Minneapolis Doula & Midwife Support
Minneapolis Doula & Midwife: Costs, Hospitals & Medicaid
True Joy Birthing is a free birth plan app and doula directory for first-time moms in Minneapolis. Whether you're looking for a doula or midwife in Minneapolis, building your birth plan, or figuring out what support even looks like — everything here is free.
Doulas, midwives, hospital policies, and costs, broken down so you can walk in prepared. This guide covers how much doulas cost, whether Medicaid covers a doula, and which hospitals welcome birth partners. New here? Learn what a doula actually does.
Free · No account needed · Works on iPhone
Minneapolis families travel easy I-35W or Hiawatha Avenue corridors to reach the city's cluster of major hospital campuses near Downtown East and the Philips neighborhood, while families in Uptown and Southwest Minneapolis access birth centers and midwifery practices along the Greenway trail and Hennepin Avenue corridors.
Free app
Build your birth plan step by step in the app
Nine guided sections. Hospital preferences, pain management, who's in the room — all walked through so nothing gets missed.
- Step-by-step guidance for every section
- Update your plan anytime — not a static PDF
- Share directly with your care team or doula
Coming soon Free · No account needed to start
Free app
What the Free App Offers
9 guided sections
Hospital preferences, pain management options, who's in the room, feeding preferences, postpartum plans — each section walks you through what each choice means so nothing gets missed. Answer a few questions at a time, save your progress, and come back whenever you want. Your plan builds as you go, so it never feels overwhelming.
Find local doulas
Browse and connect with doulas and midwives serving Minneapolis right inside the app. See their services, cost ranges, and availability without searching elsewhere. Many Minneapolis parents use the app to message providers directly and find someone who fits their schedule and personality.
Printable PDF birth plan
Export your finished plan as a PDF to share with your provider, doula, or hospital. Easy to update anytime — not a static document you fill out once.
Completely free
No account needed, no credit card, no time limit. Works on iPhone. Download it, build your plan, share it — that's it.
Local support
Doulas & Midwives Serving Minneapolis
Real people, real support: here are doulas and midwives who serve Minneapolis families. Every listing is a practicing provider, not an ad.
The Nest Birth
Collective
The Nest
$1,200-$2,800
Minneapolis doula collective with over 30 years of combined experience offering birth doula services, postpartum care, bodywork, and placenta encapsulation. Their team-based approach means backup coverage is always available, giving families peace of mind.
Serves Minneapolis, MN, St. Paul, MN
Sarah Lillian
PhD, CD(DONA)
Sarah Lillian Birth
$2,000
DONA-certified birth doula and educator with a PhD in health psychology, serving Minneapolis families with evidence-based labor support and childbirth education. Combines academic rigor with hands-on comfort techniques for families wanting a deeply informed birth experience.
Serves Minneapolis, MN, St. Paul, MN
Terra Peterson Jonker
CD(DONA), Hypnobabies
Doula Minnesota LLC
$2,000
DONA-certified birth doula and Hypnobabies instructor practicing in St. Paul and serving the full Twin Cities metro. Specializes in hypnosis-based comfort techniques and partner-inclusive coaching for families planning unmedicated or low-intervention births.
Serves Minneapolis, MN, St. Paul, MN
Anastasia Garcia
HypnoBirthing Certified
Anastasia Garcia Doula Services
$1,500
HypnoBirthing-certified birth doula serving the east metro and Twin Cities with a calm, meditation-focused approach to labor support. Offers combined HypnoBirthing classes and doula packages for families wanting a cohesive preparation-to-birth experience.
Serves Minneapolis, MN, St. Paul, MN
Kat Stangler
CD(DONA), CCE
Kat Stangler Doula
$1,800-$3,200
DONA-certified birth doula and certified childbirth educator based in Northfield, serving the south metro and Twin Cities. Offers flexible packages from basic labor support to comprehensive birth-and-postpartum care with sibling prep.
