Overview
Every day, joy is born here. Give your baby a strong start and an even stronger future at The Birthplaces, M Health Fairview’s array of family-centered maternity care and childbirth centers. Conveniently located across the Twin Cities, our safe and comfortable Birthplaces are filled with family-friendly amenities and offer the latest birthing options and technology. They are staffed by a range of experienced, compassionate providers – including obstetricians, certified nurse midwives, family medicine physicians, lactation specialists, and more – all of whom are deeply committed to caring for you and your little one.
Even though we help deliver thousands of babies every year at The Birthplaces, we know that each birth, and each family, is unique. Our compassionate team of experts is here to support your birthing choices, with special comforts and little touches that make giving birth here a truly exceptional experience. Our approach is why more of our hospitals were recognized as Best Hospitals for Maternity Care by U.S. News & World Report in 2024 than any other health system in Minnesota.
And if complications arise, rest easy knowing that you and your baby will have access to a full range of advanced care options, including neonatal intensive care units (NICUs), maternal-fetal medicine specialists, and nationally recognized pediatric care.
Our Birthplaces are located at:
- M Health Fairview Lakes Medical Center in Wyoming, MN
- M Health Fairview Masonic Children’s Hospital in Minneapolis, MN
- M Health Fairview Northland Medical Center in Princeton, MN
- M Health Fairview Ridges Hospital in Burnsville, MN
- M Health Fairview Southdale Hospital in Edina, MN
- M Health Fairview St. John’s Hospital in Maplewood, MN
- M Health Fairview Woodwinds Hospital in Woodbury, MN
Take a video tour of our Birthplaces to see what amenities and services we offer at each location.
Conditions
Please note: This is not a complete list of pregnancy- and childbirth-related conditions we treat. We diagnose and treat many types of medical issues, including very rare or complex conditions. To inquire about a specific condition, or for more information, please call to inquire about our Birthplaces at 1-855-FAIRVIEW.
Our OB/GYNs, family medicine doctors, certified nurse midwives, and staff put you and your family at the center of everything we do.
M Health Fairview has seven Birthplaces located across the Twin Cities and beyond, which means you don't have to travel far for exceptional care.
Why M Health Fairview
A beautiful place for your special day
At the Birthplace, you’re surrounded by a serene, home-like environment with plenty of modern conveniences so you and your family can welcome your new little one in comfort. Here are just a few examples of the services and staff we offer at some locations:
- Private rooms with free Wi-Fi and bathrooms with soothing soaking tubs
- Large, comfortable postpartum rooms with microwaves, refrigerators, and large-screen TVs
- Therapeutic labor techniques and support tools, including birthing balls, peanut balls, squatting bars, and essential oils
- A full range of pain relief options, including epidural anesthesia, IV pain medication, as well as nitrous oxide
Breastfeeding support from experienced lactation specialists - Hydrotherapy (warm-water immersion) during labor and water birth techniques
- Access to OB/GYNs, family practice physicians, and certified nurse midwives. Private doulas are also welcome.
- Family-centered and culturally sensitive care options
- Newborn portrait sessions
An experienced team, focused on you
When you choose to deliver at the Birthplace, you’re surrounded by a team of experienced childbirth specialists. In 2022, we helped deliver more than 13,300 babies in our birth centers – more than any other health system in Minnesota. But our attentive and compassionate obstetricians, large team of certified nurse midwives, and family medicine physicians work with each family to deliver personalized care at every step of your pregnancy and birth journey – and beyond.
Support from advanced specialists at one of the nation’s top children’s hospitals
At our Birthplaces, you can have peace of mind knowing your family can get advanced care if needed. Having your baby at one of our Birthplaces means you’re seamlessly connected to a leading children’s health system, anchored by a nationally ranked children’s hospital. No matter what kind of extra care your baby might need, you can feel confident knowing it’s all available right here at M Health Fairview Pediatrics. We offer:
- 24/7 access to providers at our Level IV neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), the highest-level NICU available in the state
- Onsite Level III NICUs at three community Birthplace locations
- Access to neonatologists and maternal-fetal medicine specialists for complex or high-risk pregnancies before and during delivery
- Immediate access to providers from more than 60 pediatric specialties, as well as pediatric surgeons for all gestational ages
Birthplace Programs and Resources
Optimized Cesarean Recovery
Our Birthplaces have adapted the nationwide evidence-based Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) program to the specific needs of patients having planned cesareans. Our own Optimal Recovery After Surgery (ORAS) program helps shorten hospital stays and reduces the need for opioid pain medication after a planned cesarean.
Neonatology and NICU care
Sometimes, a baby is born too early or is critically ill at birth. When that occurs, babies need advanced care they can get only in a NICU. Staff at our Birthplace NICUs have extensive specialized training and experience to provide stabilizing and life-saving care for sick newborns. We offer our smallest patients the benefits of receiving care at our nationally recognized children's academic health system.
NICU Follow-Up Program
Because babies who are born early often have ongoing health concerns, our neonatologists continue to monitor their development after they leave the hospital. That means your child can be followed with an individual plan that works to maximize normal development.
Tele-NICU
The Tele-NICU program enables on-demand, expert care for complex births - no matter where you are. Using a mobile videoconferencing device, care teams encountering complex situations at other hospitals can virtually connect with a neonatologist at M Health Fairview Masonic Children's Hospital's Level IV NICU for a consultation 24/7.
