I am happy to feature Paula Bernini Feigal, the owner/director/midwife extraordinaire of Morning Star Women’s Health & Birth Center! She has recently opened a location in St. Louis Park to serve her Twin Cities/Minnesota clients while still running her original location across the border in Menomonie, WI. She has created such a beautiful space that includes three amazing and comfortable birthing rooms (the most important part, right!?) No detail has been overlooked. Seriously, the bathroom’s are just as pretty as the rest of the center! And of course, Paula was so sweet to take the time to show me around, answer questions and talk about her passion turned business.
How long have you been a midwife?
I have been practicing midwifery for 17 years
When did you know you wanted to be a midwife or what led you to this profession?
After the birth of my daughter, I felt a deep discordance between what I believed about birth (a natural and healthy process requiring little intervention), and the way it actually was. I had a relatively ‘liberal’ OB, and chose a hospital that offered LDR rooms and “rooming in” for my baby. I found out about midwives, specifically the Midwives’ Model of Care, in an effort to understand- and heal from- my birth experience.
When did you know you wanted to start your own business?
As I was completing my training.
Is there a birth that stands out as your favorite or most memorable?
I have so many memories; sweet, exciting, joyful and scary ones. No birth is “uneventful” or routine, because of the richness that a personalized relationship with the family brings to the birth experience. Every birth is unique and different in some way. I don’t have a “favorite”, but my first (and only) home-born set of twins will always hold a sweet spot in my heart.
What are the benefits of a birth center compared to a traditional hospital birth?
Our birth center is more than just an alternative location, it offers a different model of care. We don’t approach pregnancy and birth as medical conditions just waiting for a complication to strike. In addition to what the research shows regarding optimal outcomes, most families who receive care and birth at a birth center don’t ever want to receive medicalized prenatal care or birth in a hospital again, unless there appears to be a medical need, particularly because of the valuable, sensible and empowering approach of the Midwives’ Model of Care.
What is the hardest part or some of the struggles of running birth centers?
Surprisingly, the most challenging part has been finding midwives with experience in out-of-hospital births that are familiar and comfortable with our national standards and guidelines and want to work in a small group environment.
How/why did you choose the Twin Cities as the location to open your second birth center?
Since opening our Birth Center in Menomonie in 2003, we’ve seen so many women from the Twin Cities who were seeking an alternative to home or hospital birth. For every one Minnesota mom that chose to use Morning Star for their maternity and birth care, there were four that just felt it was too far to drive (fearing the birth-in-the-car scenario). The population base of the Twin Cities, and the absolute lack of a birth center option, made it the logical place to expand to. So, in April 2009 we signed a purchase agreement on the property in St. Louis Park, and rented space for a temporary location while construction was underway. Women were so ready for the option that many booked for care before construction was even underway, and several women birthed at our temporary home through the fall and winter until we opened in late March.
How have you balanced your business and your family?
Balance is rather elusive these days! We are putting together our “Dream Team” of staff, which will help a lot, and planning a family vacation in August.
Where did you find the inspiration for the interior design of the new birth center?
I have always been interested in the principles of interior design, Feng Shui and the psychological effects of color, texture and space arrangement, so I had some pretty clear ideas when we started. I had a (very) limited budget, so had to shop hard for quality materials and products that were clearance, discounted or on close-out! The design of the reception area and birth rooms evolved from light fixtures I found and loved from a lighting store that was closing.
And just for fun…
Tell me about your family/pets?
I am married to a sweet, supportive (and very independent!) man, Michael. Mike is a family practice doc who also does OB, so you can imagine what our dinner conversations must be like! We have a 19 year old daughter, Alexandra, who is a junior at an Art Institute in Miami, Florida. At home in Menomonie, we have a dog, Poobah (a Maltese-Yorkie) and two very cuddly cats.
What is your ideal thing to do on a lazy day off (if there is such a thing)?
I will be outside, enjoying the sunshine and gardening or reading a book!
Favorite tv show or reality show?
Very Funny- I don’t have time to watch TV (really).
What is your favorite thing to cook?
Well, I don’t have a favorite thing, but I love to experiment and simply *cannot* follow a recipe!
Can’t live without item?
Anyone who knows me would say it’s definitely my shoes!
Where is your favorite place to visit/travel?
I have traveled a lot, but am a creature of habit! I love the people and vibe of west end Negril, Jamaica, the lush greenery of Turrialba and Fortuna, Cost Rica and the history and culture of southern Spain. I travel frequently to Grosseto, Italy where my grandmother, brother, sister and cousins live, and love the food, culture and history of central Italy.
–Thanks so much Paula for showing me (and my blog readers) around your beautiful birth center! If you even have the slight thought/interest/feeling of birthing outside the traditional hospital setting, visit Paula. You will feel at home from the minute you walk in the doors. :-)
