You’ve gotten two dark lines on the test -- congratulations! One of the most important decisions you’ll need to make over the coming weeks and months is whether to choose an OB/GYN or a midwife, and where to give birth. Depending on where you live, you likely have three options:
As a birth doula near Cambridge MN, my goal is always to help you find a birth location that fits your birth philosophy, comfort level, and medical needs. What’s right for someone else might not be the best choice for you. Hospital Birth Why do women choose a hospital birth? 98+% of women in the US give birth in a hospital. Women may choose a hospital birth for many different reasons, such as the distance from their home, health insurance considerations, because they have a condition that makes their pregnancy high risk, they know they want an epidural, they want the option of having an epidural, they feel safer knowing that specific medical interventions are nearby, or because they feel most comfortable in the hospital environment. What type of healthcare providers can attend a hospital birth? Most hospitals in east central Minnesota are staffed with OB/GYNs and some family practice physicians. In the hospitals in the Twin Cities and St. Cloud, you may also have the option of care from a Certified Nurse Midwife (CNM). CNMs begin their training as nurses and go on to receive a master’s degree in midwifery. Pros of hospital birth
Freestanding Birth Center Why do some women choose a birth center? **Note that many hospitals call their labor and delivery unit a birth center, which can be confusing. A freestanding birth center is independent and not affiliated with a hospital, and is staffed by midwives. In Minnesota, birth center equipment, midwife training, and the model of care is extremely similar to a home birth, except that you will travel to the center instead of them coming to you. Birth centers are becoming more popular in the U.S. For many families who are seeking a natural birth experience, a freestanding birth center is a nice middle ground between a home birth and a hospital birth, and may be covered by insurance even if a homebirth is not. At a birth center, you’ll receive care from midwives and birth assistants, and possibly an RN. A birth center may offer nitrous oxide and other alternative forms of pain management, and have some medical prescribing authority, but you will not be able to get an epidural. Birth centers in Minnesota must comply with specific regulations, such as attending births only between 36 and 42 weeks, and not attending breech or twin births. You’ll go home 4-8 hours after your baby’s birth. What type of healthcare providers can attend women at a birth center? Birthing centers are staffed by midwives, usually Certified Professional Midwives (CPM) or Certified Nurse Midwives (CNM). Some birth centers in the Twin Cities are also affiliated with a physician. Pros of freestanding birth centers
I provide doula support at A New Story Birth Center in Milaca, Luna Women’s Wellness & Birth Center in Brainerd, as well as most birth centers in the Twin Cities. Home Birth
Why do women choose a home birth? Only about 1% of women in the U.S. opt for a planned homebirth, but that number rises each year. Most women who choose this type of care believe that birth is a natural process and want to avoid interventions in the process. They feel safer and more comfortable in their home environment with a midwife they know and trust. What type of healthcare providers can attend a home birth? Minnesota’s homebirth laws are more generous than many other states. Most midwives in our state who attend home births are certified professional midwives (CPM), although there are many direct entry (DEM) and traditional midwives (TM), a handful of certified nurse midwives (CNM), and some unlicensed midwives who have been trained through traditional apprenticeship and choose not to obtain certification or licensure through the state. I am not aware of any physicians or OB/GYNs who attend home births. In Minnesota, licensed homebirth midwives can attend twin and breech births even though birth center midwives cannot. Pros of a home birth
Home vs. Birth Center vs. Hospital: Which is the Right Choice for Me? There are advantages and disadvantages to each type of birth location. Ultimately, what is right for you will depend on your birth preferences and philosophy, your past birth experiences, your goals, and any medical conditions you have. Many families also need to consider distance and insurance coverage. My philosophy as a Milaca birth doula is that each family will ideally birth where they are most comfortable and where their goals will be best supported. This will look different for each family and even from one child’s birth to another. There’s really no right or wrong answer – you should choose what is best for you, your baby, and your family. How Can a Doula Help Me? We can explore your options and discuss your goals. I can share my experiences at different birth locations in our area and make suggestions on what may be a good fit for you. I always encourage families to tour multiple birth locations so they can discover which feels right. I’m a holistic birth doula near Princeton who attends births at hospitals, birth centers, and at home. Although many families hire me because they want support for their natural birth goals, I am ready and able to support you in whatever your goals are and have experience with inductions, epidurals, and c-sections. I want you to have the kind of birth that is right for you! My doula care will look different in each place based on the circumstances, your goals, and your provider, but will always include: Physical support: Assisting you with various positions through labor and birth, coaching you through contractions, counter pressure and massage. Emotional support: Verbally encouraging you, listening to you, empathizing with your needs and helping you find solutions. Informational support: Helping you get the information you need to make the best decisions for yourself and your baby. Advocacy: Supporting your communication with your provider and working to ensure that your preferences and wishes are respected – as well as guiding you in doing this for yourself. If you’re ready to learn more about birth doula services in east central Minnesota, reach out to schedule your free consultation! I’d love to chat with you and answer all of your questions!
