Resource List
Welcome to the Minnesota Birth Center Resource Library. Trusted guides, local supports, and education for every stage of your journey.
Table of Contents
Breastfeeding & Lactation
- La Leche League Minnesota
- Minnesota Breastfeeding Coalition
- Hand Expression of Breastmilk – Stanford Medicine
- Eats on Feets – MN Chapter – Community-Based Breast Milk Sharing
- Breast Milk for Babies – Minnesota Milk Bank Initiative
- Mother’s Milk Bank of Iowa
Books on Breastfeeding
- The Breastfeeding Book (Martha Sears and William Sears)
- Breastfeeding Made Simple: Seven Natural Laws for Nursing Mothers (Nancy Mohrbacher and Kathleen Kendall-Tackett)
- Breastfeeding Your Baby (Sheila Kitzinger)
- Ina May’s Guide to Breastfeeding (Ina May Gaskin)
- The Nursing Mother’s Companion (Kathleen Huggins)
- The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding (La Leche League International)
Body Work, Exercise & Antenatal Positioning
- Blooma
- Spinning Babies
- Yoga Center of Minneapolis
Childbirth & Parenting Education
- Everyday Miracles
- Evidence-Based Birth® (taught by Rhonda Fellows & Heather Struwe)
- Peaceful Pregnancy Joyful Birth (online focus)
- Coping with Labor (offered through Allina)
- Childbirth Collective Parent Topic Nights (informal weekly childbirth education)
- BirthED
- HypnoBirthing
- Hypnobabies
- Blooma
- Enlightened Mama
- Flutterby Birth
- Mindful Birthing
- Modern Parent Village
- Amma Parenting Center
- Bright Earth Doulas (Lamaze)
- The Snuggle House
- Intentional Birth Childbirth Education Course
Books on Childbirth
- The Birth Book: Everything You Need to Know to Have a Safe and Satisfying Birth (William Sears and Martha Sears)
- Birthing From Within: An Extraordinary Guide to Childbirth Education (Pam England and Rob Horowitz)
- Gentle Birth Choices (Barbara Harper)
- Gentle Birth and Gentle Mothering (Sarah Buckley)
- Ina May’s Guide to Childbirth (Ina May Gaskin)
- Natural Childbirth: The Bradley Way (Susan McCutcheon)
- Pregnancy, Childbirth, and the Newborn (Penny Simkin, Janet Whalley and Ann Keppler)
- The Thinking Woman’s Guide to a Better Birth (Henci Goer)
- Your Amazing Newborn (Marshall Klaus and Phyllis Klaus)
Culturally Specific Support for African-American Clients
In the United States, pregnant African-American mothers experience higher rates of adverse pregnancy outcomes than the general population, largely due to the impacts of current and historical racism and trauma. At Minnesota Birth Center, our midwifery model of care is associated with excellent outcomes for our clients. In addition, we strongly encourage doula support, as the combined care of midwives and doulas has been shown to further improve pregnancy and birth outcomes. Some African-American mothers prefer to work with a doula from their own cultural community, so we have compiled the following list of experienced doulas to assist you. Please contact them individually for information about their fee structures.
Joy McAfee | 651.403.0587 | joythedoula@gmail.com
*Offering postpartum doula and meal delivery services only
Kathryn Peck | 651.285.2239 | holyearthdoula@gmail.com
Kaytee Crawford | 952.237.6478 | doulakaytee@gmail.com
Latoya McPherson CD(DONA) | 612.367.6968 | birthbydivine@gmail.com
Nadine Ashby, Birth Doula | 612.968.2471 | Nadine@Doula4All.com
Rhonda Fellows, CD(DONA) | rhonda@oilydoulamn.com
Rochelle Vincent | 952.220.8149 | lotusbirthworks@gmail.com
Sierra Williams | 612.558.9453 | sierrassparkleshop@gmail.com
Everyday Miracles is a Twin Cities organization that connects pregnant people with doulas and other resources. They try to match people with a doula of their own ethnicity/race if desired. Doulas are free for people on medical assistance. People with private assistance can also be matched with a doula, and costs vary. Please note that demand for this program is high – the earlier in your pregnancy you request a doula, the more likely you are to get one. They also have prenatal yoga and childbirth education. Based in North Minneapolis.
Other Resources:
Chocolate Milk Club Local breastfeeding support group for African American parents. Follow the link to join their Facebook page.
DIVA Moms (Dynamic Involved African-American Moms). Hosts a meet-up/drop-in group for pregnant African-Americans. Based in St. Paul.
Finding a Doula
Books on Doulas:
Intimate Partner Violence/Domestic Violence
- Domestic Abuse Project
- Violence Free Minnesota – Information about what violence looks like in a relationship and a clearinghouse of resources for Minnesotans experiencing violence
- Tubman Services – Shelter and counseling
Hotlines:
- DayOne Crisis Hotline – Statewide hotline for people experiencing violence, 24/7/365: 866-223-1111
- Esperanza United – Bilingual Domestic Violence Helpline: 651-772-1611
- OutFront Minnesota – LGBTQ+ Anti-Violence Crisis Line: 800-800-0350
- StrongHearts Native Helpline – Native American Domestic Violence Helpline: 844-762-8483
- ThinkSelf – Deaf Advocacy Services: Videophone: 651-829-9089 | Text Hotline: 621-399-9995
Midwifery Model of Care
Perinatal Mood Adjustment & Loss Resources
Politics of Childbearing & Maternity Care
Preconception & Well-Person Care
Books on Fertility, Preconception & Well-Person Care:
- Hormone Intelligence (Aviva Romm)
- Before Your Pregnancy: A 90-Day Guide for Couples on How to Prepare for a Healthy Conception (Amy Ogle and Lisa Mazzullo)
- Taking Charge of Your Fertility (Toni Weschler)
- Women’s Bodies, Women’s Wisdom (Christiane Northrup)
Pregnancy
- Real Food for Pregnancy: The Science and Wisdom of Optimal Prenatal Nutrition (Lily Nichols)
- Read Food for Gestational Diabetes (Lily Nichols)
- Midwifery for Expecting Parents (Aubre Tompkins)
Pregnancy Loss
- Grieving the Child I Never Knew (Kathe Wunnenberg)
- Miscarriage: A Shattered Dream (Linda Hammer Burns and Sherokee Ilse)
- Empty Arms (Sherokee Ilse)
- Fall of Freddie the Leaf (Leo F. Buscaglia)
VBAC and Caesarean Support
- Changing Birth on Earth (Gail Tully)
- Vaginal Birth After Caesarean: The VBAC Handbook (Helen Churchill)
- Birth After Cesarean (Hazel Keedle)