Makayla's Story

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 needing the vacuum.

And I was so scared to go through that again.

When I was pregnant with my son in 2023, I had made the decision (after talking to counselors and other women in my life) to look into getting a C-section. And I had talked to my OB at the time about that and about some of the research I had done—for example, stitching up each of the layers for better healing—and he said, ‘I don't really like to do that.’

I honestly didn’t know what to do at that point, but my counselor sure did.

‘You should look into finding somebody who is going to listen to you and your concerns.’

So, I found Dr. Brubaker.

Mind you, I was at 32 weeks when I first saw her. Dr. Brubaker had scheduled an hour-long appointment with me. I was a little worried about switching providers so late, but she just totally took me in. I didn't feel judged by her, and we just fit super well.

And it was the first time I felt heard.

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I had the C-section with Dr. Brubaker, and the experience with my son was so amazing, so redemptive. It honestly saved me in a lot of ways, and it gave me the confidence that I could do it again.

I got pregnant in 2024 and miscarried.

I had two ultrasounds. That first ultrasound showed the baby wasn't measuring what they should have been, and then the second, to see if growth happened, confirmed the miscarriage. That was such a shocking moment for me. I wasn't expecting to be told that I was miscarrying; my husband wasn't even at that appointment with me, because I just wasn't expecting bad news. I actually brought a friend with me to that appointment, which basically trauma bonded us.

Dr. Brubaker sat with us and explained all of my options and what I should expect moving forward. She listened to me, let me cry, and was there for me. That meant so much.

A couple weeks after the diagnosis, my body still hadn't completed the whole process of miscarriage, so I went in for an appointment and subsequently scheduled a D&C. We found out later that we lost a baby boy due to a genetic condition. We sent in the tissue to get cremated, and so now I have his ashes, and I'm so grateful we were able to do that.

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In late December of 2024 I found out that I was pregnant with our rainbow baby.

I went in for my blood work, and it was extremely high, and I remember getting a call from the nurse that they wanted to see me again for more blood work. I went in for an ultrasound, and we saw the baby, and the heart rate was super slow. Something just felt off about it. I had that appointment in Appleton, and then I drove to Neenah for a follow up, and Dr. Brubaker told me that this might be a partial molar pregnancy (a non-viable pregnancy where an egg is fertilized by two sperm, resulting in an embryo with 69 chromosomes instead of 46) and prepare myself. There would be a follow up in two weeks’ time.

I just knew in my gut that we were going to lose another baby.

The follow up confirmed the miscarriage, we got another D&C, and the testing told us we had a baby girl. So I lost a boy and a girl. That's hard when you already have kids, and you look at them and you're like, I can't imagine not meeting you. I think that just makes the reality of loss harder. There was a lot of heaviness to that whole experience.

Because of the molar pregnancy, follow ups were super crucial. I went in every week for blood tests to follow my HCG (Human Chorionic Gonadotropin, often called the pregnancy hormone) all the way down to zero, and once it was at zero, Dr Brubaker told me, I had to wait a full month until our next testing. We needed to see it remain at zero before it was safe to get pregnant again (by this time I was on birth control).

I remember waiting, and then all of a sudden I just had a feeling something was off, and I called, got a blood test, and my numbers were rising. And I just lost it. After my second miscarriage, I wasn’t ready to even think about having another baby until after my rainbow baby's due date, at least. I just couldn’t put myself in that situation again. I didn't know if I'd ever be ready to again.

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With my HCG rising, I found out that I was pregnant again.

I remember being in the office with Dr. Brubaker. I cried to her, and I spilled my guts about all my fears and how I was not ready to be back in this situation again. My mental health just tanked, and she sat there with me and gave me tissues and just listened to me cry. Again, I felt heard. And I felt seen.

I made it to my anatomy scan at 20 weeks, and my baby was diagnosed with hydronephrosis (swelling of the kidney due to urine backup). That led to me getting ultrasounds every other week, leading all the way up to delivery. So, yeah, so I was in the office a lot during pregnancy.

It was hard, because going through everything I had and then finding out that something was wrong with this baby as well made me feel like I just wanted to shut down. I didn't want to listen to reality. I mean, I was grateful each time I went in for an ultrasound, that there was a heartbeat and my baby was alive, but I felt like I wasn't able to fully connect to the pregnancy because I was still actively grieving my losses.

But one of the perks to going every other week was seeing my healthcare team. Dr. Brubaker and Brittany* and Diane* would always tell me if I ever felt like it to just come in and make sure everything was okay. I’ll admit that there were a couple of weeks when I went in multiple times just to be sure. They were just so great and took really good care of me and my kids (when they needed to come in with me), and that meant so much.

So my C-section was scheduled for January 12. I was a really good candidate for a VBAC if I wanted one. I ultimately made the decision to do the repeat C-section. In the weeks leading up to the C-section, despite the reassurances, I started getting even more anxiety than I had the whole pregnancy. I couldn't shake the feeling that something was wrong, and I didn't think it had anything to do with the kidneys. My stomach was tender to the touch, my hands and feet were super itchy, and so Dr. Brubaker said we needed to run tests for possible cholestasis (itchiness for me but potentially much worse for the baby).

Then, at my 38-week appointment, there was decreased fetal movement.

I remember getting into the room and telling Dr. Brubaker I still felt like something was off, that baby wasn’t really moving as much. She said, ‘We’re either going to do the C-section tonight or tomorrow morning.’ I was thinking the next morning sounded good so I could sleep in my own bed one more night. And she was like, ‘Either way, we're keeping you here.’

At that point I was like, ‘Let’s just do it.”

And we did it that night, and I am so glad that she listened to her gut to move things along, because during the C-section, she said that I had a “uterine window,” which is where my uterus was so thin in one spot that it could have ruptured if I went into labor on my own. I could have lost our baby and it could have been deadly for me as well.

