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Why a midwife might be right for you
By Jane Vesel
A midwife is a health care provider that specializes in caring for women of all ages and backgrounds. While they have an emphasis on pregnancy, childbirth and reproductive health, midwives offer a full range of primary health care services from adolescence to menopause and beyond. Whether you’re expecting or just seeking out primary care, a midwife may be the right choice for you.
Extensive training
There are three different types of midwives: certified nurse-midwives, certified midwives and certified professional midwives. Most midwives in the United States are certified nurse-midwives. These are registered nurses who midwifery, with a majority holding a master’s degree or above. They are certified by the American Midwifery Certification Council and independently licensed to safely prescribe medications, treatments and care for women and children. This can include preconception, pregnancy and postpartum care; birth control services; newborn care; and a wide array of primary and gynecological services. Some midwives even have additional training to assist with caesarean sections in the operating room, among other procedures.
Collaborative practice
Although midwives are independently licensed, most states require them to have a collaborative practice agreement. In terms of pregnancy, this allows them to call upon obstetricians and internal fetal medicine doctors for emergency assistance if complications arise. have received an advanced degree in
For example, midwives from Heartland Women’s Healthcare rely on a collaborative practice with physicians at Progress West Hospital to provide consultation and a referral source. They work together to provide whatever mom and baby need for their safety.
Personalized approach
Many women seek out midwives for their personalized approach, natural childbirth expertise and focus on minimizing interventions and medications. That being said, it doesn’t mean their pregnant patients won’t have epidurals – in fact, many do. Another common misconception is that midwives only deliver at home, which is not the case. About 85 percent of certified
nurse-midwives deliver in a hospital setting like Progress West Hospital. Their approach is focused on optimizing the birth experience by working together towards whatever the woman and her family have in mind for their care.
At Progress West Hospital, midwives work alongside physicians and nurses to care for women of all ages, types and risk factors and to promote natural interventions that maximize the health of the mom and baby.
Jane Vesel is a doctorally prepared nurse-midwife with Heartland Women’s Healthcare. She sees patients in her Wentzville office. You can schedule an appointment with Jane by calling 618- 997-5266.
COVID-19 drive-through testing available in St. Charles County Sept. 17-19
The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS) and Missouri National Guard will perform drive-through polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing for COVID-19 from Sept. 17-19 on the parking lot of the Family Arena, 2002 Arena Parkway in St. Charles. The tests are free and open to any Missouri resident during the following times: • 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., Thursday, Sept. 17 • 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., Friday, Sept. 18 • 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday, Sept. 19
“Testing continues as an extremely important step in the response to manage COVID-19 in this community,” says St. Charles County Department of Public Health Director Demetrius Cianci-Chapman. “The more testing that is done – on symptomatic as well as asymptomatic residents – the more we learn about how this disease spreads and how prevalent it is in our communities. We appreciate this opportunity to have additional free and convenient testing options for St. Charles County residents.”
Online registration is recommended and available through the DHSS website at health.mo.gov/communitytest or by calling the Missouri COVID-19 Hotline at 877-435-8411. Registrants will be scheduled in 15-minute appointment blocks. Upon arrival at the testing site, participants will be asked questions, including symptoms they may have. Members of the National Guard will assist participants in collecting a self-administered nasal swab, and the specimen will be sent to a laboratory for processing. Patients will be notified of their results.
Participants must be Missouri residents however, they do not need to be residents of the county where they are tested. Individuals do not need to be experiencing COVID-19 symptoms to be eligible for the test, and a physician’s order or proof of insurance are not required.
Along with the testing in St. Charles County, additional community testing sites are open throughout the state from Sept. 14-19, and other dates are being scheduled. More than 50 counties throughout Missouri have hosted community testing efforts to assist public health officials in learning more about the prevalence of COVID-19 in the state.
The St. Charles City-County Library will no longer charge fines for late materials, and customer accounts have been cleared of existing late fines. Fine-free status is now available on all books, DVDs, CDs, eResources, magazines, and materials from the “Library of Things” - cake pans, WiFi hotspots, and more.
Jason Kuhl, Director of the St. Charles City-County Library says, “While researching the idea of offering a fine-free library to the community, we discovered that although fines do not represent a significant portion of the library’s overall budget, they do act as a significant deterrent for those most in need of a library.”
Research shows overdue fines disproportionately affect children, older adults, disabled and homebound customers and lower-income households.
“The library is committed to serving all customers, whatever their age or economic status,” says Kuhl. “In addition, as COVID-19 has created upheaval in the economy, many are experiencing financial hardship as a result. By eliminating overdue fines, the library hopes to help alleviate one area of potential financial stress for library customers.”
Based on statistics at other fine-free libraries, the St. Charles City-County Library expects to see an increase in the number of new library cards and an increase in the number of materials that are checked out. In addition, libraries who have gone fine-free are not seeing an increase in lost items.
“We actually anticipate that we will have fewer lost items, because customers who were afraid to return a late item
The organization’s co-founder and chairman, Cicardi A. Bruce, added, “The time capsule will preserve the memories and moments 200 years later when the westward expansion of our nation ushered in the 24th state of Missouri into the union.”
Organizations, institutions, businesses, as well as local and state government agencies in Missouri are invited to participate by contributing three items: one to represent their past, one to represent their present, and a note to future Missourians. Items should measure no larger than 8.5 x 14 inches – i.e., no larger than lewill now be able to do so without financial consequences.” says Kuhl.
Customers will still be responsible for returning items and paying for lost or damaged materials. The library will continue to send notifications and reminders about due dates. If materials are not returned within 28 days of their due date, they will be considered lost and customers will be responsible for replacement costs.
For more information about library cards and available items for checkout,
Bicentennial Time Capsule needs public’s help to document Missouri history
The State Historical Society of Missouri and the St. Louis Ambassadors are teaming up to develop a bicentennial time capsule with a goal to collect items that document Missouri’s past, present and future. The two organizations are asking for public participation in this project.
“Missouri’s bicentennial is an important time for Missourians to look back on our past and use this moment to come together for a better future,” said Richard T. Pisani, President of the Saint Louis Ambassadors, an all-volunteer organization that began when the Gateway Arch neared completion.
please visit myLibrary.org. gal size paper – and combined be no more than a quarter-inch thick. All submissions need to be in printed form and not electronic.
An online registration form is required for all submissions and items should be mailed to the following address: The State Historical Society of Missouri, Attn: Time Capsule, 605 Elm Street, Columbia, MO 65201.
All participants will be notified of their successful submission and receive a certificate for participating in the time capsule. Contributions will be accepted through Aug. 10, 2021, and an event to commemorate the time capsule will be held Aug. 27, 2021 in St. Louis. Once sealed, the time capsule will be housed at the State Historical Society of Missouri until Aug. 10, 2046, when it will be reopened and shared with the public 25 years later.
The State Historical Society of Missouri is the premier research center for the study of Missouri state and local history. Under the Missouri 2021 banner, SHSMO is coordinating a bicentennial commemoration in collaboration with local and statewide entities. The mission of Missouri 2021 is to promote a better understanding of Missouri and its regions, communities and people, both past and present.
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