Maternal-Fetal Medicine
At M Health Fairview's Maternal-Fetal Medicine (MFM) Centers across the region, our providers specialize in high risk, medically complicated pregnancies. If a concern is detected before birth, MFM providers partner with our rare disease team to connect families with the right next steps for diagnosis.
Kangaroo Care
During kangaroo care, family members hold the baby against their chest for up to a few hours of skin-to-skin contact. This has been shown to improve bonding, stabilize a baby's heart rate, and promote healthy sleep and weight gain in newborns. Kangaroo care is standard across all of our Birthplaces.
Frequently Asked Questions
Our Birthplace providers include:
Certified nurse midwives
Family medicine providers who specialize in obstetrics
OB/GYNs
Private doulas are welcome at all Birthplace locations. Doulas are trained professionals who provide emotional and physical support through pregnancy and birth. The Birthplace at M Health Fairview Woodwinds Hospital and M Health Fairview University of Minnesota Medical Center - West Bank east also offer doula programs, providing in-house access to doulas.
We also offer the largest midwifery program in the tri-state region, with 40+ certified nurse midwives practicing at five of our seven Birthplace locations. Our certified nurse midwives lead with evidence-based, family-centered, and empowering care – providing you with a personalized holistic approach from your first prenatal visit through delivery and postpartum care. Learn more.
At the Birthplace, our team is here to help you bring your child into the world in the best way for you. We offer a range of supportive birthing techniques, including:
- Water births
- Hydrotherapy, also known as warm-water immersion during labor
- Labor slings
- Birthing balls
- Peanut balls
- Squatting bars
- Essential oils
For information about the birthing options available to you, contact your preferred Birthplace location.
We offer a variety of pain management options during labor. They include:
- Labor support
- Clinical aromatherapy
- Hydrotherapy—laboring in water for pain relief
- Birthing balls, peanut balls, and slings to assist labor
- Nitrous oxide
- Epidural blocks
- IV pain medication
If your pregnancy is medically complicated, you are expecting multiple babies, or require a closer oversight during and after pregnancy, M Health Fairview has Maternal-Fetal Medicine Centers across the region. Our providers specialize in high risk, medically complicated pregnancies, and partner with primary OBGYNs to create treatment plans to keep you and your baby safe before, during, and after delivery. Learn more
If your baby is born early or needs extra care, it’s comforting to know that M Health Fairview Pediatrics offers access to the highest level of neonatal intensive care available in the state at M Health Fairview Masonic Children’s Hospital, one of the nation’s leading children’s hospitals.
Using new Tele-NICU virtual technology, our neonatology experts are instantly available 24/7, ready to provide specialized on-demand support at any Birthplace location if a family unexpectedly needs advanced care. Learn more
Yes. We’re here to support you as you begin your breastfeeding journey with your new little one. Our certified lactation consultants and experienced postpartum nurses specially trained in breastfeeding are available to support new parents. Certified lactation consultants can help families with a variety of situations, both during the hospital stay and on an ongoing basis at several of our clinic locations. Learn more
Childbirth, breastfeeding support, and parenting classes are offered at some of our locations.
Each of our Birthplaces is unique, but all of them offer a range of family-friendly amenities and beautiful, serene surroundings. They include:
- Private rooms
- Water births
- Hydrotherapy, also known as warm-water immersion, during labor
- Labor slings
- Therapeutic labor techniques and support tools, including birthing balls, peanut balls, squatting bars, and essential oils
- A full range of pain relief options, including epidural anesthesia as well as nitrous oxide
- Free Wi-Fi
- Newborn portrait sessions
- Large, comfortable postpartum rooms with refrigerators and large-screen TVs
- Private bathrooms with soothing soaking tubs
- Kangaroo Care for skin-to-skin contact
- Delayed umbilical cord clamping, which has been shown to have significant health benefits for newborns
- Breastfeeding support
Cesarean births (also known as c-sections) can be lifesaving for pregnant people and babies during a high-risk pregnancy, or when something unexpected happens at childbirth. In a cesarean birth, the baby is born surgically through incisions in the abdomen and uterus. Cesareans can be planned ahead of time, or they can be done because of a complication during labor.
Cesarean births are not medically necessary for most people, and a single cesarean birth increases the risk for repeat cesareans with future pregnancies. For that reason, M Health Fairview has started a systemwide care mapping effort to promote safe vaginal births and reduce the cesarean birth rate to 23.6% for low-risk, first-time mothers. Our approach involves options for monitoring the baby before birth, use of movement techniques and birthing aids to promote healthy vaginal delivery, and other changes to promote the best-possible outcomes for pregnant people and babies.
Pregnancy-related hypertension, or high blood pressure, often starts in the second half of pregnancy. It can raise the risk of serious medical complications like preeclampsia, seizures, or stroke. Our health system has launched a comprehensive effort focused on reducing the risk of hypertension during pregnancy. If you have hypertension, our Birthplace care teams can diagnose it early and help you manage it from the earliest stages of pregnancy to after birth and beyond. We will work with you to create a care plan tailored to your needs. This plan might include medication, home blood pressure monitoring during pregnancy, and other techniques depending on your unique situation.