And I’m glad I decided to go with my gut and do the C-section.

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Our baby is doing so good! His kidney issue was considered severe when he was born, and now he’s a mild case, no antibiotics or stent placement needed. We don’t have to do follow ups for another few months, which is a relief. My daughter is crazy obsessed with the baby, and my son, who just turned two, is petting him.

And Dad is just wonderful.

Throughout the experience there were so many emotions, as there are now. I’m still grieving. And dealing with the reality of how close I was to losing another baby. I’m also riding the high of finally not being pregnant anymore!

Like I said in the beginning, I never, ever expected to develop such deep relationships with my care team, but I did, and I'm just so grateful for it. And so glad we did it when we did, and that just makes me even more grateful for Dr. Brubaker, her timing and her instincts. If she didn't make that call, who knows what would have happened to both of us.

And I believe in God. I'm spiritual, and I believe that the timing of everything was definitely God ordained.

I have the dream to work with women someday, especially women who have gone through miscarriage. When you start the conversation, then other people feel like they can talk about their grief too, and remember their babies and validate that there was a life there that was very wanted and loved.

I started some classes for nursing school and would love to do this as a living one day, but it’s hard when you’re a stay at home with little kids.

But some day . . .

From the Editor: The catalyst for the above testimonial was Makayla’s submission to our Facebook Contest on January 8. Her son was delivered on January 5. She made special mention of MA Brittany Gilbert and RN Diane Tyynismaa in her post. In our conversation, Makayla shared some thoughts on the impact these two special people have had on her:

• Brittany told me, “Whenever I see your name on a chart, I always grab it. Everybody knows you’re mine!” She’d take my vitals and would ask me how I was doing, like really doing. She wanted to know. She listened. She let me cry to her. She opened up to me about going through her own experiences. And she didn’t judge. I was able to reach out to her and invite her to come meet my baby. So grateful for her.
• During a really hard time, I remember Diane called me frequently to talk about the results of my blood draws and to check in and see how I was doing. And that meant so much more than she may ever know. She did such a good job taking care of me and honestly making me feel cared about. She didn’t have to call me. Could have just messaged me in MyChart. But she became that person I wanted to call me, needed to call me.
• By the way, I HATE needles. And there have been so many needles throughout my experiences here. Whenever Brittany took my blood, she would always get it right on the first try. I was like, “Yeah, I trust you even more now.”
• Diane always told me to come in for reassurance checks. “Let’s hook you up to the monitors and make sure everything is good.” So grateful for that.

This is Brittany. She has been such a light in my life ever since our first miscarriage in 2024. Her genuine care is appreciated beyond what words can express. [with Louis, born 1/5/26]

Christi’s Story

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 Christi’s that was both simple and profound.

“I was looking for someone who was willing to get to know me,” Christi said.

Initial appointments with previous providers seemed quick, mechanical, uninspiring. In describing visits with Kay, Christi used words like “safe” and “comfortable.” The pace of appointments slowed. There was time for thoughtful discussion. And when the first-time mom wasn’t sure what questions she should ask, Kay stepped in and asked questions of Christi.

With Kay’s assistance, Christi experienced a healthy pregnancy and delivery with her first, Miles. It was the same with her second child, Emmie, although the experience was slightly different: Christi gave birth at the height of the Covid pandemic. But the patient-provider relationship was forged.

“What developed was a very special connection, like family,” said Christi. “But where it becomes even more special to me was with our third, Maggie.”

Here is Christi’s story:

After confidently carrying and delivering two healthy children, it was in my head that something was going to go wrong with my third pregnancy.  

I was just waiting for it. And it was always there.

Late in the pregnancy, there was a really hot day in late July when I had taken the kids to the beach, and I felt like I was finally able to just relax, just enjoy watching them swim. Giving my full attention to Miles and Emmie. And that turned out to be the last day of just our family of four.

That evening I laid with Emmie, put her to bed, and thought I felt a contraction, but wasn't really sure. I went to bed and woke up very shortly after. I texted Kay (she gives you her phone number, which is so comforting) around 10:00pm, to give her a heads up that I might be having contractions. And just like with Miles and Emmie as well, she texted back right away and told me to get in the shower, which was either going to slow things down or speed things up. After the shower, I texted her it sped things up.

Kay texted, “See you there.”

I think it was around 11:00pm when we got to the hospital. But there it was back in my head again, the fear. I had the feeling I was going to be in labor for days, just because my first two pregnancies went quickly, two natural deliveries. It also didn’t help that there was a bit of a delay getting checked in. Kay ended that quickly (“She’s in labor. She’s going to have this baby.”), so I didn’t have to advocate for myself.

They got me into the room, and Kay was going through my checklist of things that were important to me, like getting the tub started, putting the lavender in, letting the nurses know I’d prefer not to have an IV unless necessary, just preparing the room for me.

Despite all this, there’s me, simply feeling not ready. Scared about the whole thing. Telling Kay I didn’t think I could go through it again. Thinking about an epidural, and that from someone who always had a preference for holistic, natural births.

And so, in that moment of desperation, panic and nervousness, Kay somehow got me to shake it off. It was, ‘You've got this. You are not weak; you are super strong. You're gonna get through this, and you're gonna be holding your baby soon.’

Exactly what I needed to hear.

Kay was able to get my brain back to that place where you could revisit what you know about yourself, that you are strong and capable, that you've done this before. I was in the bath maybe 10 minutes. The contractions got stronger and my water broke, and before I could even get up the baby was coming out. Kay’s presence gave me confidence: she understands that our bodies know what to do and trusts that we can be strong.

There was a huge sense of relief after the baby was born, and Kay let me just kind of sit with Maggie on my chest. Nothing felt rushed. She let me do skin to skin for quite a long time afterwards and had me all cleaned up before they even took Maggie off of my chest.

