Obstetrics & Gynecology
The department of Obstetrics and Gynecology is dedicated to providing exceptional care for women well with a full range of women’s health services.
McFarland Clinic strives to provide unparalleled women's healthcare services in Iowa. We deliver expert, compassionate, and understandable care to women of all ages. No matter your healthcare needs, our team of physicians, nurse-midwives, ultrasonographers, nurses, medical assistants, and receptionists are here for you.
OB-GYN providers care for all aspects of women’s health including preventive health, including preventive health, reproductive health, and treatment of common health concerns and conditions. McFarland Clinic’s OB-GYN department has a collaborative practice that is equipped to provide expert care in all aspects of women's healthcare. Our team includes board-certified obstetrician-gynecologists and certified nurse-midwives, and skilled support staff.
We work together with other specialties and your primary care provider to coordinate your care. We take on a comprehensive approach to healthcare, ensuring the best physical, mental, and emotional health for every patient. From routine health exams to specialty services and pregnancy, trust McFarland OB/GYN to give you the exceptional care that you deserve.
Related Services
Locations & Hours
Medical Arts Building Office
1015 Duff Avenue
Ames, IA 50010
Hours
Monday | 8am-5pm |
Tuesday | 8am-5pm |
Wednesday | 8am-5pm |
Thursday | 8am-5pm |
Friday | 8am-5pm |
Hours
Monday | 8am-5pm |
Tuesday | 8am-5pm |
Wednesday | 8am-5pm |
Thursday | 8am-5pm |
Friday | 8am-5pm |
Marshalltown Office
421 East Merle Hibbs Boulevard
Marshalltown, IA 50158
Hours
Please contact the Obstetrics & Gynecology Department for information regarding hours and scheduling for this outreach clinic.Services
Annual Exam & Routine Wellness Services
Routine and preventive care is vital to staying healthy and detecting any potential health concerns or conditions. Prevention also focuses on lowering the risk of common health conditions in women, such as osteoporosis, heart disease, and cancer. Routine health and wellness services include:
- Annual Physical exams
- Pregnancy testing
- Vaccinations
- Sexual health screenings
- STD testing and treatment
- Cancer screenings
- Breast exams, pap smears, etc.
Specialty Women's Health Services
We provide an array of advanced women's health services to address chronic health concerns
and conditions. The most up-to-date laboratory and imaging services are available and
conveniently located in our department or on the adjoining Ames medical campus. These
include ultrasounds, x-rays, digital mammography, and DEXA bone density scannings.
- Genetic screening
- Menopause evaluation and treatment
- Abnormal pap smear evaluation and treatment
- We evaluate abnormal pap results with a colposcopy and diagnose and treat cervical disease with LEEP or cryocautery
- Menstrual disorder evaluation and treatment
- Irregular periods, heavy periods, etc.
- Pelvic pain evaluation
- 3D ultrasound evaluation available for select pregnancy and gynecologic problems
- Endometrial ablation using Novasure
- Hysteroscopy for diagnosis or Myosures for Myomectomy
Family Planning and Pregnancy Services
McFarland Clinic provides
comprehensive family planning services throughout every stage of
care. From preparing for pregnancy to prenatal care through delivery to postpartum care. We
encourage pre-pregnancy counseling to enhance the health of both mother and baby.
Obstetrics deals with normal and high-risk pregnancies, ensuring a delivery that is both as safe and comfortable as possible. We assist with both standard and complex deliveries and are prepared to perform operative deliveries if needed. We also offer a full range of contraceptive options to meet the needs of women of all ages, including safe choices for women with medical conditions.
- Contraception and birth control
- Infertility evaluation
- Prenatal care and delivery: Obstetrics deals with normal and high-risk pregnancies to protect the health of both mother and baby. We assist normal deliveries and are prepared to perform operative deliveries if needed.
