Welcome, Mama
The Guide I Wish Someone Had Handed Me
I'm Megan, a Twin Cities Fresh 48, newborn, and family photographer and a mom of three.
After years with growing families across Minneapolis and St. Paul, I've learned that the best advice rarely comes from Google. It comes from moms who've been there and providers who genuinely care.
This guide brings together trusted local resources, favorite Twin Cities spots, and a few things nobody tells you about pregnancy, birth, and postpartum.
Use what helps. Skip what doesn't.
Building Your Baby's Support Team
Postpartum Support
Mental Health Therapist
Postpartum Doula
Lactation Support
Pelvic Floor Physical Therapist
Parent Groups & Community
Newborn Photographer
Birth Preparation
Doula
Childbirth Classes
Lactation Consultant
Fresh 48 Photographer
Pediatrician
Pregnancy Support
OB or Midwife
Prenatal Chiropractor
Pelvic Floor Physical Therapist
Acupuncturist
Functional Medicine Provider
Prenatal Fitness & Yoga
You don't need every provider on this list, but knowing your options can make pregnancy, birth, and postpartum feel a lot less overwhelming.
Want the Local Recommendations?
The guide includes Twin Cities doulas, pelvic floor therapists, chiropractors, lactation consultants, fitness resources, postpartum support, and more.
Join 250+ Minnesota moms who have already downloaded the guide.
Inside you'll find:
✓ What to actually pack for the hospital
✓ Twin Cities doulas worth knowing
✓ Pregnancy & postpartum wellness resources
✓ Places to wear out a toddler
✓ Fresh 48 & newborn photography tips
✓ What to actually pack
for the hospital
✓ Twin Cities doulas worth knowing
✓ Pregnancy & postpartum
wellness resources
✓ Places to wear out a toddler
✓ Fresh 48 & newborn
photography tips
What to Actually Pack for the Hospital
Most packing lists are written to sell you bags.
This one is written from watching hundreds of families bring babies home.
FOR LABOR:
For Recovery:
For Baby:
For Your Partner:
For the Photos:
- A swaddle you love (hospital ones work, but your own photographs better)
- A going-home outfit without heavy logos or text
- A button-front top or robe that makes skin-to-skin easy to uncover
- A hair tie and chapstick for the first photo, which will happen whether you feel ready or not
You will not look like an Instagram mom. You'll look like a woman who just did the hardest thing. That's the photo worth keeping.
Want More Hospital Bag Tips?
Doulas Worth Knowing
Joy McAfee - Joy the Village Doula
Joy is a postpartum doula and survivor of severe postpartum depression, which drives her mission to provide customized, holistic support to each family she serves. Her in-home services cover everything from newborn care and infant feeding support to meal prep, sibling care, and simply helping you rest.
Best for: Postpartum support and in-home help after baby arrives.
joythevillagedoula.com | St. Paul, MN
Terri Schelkoph - CONFIDENT Mama
Terri is a DONA-certified birth doula with over 250 births attended, plus certifications in Hypnobabies, VBAC support, and Spinning Babies. She accepts UCare and state Medicaid, which makes her one of the more accessible options on this list.
Best for: Families wanting an experienced birth doula and Medicaid-friendly option.
confidentmama.org | Lakeville, MN
Alexia Franco Pettersen - Alexia the Doula
Alexia is a full-service birth and postpartum doula, certified childbirth educator, lactation counselor, and prenatal nutrition expert who has been supporting Twin Cities families since 2012. She also offers craniosacral bodywork, which sets her apart from most doulas on this list.
Best for: Families wanting doula, lactation, and childbirth education support in one place.
alexiathedoula.com | Minneapolis, MN
Hannah Kuduk - The Folk Doula
Hannah is a postpartum and birth doula with a background in holistic nutrition and herbalism, offering in-home daytime and overnight support, nourishing meal service, and travel doula care. She also offers travel doula care and a nourishing meal service, which sets her apart for families who need support beyond the Twin Cities.
Best for: Holistic support and meal services.
thefolkdoula.com | Minneapolis, MN
How2Mom
How2Mom is a Twin Cities doula agency that functions more like a full support system than a single provider. They offer birth and postpartum doula services, lactation support, placenta encapsulation, childbirth education, and even birth photography, all under one roof. If you want one trusted place to handle multiple pieces of your birth and postpartum plan, this is a strong option.
Best for: Families wanting one organization to coordinate multiple services.
how2mom.com | Cottage Grove, MN
A doula is a trained professional who supports you before, during, and after birth. Think of them as the advocate in the room who isn't on the hospital's clock. These are a few Twin Cities doulas I'd confidently recommend.
How a Prenatal Chiropractor Can Support Your Pregnancy
Naturopathic Care For Preconception & Postpartum
Pelvic Health
Physical Therapy
Want to Learn From These Experts?
Through the Made for Minnesota Moms Podcast, I've had the opportunity to sit down with some of the Twin Cities' most trusted pregnancy and postpartum professionals. These conversations go deeper into the topics covered in this guide, from postpartum recovery and feeding support to mental health and motherhood.
The Photos I Treasure Most
I have my own Fresh 48 photos from when my children were born, and they're some of the only images from those first days that bring me right back.
When my oldest daughter met her baby brother for the first time, she cried. So did I.
I don't remember every detail from those days anymore, but I have the photographs.
That's what I want for the families I photograph.
Not a polished version of the day.
Just the real thing, documented while it's still happening.
If you're looking for a Fresh 48 photographer in Minneapolis, St. Paul, or the Twin Cities, I'd love to help you remember those first hours.
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I WANT THAT!
Real photos of real families.
That's the whole thing.
Real photos of
real families.
That's the whole thing.
Serving Minneapolis, Edina, St. Paul, and the surrounding Twin Cities area.
© 2026 MEGAN NORMAN PHOTOGRAPHY I ALL RIGHTS RESERVED I TERMS & CONDITIONS I PRIVACY POLICY
MINNEAPOLIS, MN FAMILY AND NEWBORN PHOTOGRAPHER