I must say, there's an extra superhuman power I always feel after delivering. We sometimes don't give ourselves enough credit, to be able to really trust ourselves and trust our bodies. Women really are incredible human beings. I don't want to hold a lot over my husband's head, but having three babies naturally, I think, gives me a bit of street cred.

Thinking back on it all, I’m so grateful for Kay, how she guided me in such a gentle manner and had everything ready just how I wanted it, which allowed me to be in control of delivering the way I knew my body could, to reconnect me with the confidence that was always there.

And the fact that Kay got to know me, and to understand the effect that stress and anxiety can have on me, she was able to bring that sense of calm, making the uncertainty of this third pregnancy feel so much better. She always told me there was nothing in my first two pregnancies that indicated anything was going to go wrong in my third.

And she was right. Everything was perfectly fine.

There’s a five-year gap between our second and third. Everything with Maggie, who is now seven months, felt so new again. I’ll never forget when we got home with Maggie. We were literally driving up the driveway and my husband said, ‘This is just how our family was meant to be.’ And it really feels that way.

Maggie was everything we didn't know we needed.

Kay, Maggie, Emmie & Miles

Shannon's Story

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 a pregnancy after loss, the delivery of my daughter, and the reassurance and extra care she provided when I had some initial postpartum complications.

But what stands out to me even more was my 6-week postpartum appointment with her. I had to bring my newborn along with me as we live here in the area with no family in very close proximity. The baby was fussy and hungry and despite trying to get her comfortable until after the appointment I had to feed her during our wait.

Dr. Swift walked into the room to me — without pants to prep for my IUD insertion, with a baby feeding on my chest, and I’m sure a general appearance of a mom just trying to keep it together. She gave me extended time and a whole lot of grace.

During the appointment I apologized for having to bring the fussy baby and explained that we didn’t have a “village” just down the road. As the appointment was ending the baby again began to fuss, and Dr. Swift immediately swept in, picked the baby up and walked her around the clinic to visit with the nurses to allow me a few minutes to gather myself.

That simple moment meant more than I can say, and I am so grateful to have Dr. Swift in our “village.”

Jerica's Story

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 said. “I will never pass down an opportunity to talk about Kay. That's how much I love her.”

It was instantly clear that Jerica was a force of nature, so I did exactly what my parents taught me to do when encountering such a presence: I listened, learned, and got out of the way.

Here are some of the highlights from our 30-minute conversation:

• I’m Puerto Rican, and my abuela still goes out to the garden, picks some herbs and crushes them into a tea to cure an upset stomach. I love the way our families and elders have, how do I say, a more natural path. But I get that modern medicine is also important. Blending those together, the traditional and the modern, that’s what works for me. I think that’s why I decided to go with a midwife. And I chose Kay.
• When I first met Kay I was instantly hooked: her attitude, her demeanor, how she treats you. It was almost like sitting down and talking with a family member, like an aunt that I'm close with. It was easy to be honest with her.
• Being a mother is the one thing I’ve always wanted. So when I was diagnosed with Hashimoto’s disease, a thyroid disease that can make conceiving more difficult, that was devastating news for me.
• Following the diagnosis, it was suggested I try to take a more natural approach in my diet, to find a healthy balance. Sure, I love salads, but I’m not going to turn down a cheeseburger. I decided to eat what made me happy. And I was pregnant two months later.
• I had HG (hyperemesis gravidarum) with my first. Sick my entire pregnancy. Lost a lot of weight. I was at Women’s Care all the time, getting IV’s because I was so dehydrated. The nurses were all fantastic! (Shout out to Diane, who was like my best friend through all of it!)
• I had HG with my second pregnancy. And again with my third, delivered last November.
• Because of the constant nausea, I would be freaking out all the time. ‘Is this baby going to be okay?’ Kay was always like, ‘Your baby's so happy in there, just dancing around!” We had extra ultrasounds to make sure, not just because I was sick but also because I was over the age of 35, and you’re considered “geriatric.”
• Yeah, geriatric. We gotta change that name.
• I would have loved to have a midwife at home, but I guess there’s always a worry about complications. Again, it's the blending of two worlds, so I was getting that personal midwife feel but in the hospital setting.
• When I was laboring, Kay was walking the floor with me. When I’d have contractions, she'd be standing in front of me, counting them out with me. My first daughter was born on Christmas, so we spent Christmas Eve and Christmas morning together!
• For all three, Kay always asked what my goals were with the pregnancy, what my birth plans were. First off, my birth plan was no plan at all, because if I plan something out and it doesn’t go accordingly, that's just going to stress me out. My goals were to go as natural as possible. I didn't want laughing gas. I didn't want an epidural. I wasn’t opposed to their use if needed, but I wanted to be encouraged to go natural. And Kay's like, ‘Sounds great!’ And I wanted to avoid a C-section. ‘Okay, cool!’ But if she was to say to me, ‘Jerica, you need to get a C-section,’ then we’d get a C-section. I wanted a safe delivery, a healthy baby, and a healthy me, but Kay’s the expert and I needed her to tell me when we were at that line, because I don't know.
• I was just talking to my husband about this interview. I think he wanted to be in on it, because he loves Kay too. And he’s been so great. He's so supportive. He’s always like, “Hey, you’re the one giving birth. Just tell me what you need from me. More specifically, what you don’t want me to do. And I’ll make sure I don’t do that.’ He went with me to every single appointment and got to see Kay every time.
• On my Facebook mom groups, when people are looking for a provider, I tell them this: GO TO KAY! GO TO KAY!
• Are we done having kids? Yes, we are done. Done.

Chelsea's Gender Reveal Story

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 fun and emotional gender reveal!

 And a picture:

Then we just wanted more details.

And a generous mom gave us just that.

