Minnesota midwives who attend birth in the home.

 These midwives have made a special commitment to protecting a way of birth that is also a way of life. 

Paula Bernini Fiegal, Certified Professional Midwife,  is helping parents in an Edina location while her St. Louis Park birth center is renovated. The new Morning Star Birth Center will be at 1111 Excelsior Blvd., just west of Hwy 100, in St. Louis Park, MN 55426  She continues to welcome babies in Menomenie, WI.  Dial 612-92-BIRTH

Amy Johnson-Grass, Naturopathic Doctor and Certified Professional Midwife, will be opening a birth center on Grand Avenue in St. Paul. Pushing begins in Feb. 2010. Health Foundations office at 651-895-2520.

Here are the Minnesota Hospitals in our Twin Cities Area which offer birth services. These hospitals, with maternity care, are listed two ways, first alphabetically, and then by area of the state. This list is in process and I'm hoping for more descriptions and comments.

MinnesotaBirth would like a listing of parent recommended Family Practice (FP) and Obstetricians (OB) that support woman-centered birth. These doctors are open to natural birth (though they may offer drugs and other interventions), Vaginal Birth After Cesarean (VBAC), and doula care. If you are a parent, doula or childbirth educator, MinnesotaBirth wants to hear your recommendation. There is a list (or will be) of recommended baby doctors in the Parenting section.

Let's begin with these well-known physicians serving the alternative birth community. This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it while supporting birth options, low intervention rates, breastfeeding, patient requests, eating in labor, delayed cord clamping, and other evidence-based care practices. 

Jeanne Bazille has been helping home birth families in the Metro Area for over 25 years.

"Jeanne Bazille stands back, if that is what you want. I wanted to catch my own baby (or rather my husband [did]) and we did. .... Jeanne is amazing and I have her this time, too." Find more on Jeanne and other midwives.

Several small businesses are renting waterbirth tubs for home births today. Some hospitals may allow parents to bring in a tub if the parents make arrangements long before labor begins. Some hospitals have tubs for use with birthing, some for labor only, while others have only showers. Find out if your hospital or midwife supports laboring and/or birthing in water. Click the title to find the resources...

Yoga is one way of preparing for the physical release of childbirth. Here are some great pregnancy yoga classes by some beloved yoga teachers.

Sarah Longacre's yoga and parenting center. At the Edina location are the Monday Childbirth Collective Parent Topic Nights. Blooma in St. Paul is in the Health Foundations building on Grand Avenue for Prenatal Yoga, BYOB and Childbirth Education. www.health-foundations.com

Minneapolis Yoga Workshop, Sunday Prenatal

 Clare Welter, CNM, teaches a noon class on Sunday
 

Vitality's downtown St. Paul studio offers Pilates, yoga, massage and the Thursday Childbirth Collective Parent Topic Night.

Relaxation through hypnosis has gained popularity recently. Hypnobirthing and Hypnobabies are two popular methods of birth preparation. Click "Read More" for people and programs for birth hypnosis in Minnesota.

Suzanne Swanson, "Birth Psychologist"  suggests these local resources for parents grieving the loss of their baby:

• Deb Rich, 651-659-9715; in private practice is especially sensitive about stillbirth.
• Joann O'Leary takes calls from parents who have lost a baby,  612-788-6903.  With a heart for the father's experience, and helping to cope in the next pregnancy.
• Annette Klein at United 651-241-6206 has been very helpful. 

Faith's Lodge, www.faithslodge.org, a free/low-cost retreat center for parents who "Have lost a child, age 20+ weeks gestation through 19 years, within the last three years. Download the Brochure for Bereaved Parents."

Midwives organize to improve their practice and promote the midwifery quality of care. Find out which groups are active in Minnesota Midwifery. Click "Read more..."