Birthing center seeks $25,000 in community support

A Kasson woman is seeking community support for what she believes is a community treasure.
Full Circle Wellness of Kasson broke ground on a new birthing center in the spring, and had a projected opening date of Nov. 1 that has been pushed back due to inflated construction costs.
Anne Schwanke, owner of Full Circle Wellness, said “I want it to be the best. I”m struggling with having to compromise quality things because of the budget.”
As such, she’s fundraising with a $25,000 goal. So far she’s raised about $7,000. If people are willing to offer support, they can do so via Schwanke’s Gofundme page.
Schwanke’s new goal is to be open in the beginning of January. “I have several clients who are due in January so it’d be nice for them to be in the birth center,” she said.
Schwanke will share the new building with Elmore Chiropractic, also of Kasson.
The free-standing birth center will have two birth suites. It’s the only one in southeast Minnesota.
A certified nurse midwife and a women’s health practitioner, Schwanke said she is eager to provide a level of care she would’ve liked to receive when she had her kids.
The birth center will be the only one in the region that isn’t affiliated with a hospital.
As for the delays, Schwanke said it’s been “bad news after bad news. I’m looking for the light.”
“I want to be in the building,” she said. “I want to do my job and I want to do it well. I have pretty high standards because I want the best for families in the community. I want high quality equipment in the building because women deserve that. That’s why my standards are high.”
The goal is for the building to be a one-stop shop for women and their families, Schwanke said. She and Katie Elmore, owner of Elmore Chiropractic, want to partner together in offering women and their families a full roster of health care services.
The two have similar patients, Schwanke said, and share a holistic outlook on health care.
Water births will be an option at the new birth center, with tubs in the two birthing suites.
In addition to the birth center, Schwanke will also maintain her offerings of botox injections and Reiki. And Elmore will offer her chiropractic services as well as a massage therapist and an infra-red sauna. Other health modalities may be added in time, the women have said.