More babies are being born at Winneshiek Medical Center

There's a baby boom underway at Winneshiek Medical Center.  The Obstetrics Department is reporting an increase in the number of births it has been handling.  There were 182 babies born at the hospital from July 1st of 2011 through June 30th of 2012—an increase of 22 percent from the prior 12-month period.  In the last six months of 2012 births were up 7 percent from the same period in 2011.

Chief Nursing Officer Linda Klimesh says the obstetrics department at the hospital has been a regional draw, with nearly half of the fiscal year 2012 deliveries involving families from outside of Winneshiek County.

For the calendar year of 2012 Winneshiek Medical Center delivered 231 newborns—51 percent  girls and 49 percent boys.  Doctors and midwives delivering babies at the hospital in 2012 were Dr. Kevin Locke, Dr. Tyler Menke, Dr. Sarah Wymer, certified nurse midwife Emily Young Johnson, Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine Matthew Thompson, Dr.  Janet Ryan, Dr. Kristy Schilling and Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine Kurt Swanson.