Serves Minneapolis, MN, Northfield, MN
Elsa Carlson
Birth Doula
Elsa Carlson Birth
$1,825-$2,500
Experienced birth and postpartum doula serving the Twin Cities from her St. Paul base. Known for her warm, steady presence during long labors and thorough postpartum follow-up that includes lactation support and meal planning guidance.
Serves Minneapolis, MN, St. Paul, MN
Madi Harris
Birth Doula
Madi Harris Doula
$1,050
Affordable birth and postpartum doula serving Rochester and the Twin Cities with a focus on first-time parents and teen moms. Offers sliding-scale pricing and shorter package options to make doula care accessible to families on tighter budgets.
Serves Minneapolis, MN, Rochester, MN
Everyday Miracles
Collective
Everyday Miracles
Sliding scale, free for Medicaid
Minneapolis-based nonprofit doula collective providing no-cost and sliding-scale birth support to families on Medical Assistance. Their diverse team of certified doulas serves the entire Twin Cities metro with bilingual (Spanish, Hmong, Somali) support available.
Serves Minneapolis, MN, St. Paul, MN
Blooma Birth Support
Agency
Blooma
$1,900-$2,600
Minneapolis doula agency based in South Minneapolis offering experienced birth and postpartum doulas, birth photography, and Spinning Babies classes. One of the largest doula networks in the Twin Cities with doulas matched to your specific birth preferences and hospital.
Serves Minneapolis, MN, St. Paul, MN
Megan Martin
CAB, DONA
Megan Martin Birth
$1,500-$2,500
CAPPA and DONA certified birth doula and lactation educator serving Minneapolis-St. Paul families. Offers combined birth and lactation packages so feeding support continues seamlessly from the hospital to home.
Serves Minneapolis, MN, St. Paul, MN
Find a doula or midwife near you
The True Joy Birthing app lets you search for doulas, midwives, and birth professionals in your area. Filter by certification, services offered, and insurance coverage, so you can find the right support before your due date.
Try the free app →Listed providers are independent practitioners. True Joy Birthing does not endorse any specific provider.
Hospitals & Birth Centers in Minneapolis
Here's what you need to know about the hospitals where Minneapolis moms deliver.
800 E 28th St, Minneapolis, MN 55407
Abbott Northwestern Hospital (800 E 28th St) is Minneapolis's largest birth hospital, delivering over 5,000 babies annually with a Level III NICU verified on allinahealth.org. The hospital partners with Minnesota Birth Center for midwifery-led care and supports water immersion during labor through its midwifery program. Allina Health accepts Medical Assistance and most major insurers. Use our free hospital birth plan template to prepare for your delivery here.
VBAC: Allows TOLAC/VBAC, consult with provider
Doulas: Doulas welcome as support persons
Water birth: Water immersion during labor available through midwifery program
701 Park Ave S, Minneapolis, MN 55415
Hennepin Healthcare (701 Park Ave S) in downtown Minneapolis operates a Level III NICU and serves as the region's safety-net hospital with 484 beds. Known for high-risk pregnancy care and community-centered OB services, HCMC accepts Medical Assistance and provides robust lactation support. Use our free hospital birth plan template to prepare for your delivery here.
VBAC: Allows TOLAC/VBAC through maternal-fetal medicine
Doulas: Doulas welcome as support persons
Water birth: Water immersion available, water birth varies by provider
2450 Riverside Ave, Minneapolis, MN 55454
M Health Fairview (2450 Riverside Ave) offers a Level IV NICU, the highest level in Minnesota, alongside its maternal-fetal medicine specialists. The adjacent Masonic Children's Hospital handles the most complex neonatal cases in the state. This is the referral center for high-risk pregnancies from across the Upper Midwest. Use our free hospital birth plan template to prepare for your delivery here.
