Midwife and mother checking on sleepy newborn.

Midwives

The longest-standing midwives practice in the Twin Cities

At HealthPartners and Park Nicollet, our midwives believe that women’s bodies naturally know how to give birth. We encourage you to play an active role in your own care and partner with you through the progression of pregnancy, labor and birth, supporting a full range of birth options.

Our group of certified nurse-midwives (CNMs) was one of the first groups started in the Twin Cities area. With a record of safety and patient satisfaction, our CNMs have a master’s or doctorate degree in nursing. They also have board certification in midwifery through the American College of Nurse-Midwives. Coordinating care with doulas, nurses and OB-GYN doctors as needed, they support you and your growing family.

Midwifery services we offer

Certified nurse-midwives are well known for guiding women through birth, but they also help care for women through all stages of life. From adolescence and early adulthood through adulthood and beyond, our midwives provide a full range of midwifery services including:

Prenatal care, birth and postpartum care

Many women choose a midwife for pregnancy care. Midwives work with mothers who have low-risk pregnancies, when the mother’s health is good and there are few or no complications. If certain factors make your pregnancy high-risk – like a preexisting health condition, a twin pregnancy or gestational diabetes that must be treated with insulin – your midwife will connect you with an OB-GYN who is an expert in complex prenatal care.

At HealthPartners and Park Nicollet, our midwives work closely with our team of OB-GYNs and specialists to give you and your baby the right level of care if your needs change. We also welcome and work together with birth and postpartum doulas as part of your birth experience. If you would like to consider a doula for your birth, we can put you in touch you with available doulas.

Our midwives support you, your partner and family in a full range of birth wishes – from water births to hypnobirthing and non-medicated birth – as well as incorporate a full range of pain relief options, at birth centers in Minnesota and western Wisconsin.

We may be a good fit for you if you want to work closely with the same person throughout your pregnancy – someone who will take the time to talk with you and support you in the decisions you make, from the first positive pregnancy test through birth and postpartum recovery.

Support with breastfeeding

When it comes to feeding your baby, you should make the choice that is right for you and your family, and we encourage breastfeeding when you are able. Many of our midwives provide breastfeeding support. We can answer questions about breastfeeding, offer guidance on proper positioning and latch and help you connect with one of our lactation specialists, if needed.

Annual checkups and birth control

Our midwives can see you for yearly preventive care visits that include routine screenings such as breast exams and Pap tests. We can also help you understand your birth control options and choose the birth control that is right for you, including birth control pills, intrauterine devices (IUDs), permanent contraception and emergency contraception.

Vaginal infections, bladder infections and sexually transmitted infections (STIs)

When you have a concern, are uncomfortable or are in pain, you can turn to our midwives for help. We diagnose and treat vaginal infections, yeast infections and bladder infections. We also treat STIs, including chlamydia, herpes, HPV, gonorrhea, syphilis and trichomoniasis. Same-day and next-day appointments are available, and you’ll have access to online test results so that you can get answers and take action quickly.

Menopause counseling and education

Many women who start seeing our midwives earlier in their lives continue the relationship through perimenopause and menopause. We can help you treat symptoms with a range of effective therapies – such as hormone therapy, vaginal estrogen and low-dose antidepressants – as well as lifestyle changes, diet and relaxation techniques.

Educational support

Our midwives offer educational support and encouragement to help you make the healthy choices that are in line with your values and right for your family. We offer educational support for nutrition and exercise during pregnancy, as well as for childbirth and parenting.

We can help you tackle health concerns, improve your well-being and grow your family in a way that matches your goals and unique needs.

Group prenatal care

Group prenatal care is an option for women who choose midwives for their care. With group prenatal care, you’ll get holistic, midwifery-based prenatal care in a group setting. You’ll join a class of 8–10 other moms-to-be with similar due dates. The group setting allows you to connect, learn and share with other moms in a community of new parents.

Group sessions are led by a midwife or nurse practitioner and a clinic nurse. You will also get private time for regular prenatal care from a midwife. Sessions are typically two hours, which means they give women on average 10x more face time with their care team.

Many people choose group prenatal care because studies have linked it to better outcomes for moms and babies. Research has shown that mothers who participate in group prenatal care are less likely to have preterm births. They are more knowledgeable about their labor and delivery options, more likely to report satisfaction with their birth experiences, more likely to have success breastfeeding and less likely to experience postpartum depression.

Learn more about group prenatal care and sign up

  • Partners in Pregnancy group at HealthPartners is currently on hold. Check back for updates.
  • Centering Pregnancy group at Park Nicollet is currently on hold. Check back for updates.

Frequently asked questions (FAQs)