Looking for a Midwife in Minnesota

[bellee]

I'm looking for a midwife in the minneapolis area. I just talked to my insurance and they cover CNM's and was looking through the directory and there's a bunch! I just feel wierd picking one based on how there name looks printed on a page :wink. Anyone have any good recomendations for me?

TIA

[AvalonDaughter]

You might want to post this on the Tribal Areas - Minnesota thread. that is a very active thread and maybe they can direct you.

I have not insights :(


Good luck!

[lisamarie]

Actually, I am going to copy this thread over there and hopefully the tribal mama's there will help ya out!:thumb

Warmly~

Lisa:bf

[Kim]

$

[smeta]

I see the midwife group at HCMC and I like them a lot. I had my dd there too.

The downside is that there are about 12 midwives in the group, so there's a good chance you won't know the one delivering your baby.

They have a birthing tub and do waterbirths, so that is a plus!

[laura163]

There is a HeathEast Midwife practice at Woodwinds hosptial in Woodbury. I know of 2 women that have used them and been happy with them. WOodwinds also does water births. I had my baby there and was very happy!

Laura

[jessikate]

The midwife group that works at Woodwinds also works at St. Joe's (downtown St. Paul) and St. John's (in Maplewood). I delivered my daughter with them at St. Joe's four months ago and was pretty happy with the experience. It would have been better if I'd met the midwives beforehand, or if the one I saw during my pregnancy had been on call that night.

St. Joe's has a birthing tub, as does Woodwinds. I don't think St. John's does, though. At least, they didn't as of last summer. I got to use the birthing tub for a few hours (?) but was not able to deliver in water. Maybe next time.

Post turning into a book. Sorry! :D

[DoulaSarah]

Healtheast CNM's

St. Joe's downtown Saint Paul - they are OK as far as letting you be, they like birth plans and really have good intentions, however, they are still under and OB, so no food unless you sneek it. This would be a good place to labor at home longer and come in late in labor. They also have waterbirth, although it takes them awhile, unless Phylis is on, to set things up. Still a noce place though!

Woodwinds Woodbury - same midwifes, different protocol. You can eat and wander around outside in the garden paths,still pretty invasive sometimes, depending on the midwife, so defantely have a doula or someone with a strong protective instinct. Again, waterbirth is available, but they are very good about setting it up asap! Great nursing staff, Jeannett started a doula program there, so they are more mother freindly. Starting to have more and more people NOT CIRCUMCISING!! and they will tell you about it. So that is awesome! Again, staying at home is a good thing.

Kendall Center for Woman

These are two CNM's and an OB. They used to all be Healtheast, then they split, so these two CNM's Rebecca (a homebirth midwife for 20 years, although not any longer) and Mary, are at Saint Johns only. The Healtheast midwifes don't go to St Johns anymore, although they used to. Really nice place and very nice CNM's. I don't mind Saint Johns, I gave birth there before and it was nice, but have support!!

HCMC CNM'S

HCMC
Great place. Make sure to stay on the midwifery side! They don't have monitors in the room, which is wonderful. Very low key that I have seen. They have waterbirth and the midwifes can sometimes hang out and doula, although not if they are busy. Big rooms. Not much place to walk around except in the hospital. Again, staying at home longer helps!

Healthstart CNM's

Regions hospital - A nice place, different Postpartum area, some of the rooms have double beds. Nice nurses and there are a couple different groups that "deliver" or as I think, catch your babes there. The nice group is on University. They also go to St Johns. You have to be careful though, there is a horrible midwife at Heathstart. ICKY YUCKY HORRIBLE!! but the rest are great!

Fairview Riverside Womens Clinci

Fairview University - OK place, go late in labor. They are more invasive, although Ann Johnson is awesome. Be strong willed, have a doula or good support! A good birth plan

Fairview Southdale - I am not sure if they have midwifes there. but don't go there!! it is not a good place to give birth. 80% episiotomy rates there! YUCKY!

Fairview Ridges - same as Southdale


OK, that is all for now, there are other hospital that I haven't gotten too, but call me and I can talk more about what I know. Come to a collective meeting!

[chiromom2]

Hi! My own personal experience I really loved Rebecca and Mary at he Kendall Center for Women. I started out at Woodwinds but I didn't like the fact that it was hard to develope a relationship with one midwife and the fact that when your big day came you would not know who was on call. I also had a problem early on with poor communication between the midwives, so there was a delay in care and misinformation. (but...that could have been just one fluke!) I had heard many good things about Rebecca and switched. It was really great because you can choose one and they will really try to accomodate you and be there for you delivery. I ended up liking both so much that I just went with who-ever was on call. They were very respectfull and supportive of my wishes, and although my birth became more medical than I wanted, they really used safe and the best protocols possible. I like the hospital, I left at 24 hours hours which the accomadated well. They were a bit invasive at first until I set the record straight. The nurses were not good about helping with breastfeeding so...visit the lactation consultant (who was great) or visit LeLeche before giving birth (if it is your first). I wish I had some support prior too birth! But...in the end it all worked out just fine! Good luck!

[tls]

I also see Rebeca and Mary at the Kendall center. Rebeca is a family friend of my SIL. I really like both of them. I saw the HealthEast midwives with DD and didn't have the best experience. I rarely saw the same midwife twice.