Your birth preferences
We offer you a full spectrum of maternity care options at every stage of your pregnancy. Providing exceptional patient-centered care for expectant mothers is the most important thing we do.
Birth options to fit your needs
You have the option to see a family medicine physician, obstetric physician, or certified nurse-midwife for prenatal care at one of our neighborhood clinics. Any one of these options ensures that you and your baby will benefit from the wide range of services and resources.
When you deliver at the Birth Center, you and your partner will have many choices about labor, delivery and your hospital stay. To help ensure that your birth experience meets your expectations and personal preferences, we recommend that you think about what is important to you and communicate your ideas with your provider. Make sure to ask all your question at your prenatal visits! You can also send a message to your provider via MyChart.
Services available at the Birth Center
Waterbirth
Your baby deserves a warm, gentle welcome to the world. Through the Nurse-Midwife Service, a waterbirth is just one of the birth experiences you may choose for you and your child. Water has been shown to soothe and calm and waterbirth is often referred to as a "gentle birth" and can be a safe option for mothers and babies.
Hennepin Healthcare nurse-midwives "catch" more than 800 babies each year. Nurse-midwives have offered expectant mothers the option of a birthing tub for labor and birth since 1999.
Nitrous oxide
The same analgesic offered for dental procedures is offered to laboring moms at The Birth Center. Nitrous oxide is ideal option for patients coping with pain during labor – whether it's contractions, IV start-ups or lab procedures.
"Nitrous oxide is quick to set up, great for any time during labor, and it's safe for both mom and baby," explains Sara Wendt, Clinical Care Supervisor at The Birth Center. "Many of our moms are looking for a natural experience. Nitrous oxide, combined with aromatherapy and hydrotherapy, offer women many options to reach that goal." Read more about this treatment on our News Blog.
Aromatherapy
The Birth Center now offers Clinical Aromatherapy to better support your comfort. This includes essential oil inhalers containing lavender, mandarin and spearmint. Lavender is used to assist with comfort, pain relief, anxiety, insomnia, and to help you relax. Mandarin is used to assist with nausea, anxiety, insomnia, restlessness, and to enhance your mood. Spearmint is used to assist with nausea, fatigue, headache, indigestion, and cramps.