This is Chelsea’s Story:

Let me set the stage for Zayn’s gender reveal by starting with our first, Kenzie, who will be five in April. We were going to find out the gender at a little party, not at the anatomy scan. Therefore, the sonographer had me and my husband close our eyes when she was checking the genital area. Later, she asked us to close our eyes a second time, and she checked again. So when we found out that we were having a girl at our gender reveal, the double check experience was in our minds.

Fast forward to the anatomy scan for our second, and again we didn’t want to know the gender at this time. The same sonographer did the double check thing again, exactly like when we had our daughter. A tip off.

They wrote it on a sticky note and folded it up, but we knew. It was going to be a girl.

Soon after, a friend convinced us our suspicions were correct.

‘I’ve got three boys,’ she said, ‘and I never had to have a double check for any of them. You’re having a girl.’

And now a little backstory. We struggled with infertility, or, as Dr. Reed calls it, subfertility. So there was a lot of extra stress and effort and emotions that went into creating our family. While we were going to be happy with either a girl or a boy, we were kind of hoping for a boy, because if we had two girls, we were probably going to try for a boy. It was just going to take some of the pressure off of us with our third child.

Anyway, the gender reveal party was only a few days removed from this whole discussion, a party we wanted to be as unique as our daughter’s was (fireworks on NYE!), something that went beyond a blue or pink cake.

My Packer-loving husband liked the idea of having a Packer theme. Why not have it on a game day? And since the draft was coming to Green Bay the following spring, why not do the reveal like a draft pick?

So we filled up a private room at a local establishment with family and friends, and when the time was just right, and we were on the clock, we silenced the crowd with the sound of the ESPN NFL Draft chime. Just to make it official.

‘With the first pick in the 2025 draft,’ my husband said, ‘the Cook family selects . . .’

We opened the envelope and immediately burst into tears.

‘BOY!’ we read.

We could not believe it. We were hysterically happy.

And that struggle with creating our family I mentioned before, well, that all came flooding back. How in 2019 we found out it wasn’t working to create a family on our own. Started with fertility meds, got pregnant, and miscarried right as Covid was starting to shut the world down. Then six months later we got pregnant with our daughter. And because that worked for us, we figured it would work again. For a year or more we were back on the same meds and it wasn’t happening.

So we did more.

IUI was the next step. We took it as a sign when my husband’s company changed health insurance to include fertility coverage. This was going to be our year! Starting in January of 2024, we did four rounds of IUI and they all failed. IVF was going to be next. And we were all in for that.

After the fourth failed IUI, we didn’t do medications for the next month. You wait for your period to start again, and then the first step is birth control. So we’re doing all this IVF stuff, labs and prep work, just waiting for my period, and guess what? It doesn’t come. I take a pregnancy test. And I’m pregnant. Just as I was about to start an IVF cycle. That definitely added to the emotions of gratitude and gratefulness.

We’re Christian and give all the glory to God. We believe that he creates these little miracles, and he had this story written for us. He wanted to challenge us.

And He sure did.

Mom’s Note #1: Back to the Packers. While we had already picked the name Zayn, my husband’s head was stuck on Jayden. Yes, the very name of one of his favorites on the Packers, Jayden Reed. I wasn’t so sure. When our son was born we just couldn't decide right away, so he went three hours without a name.

My husband left it up to me. Jayden’s a good name, but it just wasn't our boy.

Mom’s Note #2: KF is Kathy Feldkamp, our ultrasound sonographer. Thank you so much, Kathy, for being part of our special gender reveal!

This and top image by Sara Jean Photography

BOY!!

Courtney's Story

Doctors often don’t receive the recognition they deserve. My experience with Dr. Johnson was truly life-changing and has significantly improved my quality of life.

In October of 2023, I was diagnosed with cervical cancer. I was fortunate that it was caught early and treated surgically. As with any surgery, there are risks and potential complications—you just never expect to be the one it happens to. During surgery, my bladder suffered nerve damage. I lost the sensation to know when I needed to urinate and had difficulty initiating voiding leading to urinary retention.

I tried pelvic floor therapy with little improvement. I saw other urology specialists, underwent testing, and was eventually told I had a neurogenic bladder—and that there was nothing that could be done. I was told catheterization would eventually be my reality. I was led to believe that was simply the path I was given.

For about a year, I stepped away from appointments and tried to live my life. But by mid-2025, it was becoming increasingly difficult to urinate and, without sensation, I often forgot to even remind myself to go. Then, by what truly feels like divine intervention, I was scrolling Facebook and came across Women’s Care and Dr. Johnson’s bio. I had never considered a urogynecologist as someone who could help me—but I took a leap of faith and scheduled an appointment the next day.

That first appointment left me hopeful. Dr. Johnson was incredibly knowledgeable about everything I had been through. The visit wasn’t rushed. I felt truly heard and respected. He made vulnerable, personal topics feel like any other normal conversation. And most importantly—he had a potential treatment option. Something I had been told did not exist.

He introduced me to InterStim, a surgical implant essentially functioning as a pacemaker for the bladder. He explained everything thoroughly, and I left without unanswered questions. In November, I underwent the trial and permanent placement surgeries. To my surprise and relief, the InterStim worked. The surgeries were uncomplicated and straightforward, and the device restored significant bladder function. It has reduced urinary retention, helped preserve my kidney health, and—most meaningfully—allowed me to live without alarms dictating when I need to use the bathroom.

Because of Dr. Johnson, this is the most normal my body has felt in the last two years. This experience has not only helped heal my physical body, but has also helped me process and move through some of the trauma of the past. I am incredibly grateful for Dr. Johnson and the care he provided. His expertise, compassion, and willingness to listen made all the difference in my healing journey.

Remi’s Story

There are stories that change the shape of your life. And then there are stories that become the shape of your life. This is one of those.

Our daughter was stillborn. Those words still feel impossible to write, even a year later. Her birth, in some ways, was everything we imagined. And in so many ways, unimaginable. The story of Remi’s birth began like so many others. I began laboring at home, and after a few hours we headed to the hospital, diaper bag and car seat in tow. When we arrived, the unimaginable happened.

