Midwives deliver.....more | Northfield Hospital & Clinics

Jump to Main Content

Home

  • Patient Login
    • Login or Create Account to MyHealth Info
    • Historical Portal (records before June 28, 2022)
    • Pay My Bill
    • Learn more about MyHealth Info
  • Find Location
  • Find a Doctor
  • Contact us
  • MyHealth Info
  • Donate Now

Search form

Get Care Today
  • Locations
    • Immediate Care
      • Urgent Care Lakeville
      • Urgent Care Northfield
      • Northfield Hospital
      • eCare
    • Primary Care Clinics
      • Faribault Clinic
      • Farmington Clinic
      • Kenyon Clinic
      • Lakeville Clinic
      • Lonsdale Clinic
      • Northfield Clinic
    • Specialty Care
      • Birth Center
      • Breast Care Center
      • Cancer Care & Infusion Center
      • Eye Physicians & Surgeons
      • Home Care
      • Hospice Care
      • Long Term Care Center
      • Rehabilitation Services – Lakeville
      • Rehabilitation Services – Northfield
      • Orthopedic Clinic
      • Sleep Center
      • Surgery Center
      • Women’s Health Center
      • Wound Healing Center
    Map & Directions
  • Providers
  • Services

    View All Services

    • Highlighted Services
      • Birth Center
      • Cancer Care
      • Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT)
      • Family Medicine
      • Orthopedics/Sports Medicine
      • Pediatrics
      • Pregnancy Care/Obstetrics
      • Surgery
      • Urgent Care
      • Women's Health - OB/GYN
      • Wound Healing
      • Classes + Events
    New Birth Center!
  • About
    • Careers
      • Careers
      • Volunteer Opportunities
      • Job Shadow/Clinical Rotation/Internship
      • Credentialing
    • About Us
      • News
      • History
      • Administrators
      • Board of Directors
      • Mission Vision Values
      • Annual Report
      • Quality Measures
      • NH+C Magazine
      • Donations to Non-Profits
      • Patient Stories
      • Hospital Auxiliary
    NH+C Overview
  • I want to ..
    • Find a Doctor or Provider
    • My Health Info Login
    • Get Directions
    • Pay my bill
  • Get Care Today

NH+C has COVID-19 vaccine for everyone age 5 and older. Call to schedule: 507-646-8019.  COVID-19 Vaccine Information 


Get the latest COVID Information including VISITOR RESTRICTIONS.

Midwives deliver.....more

Tags
Birth Women’s Health

Midwife group photo

Midwives: Brittany Cordes, Jessica Bohren, Gretchen Alaniz and Janelle Dahl

Midwifery has expanded at the Birth Center and Women’s Health Center – offering more options for more women to have a certified nurse midwife deliver your baby.

With four certified nurse midwives on staff, the Birth Center now has midwives on call around the clock – so whenever your labor begins, a midwife is available. (That’s pretty special for a hospital birth center.)

This gives you the option for birth with minimal intervention – with the resources of a hospital and OB/GYN doctors ready if you need them.

Midwives do water birth deliveries in the Water Birth Suite. “There’s something magical about water birth,” says Jessica Bohren, APRN, CNM. “We let mom and baby stay together in tub until they’re ready. It is a calming, magical moment.”

Patients appreciate how closely our midwives work as a team. “We think alike and practice alike – yet we each have something to add to the same question a patient has,” says Janelle Dahl, APRN, CNM.

“You won’t get different answers; you’ll get different perspectives from each of us for a richer, well-rounded understanding of your pregnancy and birth experience,” adds Brittany Cordes, APRN, CNM.

Midwife care can begin as soon as you know you’re pregnant.

Prenatal care

The first appointment at the Women’s Health Center is a 45-minute session with a midwife to review your medical history, have a physical exam and ultrasound, lab tests – and lots of conversation.

“We use this time for teaching, and to learn more about you: What are your questions, is there anything you’re scared about,” Jessica says. “And we give you lots of resources.”

You’ll see different midwives during your prenatal care. The team tailors information and resources to you – and gives flexibility when possible for your care.

“There are certain requirements that are there for your safety, such as glucose testing,” Brittany says. “In order to safely know that you and your baby are healthy, that’s a requirement. When and how we do it can be flexible.”

Some health conditions prevent midwife delivery: Chronic hypertension; insulin-controlled diabetes before pregnancy; and some cardiac problems. The midwives will talk with you about your options, including care from OB/GYN doctors and a maternal fetal specialist.

During labor and birth

When you’re in labor, midwives and labor nurses care for you in the Birth Center, letting the birth unfold through attentive waiting, natural alternatives, and low intervention. They empower you to choose what your body – and your baby – need.

Options include a wide range of natural birth aids – and pain medication, from nitrous gas to epidural and IV medication. “You absolutely can have medication with a midwife delivery,” says Janelle.

With any birth, there can be surprises. “Part of our job is to identify things that are not normal, and suggest alternatives,” Brittany says.

