Freestanding Birth Centers

MississippiCatfish · October 2013

Has anyone delivered at MN Birth Center, MorningStar Birth Center or Health Foundations Birth Center? I'm considering giving birth in one of these centers so I'd love to hear others' experiences! Thanks!

EmilyM1976 · October 2013

I visited both 3 yrs ago when I was pregnant with my first. I loved health foundations. But was not impressed at all with morning star. Mn birth center wasn't open at the time. I knew I had some potential risks so at any time they could tell me that they could not see me anymore by that freaked me out so I decided to go with health east clinics.

MississippiCatfish · October 2013

Thank you for responding! I have figured out that of those three, my insurance will only cover the MN Birth Center, so I'm going to go take a tour and see how it feels.

I went through HealthEast with my first and loved my doctor. He's with Entira clinic now. If I decide not to go to the birth center, I will probably just go back to him:)

stromjeni · October 2013

I'm seeing the midwives through Generations Womens Health Center. They aren't a birth center, per say, but they deliver at St. Joe's and St. John's. You don't have to utilize the hospital staff unless you want to. The midwives through Generations are the ones who take care of you!

Just another option to think about! I've really enjoyed them so far!

MississippiCatfish · October 2013

@stromjeni Have you happened to ask them how hard it is to get into the delivery room with the birthing tub at either hospital? I gave birth at St. John's and really liked almost everything about it. They were just finishing up one room with a birthing tub in it - do you know if they've built any more? I'd really like to be able to use the birthing tub for laboring, but I'm afraid that I'll be told it isn't a problem and then get there on that day and have it be in use:/ Also, I had my 12 week ultrasound at Generations last time and they sure did seem great! Thanks for the suggestion.

MississippiCatfish · October 2013

@auroraloo That's awesome to know. Thank you! I know I've heard nothing but good things about Woodwinds in general. I'm going to tour the MN Birth Center on Wednesday and then make a decision.

MississippiCatfish · October 2013

@auroraloo We are back in MN for good, no more long trips!

Thanks for looking. I should peek on their website to see if there's a pic. I'm not too worried about the drive. St. John's was 20 minutes, Woodwinds is 30. I had a pretty slow first labor. That extra ten minutes probably wouldn't mean a highway delivery;)

Miggg · November 2013

EmilyM1976 said:

I visited both 3 yrs ago when I was pregnant with my first. I loved health foundations. But was not impressed at all with morning star. Mn birth center wasn't open at the time. I knew I had some potential risks so at any time they could tell me that they could not see me anymore by that freaked me out so I decided to go with health east clinics.

@EmilyM1976 Sorry, random jumping in here! I've been considering either Morning Star or MN Birth Center. What was it about Morning Star that turned you off?

MississippiCatfish · November 2013

@miggg Have you toured either? I really wanted to like MN birth center, but when I toured this week I just felt...uncomfortable. Everything was so old, open, cold, echoey...it felt like a great aunt's fancy old house where you aren't allowed to touch anything. It was so strange to me that I felt that way, but I did. So strange. Anyway, best of luck to you!!

Miggg · November 2013

MississippiCatfish said:

@miggg Have you toured either? I really wanted to like MN birth center, but when I toured this week I just felt...uncomfortable. Everything was so old, open, cold, echoey...it felt like a great aunt's fancy old house where you aren't allowed to touch anything. It was so strange to me that I felt that way, but I did. So strange. Anyway, best of luck to you!!

@MississippiCatfish Originally I had my heart set on Morning Star so I did the consultation/tour. I'm a FTM so I don't have much comparison but the facilities seemed nice. I filled out some information and was told I'd hear from them in a week or two. I never heard back and haven't been able to get in touch with them either. In the meantime, I've been loving the midwife care I've been getting at Park Nicollet in St Louis Park so started having second thoughts about Morning Star.

MN Birth Center looked like another viable option but wasn't sure about the house or the neighborhood. (Isn't that kind of a rough area?) I can completely understand how an old, cold-feeling house wouldn't appeal as a place to give birth though! Choosing a place has turned out to be much more difficult than I'd thought.. Did you make a decision yet?

MississippiCatfish · November 2013

Miggg said:

MississippiCatfish said:

@miggg Have you toured either? I really wanted to like MN birth center, but when I toured this week I just felt...uncomfortable. Everything was so old, open, cold, echoey...it felt like a great aunt's fancy old house where you aren't allowed to touch anything. It was so strange to me that I felt that way, but I did. So strange. Anyway, best of luck to you!!

@MississippiCatfish Originally I had my heart set on Morning Star so I did the consultation/tour. I'm a FTM so I don't have much comparison but the facilities seemed nice. I filled out some information and was told I'd hear from them in a week or two. I never heard back and haven't been able to get in touch with them either. In the meantime, I've been loving the midwife care I've been getting at Park Nicollet in St Louis Park so started having second thoughts about Morning Star.

MN Birth Center looked like another viable option but wasn't sure about the house or the neighborhood. (Isn't that kind of a rough area?) I can completely understand how an old, cold-feeling house wouldn't appeal as a place to give birth though! Choosing a place has turned out to be much more difficult than I'd thought.. Did you make a decision yet?

@miggg Sorry you're having trouble making the decision. Honestly, not getting back to you in 2+ weeks would worry me too! That's a big deal! It's just polite to return someone's call and it makes me wonder what other impolite moves they'll make:/ I hope you can make a decision that you feel totally confident in!

I've decided to stick with Dr. Ryan Dick at Entira Clinic, delivering at St. John's again. Talking to my husband, I realized that I'm comfortable with him more than any other dr I've ever met and I trust him more than anybody else, too. He told me with my first that about 50% of his moms go natural and that he completely supports the mom as much as he can with whatever they decide. Looking back, he even offered to order me a moxibustion kit to help me turn my breech baby - I don't think a lot of OBs would do that!

MNMommyof2 · January 2014

I am surprised to hear your insurance didn't cover Health Foundations. They are in-network with HealthPartners, Cigna, Medica, Aetna, United HealthCare and Blue Cross Blue Shield. Just wanted to pass along this info!

Want a personalized experience?

Freestanding Birth Centers

Re: Freestanding Birth Centers

Choose Another Board

Search Boards