Minnesota Birth Center clients – Check out our Prenatal, Birth, & Postpartum Education Binder
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Preconception & Well-Woman Care
Books on Fertility, Preconception & Well-Woman Care:
- 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 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)
Pregnancy
- The Complete Book of Pregnancy and Childbirth (Sheila Kitzinger)
- The Natural Pregnancy Book (Aviva Romm)
- The Healthy Pregnancy Book (William Sears)
Culturally Specific Support for African-American Clients
In the United States, pregnant African-American mothers have higher rates of adverse pregnancy outcomes than the general population. This is largely believed to be due to current and historical racism and/or trauma. At the Minnesota Birth Center we have excellent outcomes for all of our clients. Part of our model is to strongly recommend doulas for all as doulas have been shown to improve outcomes. Some African-American mothers prefer to have a doula from their cultural group, so we have compiled the following list of experienced doulas to assist you. Please contact them individually for 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.
Breastfeeding and Lactation
For a comprehensive list of lactation resources please visit our Lactation Services page.
Childbirth and 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
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)
Finding a Doula
- Minnesota Birth Center Doula Internship
- Everyday Miracles
- The Childbirth Collective
- Doulas of North America (DONA)
- DoulaMatch
Books on Doulas:
- The Birth Partner: A Complete Guide to Childbirth for Dads, Doulas, and All Other Labor Companions (Penny Simkin)
- The Doula Book: How a Trained Labor Companion Can Help You Have a Shorter, Easier and Healthier Birth (Klaus, Kennell & Klaus)
Body Work, Exercise and Antenatal Positioning
VBAC and Caesarean Support
Books on VBAC and Caesarean:
- Birthing Normally After a Caesarean or Two: A Guide for Pregnant Women Exploring Reasons and Practicalities for VBAC (Helene Vadebonocoeur). This title is print-on-demand and is available through Magers and Quinn Booksellers. Orders can be placed by phone referencing ISBN 9781906619206.
- Cesarean Recovery (Chrissie Gallagher-Mundy)
Waterbirth
Products
Perinatal Mood Adjustment and Loss Resources
- Jenny’s Light
- Pregnancy & Postpartum Support Minnesota
- Postpartum Support International – Minnesota Chapter
Midwifery Model of Care
- American Association of Birth Centers
- American College of Nurse-Midwives
- Citizens for Midwifery
- Coalition for Improving Maternity Services
Politics of Childbearing & Maternity Care
- Born in the USA: How a Broken Maternity System Must be Fixed to Put Women and Children First (Marsden Wagner)
- Pushed: The Painful Truth About Childbirth and Modern Maternity Care (Jennifer Block)
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