The nurse couldn’t find her heartbeat. It felt like a fever dream. Like our doctor would walk in and say, “Just kidding, let’s have this baby.” But that was anything but true. The moments that followed are ones Andy and I both wish we could forget and never lose at the same time. That has been the theme of this past year: living in duality.

Our doctor was called, and somehow, defying all odds (like she would so many more times), arrived from home in what felt like two minutes. She stepped into action with a kind of care I had never witnessed before. She made sure we were kept away from the sounds of newborn cries and new parents. She ushered us to a quiet room, far from the joys of new parenthood we would be missing.

From there, we were given the time and space to feel exactly what we needed to feel, with support from Dr. Swift and her team to help us make decisions that felt too big to hold. She guided us through grief with kindness, knowledge, and a calm sureness that made us trust every single decision she made. When everything felt out of control, her steadiness mattered more than I can explain.

When it was time, Remi’s birth was quiet and devastating. The room held a kind of silence that wasn’t empty, but heavy with meaning. Time moved strangely. Everything went slowly and too fast at once. What could have been chaos was instead held by an extraordinary care team.

Nurses who moved gently.

A doctor who treated her not as a loss, but as a person.

As our daughter.

As someone who mattered.

They honored her life, even in death. They honored us as parents. They gave dignity to a moment that could have been clinical and cold, and instead made it human, sacred, and compassionate. That kind of care changes you. It stays with you. It becomes part of your healing.

There is no language that fully captures what it feels like to give birth and not hear a cry. To hold your baby and know the world will never meet her the way you imagined. There is nothing that can prepare you for coming home to a quiet house when you planned for the exact opposite. The crib meant for little toes, empty. The halls meant for midnight cries, silent. The onesies neatly folded, never worn.

Your body feels the effects of having a baby, but your arms are empty. Nights are sleepless for a different reason. Hugs are for consolation instead of congratulations. And through all of it, we were not alone. Our family. Our friends. Our support system. People who showed up without needing words, who honored Remi and grieved with us without trying to fix either. That kind of love is rare. We will never be able to thank our army enough.

Today, on January 27th, we celebrate her first birthday.

In the last year, it hasn’t gotten easier. It hasn’t healed everything. Our grief hasn’t disappeared. We still miss Remi every day. But we celebrate her because she is the baby who made us parents. She matters. She changed us. No matter the length of a life, it can still leave an imprint that lasts forever. She is our first child. She is Otto’s sister. She is part of our family story forever. We do not move on from her. We move forward with her.

Happy first birthday, sweet girl. You are known. You are loved. You are remembered. You are part of everything we are becoming.

Educational Note on Stillbirth and Umbilical Cord Length: Stillbirth affects about 1 in 175 pregnancies in the United States. It is a loss that often arrives without warning and without a clear explanation, even when parents have done everything “right.” In Remi’s case, we later learned that her umbilical cord was nearly three times the average length. While the typical umbilical cord is around 20–24 inches, hers was significantly longer. This can increase the risk of cord entanglement or compression, which can disrupt oxygen and blood flow to the baby. What makes this especially painful is that umbilical cord length and related risks cannot be reliably seen or predicted on ultrasound. There was nothing we could have done to prevent this, and nothing that could have been detected ahead of time. Stillbirth is not caused by stress, diet, movement, or a parent’s choices. Sometimes, tragically, it is the result of circumstances beyond anyone’s control. We share this not to explain away Remi, but to honor her story with truth, and to remind other parents that this kind of loss is not a personal failure.

For Remi: Remi, you changed us forever. You made us parents. You made us softer, braver, and more aware of how fragile and miraculous love is. We carry you in the way we love Otto, in the way we notice small things, in the way we hold joy and grief side by side. We miss you every single day, in quiet moments and loud ones, in ordinary Tuesdays and in the milestones that ache. Your birthday will always be sacred to us. You are part of our family, part of our story, part of who we are becoming. We love you beyond language, beyond time, beyond what we can see. Happy first birthday, sweet girl. You are here, with us, always.

If you are reading this and carrying a loss of your own, I want you to know that your baby matters. Your grief is real. Your love is real. And the relationship you have with your child does not end because their life was brief. We are learning that grief does not disappear, but it changes shape. Remi is part of us. She is part of our family. She is part of who we are becoming.

And so are the babies who changed you.

Megan's Story

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; somehow, I think it was just meant to be. My original OB was unavailable when I went into labor with my first. I was going to be induced and ended up going in a little bit early. Kay happened to be the provider that was on call. And she was just amazing. I ended up delivering a baby that was two pounds heavier than we predicted. Ten pounds. But no tearing or any issues, which is unheard of with a baby that size.

Anyway, Kay was absolutely wonderful. She and my husband really hit it off too, so it was like, ‘Alright, we’re going to keep you!’ We got lucky and Kay was able to deliver my second. She’s so amazing. She listens. She’s personable. She brings the calm.

Which is good, because you’re anxious when you’re in labor. I remember when my first got stuck, I got to swearing. Kay was like, ‘It’s okay, breathe. Just breathe.’ Then I’d swear some more, apologize, and she’d just laugh!

Kay recently delivered our third, after a five-year gap. We really weren’t sure if we were going to have another, but we were lucky and got pregnant. And it was perfect, again. So, we’ve got a seven-year-old, a six-year-old and a four-month-old.

Our four-month-old, Ellie, slept four hours straight last night, so maybe that’s why I offered a testimonial while driving this morning. I wanted to give Kay a good shout out today.

Yesterday this conversation might not have happened.

Erika's Story

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 “safe” for Stella to be born.

I was only 26 weeks pregnant and had been diagnosed with severe preeclampsia. We worked hard to keep Stella in as long as possible, hoping to reach at least 28 weeks. That morning, I suddenly could not breathe. Each breath felt shallow and panicked. When I complained of chest pain, my OB at Women’s Care of Wisconsin, Dr. Sara Swift, responded immediately. She listened. She acted.