- Pregnancy services including:
- Miscarriage
- Initial visit with a prenatal educator for assessment and education
- In-clinic fetal evaluation
- Ultrasound
- Fetal heart monitoring
- Non-stress tests
- Genetic testing
- Group B strep
- Delivery Services
- Cesarean (c-section) deliveries
- Vaginal birth after cesarean (VBAC)
- Vaginal deliveries
- High-risk deliveries
Hospital Delivery Services at Mary Greeley Medical Center
McFarland Clinic OBGYN will deliver your baby at Mary Greeley Medical Center Birthways in Ames, Iowa. Each year more than 1,000 newborns are welcomed into the world at Mary Greeley. See for yourself why so many mothers choose Mary Greeley Birthways in Ames, Iowa for their delivery! Learn more about Mary Greeley Medical Center Birthways >>
Other Services
- Genetic screening
- Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STD) and Sexually Transmitted Infections (STI)
- Abnormal cycles, periods, menstruation
- Surgical treatment
- Menopause evaluation and treatment
- Abnormal pap smear evaluation and treatment: We evaluate abnormal pap results with colposcopy, diagnose and treat cervical disease with LEEP or cryocautery.
- Menstrual disorder evaluation and treatment
- Pelvic pain evaluation
- In-office services
- 3D ultrasound evaluation available for select pregnancy and gynecologic problems
- Endometrial ablation using Novasure
- Hysteroscopy for diagnosis or Myosures for Myomectomy
- In-office procedures
- Ablations
- Hysteroscopy
- Myosure
- Novasure
Surgical Services
Our gynecologic surgeons offer a range of surgical options to manage problems including:
- Abdominal hysterectomy
- Vaginal and laparoscopic hysterectomy
- Robotic hysterectomy
- Laparoscopic removal of ovarian cysts and tumors
- Surgical treatment and surgical staging of cancer
- Surgery for endometriosis
- Surgical treatment of urinary incontinence
Midwifery Services
Whether you just started your period, are pregnant, or are entering menopause, a certified nurse-midwife can guide you through the process. Midwives provide a broad range of health services for women at every stage of life.
Well Women Care
- Annual exams (paps, breast, and pelvic exams)
- STI testing
- Problem gynecology (bleeding, yeast infections, pain)
- Contraceptive counseling and prescriptions
Maternity Services
- Prenatal care
- Labor and Delivery support
- Water therapy
- Birthing balls/stool
- Delivery planning and support
- Breastfeeding support at Mary Greeley Medical Center
- 2-week and 6-week post-delivery office visits
Hallmarks of Midwifery
McFarland's expert, compassionate team of midwives and nurses provides the best comprehensive women's healthcare in Iowa.
- Recognition of pregnancy, birth, and menopause as normal physical and developmental processes.
- Advocacy of not intervening if there are no complications.
- Incorporating scientific evidence into clinical practice.
- Promoting family-centered care.
- Empowerment of women as partners in health care.
- Facilitation of healthy family and interpersonal relationships.
- Promotion of continuity of care.
- Health promotion, disease prevention, and health education.
- Promoting a public health care perspective. Providing care to vulnerable populations.
- Advocacy for informed choice, shared decision-making, and the right to self-determination.
- Cultural competence.
- Familiarity with common complementary and alternative therapies.
- Skillful communication, guidance, and counseling.
- Therapeutic value of human presence
- Collaboration with other members of the health care team.
Meet the Midwives
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Midwifery - Local Statistics
McFarland Midwives* | Iowa All providers** |
National All providers** |
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Vaginal Birth | 86.8% | 70.2% | 68.1% |
Vacuum/ Forceps | 1.6% | n/a | n/a |
Cesarean Section | 11.6% | 29.8% | 31.9% |
*McFarland stats 2020.
**CDC stats 2018.
Patient Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
Midwife FAQ
What type of education do midwives have?
All Certified Nurse-Midwives (CNMs) have a bachelor’s of science degree in nursing and are registered nurses, who have received further education and clinical expertise in graduate or doctoral programs. All CNMs must pass a national certification exam through the American Midwifery Certification Board. See more at www.midwife.org.
Where are the babies delivered?
The McFarland Clinic Certified Nurse Midwives deliver the babies at Mary Greeley Medical Center. The midwives deliver at the hospital and collaborate with OB/GYNs should any problems arise that require further medical intervention, including instrument assisted deliveries or cesarean sections. We can also refer patients out of our practice if they have medical issues beyond our scope of practice, including high risk pregnancies or patients with uncontrolled chronic conditions such as diabetes or high blood pressure.
