Showing posts with category Pregnancy. Show all posts
Makayla's Story
Apr. 8, 2026 3:07 pm
I honestly wasn't expecting to grow such deep relationships with a healthcare team. I never have before, and I just didn't expect it to happen.
That’s how the conversation started. Makayla paused, took a deep breath, and continued:
I guess I should go back to 2021, to when our first, our daughter, was born. I had a super traumatic birth with her; she was stuck pretty good and ended up ...
Christi's Story
Mar. 25, 2026 4:08 pm
 Emmie & Miles welcome home their baby sister, Maggie. Sometimes it’s fate.
Like when you’ve got an appointment scheduled and you arrive only to find out that you weren’t supposed to be there at all.
“I showed up in Neenah, but I guess I was supposed to be in Appleton,” Christi said. “Turned out they had a midwife that was able to see me right then and there.”
That’s how Christi found Kay Weina, who was able to deliver on a preference of ...
Shannon's Story
Mar. 11, 2026 1:26 pm
We moved to the Fox Valley area in late 2023 and I took a chance establishing care with a new OB provider, Dr. Swift. She immediately made an impression at my initial visit.
Unfortunately, it took a little over a year and a chemical miscarriage to ultimately have success in conception of our second daughter Sophia in Fall 2025. What stands out in my journey with Dr. Swift was her support in ...
Jerica's Story
Feb. 26, 2026 2:37 pm
It was Jerica's lunch hour, perhaps the only break in her day.
Nonetheless, she picked up the phone.
"I'm in this little park by where I work. The sunshine feels fantastic. If I close my eyes, it kind of feels like vacation."
"You're working and also have a 12-week-old?" I asked. "That's amazing! And you don't sound the least bit tired!"
"I'm exhausted, but I'm ready to speak with you," she ...
Chelsea's Gender Reveal Story
Feb. 19, 2026 12:38 pm
 A Boy!
It started with a Facebook comment, submitted last month for our Packer contest:
Shout out to our sonographer (I believe initials are KF on our ultrasound pics) who unknowingly had us convinced our baby was a girl and gave us the surprise of a lifetime when we opened her envelope and unfolded the sticky note that was folded a million times and read “Boy!” Thanks for being part of our super ...
Megan's Story
Jan. 26, 2026 1:46 pm
Megan was in Menasha, heading to Oshkosh.
I looked out my window in Appleton. Swirling snow, gusting winds.
“Are you sure you want to give a testimonial while you're driving?” I asked.
She laughed and said, “We’re good at multi-tasking, right?”
I think she meant moms, but in case she was including older adult males without children, I agreed.
And so Megan began: I didn’t choose Kay Weina; ...
Erika's Story
Jan. 14, 2026 2:00 pm
Fourteen hours after I gave birth to my daughter, Stella, I carefully lowered myself into a wheelchair as my husband wheeled me through the hospital into the Children’s NICU. My body ached, my mind felt foggy, and my heart was heavy in a way I didn’t yet understand. Just fourteen hours earlier, everything had changed. I was on day three of a hospital stay meant to monitor me until it was ...
Leah's Story
Dec. 3, 2025 2:27 pm
 And now we have Averi.
Leah was authentic from the get-go.
“I hate making decisions. I like to let external forces make decisions for me,” she said.
But you know what?
Leah made a lot of good decisions, like first-time moms just seem to do.
Her one-month-old could be heard in the background, squeaking encouragement and approval as mom told her tale. And here’s what Leah said:
I have notes prepared for this. I feel ...
MaKaela's Story
Nov. 12, 2025 2:42 pm
Three years ago, I found out I was pregnant with my first little boy, and I was really scared. My mom had recommended that I see a midwife, and I liked the things she talked about and the points she made, so I just called and scheduled an appointment. I hadn’t seen anyone there before, and I ended up with Jenny Taubel.
I felt instantly comfortable with her, and I became more confident ...
Paige's Story
Nov. 5, 2025 2:47 pm
I’ve been a patient of Dr. Gass since before I became pregnant, and from the very beginning, she has been nothing short of incredible.
Before pregnancy, she provided the most thoughtful and thorough care. From routine visits to procedures, she always took the time to explain, listen, and make me feel completely cared for. When I became pregnant with my first daughter, I had a rough pregnancy ...
Jennie's Story
Oct. 22, 2025 2:54 pm
As founder/owner of a full-service salon in Oshkosh and a mom of a two-and-a-half-year-old and six-month-old, we had to ask Jennie how the work life balance thing was coming along.
“It’s coming. Some days are better than others, but we’ve got a good village to help us,” she said.
Within that village Jennie includes the midwife who delivered both of her children, Jenny Taubel. Here’s the ...
Justine's Story
Oct. 15, 2025 3:06 pm
Justine needed to push our phone call out just a bit due to her toddlers’ schedules.
When asked if this was a good time, she said, “Yep! I’ve got my iced coffee. I’m ready to go.”
Tell us about how you met your OB/GYN, Dr. Adriana Schaufelberger.
And so Justine began:
My husband I struggled with trying to conceive for four and half years. So yeah, a long time. When we moved back to Oshkosh, ...
Dana's Story
Sep. 24, 2025 3:16 pm
“Mindful, functional and beautiful solutions for experiences are my passion.” That’s Dana, the product designer and business owner, on her website’s homepage. A promise to deliver on her clients’ goals and objectives, Dana’s words could also describe what she was looking for as a mom—and also a surrogate—when she found her OB/GYN, Dr. Valary Gass. Her thoughts will be enlightening for anyone ...
Jennifer's Story
Aug. 27, 2025 3:28 pm
Because we wanted to know more, we reached out to Jennifer after reading her FB comment:
Dr. Yarroch is the best - wish she could be our everything doctor. She is always so down to earth. When I had an unplanned C-section she was there holding my hand through all the prep. I wouldn't have two healthy babies without her.