VBAC: Allows TOLAC/VBAC through maternal-fetal medicine
Doulas: Doulas welcome as support persons
Water birth: Water immersion not routinely available; varies by provider
3300 Oakdale Ave N, Robbinsdale, MN 55422
North Memorial Health Hospital (3300 Oakdale Ave N, Robbinsdale) features a Level III NICU and a family birth center known for private suites and 24/7 in-house OB and anesthesia coverage. As a Level I trauma center with 353 beds, it serves northwest Minneapolis suburbs with strong midwifery collaboration. Use our free hospital birth plan template to prepare for your delivery here.
VBAC: Allows TOLAC/VBAC, consult with provider
Doulas: Doulas welcome as support persons
Water birth: Water immersion not routinely available
2606 Chicago Ave, Minneapolis, MN 55407
Minnesota Birth Center (2606 Chicago Ave, Phillips neighborhood) is a CABC-accredited freestanding birth center offering water birth, midwifery-led care, and seamless hospital transfer partnerships with Abbott Northwestern. Accepts Medical Assistance and MinnesotaCare. Call 612-278-7700 to schedule a consultation or tour.
Hospitals listed for reference only. True Joy Birthing does not endorse any specific provider. Always call ahead to confirm doula and visitor policies during your hospital tour. For more questions, see our doula FAQ or our birth plan checklist.
Reviewed by Shelbi Kohler
How it works
What Doula & Midwife Support Looks Like in Minneapolis
Not sure what the difference is?
A midwife is your medical provider: she can deliver your baby, write prescriptions, and monitor your health. A doula is your support person: she keeps you comfortable, informed, and emotionally held, but doesn't do medical tasks. You can have both, and many Minneapolis moms do. Learn more about what a doula actually does →
Minneapolis has one of the most progressive birth-work communities in the country, with strong collaborative networks among doulas, midwives, and obstetricians. The city's legacy of maternal-health advocacy, rooted in both its Scandinavian welfare traditions and its powerful BIPOC birth-justice organizations, makes it a place where families can find genuinely informed, supportive care across the spectrum from hospital to home birth.
Continuous labor support
A doula stays with you from early labor through delivery. No shift changes, no leaving the room.
Evidence-based comfort techniques
Breathing, counter-pressure, position changes, proven to reduce C-section rates and shorten labor.
Advocacy before and during birth
Your doula helps you understand your options and practice saying what you want, before you're in the delivery room.
Postpartum follow-up, too
Most Minneapolis doula packages include at least one postpartum visit, because birth support doesn't end at delivery.
Whether this is your first baby or you're preparing for a VBAC, understanding what a doula does, and how a doula can change your birth experience, can help you decide what support is right for you. Planning for a specific scenario? Read our VBAC birth plan guide or our C-section birth plan template.
How Much Does a Doula or Midwife Cost in Minneapolis?
In the Minneapolis area, birth doula packages typically range from $1,500 to $4,000. Midwife fees vary by type and setting — home birth midwives usually charge a global fee of $4,000–$8,000, while hospital-based CNM care is billed through insurance like a doctor's visit. See our full doula cost breakdown for what's included and what to ask about. If you're also thinking about support after baby arrives, learn what a postpartum doula does and how one can help.
If that number feels steep, you're not alone, and there are options:
- Medicaid: Good news: your state covers doula services through Medicaid. See the details below.
- HSA/FSA: Many families don't realize that doula services can often be paid for with HSA or FSA funds, since birth support qualifies as a medical expense under most plans. Check with your plan administrator.
- Sliding-scale doulas: Many Minneapolis doulas offer payment plans, sliding-scale fees, or reduced packages. Don't be afraid to ask.
- Student doulas: Doulas in training often attend births at reduced rates. It's a great option if budget is tight.
Does Medicaid or Insurance Cover a Doula or Midwife in MN?
Yes — Minnesota Medicaid (Medical Assistance) covers doula services. Effective January 2024, MN DHS reimburses certified doulas up to $1,700 per pregnancy ($425 prenatal, $425 labor/delivery, $425 postpartum, $425 additional visits). Doulas must be listed on the Minnesota Doula Registry to bill Medical Assistance or MinnesotaCare. Call your Medicaid plan or visit mn.gov/dhs to confirm coverage before hiring.
