HealthEast Midwives or Generations and HELP generally :)

[BlauerPlanet]

My husband and I are expecting our first. It's still very early in the game. I'm trying to figure out my provider. I'm originally from Germany (we moved here a year ago) and a little confused by this system. So please help! :)

I would like to deliver in St. Joe's and get midwife care, so right now I'm considering HealthEast at Grand Ave and Generations in Shoreview. I've searched through the posts to see what peoples' experiences are but most seemed to be from a while back. I was wondering if there are any new mamas out there that had more recent testimony?

Also recommendations for a doula? If you have a doula does it matter as much that you probably won't know the midwife when you choose a bigger group as your provider?

Has anyone here ever heard of doing acupuncture during labor to reduce pain and make labor easier? It's fairly common in Germany. Can you have an acupuncturist in the hospital with you??? Or do any midwifes do acupuncture? (That's how I know it.)

And acupuncture during the last month of pregnancy to prepare the body and also make labor easier and shorter? (Studies show that this reduces the average labor duration from 10 to 8 hours...)

Anything else you can recommend or what I should be aware of?

Thanks so much for any advice or help. It's all a little overwhelming.

[krst234]

It looks like the mothering forums just recently (or not so recently) changed its provider review policy - so maybe posters are a little more shy about posting with provider reviews/recommendations.

???

That said - a midwife-attended birth at St Joe's is a good bet - St Joe's has a phenomenally low c/s rate - and there are great midwives in both practices.

If you're looking for a doula - check out the Childbirth Collective - they host free meetings for parents - you can meet doulas - and that group would be a good place to get provider recommendations from doulas as well as other parents.

http://www.childbirthcollective.org/

A doula will be able to provide continuity and be with you throughout your labor - I think this is really nice for a first time mother. And doulas can be good "interpreters" of some of the things that happen in the hospital. The doula will be there to help you, and only you. A doula can be a great help for a first-time mama - and the Twin Cities have a lot of great doulas.

Acupuncture? Hmmm I don't know of anyone who has had an acupuncture treatment IN the hospital IN labor (postpartum, yes, but in labor --- but maybe someone else knows if this has been done.)

An acupuncture appointment may be arranged in early labor before you get to the hospital - if that is something you want - if the time of day is right, or you know an acupuncturist who likes to do house calls....

See what works for you. I tried acupucture in one of my pregnancies - and decided it really wasn't doing anything for me - I was a little bummed out that I wasn't getting the results I was looking for, but it felt good to listen to my own intuition.

I spent a lot of time getting massages during pregnancy - that was lovely.

You have lots of options - you have time - meet people, talk to people, visit different facilities.

You have time to make a decision. It might not seem that way, but you do.

[lindsayjean]

I have worked (as a doula) w/ both practices and had good experiences.  I like Generations a lot.... I like that they have less midwives in their practice so you will likely KNOW the midwife that is at your birth (HE has MANY so you are more likely to not know your midwife, if that is important to you).  

I 2nd the recommendation to check out the Childbirth Collective for doulas.  The first Mon in Edina and first Wednesday in St Paul of the month is All About Doulas night, so you can meet and greet lots of doulas and find one that fits what you are looking for.

I know Woodwinds hospital does acupuncture, but when one of my clients asked about having it during labor they said it was not available (so I assume it's a postpartum thing?  Not sure, they advertise that it's available...).