An X-ray soon revealed a dangerous amount of fluid building up in my lungs, and it quickly became clear that this was a life-or-death situation. From that moment on, everything moved fast, but Dr. Swift never wavered. Her confidence, knowledge, and calm presence are what carried me through the most terrifying hours of my life.

As I was rushed into surgery and prepared for an emergency C-section, she reassured me again and again that I was going to be okay, and that Stella was going to be okay too. In a moment where fear threatened to take over, she provided steady leadership and small, but powerful, moments of hope that I will never forget. At 2:49 PM, Stella Lane was born. 1 pound, 15.8 ounces. 13.49 inches.

She did not cry.

She was immediately placed in the hands of the NICU team, and I did not get to see her face or hold her right away. It was not the beginning I had imagined, but it was the beginning of her fight. The first time I saw and touched my daughter was fourteen hours later. She was impossibly small, just under two pounds, yet already incredibly strong.

Our journey included 83 days in the NICU, a season that challenged us in ways we never expected. What sustained us throughout this experience were the people who walked alongside us. From the OB and labor and delivery nurses at Women’s Care of Wisconsin who helped save my life, to the NICU nurses and respiratory therapists who cared for Stella with such compassion, we were surrounded by extraordinary medical professionals who treated us with skill, humanity, and genuine care.

After delivery, Dr. Swift continued to monitor me closely for months, ensuring that my recovery was progressing safely and that my health was truly stable. Her commitment to my care did not end with delivery, and that ongoing support meant more to me than words can express.

The day Stella finally came home felt surreal, like stepping into a life we had been afraid to imagine for so long. Today, Stella is a perfectly healthy seven-month-old. She requires no oxygen, no feeding tube, and has no long-lasting effects from her early arrival. She is in the 50th percentile for weight and the 90th for height, strong, curious, and full of life. She amazes us every single day.

I still carry pieces of this experience with me, but each day brings more healing and more gratitude. Because of the care we received at Women’s Care of Wisconsin, both my daughter and I are doing great today. We will always be grateful to Dr. Swift, the entire team at Women’s Care of Wisconsin, our labor and delivery nurses, and the incredible Children’s NICU staff for the care that changed our lives forever.

Jane’s Story of Resilience

“Hearing those words, ‘You have cancer,’ can turn your world upside down,” said Jane, as she reflected on her journey through ThedaCare, starting with Women’s Care of Wisconsin’s Dr. Valary Gass.

Jane acknowledged that she may not be representative of the typical patient whose stories are shared in our blog, but she was strongly inclined to recognize Dr. Gass’ influence upon her journey.

This is Jane's life-changing story:

In early 2020, I started to experience symptoms such as irregular and excessive spotting, despite being post-menopausal. Unfortunately, ignoring the symptoms was compatible with my approach towards gynecology, as my experiences with past practitioners have been less than positive. However, it came to a point where I could no longer ignore the possibility that I may have cancer (my ultimate diagnosis was endometrial cancer).

After seeing my primary in Waupaca, it was recommended that I see a provider in the Valley. Not being familiar with any ob/gyn providers, I checked the Women’s Care site and saw Dr. Gass’ profile, thinking, she looked kind, accepting. I noticed her warm smile.

During my first appointment with Dr. Gass, I was immediately put at ease. It turns out that her smile was sincere, and reflective of her compassion and generous nature. Before initiating any procedure, she took the time to listen intently and acknowledge any potential concerns. She did not judge or try to negate any former experiences that I presented. She reassured me that I had autonomy and control. It felt like she was partnering with me, rather than directing me through the process.

In order to feel more comfortable through the procedure of taking a biopsy, she reminded me that nitrous oxide (“laughing gas”) was an available option, and I should not feel ashamed for easing the discomfort. And so, I did accept the aid, again feeling reassured by her approach.

During the procedure, Dr. Gass walked me through each step, explaining in detail, with a calm and reassuring voice.

After the procedure was completed and the sample collected, I was given time to gather myself. Dr. Gass brought the sample to me, so I could see the abnormality.

She said in a gentle, but direct tone, ‘You may want to prepare yourself; this looks suspicious to me,’ while holding up the vial. ‘These cells may be cancerous.’

Her approach boosted my trust, which made all the difference in how I participated in my treatment. I knew I had to prepare and empower myself for the steps ahead. I felt confident that I could take on the challenge.

Dr. Gass later called to validate her suspicions, and again did not sugarcoat or distract as she laid out the recommendations. Before ending the call, she took the time to ensure that I understood what she had said, and asked if I was doing okay emotionally. Again, her sincerity and compassion evident.

And so I began the five-year process through ThedaCare Oncology, which was as good of an experience as it could be. All of the providers there, also competent and caring. After graduating from oncology, I was referred back to gynecology, and chose to return to Dr. Gass’ care.

I just recently saw her for my five-year marker and she acknowledged my recovery with enthusiasm, and that warm-hearted smile, sharing how truly happy she was for me. Her validation meant a lot, as I reflected on the very start of my journey. It was the spring of 2020, which was also the start of Covid, a very dark time for all of us, patients and providers alike. I remain grateful to the professionals within the ThedaCare system who were assigned to my care; they were always professional and supportive.

I have learned much about myself along the way. I am more resilient than I thought I was. I have a different perspective on life and my relationships, and I have learned to take better care of myself, physically and emotionally.

I have been retired for nearly two years now and feel grateful for the gifts of time and freedom. I adopted a 5-pound Chihuahua, named Quinn, who is my companion as I venture into all things nature related. Spending time among trees, kayaking on still waters, biking down a path, seeking adventures while camping. Quinn is my constant companion through it all. She seems to love riding with me on my moped most of all, as she has a vantage point of all of the rabbits and squirrels in the neighborhood, keeping tabs.