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If you’re thinking about hiring a doula, you may want to interview a couple of doulas before you make a decision. Many families who schedule a consultation with me have several questions they want to ask. Others have just a few questions, or aren’t sure what to ask at all. Here are five great questions to ask your birth doula before moving forward. Question #1: Training and Certification Some potential clients ask me, “Are you certified?” or want to know more about my training. My answer is YES! I have taken trainings from multiple organizations who have given me different perspectives, approaches, and skills that I use every day, and I actively maintain my professional memberships. Although I have learned a great deal from other doulas, midwives, healthcare providers, and others, my trainings provided the foundational knowledge for my doula practice. I’m also committed to continually expanding my knowledge through ongoing training and staying current on research. Question #2: Experience You may also be wondering, “How many births have you attended?” or “When did you become a doula?” These are also great questions that I’m happy to answer. Many of the families who work with me are specifically seeking a birth doula who has experienced a wide variety of situations, supported many different kinds of births, has been to their birthing location before or knows their provider, is familiar with the physiology of birth, has supported emergency situations, and more. Question #3: Support for Dads I love when dads get involved in the doula consultation! Many families ask me, “Will you replace my husband at the birth?” The answer is a resounding no! I’m passionate about graciously supporting dads in being involved to whatever extent they would like to be. My goal as your doula is for dads to feel confident and supported throughout the labor process as I alleviate the need to remember everything from your childbirth education classes or guess what to do next. I provide an extra set of hands, assist with advocacy and asking questions of your provider, explain what is happening, remind dads to care for themselves, take pictures, and provide a very calming presence. Dads who were initially skeptical often turn into my biggest fans! Question #4: On Call Support You may be wondering, “When will you be on call for me?” I keep things simple: I am on call for you as soon as we agree to work together and have signed a contract. I remain on call for you 24/7 through six weeks after your baby’s birth and am available through phone, text, or email to answer your questions, provide emotional support, and walk you through any changes in plan that occur. You get to decide how much or how little support you need. I’m here for you! Question #5: Philosophy “What is your philosophy?” or “Why did you become a doula?” are two questions I am frequently asked. I love answering these questions as I explain the heart and purpose behind this job, the beautiful story that got me here, and how I approach my role at your birth. Let’s get personal! What Other Questions Do You Have? I encourage you to come up with your own questions as well. Maybe you want to discuss a previous birth experience that you’ve had and how I would have supported it, or maybe you’re wondering what types of comfort measures I can assist with, or maybe you are looking for some guidance on choosing a care provider. I offer free consultations and am happy to take the time to answer all of your questions. What is the Most Important Question? Trainings, experience, on call details, and even a doula’s approach don’t matter as much as the most important question: “How does this doula make you feel?” Whether you work with me or someone else, it’s most important that you feel comfortable and connected with the birth doula you hire. Do you feel that the doula you’re interviewing is compassionate, respectful of your decisions, and will have the knowledge and confidence that you need? Are your personalities a good fit? Do you feel that you can trust this doula and want her to be present during a very vulnerable, intimate time? If you feel good about your doula during your consultation, it’s probably the right fit and you can look forward to an amazing birth