Do midwives only see pregnant patients?
We see females from adolescence through menopause and beyond. Our most common reasons for visits are prenatal exams, annual exams, pap smears, contraceptive counseling, sexually-transmitted infection (STD) testing, gynecologic problems and minor primary care problems.
Do midwives allow patients to have an epidural or pain medication during labor?
Our primary goal is to support the type of birth experience you are hoping for while keeping you and your baby safe. You can choose from a variety of options while under the care of your midwife including massage, counter pressure techniques, positional assistance, shower/tub availability, as well as IV pain medication and epidurals.
Why should I choose a midwife?
The modern-day CNMs pride themselves on providing personalized, holistic care. We provide longer appointment times than the average provider, with the hopes of getting to know our patients on a more personal level. When a patient is in labor, we arrive earlier in the labor process to assist you through it while trying to give you the experience you and your family desire. If problems do arise that may require an instrument assisted or surgical birth, our collaborating OB/GYNs will assist alongside us to provide the safest delivery for you and your baby.
Additional Resources
Patient Forms
Menstrual Record Chart
Use this form to keep track of your menstrual record.
Prenatal Form
This form collects information about your current pregnancy, past pregnancies, and family medical history.
Please print off this form and fill it out prior to your provider's appointment with the OB/GYN department if it is requested.
Video Resources
What is a Midwife?
Watch this short video to learn more about midwives and how they can provide you with great quality care.
Patient Education
Important Links
American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists
ACOG has over 52,000 members and is the nation's leading group of professionals providing health care for women.
North American Menopause Society
The North American Menopause Society (NAMS) is North America's leading non-profit organization dedicated to promoting the health and quality of life of women through an understanding of menopause.
Bone Health & Osteoporosis Foundation
The National Bone Health & Osteoporosis Foundation is the nation's leading voluntary health organization solely dedicated to osteoporosis and bone health.
The Hormone Foundation
The Hormone Foundation, the public education affiliate of The Endocrine Society, is a leading source of hormone-related health information for the public, physicians, allied health professionals and the media.
MotherToBaby
MotherToBaby, a service of the non-profit Organization of Teratology Information Specialists (OTIS), is the nation’s leading authority and most trusted source of evidence-based information on the safety of medications and other exposures during pregnancy and while breastfeeding.
Discover Midwives
The American College of Nurse-Midwives' website provides educational information on midwives.
Interactive Tools
Fracture Probability Tool
The FRAX tool has been developed by WHO to evaluate fracture risk of patients. It is based on individual patient models that integrate the risks associated with clinical risk factors as well as bone mineral density (BMD) at the femoral neck.
Community Resources
Mary Greeley Medical Center Obstetric Classes
Mary Greeley Medical Center in Ames, IA, offers numerous obstetric classes for expectant parents, from breastfeeding classes to childbirth education.
Midwife Health Information - Pregnancy
Folic Acid
Folic Acid is a B vitamin. It is very important for women who are pregnant or could become pregnant to take this supplement.
Omega 3s
Taking good care of yourself while you are pregnant
If you are pregnant or thinking of becoming pregnant soon, you will want to pay special attention to your health. Keep this handout on your refrigerator to help you take care of yourself.
Weight Gain During Pregnancy
Skin to skin contact with baby
Skin-to-skin contact, also called kangaroo care, is when your baby is placed on your chest after birth instead of being wrapped in a blanket and placed in a crib or incubator (warmer).
Umbilical Cord Clamping
Learn about delaying the umbilical cord clamping in this article.
Group B Strep in Pregnancy
At the time of birth, babies are exposed to the Group B Strep bacteria if it is present in the vagina, which can result in pneumonia or a blood infection.
Preventing Whooping Cough
The very best way to protect your baby is to have the Tdap vaccine each time you are pregnant. Th e best time for the vaccine is between 27 and 36 weeks of pregnancy.
Miscarriage
A miscarriage is the early loss of a pregnancy. Learn more about miscarriage in this article.
Midwife Health - Insurance Coverage
Affordable Care Act
This document takes a look at what you need to know about getting insurance coverage.
Midwife Health Information - Overall Health
Smoking and Women's Health
Read this article for tips on how to quit smoking.