Obstetrics
Pregnancy and having a baby is one of the greatest joys in life, but childbirth is also one of the most challenging experiences. As a Baby-Friendly Hospital, our Brookings OB unit helps parents-to-be from across our community in this life-changing moment. In this section, you'll find helpful resources about our OB services at our New Beginnings Center, when to come to the hospital for delivery, breastfeeding, and postpartum care.
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Watch & Learn
New moms share their experiences delivering with New Beginnings Birth Center.
Brookings mom Rachelle Doudna explains how her attentive doctor and nurses improved her labor and delivery experience.
Third-time mom, Danielle Bonnema, loves labor and delivery at Brookings Health System. She shares her experience with our obstetrics team for her labor, delivery and postpartum care.
SDSU doctoral student Cecilia Wanjuu shares her experience as a first-time mom. Brookings mom Kristina Lankow shares how a volunteer doula supported both herself and her husband during the birth of their son.
New moms Kirsten Gjesdal and Amy Verhelst share how our staff helped ease their fears about delivering during a pandemic.
OBGYN Dr. Tara Haarsma talks about labor and delivery including birth plans, stages of labor, and when you should come to the hospital.
Upcoming Classes & Events
May
Jun
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Online Childbirth Preparation Session - August & September
7:00 PM - 9:00 PM
ObstetricsObstetrics News
2022 New Year’s Baby Born at Brookings Health
Alaric Schmidt arrived at 4:28 a.m. on Jan. 2, 202S, making him the first baby of the New Year born at Brookings Health System.
Brookings Health Scores 100% on CDC’s Infant Feeding Practices Survey
Brookings Health System scored 100 of 100 points on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) most recent survey of Maternity Practices in Infant Nutrition and Care (mPINC).
Registration Now Open for Doula Workshop
October 1 Early Bird Registration Deadline for a $30 Discount
Available At:
System Providers:

Emily Abele, M.D.
- Obstetrics
- Gynecological Surgery
- Incontinence Surgery
- Avera Medical Group Specialty Care
- Brookings Hospital

Kirstin Sholes, M.D.
- Obstetrics
- Gynecological Surgery
- Robotic Surgery
- Avera Medical Group Specialty Care
- Brookings Hospital

Larissa Bennis, M.D.
- Obstetrics
- Gynecological Surgery
- Robotic Surgery
- Avera Medical Group Specialty Care
- Brookings Hospital

Tara Haarsma, D.O.
- Obstetrics
- Gynecological Surgery
- Robotic Surgery
- Avera Medical Group Specialty Care
- Brookings Hospital