experience together! Are you ready to learn more about doula support and have all of your questions answered? Reach out to schedule your free consultation with me! I can’t wait to talk with you! As a birth doula in Mora, Minnesota, I’m frequently asked what should be packed for the hospital or birth center. Ultimately, what you pack will be personal for you, but there are several things I recommend everyone bring along, no matter where you’re planning to give birth. Who Should Pack a Bag? I suggest packing separate bags for yourself, your husband, and your baby. This makes it easy to find what each person needs and keep things organized. Another approach is to pack a labor bag and a postpartum bag. If I am having a homebirth, should I pack a bag in case of transfer? In my opinion, a full bag of supplies just in case of hospital transfer isn’t necessary. It can be a good idea to ensure your purse or a small backpack is stocked with snacks, a phone charger, your wallet, and some basic toiletries, such as a toothbrush and contact solution. If your birth plans change and you need to transfer to the hospital, it’s likely that many of the things in your birth bag won’t be needed right away and someone can bring them for you later. What Should My Support Person Bring? It may be tempting to travel light, but birth is unpredictable, and it’s important that your husband or support person has everything they need to stay energized and prepared for being away at least one night. Dads should bring at least 1-2 changes of clothes, plenty of snacks, a phone charger, and basic toiletries. If you are going to a birth center or planning a hospital waterbirth, I suggest bringing a swimsuit and extra change of clothes. Birth center birthing rooms often get very warm and steamy, so a t-shirt and shorts can be a good idea even in our Minnesota winters! What Will My Baby Need? Plan to bring a couple of outfits in newborn and 3 month size. You never know if you’ll have a larger baby who just doesn’t quite fit into a newborn outfit. The baby’s diaper bag can be the perfect size to fit everything your baby needs. Don’t forget a hat and extra blanket for the car ride home. Here is a simple birth bag checklist for guidance: What Else Should I Consider Bringing?
If you are planning to keep your placenta, bring a cooler, ice pack, and a couple of gallon bags to store it. If your Mora placenta encapsulation professional will be bringing it home, she will handle all of the storage and transportation details. Many families like to bring their own soap and lotion for their baby. Naturally-minded families may also appreciate bringing a homeopathy kit, homeopathic arnica tablets, Afterease tincture, and other natural remedies. What Should I NOT Bring? Some things you can leave at home include: Your birth ball: All hospitals are equipped with birth balls and peanut balls. No need to lug yours along! Breast pump: Unless you plan to pump exclusively, you won’t need your breast pump right away. The hospital will provide a quality one for you if circumstances change, such as if your baby needs NICU care or if you are having issues with latching. In those cases, a hospital grade pump will be needed to help establish your milk supply and get your breastfeeding journey off to a better start. Diapers, wipes, and pads: Your hospital or birth center will provide baby diapers and wipes, Depends, mesh underwear, and heavy pads. Ask your Pine City birth doula for more guidance and personalized tips on what to pack in your birth bag! What are you packing for your birth? Is there anything you think I missed? Let me know below in the comments! |
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Holistic Christian birth doula and placenta encapsulation professional serving Mora, Pine City, Cambridge MN, Isanti, Rush City, North Branch, Wyoming, Forest Lake, Zimmerman, Princeton MN, Milaca, St. Cloud, Little Falls, Garrison, Isle, McGregor, Moose Lake, Sandstone, Hinckley, Finlayson, Danbury, Siren, Grantsburg, and the surrounding areas in east central Minnesota and northwestern Wisconsin.
Call or text me: 612-437-8588 Visit my blog! Professional photo credit: Melissa Rose Photography MN & Chelsea Bootsman Thank you to the families who have graciously allowed me to share their photos! |