Our Midwifery Services

One of Northeast Iowa’s oldest full scope midwifery practices began at Dubuque Obstetrics and Gynecology in 1990. Since then, the practice has grown steadily and currently over 250 babies per year are born into the hands of one of our midwives.

Our philosophy reflects that of The American College of Nurse-Midwives. Nothing about pregnancy, labor and childbirth is routine. Women can learn a great deal about themselves as women and mothers from their day to day experiences when nurtured and guided along the way by midwives; professionals who respect the process and allow it to unfold under watchful eyes and helping hands. We believe that our physical presence and nurturing of new mothers enables them to use fewer medications and to have more satisfying birth experiences.

We approach pregnancy and birth as normal life events and pregnant women as healthy until demonstrated otherwise. Technology is respected and directed to those who will benefit from it, but it is not held in higher esteem than the information acquired by the use of ancient skills and hands-on care. We are committed to helping you have a childbirth experience that is creative, fulfilling and safe.

If you choose midwifery care at Dubuque Ob/Gyn your baby will be born at The Finley Hospital. Although midwives may deliver babies in hospitals, birth centers or at home, in the hospital setting emergency equipment and our obstetrician consultants are readily available should complications arise. At the same time, the hospital and staff are very supportive of non-intervention and have squat chairs, birthing balls and waterbirth tubs available for your use.

When you initiate care at Dubuque Ob/Gyn you will be asked to choose care either with the midwives or the obstetricians. When you choose midwifery care, our first meeting will be after a positive pregnancy test, about 8 weeks from your last menstrual period. We will begin getting to know each other through an extensive interview to review your history, develop a plan of care, discuss a lifestyle best suited for healthy babies, and any questions or concerns that you may have. At 12 weeks you will be back for a physical examination, and then visits are every 4 weeks for the first several months. We ask that you set up your interview and physical with the same midwife, but then suggest getting to know both Deb and Kathe by alternating your visits. You can make your appointments with either one or both of the midwives, as you prefer, but we want you to feel comfortable with both of them.

You will be offered two appointments with the doctors, in order to meet your back-up physicians. They will review your chart to make recommendations for care if needed, and they will be consulted if problems arise that may put you at risk. In rare instances you may be transferred to their care if your health or pregnancy becomes severely complicated.

The midwives share “call”, alternating weeks from Wednesday to Wednesday. The “on call” midwife is responsible for delivering babies, seeing patients at the hospital each day, and providing information to midwife clients after office hours. When you go to the hospital in labor, unless you have made other arrangements prior to this time, the “on call” midwife meets you and will assist as needed throughout your labor and the birth of your baby.

In addition to providing care during pregnancy and birth, Kathe and Deb offer preconception counseling, family planning services, gynecological care, annual pelvic and breast exams, Pap tests, screening and treatment for infections, hypnotherapy, herbals and aromatherapy. “Some of our most satisfying experiences are related to the continuity of care provided by seeing a woman from her teen years through her first pregnancy, and beyond.” Midwives value women as partners in health care, encouraging them to take responsibility for their own health while respecting each woman’s personal approach.