Midwife Recommendation

Kristina,

I have delivered my last two babies at St. Joseph's in the birthing tub - using Generations Women's Clinic in Shoreview!

The reasons I loved my experience at Generations:

1. The staff and midwives are great. Joanie the nurse is outstanding, and Kim the ultrasound tech is superb.

2. I never had to wait more than 5 minutes before any appointment (huge considering I brought my other children with me each time). Only one appointment had to be rescheduled due to staff delivering babies (once in 2 pregnancies - pretty good I think).

3. Other children are welcome at all visits. Staff is VERY supportive of having kids in the room at all times. At my 6 week follow up, I held my baby while she did my exam!

4. Staff goes out of their way to help you out on delivery day. Last time, Mary Hayes was the on call midwife. She was at St. Johns with two laboring mom's and couldn't leave so that is technically where I should have gone. I wanted a waterbirth, so she called Penny who was more than willing to meet me at St. Joe's on her Friday night off so I could have the birth I wanted. Penny is great, her bedside manner is kind of gruff, but in the delivery room she was fantastic.

5. HEAVEN FORBID you have any problems during your pregnancy, but there is an OB in the office (Laura France) who is great. I've had two friends go to her when they had problems with their pregnancy and both spoke VERY highly of her in case of problems.

Feel free to message me with any specific questions you have about Generations or waterbirth. For me, the waterbirth was the way to go. :)

Good luck with your decision.

Jessica

SAHM to Charlie (4) Joey (2 1/2) and Rebecca (6 months)

I actually had an MD birth with my first and decided to give Generations a shot because they not only have the midwives but they have an OB on staff as well.

I am now 25 weeks and am REALLY happy with my choice. I have been going there since my first appointment now. Even my husband who was a bit skeptical about a) midwives and b) a smaller clinic is really happy with the change.

Wait times have been non-existent. They remember me when I walk in, the nurse Joan is super friendly, great place if I need to bring my daughter. They also have an on-site Ultrasound tech during all office hours except Wednesday afternoon (so I avoid making appts during that time, just in case!).

Feel free to msg me if you have any specific questions!

I had a good experience with Melissa Hasler at the HealthEast Mac/Groveland clinic. She was responsive, helpful, and generally friendly. Strangely enough, though, I can't speak to how she (or the other HealthEast midwives) is (are) at delivery, because at our 20 wk ultrasound (which was intended to be the only one - I also had low-impact, water birth plans originally), we discovered I was carrying twins. :) So much for my low-impact pregnancy and birth...

Anyway, to summarize - as far as my experience went with HealthEast, I really liked them, especially Melissa, who was my primary caregiver.

I agree with Jess....Generations has completely exceeded my expectations. I was seen by two different OB clinics with my first (not happy with either of them), and when I got pregnant with my second I decided to switch to Generations, and I have been absolutely thrilled with them. There was only one time when I had to wait more than five minutes, and that's because there was a woman in active labor in the clinic, and everyone was busy getting her squared away. You will not be disappointed by this group of midwives and their staff....they are great!

I work at Joe's Maternity and can tell you that all midwives have OB backup at all times. The generations group only does their waterbirths at Joe's, all other deliveries at John's. The Healtheast Midwives do deliveries, waterebirths and land births, at both Woodwinds and Joe's depending on patient preference.
Please let me know if you have any more questions!