Here, in her own words, is Jennifer’s story:
I didn't have an OB when I ...
Amber's Story
June 4, 2025 3:48 pm
"Being a mom is my entire world!"
So began Amber’s submission for our Mother’s Day contest.
In a 14-minute post-Mother’s Day phone call, she generously (and often hilariously) added detail.
Told in 14 quotes, this is Amber’s Story:
- I struggled so long and never thought I would get the opportunity to become a mom.
- My husband and I tried for years to naturally conceive, and it just wasn’t ...
Jen's Story
May 28, 2025 4:21 pm
"Motherhood is not knowing you could hold this much love in your heart for another human but not wanting anything different."
Jen posted those words for our Mother’s Day contest.
Here’s the story behind the sentence.
The Hardest Thing
The first thing you should probably know about me is that I am the most type A personality you could probably ever meet. I'm a 2nd grade teacher, so I just ...
Naomi's Story
May 6, 2025 4:30 pm
When we asked Naomi if she would provide a testimonial about her experience at the Women's Care of Wisconsin location in Berlin, she said she'd be happy to. And after she did so, she thanked us for the opportunity. C'mon, Naomi. We need to do the thanking. And we get the last word.
Well, actually, you do:
Dr. Effie and her team at Women’s Care Berlin provided exceptional care throughout both ...
Melinda's Story
Mar. 19, 2025 4:35 pm
Baby Grayson is 10 weeks today. Mom had left us a heartfelt Google review that began with, “Brubaker was my doctor through my first pregnancy.”
Later, we chatted with Melinda and asked her to talk about her experience in more detail. This time, she began with a car crash.
She already had us at “Hello.”
This is Melinda’s story:
I wasn’t quite expecting to be pregnant and didn’t find out until ...
Bree's Story
Jan. 29, 2025 4:43 pm
“When you choose a doctor, you're trusting someone with your life and your baby's life. I didn’t realize how critical that was at first. It didn’t really hit me until I had complications.”
When Bree and her husband were thinking about having children, she asked her primary care provider if she had any recommendations for an OB/GYN. She told Bree to check out Women’s Care of Wisconsin.
That’s ...
Lindsey's Story
Dec. 12, 2024 11:00 am
“I had very easy pregnancies,” Lindsey began. “Minus the big babies. I have very big babies.”
The obvious follow up question was asked.
“So my first was 10 lbs. 9 oz. My second was 9 lbs. 5 oz. Then my third was 11 lbs., and my last was 10lbs. 7 oz.,” Lindsey said. “Not exactly easy on me, for sure, but not so easy on Dr. Vandenberg either.”
We had more questions for Lindsey. Here are the ...
Kendra's Story
Oct. 23, 2024 11:08 am
“I really felt in my spirit after having such a good midwife experience with my first child, which was a difficult pregnancy, that I wanted that same experience with my second pregnancy.”
Here’s how Kendra found Jenny Taubel. And as they say, the rest is history:
I originally started with a midwife at Women's Care who is no longer there. And then I started with another who changed roles and ...
Amanda's Story
Oct. 16, 2024 11:17 am
“This is baby’s life, my family’s life. This is our future.”
Amanda’s story is unique, of course. It’s also universal, this story of a mother who needed answers and endeavored to find them.
And her message to every expectant mom, simple yet profound, should be emblazoned on t-shirts, billboards, mountaintops.
In her own words, this is Amanda’s journey:
I have a history of two normal labors ...
Tayler's Story: A First-Time Mom Calls the Midwife
Oct. 9, 2024 11:31 am
For National Midwifery Week (October 6-12, 2024), we reached out to patients and asked them if they would share their midwife experience. Tayler responded just as we had hoped (“I’d absolutely love to!”) and generously spoke about how she found her provider, Elise Gessler.
Note: Elise has stopped her OB practice and is working in the role of a nurse practitioner at our Appleton clinic. She ...
Janelle's Journey
Apr. 17, 2024 12:12 pm
“Nobody prepares you for the thief miscarriage is. I feel if I can share my story, it might help somebody else from suffering alone, because they're not alone.”
Janelle took a deep breath, paused, and then apologized.
“I’m sorry if I cry."
And then she began:
It was my first pregnancy, June of 2021. We had our first appointment. I felt great. They said everything looked great. Go ahead, tell ...
Swift Connects with Patient in the Valley
Feb. 7, 2024 12:22 pm
No, not that Swift. A different Swift. But a Swift nonetheless. And there’s a Taylor in it too.
But not a Kelce. There is a reference to pro football, however.
This all started due to a Facebook post, one of those that immediately grabs your interest. It went like this:
With my first baby, I had some doctor changes, due to my previous doctor being injured. I was supposed to meet Swift before ...
Achieving Your Ideal Birth (x3): One Mother's Story
Nov. 6, 2023 12:52 pm
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 ...
Nikki's Journey
Oct. 18, 2023 12:58 pm
“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 ...
Nicole's Journey
Sep. 13, 2023 1:05 pm
“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,” ...
Chelsy's Journey
Sep. 5, 2023 1:13 pm
“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 ...
Alyssa's Journey
Aug. 22, 2023 1:39 pm
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 ...
Angie's Journey
July 24, 2023 1:44 pm
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 ...
Sarah's Journey
July 17, 2023 1:49 pm
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; ...
Sam's Journey
July 5, 2023 2:19 pm
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 ...
Whatever Makes Your Heart Happy: A Mother's Story
Mar. 8, 2023 2:47 pm
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 ...
Jessy's Journey
Feb. 27, 2023 2:56 pm
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 ...
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