​My partner and I took the Flutterby course as third time parents -- Our first was a planned cesarean, second was a home birth transfer for pain management (VBAC/vaginal birth after cesarean), and third was a planned home birth (HBAC/home birth after cesarean). I went into this third birth wanting to focus on mental preparation thru hypnosis to increase my chances of a successful home birth.

I started early signs of pre-labor/early labor at 39 week + 6 days. My primary goal and focus during this time was to continue listening to affirmations and labor preparation (hypnosis) tracks in order to stay calm and not 'chase labor.' Spending time with friends and family along with the hypnosis tracks helped immensely during the 36 hours of prodromal labor -- when surges were feeling a little more intense, I would pop in my headphones and my mind instantly shifted into perceiving the sensations as pressure vs pain.

At 40 weeks + 1 day, at 1am, I awoke to two strong surges back-to-back. I woke up my partner to monitor things as I put in my headphones.  I had one more surge, and instantly knew I needed to be up and moving. Surges were very inconsistent in timing and intensity, but I was remaining calm and positive thru it -- I then quickly moved to laboring in the shower, where things continued to be inconsistent in timing and intensity (I really feel all those affirmations and tracks helped prime my brain for that moment which I soon found out was transition!).

At around 2am, I started to notice my breathing patterns change (automatically pulled out the horse lips and toe wiggles!) and by about 2:20am, noticed a little 'pushy' noise on my exhale.  Our birth team was already on the way, but I knew at that moment things were going to happen quickly! I was able to get on my hands and knees in the shower (I was NOT moving from that spot!), and after a few surges of the fetal ejection reflex, my daughter was born and caught by my best friend and husband at 2:29am with the support of our birth team by phone and en route -- all with minimal blood loss and no tearing!

During this wildly quick active labor, I remained calm and only perceived 'pain'/moment of doubt once for a BRIEF moment (that initial ring of fire is no joke!), and attribute that to the affirmations and hypnosis. It was such a lovely experience to be home in our own space and have our other two kids wake up the next morning to meet their baby sister!

Even as third time parents, we learned a ton from Erin's course and really enjoyed the content (and her personality-she's great!) and would absolutely recommend it to anyone who's considering it!

- M, J and Baby Girl

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Flutterby is located in the Twin Cities, and provides Hypnobirthing classes for expectant families. Erin Stertz-Follett, Flutterby's Owner, is a Certified Consulting Hypnotist, Certified Hypnobirthing Educator, and Certified Birth Doula who has taught and supported hundreds of families... Email her at [email protected] with any questions!

Flutterby is located in Minneapolis and provides Hypnobirthing classes as well as other services and classes for the childbearing years and beyond. Sharing is Caring. Please credit @flutterbybirth when sharing on social media.

This data is for educational purposes only. Flutterby compiles this data as a service to the local birthing community and birthing families. We encourage all birthing families to discuss with their medical provider, as many varying factors influence these rates. ​Below you will find both an interactive bar chart and a spreadsheet. 
SEE FAQs AT BOTTOM OF PAGE.

NOTE: The reported 2024 rates mirror 2023 exactly, which strongly suggests the raw data has not been updated by the MN Hospital Price Check Report since 2023, for unknown reasons. This occurred previously (2020 → 2021), and inquiries to the MN Hospital Price Check Report have not yielded an explanation. Regardless, we're releasing the report for continuity’s sake. Hopefully, by mid-2026, we'll have 2025 data!​​

To see the rate value for each line on the interactive chart: Hover over or click on that bar. Viewing on computer: Hovering over the chart, click the arrows in the lower right to expand to full screen. Viewing on mobile: Turn your device to landscape or use two fingers to zoom in.

FAQs

​To see the rate value for each line on the interactive chart: Hover over or click on that bar. Viewing on computer: Hovering over the chart, click the arrows in the lower right to expand to full screen. Viewing on mobile: Turn your device to landscape or use two fingers to zoom in.

Flutterby is located in Minneapolis and provides Hypnobirthing classes as well as other services and classes for the childbearing years and beyond. Sharing is Caring... Please credit @flutterbybirth when sharing on social media.

I just wanted to say thank you for all of the information in class - I had my baby on 11/5 and things went so beautifully!

I woke up Tuesday morning 11/5 around 2am with light contractions but made myself have a snack and went back to sleep. I had a midwife apt in the morning and then went grocery shopping. I had lunch at home and started doing some body ready method movements in my living room when things started to pick up around 4pm. Around 5pm, the midwife suggested I try getting in the shower to help relax. I took my birth ball in the shower, which was amazing, and things continued to pick up (also may have had the ball on the drain and flooded the bathroom because the lights were off and we had a candle lit so we didn’t notice the shower wasn’t draining - oops).

We went to Willow Birth Center at 6:30pm - I spent about 30 minutes on my hands and knees with my husband doing pelvic jiggles and counter pressure until my doula Nicole Bengtson arrived around 7pm. I moved to a standing and swaying position for about 30 minutes before going to the bathroom and sitting on the toilet “dilation station” for about 30 minuntes, and boy was that intense! I got in the birth tub just after 8pm, and our baby boy Brooks was born at 8:44pm.

I am so grateful for the positive affirmations that kept me calm and peaceful through my 41 weeks of pregnancy. I truly believed that my baby and my body would know when the time was right for the baby to come. I also loved the breathing exercises that helped to me relax during pregnancy and while birthing. Although I practiced “down breathing”, it truly didn’t make a lot of sense until I was in the tub, reached down, and felt my baby’s head. At that point, my body remembered what I had practiced and understood how to down breathe through the contraction to get my baby out.  
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I had such a positive natural birth experience and want to say thank you for your class which helped prepare me. 

- Christy

Flutterby is located in the Twin Cities, and provides Hypnobirthing classes for expectant families. Erin Stertz-Follett, Flutterby's Owner, is a Certified Consulting Hypnotist, Certified Hypnobirthing Educator, and Certified Birth Doula who has taught and assisted hundreds of families. Email her at [email protected] with any questions. Sharing is caring!