Gaa-giigishkaakaawasowaad
“A Place Where Pregnant Women Gather”

During your initial visit, our nurse practitioner will work with you to create a customized care plan based on your individual needs and preferences. We will explore mental, physical, emotional and spiritual pathways to support a healthy pregnancy. We will also monitor your baby’s growth and development, and address any concerns or questions you may have.

But here’s the thing: our appointments aren’t your typical rushed medical appointments. Instead, we take the time to build relationships and provide holistic support. We want you to feel safe and comfortable with us, and we aim to create a welcoming environment for all expectant parents. Our ultimate goal is to give you everything you need for a healthy and happy pregnancy and childbirth experience.

At your first visit, you will have the option to receive additional support from our doulas.

On a monthly basis we will gather with other birthing people to collaboratively explore resources, tools, teachings and protocols around pregnancy and postpartum while also building connections with other families who are going through similar experiences. These sessions are a safe and confidential space to learn, share, and connect about your pregnancy journey.

We offer postpartum care services to support your recovery and transition up to one year. Our nurse practitioner will provide postpartum check-ups to monitor your healing, provide breastfeeding support, and address any concerns you may have. Our team of doulas will also be available to provide additional postpartum support.

We welcome any birthing person anytime up to 19 weeks gestation. Whether you are a first-time parent, a single parent, a teen parent, or a parent of multiples, we are committed to providing you with the highest quality care and support. Sometimes, we may need to coordinate care with other specialists in the area – including both western and Anishinaabe practitioners.

For our current group session, we’re looking for 6 American Indian birthing people who can commit to a group session for the duration of your pregnancy.

Once we have 6 families signed up, we will create a waiting list for group care and keep you updated on future offerings and groups as they become available.

No. Group pregnancy care is only for prenatal, postpartum care including lactation support.

Our doulas will keep in close contact with you leading up to your due date to ensure we’re ready and available for birthing support once you go into labor. During our time together, we will explore what this type of support looks and feels like for you.

No. You will receive all the same prenatal and postpartum medical care they would in a traditional OB/GYN practice, including physical exams and lab work. Our space and providers are certified to provide comprehensive prenatal and postpartum care.

Sometimes we might need to make referrals to other trusted providers in the community on a case by case basis to ensure you receive the highest quality care.

• Typical visits will last between 90- 120 minutes compared to the national average of between 13-24 minutes with a provider
• We’ve adapted this program to be contextualized for our Anishinaabe values, teachings and protocols. To do this we visited and offered asema to our communities elders, knowledge keepers and birthing families.
• Care at Gaa-giigishkaakaawasowaad is empowering and safe health care where you will be heard, valued, and honored
• A personalized approach to prenatal, postpartum and lactation care that is centered around building a community of support among families.

Group care at Gaa-giigishkaakaawasowaad is up to 15 sessions, 2 hours each, and is customized to the group. Sessions start out on a monthly basis and will increase as your due date approaches. Sessions will be held at our office location at 802 Paul Bunyan Dr. S. Suite 12 in Bemidji.

We believe that everyone should have access to high quality perinatal care, regardless of their financial situation, and we are committed to working with you to ensure that you receive the care and support you need. We accept many insurance plans, including Primewest and BlueCross BlueShield , and we also offer a sliding fee scale for individuals and families who may not have insurance. Most insurance companies cover prenatal and postpartum care and education as part of your insurance package.

   

We look forward to welcoming you to our clinic and supporting you on your perinatal journey. To schedule your initial visit, please use the HIPPA compliant link to enter your information for us to schedule your initial appointment.

During your initial visit, our nurse practitioner will work with you to create a customized care plan based on your individual needs and preferences. We will explore mental, physical, emotional and spiritual pathways to support a healthy pregnancy. We will also monitor your baby’s growth and development, and address any concerns or questions you may have. You will have the option to receive additional support from our doulas.

Group education classes will follow beginning in June 2023.