Looking back, I can say that I am truly blessed.

Leah's Story

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 like I’m not a very good speaker.

When I found out I was pregnant, I went with a provider that was in the same system as my primary. I was thinking about working with a midwife but I found the location where I was going only had OB’s. No midwives. So I thought, ‘Well, whatever, I’m sure it’s fine.’

One thing I did know was that I wanted a doula. So when I hired one, she helped explain the difference between an OB and a midwife and encouraged me to look around and see what else was out there. After doing more research and reading some pregnancy books, I felt confident that I wanted to try a midwife first, as long as I stayed low risk. It seemed more my style.

One of my girlfriends, who did a ton of research and was looking to do a VBAC, had looked into all kinds of places and did a ton of consultations and decided to go with an OB at Women’s Care of Wisconsin. She told me she really liked them, and her recommendation sparked me to call.

Now, I have a hard time picking a provider based on a video or a written bio because you never really know until you meet them in person, so when I called I simply said I was interested in a consultation with a midwife who is accepting patients or is nearby. I live in Kaukauna and went with the Appleton location because it was closer; that’s how I got with Jenny. I hadn’t even looked up anything about her at all!

I was definitely more prepared for this appointment than I was for the one with the OB, and part of that was because I had better questions to ask this time around. Women’s Care was very different from the place I'd been at previously. It was warm and welcoming instead of cold and sterile feeling. The nurse who first spoke with me and went through a ton of materials with me was awesome, and they gave me printed materials! I like having printed materials, not just digital documents sent to my phone.

When Jenny came in, she also went through a ton of information, and then she let me ask whatever questions I had. At the previous place, the appointments seemed a little rushed, kind of like they were just checking some boxes. Jenny answered all my questions really thoroughly. We were nearing the end of our appointment and I said, ‘I have a few more questions, but if you have to go . . .’

Jenny was awesome and said, “No, no, no, you keep going!”

I will also say I was very nervous early on about the birth plan and delivery day, because people kept telling me my plan can be whatever I want. That was frustrating to hear because it’s my first time—I don’t really know what I want, how this works, or even what my options are.

I brought that up to Jenny, and she explained that I didn’t need to know the plan right away, that it was something you figure out later in the third trimester. So that made me feel relieved. And then she mentioned how it's important to not be too tied to your plan anyway because things sometimes don’t go the way you think they will.

Or as Jenny said, “Baby’s gonna do what baby’s gonna do.” 

And I don't know why, but that just made me feel better. Like, I didn't need to have every part of my plan figured out to a T, or have a Plan B for every scenario. I could hope for the best and then just trust that my care team has me and my baby’s well-being as their top priority and will help me figure it out if something changes. I talked about that with my therapist, and she told me to give myself permission to not think bad thoughts about giving birth. So, I just didn't think about it. And that was great and gave me some relief for a few months.

That worked until month 8 . . . then it was, ‘Okay, this is going to happen.’

I shared all my anxieties with Jenny along the way. She never laughed at me or my questions. I definitely shed some tears in those appointments. She was so patient with me, so good at explaining my options and providing recommendations when I asked, and always explaining the reasoning behind what she thought was best for me.

And now we have Averi. Born eight pounds three ounces and now she's ten pounds seven ounces. She's doing awesome. Of course she has her fussy moments where you have to figure it out, but she's a really great baby😊.

MaKaela's Story

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 throughout my pregnancy journey. Everything went really well with my pregnancy, labor, and delivery. I felt very attached to the whole experience. And that’s when I found out they were closing their OB Department, so I was not able to see Jenny for my six-week postpartum checkup.

I kind of felt like I never got closure from that, and it made me really sad. But I was determined to keep an eye out, because I was going to follow Jenny wherever she went. I searched her all the time and when I found out she was joining Women’s Care of Wisconsin, I made an appointment right away because I was due for a checkup.

Anyway, I live in Neshkoro, and everything is kind of far away from me. I was driving 50 minutes to my appointments with Jenny for our first visits; now I was adding another half hour to that drive to get to Appleton, but getting back to Jenny was worth it. And I got closure from that first chapter.

Then I got pregnant with my second; she was just born in June. I went into this second pregnancy with a lot more confidence, although we got a bit of a scare at the 20-week ultrasound, as my baby seemed not to be growing quite as much as she needed to (borderline fetal growth restriction). Luckily, she stayed above that threshold so that I was able to stay with Jenny, and everything went great from there.

Jenny's so good at bringing calm to situations. I remember during my first pregnancy I was so nervous I couldn’t even think of questions to ask her because everything was so new to me. And I would go home and Google stuff and be so scared. There was one appointment where just I broke down in tears asking her all these questions, and she made me feel so much better.

Honestly, when I’m with Jenny I feel like I'm being taken care of by my own mother. She has such a gentle manner.

Paige's Story

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 marked by sickness and the uncertainty that comes with being a younger mom. Through it all, Dr. Gass was a steady, compassionate presence. She was always confident, comforting, and supportive in every way. When it came time to be induced, I was anxious about the unknowns of labor, but she helped calm my fears and made me believe I could do it. And she was right there by my side every step of the way.

Just one year later, I became pregnant with my second daughter. This time, my pregnancy came with new challenges, as I was diagnosed with IUGR and needed to be induced at 38 weeks. Once again, Dr. Gass was amazing — she explained everything clearly, reassured me, and helped me feel completely at ease. Thanks to her care, I delivered another healthy baby girl, and I’ll always be grateful for her guidance and support.

In October 2024, I found out I was pregnant again. Sadly, that pregnancy ended in miscarriage. It was one of the hardest experiences I’ve faced, but Dr. Gass was exactly what I needed during that time. She made me feel seen, heard, and truly cared for. She never rushed me through appointments and provided both medical and emotional support in the most compassionate way possible.