“When there’s a complication, it’s important that you know and trust us,” Jessica says. “For example, if it becomes clear that you need a c-section, and I’ve been with you for three hours and we’ve tried all the options and you were supported through all of it, then when I say, ‘We need to think about this differently,’ that’s an easier conversation because you trust me.”

Making a birth plan

NH+C’s midwives encourage patients to make a birth plan at around 20 weeks. It helps set expectations, and invites discussion during your prenatal care about your priorities. “We’re realistic reviewing your birth plan with you,” Jessica says. “We’ll say, ‘This is something we can do; this is something we always do; this is part of our routine care, and this is not.’”

“A birth plan is a guide; it’s not a requirement for how your experience will unfold,” Brittany says. “We can’t always do certain things, but we’ll try our hardest to make something work.”

At “fourth-trimester” post-partum clinic visits, the midwives check on your mental health and overall well-being. They’ll ask how you’re feeling about your birth experience. “We want to know how you’re doing processing your birth story,” Janelle says. “Because your story is important to you.”

And what’s important to you, is important to your midwives.

Learn more about Midwives

Learn more about Pregnancy Care

Contact Northfield Hospital + Clinics

General: 507-646-1000
Patient Billing: 507-646-1399
Contact Us
Email Sign up

Patient Advocate

To provide feedback or share a concern, email us, call 507-646-1509 or complete a Grievance Form.

Get Involved

Volunteer or apply to join the Patient and Family Advisory Council.

Find

  • Doctors & Providers
  • Emergency Department
  • Urgent Care

Connect With Us

FacebookInstagram

Resources

  • Pay My Bill
  • Contact Us
  • Careers
  • Request Medical Records
© 2022 Northfield Hospital & Clinics. All rights reserved. Terms of Use | Notice of Privacy Practices | Website Privacy Policy | NHC Login
Non-Discrimination Statement | Accessibility Statement | Download Adobe Acrobat Reader
  • Main menu
    • Locations
      • Immediate Care
        • Urgent Care Lakeville
        • Urgent Care Northfield
        • Northfield Hospital
        • eCare
      • Primary Care Clinics
        • Faribault Clinic
        • Farmington Clinic
        • Kenyon Clinic
        • Lakeville Clinic
        • Lonsdale Clinic
        • Northfield Clinic
      • Specialty Care
        • Birth Center
        • Breast Care Center
        • Cancer Care & Infusion Center
        • Eye Physicians & Surgeons
        • Home Care
        • Hospice Care
        • Long Term Care Center
        • Rehabilitation Services – Lakeville
        • Rehabilitation Services – Northfield
        • Orthopedic Clinic
        • Sleep Center
        • Surgery Center
        • Women’s Health Center
        • Wound Healing Center
    • Providers
      • Patient Information
        • Request Medical Records
        • Patient Forms
        • Advance Care Planning
        • When You Have Concerns
        • Patients' Bill of Rights
        • Non-Discrimination Statement
      • Billing & Insurance
        • Price Estimate / Price Transparency
        • Accepted Insurance Plans
        • Frequently Asked Questions
        • I don't have insurance
        • Understanding Insurance
        • Financial Assistance/Charity Care
        • Patient Financial Services
      • Support Resources
        • Support Groups
        • Hospice Care
        • Patient Advocate
        • Patient and Family Advisory Council
        • Interpreters/Language Assistance
        • Social Work Services
        • Medication Disposal
        • Ethics Committee
        • Aging and Disability Resources
      • Northfield Hospital
        • Preparing for Your Stay
        • Tobacco-Free Campus
        • Northern Lights Cafe
        • Gift Shop
        • Visitors
        • Assistance at Home
        • Map of Hospital Campus
    • Services
      • Highlighted Services
        • Birth Center
        • Cancer Care
        • Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT)
        • Family Medicine
        • Orthopedics/Sports Medicine
        • Pediatrics
        • Pregnancy Care/Obstetrics
        • Surgery
        • Urgent Care
        • Women's Health - OB/GYN
        • Wound Healing
        • Classes + Events
    • About
      • Careers
        • Careers
        • Volunteer Opportunities
        • Job Shadow/Clinical Rotation/Internship
        • Credentialing
      • Classes + Events
        • EMR/EMT/CPR Courses
        • Learn CPR
      • Hospital Auxiliary
      • About Us
        • News
        • History
        • Administrators
        • Board of Directors
        • Mission Vision Values
        • Annual Report
        • Quality Measures
        • NH+C Magazine
        • Donations to Non-Profits
        • Patient Stories
        • Hospital Auxiliary
      • Health Resources
        • Chemical Health Resources
        • Fall Prevention
        • Medication Tracker
        • Mental Health Resources
        • Protect From Infection
        • Aging and Disability Resources
      • HealthFinders
      • Meals-On-Wheels
      • Northfield Healthy Community Initiative
      • Be Prepared
    • I want to ..
      • Find a Doctor or Provider
      • My Health Info Login
      • Get Directions
      • Pay my bill
    • Get Care Today