Families seeking care for pregnancy, home birth and the weeks after, will find these midwives to have the information and skills for the specifics of homebirth.  Home birth is a parent's right and is legal in Minnesota, whether the midwife is licensed or not. It is up to the parents to interview a few midwives and also ask around. The styles of all midwives and their fees vary. If you are a healthy woman and truly desire a home birth, there is likely to be a midwife who fits your needs. You can read the Minnesota Standards of Care [Adobe Acrobat PDF - 153.39 KB] by clicking on the left column link at Minnesota Midwives Guild.

Many Minnesota women expecting a baby would like to find midwifery care in the hospital setting. Our state chapter of American College of Nurse-Midwives has a new website to share how to find a nurse midwife in Minnesota. Click to go to http://www.nursemidwivesmn.org/

Paula Bernini Fiegal, Certified Professional Midwife,  has  Morning Star Birth Center  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

 Paula is taking applications from licensed midwives with homebirth experience. 612-922-4784.

Amy Johnson-Grass, Naturopathic Doctor and Certified Professional Midwife, opened a birth center on Grand Avenue in Feb. 2010. Health Foundations office phone number is 651-895-2520.

Health Foundations Family Health & Birth Center currently has an opening for a highly motivated, committed and dedicated apprentice midwife (CPM or CNM Candidate) for a busy birth center and home birth practice. A minimum of a one-year commitment required. Student will be required to be on-call (pager with you at all times provided by student), 24 hours per day, 7 days a week. Must have a working car available. Must be available for 2-3 clinic days each week, attend all births, and help with midwifery and birth center related tasks. Must hold current NRP and adult CPR certification. Minimum of one-year prior training/academic background required. If a CPM candidate must be attending a MEAC accredited school. Student will be required to carry a prenatal bag with appropriate equipment to be provided by the student. If interested, please send a current resume with cover letter outlining: 1) Your interest in midwifery 2) Training/school attending 3) Number of births attended and in what capacity 4) What you hope to gain from a preceptorship/learning, plans/goals. Applicants will be contacted for an interview.

To apply for current openings please send a resume & cover letter to:
Health Foundations Family Health & Birth Center
Attn: Amy Johnson-Grass
968 Grand Avenue
Saint Paul, Minnesota 55015

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."