Knelly Dettinger wears many hats: business owner, wife, and mom. Welcoming a child into the world is its own chapter of life, and she knows it well. "I've been in that season of my life longer than most: I have nine children," she said in a recent interview at TruLiving Birth Center, the Chippewa Valley's only freestanding birth center.

Though Knelly opened TruLiving Birth Center just a couple of years ago, the historic Menomonie home it operates out of has spent decades supporting women and families. Built in 1913, the charming two-story home became a maternity hospital in the 1930s. Fast forward to 2003, midwife Paula Bernini-Feigal gave new life to the house as Morning Star Women's Health Center. That also marked the start of Knelly's commitment to supporting midwifery. After all, Paula was also Knelly's midwife.

Morning Star Women's Health Center closed in 2018 when Paula retired, and as the owner of TruLiving Real Estate, Knelly sold the historic house to a family. A home to them for a few years before going back on the market, Knelly reentered the Menomonie house intending to sell it again. When she stepped through its doors, she realized she already knew who the next buyer would be: her.

"When Morning Star closed, the natural birth community felt a huge loss," Knelly recalled. "It had been a hub for moms and families, a different option for the community." Knelly realized she had a very unique opportunity to give back to the community by buying the home and reopening it as a birth center.

A far cry from a clinical setting, TruLiving Birth Center is a cozy, warm home that is fitted with three birthing tubs and a shower alongside its three uniquely designed rooms that cater directly to the birth experience. The historic home evokes a boutique bed-and-breakfast, home-like environment, and its team of midwives has decades of experience.

TruLiving Birth Center works with several dedicated, experienced midwives and midwifery teams: Erin Kaspar-Frett, CPM, of Abundant Moon Birth & Wellness has decades of experience in midwifery and is a certified doula; Jade Dill- man, CPM, of Abundant Moon Birth & Wellness; Beth Przybylski, CNM, of Evensong Midwifery & Wellness was a nurse practitioner for 8 years prior to adding midwifery to her degree, and has helped welcome over 500 babies into the world as a midwife; Carrie Young of Evensong Midwifery & Wellness previously worked as a registered nurse and also earned a midwifery degree; Nicole Wocelka, CPM, of Hasewinkle Holistic Health has worked in childbirth since 2003 and is a midwifery education preceptor; and Diana Snyder, doula, of Matrescence Doula Services, previously worked as an attorney with a focus on healthcare policy and patient rights.

Though not a midwife herself, Knelly is uniquely qualified to speak to what the natural birth process can be like, having had eight home births (her middle son is adopted). “A midwife is a healthcare professional that handles all of your prenatal, delivery, and postpartum care and healthcare,” Knelly said. “They support both the mom and baby. It’s physical health in conjunction with mental and emotional health, and preparation for the birth.”

TruLiving Birth Center wants to be part of the paradigm shift, letting women know they do have options in their pregnancy experience.

When Knelly and her husband found out they were expecting their first child, Knelly dove into educating herself on what pregnancy, birth, and postpartum would be like. There was an overwhelming amount of information, and there is no roadmap to that chapter of life.

“With our first child, I didn’t even know what questions I should be asking or what was available to me. I know I’m not alone in that experience,” Knelly said. “I don’t think we have a culture that prepares women to make those choices, or tells them what choices there are.”

TruLiving Birth Center wants to be part of the paradigm shift, letting women know they do have options in their pregnancy experience. With a professional background as a registered nurse, the center’s Birth Integrator, Carly Osmera, said their team of midwives and birth assistants are offering something vital to the birth experience: Their team is wholly focused on empowering women by connecting them to resources and a likeminded community.

A new – or rather, returning – resource for the Chippewa Valley in a changing medical landscape, TruLiving Birth Center has already been connecting with the public, midwives and doulas, chiropractors, and other holistic professionals. Since opening, the center has welcomed those who have had natural births before; women who had never considered it before; and those who had experienced negative births with non-holistic options.

While the world has evolved to include virtual medical care as part of the norm, women will find that face-to-face, personal connection is alive and well at TruLiving Birth Center. The team believes there is simply no replacing that kind of human connection, nor should it be with birth work.

That sentiment is furthered with the center’s community events. Hosting monthly Mother’s Tea events to gather and connect women; the center’s hosting childbirth educator-led courses; and more, TruLiving Birth Center is also busy fostering community in the Chippewa Valley. This December, the team will host a winter gear drive in support its community.

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TruLiving Birth Center

Address: 321 13th St. SE, Menomonie

Phone: (715) 619-7223

Website: trulivingbirthcenter.com

Email: info@trulivingbirthcenter.com

 

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