Rural/Greater MN Perinatal & Postpartum Support

Parent enrichment & support

All About Baby- Winona

FREE! Weekly drop-in group where parents can weigh their baby, get answers to questions and meet other parents. New parents and expecting parents are welcome. Tuesdays, noon to 1:30 p.m. Winona Health, 855 Mankato Ave., Winona. Class will be held in the Women’s Health Library on the third floor of the clinic. No RSVP is needed, parents can drop in for all or part of the 90 minutes. Questions? Email us at childbirth@winonahealth.org.

Bright Futures Program- Rochester

A teen pregnancy and parenting support program.  Families receive ongoing support and resources. Teens may work with a public health nurse and/or social worker. Call (507) 328-7500.

Family Home Visiting Program – Olmsted Co.

Provided by public health nurses (PHNs), offers home visits to partner with and support families during pregnancy and parenting. The PHNs work alongside families to promote a healthy pregnancy, a positive parent-child relationship, knowledge of parenting and child development, parental resilience, and referral to resources that provide basic needs and social supports. Newborn / Postpartum Visits (aka New Baby Visits) are available to all families with a new baby. The nurse visits families in their home during the first two weeks after the birth to offer teaching and support related to care of the baby, postpartum recovery of mom, and family adjustment.

Father Project – Rochester

The Father Project serves fathers between the ages of 17 and 35+. Weekly parenting groups offer practical parenting skills and fathers receive support from other peer fathers in similar circumstances. Additionally, the Father Project offers one on one advocacy and case management and access to services including: child support, legal service, education and GED, employment and fun family activities. No cost for services. Family Service Rochester, 507-287-2010.

Nurtured Moms Group- Rochester

Nurturing Healthy Families (currently virtual)

Nurturing Healthy Families is for expectant parents and parents with children under 12 months old. Classes will be relevant for single parents and those parenting together. Each session lasts 60-90 minutes and Kwik Trip or Walmart gift cards are provided. Daycare expenses and bus passes are available upon request. Classes are held once per month.
*Winona & Rochester 507-287-2047 ext 36
*Mankato & Worthington 507-387-5586 ext 2

Rochester Minnesota Dads At Home MDAH

Southeast Minnesota Childbirth Network

A group of professionals and parents working together to raise awareness and educate the community and childbearing families about options for the prenatal, birth, and postpartum periods.

Wiggles & Giggles Baby Group- Lonsdale

Geared toward the youngest of learners and their first experience in school, we will have fun playing, singing, and learning together. There will be a parent discussion and ideas shared related to parenting and development. Support & Info for families with babies 0-23 months. Mon 8:30-9:15 am. Montgomery-Lonsdale Elem. East School. Call Rice Co. Public Health, 507/332-6111.

Breastfeeding Support

La Leche League

All breastfeeding mothers, mothers-to-be interested in breastfeeding, and their families are welcome to come to our meetings or call our Leaders for breastfeeding-related help or information. Nursing babies and younger toddlers are always welcome, as well.
Mankato/St Peter, 2nd Mon. 6:30-8 pm at Aurora Chiropractic in Mankato & 3rd Tues, 6:30-8 at River Valley Birth Center, St Peter
Owatonna, 3rd Wed, 10 am, Owatonna Public Library, 3rd Floor (Gainey Room)
Rochester, 3rd Tues, 5:30 P.M., Zumbro Lutheran Church, 624 3rd Ave. SW.

PAIIR/ECFE- Rochester

Early Childhood Family Education also known as PAIIR is a public school program for families with children ages birth to kindergarten enrollment. Both parents and children participate in PAIIR. The mission of PAIIR is to strengthen families with young children through education and support.

Parents of Multiples Resources

Rochester MN Mothers of Multiples

Southern MN Mothers of Multiples, is for parents (current or expecting) or guardians of multiple birth children. Our goal is to provide education and support through an exchange of ideas regarding child-rearing, sibling psychology and other unique challenges facing families raising multiple birth children. Support is offered through both personal interactions and an online community. We meet the third Wednesday of each month at 7:00 p.m. Unless otherwise noted, all meetings take place at Meadow Lakes Senior Living Center in Rochester. Contact: somnmothersofmultiples@gmail.com

Pregnancy & Infant Loss Resources

Compassionate Friends Child Loss Support Group (currently virtual)

Note: This group is for the loss of a child of ANY age.

Owatonna: St. Joseph Catholic Church, 512 South Elm Ave Joan | 507-451-7613 | joanspindler@gmail.com
Group meets on 2nd Monday at 7pm.
Rochester: Bethel Lutheran, 810 3rd Ave Southeast, Jim and Anne | 507-289-8203 Darwyn and Mary | 651-923-4922 | dntri@sleepyeyetel.net Group meets on 2ndTuesday at 7pm

Infants Remembered in Silence, Inc. (IRIS)

507-334-4748 or email here

IRIS is a 501(c) 3 non-profit organization that is dedicated to offering support, education and resources to parents, families, friends and professionals on the death of a child in early pregnancy (miscarriage, ectopic pregnancy, molar pregnancy, etc) or from stillbirth, premature birth, neo-natal death, birth defects, sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), illness, accidents, and all other types of infant & early childhood death.
Support group: daytime group meets the 2nd Wednesday of the month from 11 am to 1 pm. Evening group meets the 4th Tuesday of the month from 7-8:30 pm. 218 Third Ave. NW in Faribault MN. There is no registration required and no fees.

Iris Advocate Program: For those who are pending a loss, or have experienced a loss during or shortly after delivery, assist parents with a variety of services, including explaining delivery options, acting as a doula (labor coach), assisting with creating precious keepsakes and memories. This includes bathing and dressing the baby, to taking a variety of pictures, taking hand and foot prints, castings and much more. (Currently available only in Dodge, Goodhue, LeSueur, Steele, Rice and Waseca counties in southern Minnesota).

Project Rachel– post-abortion support

A person involved with an abortion can feel a complex mix of emotions and feelings – anxiety, pressure, panic, guilt or loss.  If things aren’t going right in your life and an abortion is part of your past, healing can help.  Project Rachel is a post-abortion counseling and reconciliation program.   You will receive sensitive and confidential counseling and the healing grace of God through sacramental forgiveness. All faiths welcome. Call 1-800-222-5859 or any one of the Catholic Charities offices and ask to talk to someone about Project Rachel.  Counseling and support will help you move forward, joyfully renewed and reconciled with yourself, the unborn child, your family and community, and God.