Minnesota law requires most private insurers to cover midwifery services, and many major carriers (Blue Cross, HealthPartners, UCare) include doula benefits or offer flex-spending reimbursement. Always verify your specific plan's out-of-network doula coverage.
Not sure what to look for in a doula or midwife? Here's how to choose a doula who fits your birth preferences, your personality, and your budget. For a full breakdown of which states cover doulas and midwives through Medicaid, see our Medicaid doula coverage guide.
What About a Midwife in Minneapolis?
Minnesota licenses Certified Nurse-Midwives (CNMs) through the Board of Nursing and Certified Professional Midwives (CPMs) through the Minnesota Board of Medical Practice, making both hospital and out-of-hospital midwifery legally regulated. CNMs practice in all major Minneapolis hospitals, including Abbott Northwestern and M Health Fairview, while CPMs attend home and birth center births. Minnesota Birth Center in the Phillips neighborhood offers midwifery-led care with water birth options for {city} families.
In Minnesota, Certified Professional Midwives (CPMs) are licensed by the state to attend out-of-hospital births, giving
Not sure whether you need a doula, a midwife, or both? Our doula vs. midwife guide breaks it down clearly.
- Certified Nurse-Midwives (CNMs) work in hospitals and birth centers and are covered by Medicaid in all 50 states.
- Midwives vs. OBs: Midwives spend more time with you: longer appointments, more conversation, less rushed. OBs are surgeons trained for complications. Both are valid choices for different situations.
- You can have both: Many Minneapolis practices pair midwives and OBs so you get midwifery-style care with a doctor backing you up if needed.
- Birth centers: Minneapolis has freestanding birth centers where midwives attend births in a home-like setting. See the details above.
Planning ahead
When to Start Looking for a Doula or Midwife in Minneapolis
Start looking around 12 to 20 weeks. That gives you time to meet a few doulas, compare approaches, and lock someone in before their calendar fills up — popular Minneapolis doulas often book up by the third trimester. Already past 20 weeks? Start now. Most doulas have room in their schedule and would rather work with you late than not at all.
The earlier you connect, the more time your doula has to learn your preferences, understand your hospital's policies, and build trust before labor day. Use the free app to browse doulas serving Minneapolis and start reaching out today.
What local moms ask
What Minneapolis moms want to know
How much does a doula or midwife cost in Minneapolis?
Expect $1,500 to $4,000 for a birth doula. Minnesota Medicaid covers doula services.
Can my doula come to the hospital with me?
Most Minneapolis hospitals allow doulas. Always confirm your hospital's policy ahead of time.
Does Medicaid cover a doula in Minneapolis?
Yes. Minnesota Medicaid covers doula services. See the details above.
What does a birth plan actually do?
It helps you think through your preferences before labor, so you can walk in confident instead of overwhelmed. Grab the free template.
Walk Into Your Birth Feeling Prepared: Not Anxious
The #1 thing Minneapolis moms tell us they wish they'd had? A clear plan they'd actually thought through, not just a form, but a process that helped them understand their options before the contractions started.
The free Joyful Birth Plan app walks you through every decision: who's in the room, what happens if things shift, what matters most to you, so you walk in confident. Prefer paper? Download the free PDF template instead.
Free · iPhone app or printable PDF · No account needed
Keep Reading
Related Resources for Minneapolis Families
Everything you need to know, from what a doula does to whether Medicaid will pay for one. These guides walk you through each topic so you can make decisions with confidence.
What Is a Doula?
What doulas do, how they help, and why families hire one. Covers the three types of doula support so you can decide what fits your birth.
Read more →
Benefits of a Doula
How doula support improves birth outcomes and satisfaction. Backed by research showing fewer C-sections, less pain medication, and shorter labors.
Read more →
How to Choose a Doula
Interview questions, red flags, and what to look for. A step-by-step approach to finding someone you genuinely trust with your birth.
