Women’s Clinic Makes Sure Moms, Babies Get Good Care Midwives Offer Free Pregnancy Screenings And Advice

The West Central neighborhood clinic started with a small, good notion: ensure all babies born in this area are healthy.

Eight years later, midwives at the Deaconess Women’s Clinic deliver more than 15 babies a month, and see up to 500 women a month.

Its mission and staff have grown. Women - pregnant or not - get free pregnancy screening, health and nutritional advice.

“We want women to be in charge of their lives,” said midwife Catherine Miller.

But that can be a struggle at times. The clinic, at 1603 N. Belt, was placed in West Central because hospital statistics showed many women from that area missed prenatal appointments.

If not for the clinic in the parking lot of the West Central Community Center, many of the patients would not see a nurse until they showed up at a hospital emergency room in labor.

“We do our best work being right out in the neighborhood,” said Miller, looking out the clinic’s window. “The bus stop is right here.”

A stripper dropped in last week to get birth control. Most of the clinic’s expectant mothers smoke. Many are victims of domestic abuse. Some are kicking drug habits as their babies begin kicking.

Each mother is screened for drugs, and counseled to give up alcohol and cigarettes.

“You’ve got women here who chose certain lifestyles,” midwife Kathy Bentley said diplomatically. “We teach them how to take care of themselves within the lifestyles.”

Bills are sent out by Empire Health Services, Deaconess’ parent company. It bills all insurance companies except Group Health.

Empire Health Services will offer sliding-scale fees and charity services through the clinic, based on individual circumstances.

The neighborhood needs fit the mission of a midwife, which means “with woman.”

All the midwives at the clinic are registered nurses, with an extra master’s degree. They carefully track expectant mothers throughout pregnancy and are at the hospital to catch the baby.

The four midwives at the clinic - Miller, Bentley, Valerie Ewert and Kathy Alvstad - often become attached to mothers.

Erin Hazelwood, an 18-year-old holding 8-month-old Kira, dropped by the clinic one day earlier this week, and Miller broke into tears.

“They changed everything,” said Hazelwood, looking at the midwives.

For information or appointments at the Deaconess Women’s Clinic, call 458-7060.

, DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: Photo