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HELP!! I need a midwife recommendation...

post #1 of 14
9/14/08 at 4:38am
Thread Starter 
Hi!

I am new here. My husband and I are ttc #1 :

I would like to start seeing a midwife and establish a relationship before we get pregnant. I want to be proactive. I have researched hospitals in the area and St. Joe's seems very promising. I am open to home birth as well...dh was a little unsure for a while but is thinking it may be a possibility. Either way--hospital or homebirth, I know I for sure want a doula, so recommendations there would be helpful too.

Thank you so much for helping me, I really don't know where to start.

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post #2 of 14
9/14/08 at 10:59am
I'm guessing you're in MSP, no? If so, we can help, since we'll soon be having a baby at St. Joe's with a great midwife and a great doula.

For doulas, check out the Childbirth Collective, which has "parent night" topics every week. The presentations are done by doulas, so you have a chance to meet several. They'll also have a list of all the doulas in their organization (which is not the only one in town, but a good one). We met our doula at one of their "all about doulas" sessions. (She's Rebecca Feyder, and we think she's great.)

Our midwife is Rebeca Barroso, who practices at Salud Integral in the Dayton's Bluff neighborhood of St. Paul. We think she's great too.

But there are lots of great midwives and doulas in the Twin Cities. We're very lucky. St. Joe's, by the way, has been called the "gold standard for natural birth" in terms of hospitals.... (can't remember who called it that, but we thought that was cool!)
post #3 of 14
9/19/08 at 11:06am
Thread Starter 
thank you! anyone else?? looking for lots of recommendations :-)
post #4 of 14
9/19/08 at 3:58pm
i have not had a child, but i am a doula in saint paul and if i had a baby right now i would check out dr. amy johnson grass, a midwife and natropathic doctor.

good luck!

http://www.dramyjohnsongrass.com/healthfoundations.htm
post #5 of 14
9/19/08 at 8:22pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by saintpauldoula View Post
i have not had a child, but i am a doula in saint paul and if i had a baby right now i would check out dr. amy johnson grass, a midwife and natropathic doctor.

good luck!

http://www.dramyjohnsongrass.com/healthfoundations.htm
Dr. Amy Johnson-Grass is a midwife/naturopath who only attends HB's. FYI.

For a list of area HB midwives check out Minnesota Families for Midwifery.
post #6 of 14
9/19/08 at 9:15pm

Midwives

HealthEast Clinics have some great midwives.
http://healtheast.org
They don't do home births but some of them used to.

I would recommend Kari Dickson or Anne Johnson.

HealthEast also has something they call "Meet the midwives" and you could call any of there clinics and find outh when the next one is.

Also, they do waterbirths which in my opinion is a real plus.

Good luck
post #7 of 14
9/22/08 at 11:28am
Older thread with tons of info: http://www.mothering.com/discussions...d.php?t=717975
post #8 of 14
11/10/08 at 4:07pm

Searching for pre-natal care

If you are planning a hospital birth, I cannot endorse St. Joe's enough. I gave birth to my son Calder at St. Joe's on Nov. 15th, 2007 and I had an incredible expirience. While my best laid plans did not come to fruition and I ended up with a c-section, I received phenomenal care at St. Joe's. The St. Paul birth collective is informative and friendly I met my doula, Dawn Heinen, there. We used Generations Women's Healthcare in Shoreview for midwifery care. They are open to alternatives to a standard induction (if you ever got to such a point) and we delayed plans to allow for a accupuncture/accupressure induction (which worked beautifully).
post #9 of 14
11/12/08 at 11:51pm
12 years ago my midwife was Rolla Crandall, in New Brighton, I think (north west suburb). She attended our home birth and also would go as a doula to hospital births. If I ever had another babe, I would want her by my side again. She was really good, skilled, patient, kind. I haven't talked with her for quite a few years, though, so I don't know what she's doing now.

-Dancy
post #10 of 14
11/22/08 at 2:56pm
Thread Starter 
Thank you all for the great recommendations...I went to Generations and was happy with my visit, not quite what I was expecting, but it was alright...I had to wait in the waiting room for 45 min past my new patient appointment time, but mary was nice. I have heard such great things about generation...but they were from a couple years ago when they had mary and a different staff...any one use them more recently and have a good experience??

I would really like to go to a "natural" birth hospital (if there is such a thing) with one midwife who I have seen from day one...and know that SHE will be there during the delivery. With Generations it could be any of the three midwifes. Is there anyone out there like that??

If I cannot find someone, I am thinking of going with homebirth. I actually emailed a midwife a lot of people raved about, and never received a response. And I called a doula everyone has raved about on ms...she had really bad morning sickness...it has actually been over nine months since then and she hasn't called me back. Not that I am complaining...I was just waiting for her to call me back since I know morning sickness can last the entire pregnancy and I didn't want to bug her.

Please help me feel like I should keep trying...I am feeling like homebirth just isn't the path I should follow.
post #11 of 14
11/23/08 at 11:08am
Well, I think calling is most effective either way.

It sounds as if you will be most happy with a homebirth.

I have not heard of any practice where you will get the same midwife for prenatal that you do at the birth. Unless you do a homebirth.

Although you can come close with Generations seeing they only have the 3 midwives total. I personally have had Mary for my last 3.

No it's not a homebirth, but I feel she is naturally minded. I give birth drug-free, this last time I was asking for something late in the game. She kept me focused and knew I could do it without.

I have a half dozen friends who go to Generations. Ladies who have been to other midwives in the Twin Cities. They are all very happy there and can't believe the difference. (these are not homebirth type ladies, to clarify)

But, if I were you and had to choose hospital vs homebirth I would go homebirth. It's an incredible experience to give birth in your own home. (Very empowering!)
post #12 of 14
11/23/08 at 3:18pm
If you want a midwife who will be sure to be at your birth you may want to interview Katherine Simon, CNM. She has a practice with one other partner, but tends to be at all of "her" births. She attends births at North Memorial Medical Center, which is now supporting water births with the Midwives.
post #13 of 14
2/12/09 at 9:10pm

What did you decide?

Hi Maui,

I am due 4/8 with baby #1 and have been going to generations to see the midwives. I decided I wasn't ready to take the hb leap even though I really strongly considered it. I liked that I would only get one of the three midwives as opposed to HealthEast's two dozen. I am delivering at St. Joe's.

What did you decide? Are you going to Generations? Will you have a labor doula? I am researching them and was just going through old threads for recommendations.

Hope all is well!
post #14 of 14
3/9/09 at 6:18pm
I am expecting my first baby as well and I see the Midwives at HCMC and will deliver on their unit.
http://www.hcmc.org/a_z/nurse-mid/nurse-midwife.htm
I am very happy with the care I am recieving so far and I hope to have a waterbirth :-D

You may also like:

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Mothering › Mothering Discussion Forums › Welcome to Mothering! › Finding Your Tribe › Tribal Areas › Minnesota, Wisconsin › HELP!! I need a midwife recommendation...