Read more →
Doula Costs
What doulas charge and how to make it affordable. Covers typical ranges, payment plans, and whether your insurance or Medicaid helps cover the cost.
Read more →
Postpartum Doula
Support after birth: feeding, recovery, and adjusting. Learn how a postpartum doula helps with nighttime support, newborn care, and emotional recovery.
Read more →
Joyful Birth Plan Template
Free template to write down your birth preferences. A simple guided format that covers pain management, labor environment, and postpartum wishes.
Read more →
Doula FAQ
Common questions about hiring and working with a doula. Quick, honest answers to what first-time families ask most often.
Read more →
Doula vs. Midwife
The key differences and why you might want both. Breaks down who does what so you know exactly which provider you need for your birth plan.
Read more →
Medicaid Doula Coverage
Which states cover doulas and how to use your benefit. Step-by-step guide to Medicaid doula reimbursement by state.
Read more →Looking at Nearby Cities?
Your Questions About Doulas & Midwives in Minneapolis
The things Minneapolis moms ask us most, answered honestly.
How much does a doula cost in Minneapolis?
Expect to pay $1,500 to $4,000 for a birth doula in Minneapolis. Postpartum doulas typically charge $25 to $75 per hour. Many doulas offer sliding-scale pricing, and Everyday Miracles provides free doula services for families on Medical Assistance. The investment usually covers 1-2 prenatal visits, continuous labor support, and 1-2 postpartum check-ins. Grab the free birth plan template and start thinking about what matters most to you.
Does Minnesota Medicaid pay for doulas?
Yes! Great news — Medicaid covers doula services in Minneapolis. Effective January 2024, MN DHS reimburses certified doulas up to $1,700 per pregnancy. Here's your next step: call your Medicaid plan and ask "Do you cover doula services?" — they'll walk you through it. You can also check the Minnesota Doula Registry at mn.gov/dhs.
What is the best hospital for giving birth in Minneapolis?
Abbott Northwestern delivers the most babies and has a Level III NICU with an in-house midwifery option, while M Health Fairview has a Level IV NICU for high-risk pregnancies. HCMC serves as the safety-net hospital downtown, and North Memorial in Robbinsdale offers private suites with 24/7 OB coverage. Your best fit depends on your risk level and preferences. Grab the free birth plan template so you walk in knowing exactly what you want.
Are there freestanding birth centers in Minneapolis?
Yes. Minnesota Birth Center in the Phillips neighborhood is CABC-accredited and offers water birth and midwifery-led care with a seamless transfer partnership to Abbott Northwestern if needed. They accept Medical Assistance and MinnesotaCare. Grab the free birth plan template to think through whether a birth center or hospital is right for you.
Can I have a water birth in Minneapolis?
Yes. Minnesota Birth Center offers water birth in freestanding tubs, and Abbott Northwestern's midwifery program supports water immersion during labor. Some families also hire home-birth midwives who bring portable birth tubs. Ask your provider about water birth options — and if they say no, it's okay to ask for a second opinion.
Do Minneapolis hospitals allow doulas in the delivery room?
Yes. All major Minneapolis hospitals welcome doulas. Post-COVID restrictions have fully lifted so doulas are allowed without visitor limits. Call ahead or bring your birth plan to your hospital tour — most units welcome doulas, but knowing their policy upfront saves you stress.
Get Your Joyful Birth Plan
Enter your name and email and we'll send you the free fillable Joyful Birth Plan PDF plus a guided walkthrough in the app. No spam. Just the tools you need.
✓ Check your inbox: your birth plan is on its way.
While you wait, get even more from the free app:
No spam. Just your birth plan and occasional tips you can actually use.
Prefer to skip the email?
Download PDF directlyExplore Birth Support in Other Cities
More cities with doula costs, hospital info, and Medicaid coverage.
Browse all cities in Minnesota or explore other states: Arizona · California · Colorado