Then, in 2025, I found out I was expecting again. After what I had just gone through, I was anxious and fearful, but Dr. Gass went above and beyond to help me feel supported. She encouraged me to come in for check-ins anytime I needed reassurance, which gave me so much peace of mind. In August, I delivered my third baby (a boy) once again, I was diagnosed with IUGR and needed to be induced at 37 weeks. I felt confident knowing that Dr. Gass was there. She guided me through everything just like she always had.

When my son had to spend time in the NICU, she continued to check in on not just me, but him as well — a small gesture that meant the world to me during such a vulnerable time.

Dr. Gass has been my doctor, my steady hand, and a true source of comfort through every pregnancy, loss, and new beginning. She is genuinely one of a kind, and I tell her all the time she’s simply the best.

Jennie's Story

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 story of how they came together, and why Jennie wouldn’t have it any other way:

Now this was a different place mind you, and I was originally assigned to a different midwife through the first half of my pregnancy. She ended up leaving, and we got put with Jenny, which ended up being the best thing that could have happened.

I wasn’t high risk, so I really didn’t see the first midwife that often and hadn’t developed a close relationship with her. It was at my 20-week appointment where I was told I’d have to switch. I was a bit hesitant since I had already started, but once I saw Jenny and was able to meet with her, I was super happy. I'm so glad it went the way it did, and I know in the long run it truly was a better fit.

I was able to do a water birth there with Jenny, which was my plan all along. I mean, there were a number of different things I wanted to do, but things don’t always go to plan, so I was open-minded in that respect. But with Jenny, I felt like everything I expressed interested in trying during pregnancy, labor and delivery she was open to. She just let me kind of have my journey but then also stepped in when necessary, giving me recommendations along the way.

I asked questions and she never made me feel like I wasn't important or what I wanted didn't matter. If she had an idea about something, it was like, ‘Okay, what about this?’ It wasn't, ‘This is what we have to do.’ I just loved that about her. She was so easy-going and soft-spoken, and our personalities just meshed well. I think not being pressured into doing certain things for me was a big thing, because there were important things I didn't want to teeter on, and I felt like she supported me in that way, and that's what I really needed.

Anyway, I ended up laboring for five or six hours, and we did the water birth. It was the best experience ever. Later we found that Jenny moved after they closed the department, but I was watching to see where she would end up, because we were planning on having another baby and I was going to follow her as long as it was close. Jenny joined Women’s Care in Appleton, so that was no big deal for us to travel from Oshkosh to see her.

Now fast forward to my second. There wasn’t going to be a water birth because no hospitals in the area do that. So it was going to be different no matter what. I knew how well it went the first time for me, and I wanted things to go well this time too. Jenny kept reassuring me, telling me things were going to be faster and easier. My first thought was, well, you don’t know that, but okay, I’ll go with it.

Well, things did go faster and were easier. I mean, it was definitely different, but it was great. So both different and both the same, right?

Looking back on my first, and not really being sure about anything, I still 100% knew I wanted to go with a midwife. Obviously, if you're high risk you are suggested to go to an OB. But I did a lot of research to see what was going to be the best fit for me. I actually had a client who was previously a midwife, and I got to talk to her about the experience. So I knew that’s the road I wanted to go down, and kind of a non-negotiable.

For me, it was going the more natural route, with less medication. And I liked the fact of being in a hospital so if interventions were needed, they were available. But I liked that I could do everything on my own, in my own time. Nothing was pressured or pushed on me. For me, the midwife was just the way to go.

I tell everybody if they've had a poor experience, anywhere, with anyone, just try a midwife. It’s such a different experience. Obviously it's not the right fit for everybody, but I just feel like it is for many people. It can be such a great way to go.

That’s my general recommendation, anyway. My specific one is Jenny Taubel. If being heard and listened to is important to you, Jenny’s perfect.

I'm so glad she was able to deliver both my babies.

Justine's Story

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, I wanted to get established with a new OB here, to kind of get a fresh set of eyes on things.

My sister was pregnant, and she was already seeing Dr. Schaufelberger. She had great things to say about her. So I thought, ‘Let’s give her a try then!’

We had done a lot of fertility treatments over that span, and nothing was working. We'd had a couple of losses. We decided to try IVF. That same week I scheduled my first appointment with Dr. Schaufelberger and she reviewed everything.

She was just great, so upbeat. She looked at everything and I specifically remember her saying, “I don't see anything wrong. You should be having babies, but let’s get a plan in place.”

In that same visit, she asked me if I wanted to take a pregnancy test. And I was like, ‘Well, I'm a little late, but it's been four and a half years, so I’m probably not pregnant, but sure.’ She left the room and I started gathering my things, when all of a sudden she barges back in and screams, “You're pregnant!”

I couldn’t believe it.  And she gave me the biggest hug. I think she was just as joyous as I was. She was so excited and happy for us. It felt like it was meant to be, that she was supposed to be in my life at that exact moment.

But even if it didn’t happen then, Dr. Schaufelberger was so confident we’d get there, that we were going do what we needed to do and figure it out.

Obviously with the struggle we had to conceive, during the first pregnancy I was terrified of losing the baby. But Dr. Schaufelberger was always very positive and her confidence continued to assure me. Any question I had, there was no judgment, simply, “This is what we’re going to do.” And everything just fell into place.

Pregnancy was great. Loved being pregnant. Millie came out fast, no complications. With our second, Addie, same thing, although she was two pounds bigger, so perhaps a little more complicated (chuckles), but everything went really well. Dr. Schaufelberger delivered both. I’m pregnant with our third now.

In a couple of days she’s delivering this one too.

There’s so much to love about Dr. Schaufelberger. I’m a clinical professional myself, so I appreciate her always being on top of the latest research. She's super friendly and supportive. She’s intelligent. She exudes confidence.

And you know she’s got your back.