Feedback on Cnm's and Labor/delivery at St. Joseph's And/or Woodwinds Hospitals?

I LOVE St. Joe's, but I don't think you can go wrong with either one. A deciding factor could be critical care - if there's a need for a transfer to a higher level NICU, you're closer to United if you're in St. Paul. But chances are if you're going to have any risks you wouldn't be looking at a waterbirth in the first place.

Good luck to you!

My sister-in-law has 2 kids; one was delivered at Woodwinds, and the other at St. Joe's. She had good experiences at both, but she preferred Woodwinds more. The environment was just overall more "natural" and "soothing", and she loved the water birth.

I've had two waterbirth's at St. Joe's (2006 and 2008). I used midwives at Generations Women's clinic - so I don't have info on the Healtheast group... but I LOVED St. Joseph's! It was quiet, the nurses were outstanding (very used to natural birth), and the waterbirth worked out exactly how I had hoped.

Another suggestion for a first time Mom, is to consider a doula. I didn't use one the first time around, and wish I had (2005).

Also - Blooma yoga studio (main studio in Edina - opening a Grand Ave. branch soon) is a GREAT resource for natural birth, doulas, and preparing for birth.

Good luck to you - feel free to email me with any specific questions!

Jessica

I delivered my first child at Woodwinds in October and had an amazing experience. I used the CNM group as well. I would make sure that whoever you are seeing the most is actually a delivery midwife. That was one thing I wish I had known early on. The nursing staff at Woodwinds is absolutely the thing that made my experience second to none. They are incredible. I can't say enough good things about them or the campus.

I had my daughter at Woodwind in Dec. 07' and had a wonderful experience. My mom also worked as an RN at Woodwinds for over 7 years, and always had positive things to say about it. She always recommended that her family members go to WW (including me and her father when he was very sick). The hospital itself is also beautiful and does not have the typical, cold, sterile hospital feel. Highly recommend!

My good friend gave birth at Woodwinds last year and said if it weren't for the labor pains, she would have sworn she was at a spa. (And the medical care was great, too.:) She had a water birth--something for which she was really excited since her previous baby was born at home (and she never made it to the bathtub!).

ADDED Feb 4th ************ - the meet and greet with the HealthEast Midwives is next Thursday, Feb 11th at 6:30 and at 7:30 at the Woodwinds campus, and on May 4th at St. Joe's. It says "Partners, friends and family are welcome. Call ###-###-#### to register. This is a free event".

Having delivered both of my babes at Woodwinds, I can tell you that it is a great experience. However, you still need to be your own health advocate and not rely on their niceness. HealthEast CNM's deliver at both hospitals, and I forget which St. does not have waterbirth. Either Joseph's or John's doesn't, and I can never remember which one. As far as specific ladies, I think they are having a meet and greet sometime this month. Although they prefer that you see one in particular throughout your pregnancy, they rotate on an on-call system for deliveries so it is more than likely that who you saw will not help you welcome baby in the world. But, if you are having 'issues' with the on call MW, there always is a backup, so you can request her. In my second birth plan, I had it clearly stated that if we felt that someone was not participating in the best of my interest, or just in general being unpleasant that they would asked to be removed from my care.

I only had 2 CNM's that I didn't quite care for, Mary - and I think mainly because my first birth didn't go as planned and I wasn't educated on the natural options for inducing labor so I had a medically induced labor/ birth. She just may be the fall out of a bad birth experience. And M. - she is a very 'in my box' type of caregiver - my 2nd birth was mainly mentally delayed by 24 hours and after being at WW's for 12 hours and not much progression she said that if we stayed, they would admit me and would need to start augmenting labor - but since I was still under 4 cm I went home again.

Sorry for the length, feel free to pm me if you would like! Good luck! Oh, and WW's is also very welcoming of having a birth photographer come in and document your labor and birth. :)