically being told there was little to no hope other than to visit an adoption ...

Read More

Pelvic Organ Prolapse-What is it?

Pelvic organ prolapse is a disorder in which the pelvic floor muscles stretch, weaken, or become torn causing one or more of the pelvic organs to drop from their normal position. This can occur due to factors such as pregnancy, vaginal childbirth, advancing age, excess weight or chronic constipation and straining a stool. Approximately 5% of women develop prolapse; women in their sixties have ...

Read More

Meet Gretchen Augustine DO, Women's Care of WI

"Pretty much every visit I have with a patient starts the same way," said Gretchen Augustine. "I ask them to tell me in their own words, in their own time, why they are here."

Perhaps that's why the Women's Care of Wisconsin OB/GYN develops such a strong connection with them.

"Those first minutes in a first appointment are crucial," said Augustine. "My patients know their bodies better than ...

Read More

Understanding Laparoscopic Hysterectomy

If a hysterectomy is needed, we recommend a type of surgery called laparoscopy. This method has many benefits compared to open surgery.

A hysterectomy is surgery to remove the uterus (womb); this includes removal of the cervix and fallopian tubes. You may need this done because of severe pain, bleeding, pelvic infection, or other problems. Having a hysterectomy means that you will not be able ...

Read More

Incontinence: More Common Than You Think

Did you know that 50% of women have incontinence at some point in their life? Here's what you can do to take control.

Incontinence is the loss of urine in an uncontrollable fashion. There are many reasons as to why people have it. Some of them are very easy to treat successfully and are easily cured, and some of them are very challenging to cure. But we can usually get significant improvement ...

Read More

The Benefits of In-Office Procedures

There has been an interesting transition over the years from a surgery done originally in an inpatient setting, where the patient would stay in the hospital for several days, to an outpatient surgery setting.  We have essentially accomplished this with procedures up to the hysterectomy, which once was a 4-day hospital stay and included 8 weeks of recovery. Oftentimes, it can now be a ...

Read More

The Importance of Full Term Pregnancies

Pregnancy is one of the most exciting and vulnerable times of a woman's life. Most of us have thought about pregnancy and how our pregnancy would go long before we were actually pregnant. Most of the time, everything goes just right. However, almost one in eight women deliver preterm (defined as less than 37 weeks).                                                      

If a woman believes she ...

Read More

Endometrial Ablation in the Office Setting

Abnormal uterine bleeding, in the form of heavy menstrual flow or irregular cycles, is one of the most common complaints that bring women in to see a gynecologist. A procedure called an endometrial ablation is a minimally invasive treatment option that uses technology to destroy the lining of the uterus to reduce menstrual flow. It can be performed right in your doctor's office without the ...

Read More