Pregnancy Care & Birthing Center

At Astera Health, we share in the joy of your upcoming addition to the family. Our dedicated team is committed to supporting you through every stage of your journey — from prenatal care and delivery to postpartum care. You’ll find a wealth of educational resources and unwavering support here to help make your birthing experience truly memorable and fulfilling.

Your Pregnancy & Delivery Care Team

We are privileged to stand by your side during one of life’s most significant moments: the birth of your child. Our dedicated providers prioritize building a deep understanding of your needs, concerns, and expectations. With expertise and compassion, we diagnose and address any issues that may arise during your pregnancy, providing high-quality care for you and your baby.

Aster Health’s experienced team offers specialized pregnancy care with a personal touch. Your care team will include the following experts:

Certified Nurse Midwives
Family Medicine Physicians with obstetrics training
Gynecologists and Obstetricians certified by the American Board of Obstetrics
Labor and Delivery Nurses
Maternal-Fetal Medicine specialists
Pediatricians

Guiding You Through Pregnancy, Birth, and Beyond

Astera Health is here for all your gynecological and maternal-fetal medicine needs. Our service offerings include:

Comprehensive care for the female reproductive system
Diagnosis and treatment of pregnancy-related conditions, including gestational diabetes
High-risk pregnancy care
Milk Depot drop-off site to donate to infants in need
Pre-eclampsia prevention and support through our Blue Band Initiative
Post-natal and postpartum care
Prenatal education
Pregnancy fitness classes
Lactation support

Additionally, Astera Health offers a pregnancy and birth plan guide for moms who receive their prenatal care and choose to deliver with us.

As part of our commitment to celebrate our community’s newest members, we also provide access to our online nursery, where you can view the first moments of our hospital’s newborns.

Paige Selvey, MD
As a local native, Dr. Selvey is excited to provide Family Medicine with Obstetrics care to the communities she grew up in.

Hala Madi, MD, OB/GYN
“My passion and purpose to work with women includes my interest in providing a comprehensive approach to healthcare.”

Allison Freese-Johnson, CNM
Truly believes the patient-provider relationship should be a collaborative effort. This two-person team helps make your birthing experience a memorable experience. Allison is accepting new patients at the Astera Health – Wadena Clinic.

Dawn Dahlgren-Roemmich, CNM
Loves making the journey of pregnancy to birth a joyous event for the family.

Julie Meyer, MD
Caring for others has been a big part of Dr. Meyer’s life whether it’s for her patients or family.

Bobbi Adams, MD
Bobbi Adams, MD discusses her path to becoming a physician and her love for the work she does.

Astera Health’s first newborn
Astera Health welcomed its first newborn into the world shortly after opening the new campus in March 2023. Carly Drake shares her birthing experience and why she chose Astera Health.

CONTACT US

Astera Health – Wadena Clinic

421 11th St. NW, Wadena, MN 56482

Clinic Hours: Monday – Friday, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Lab appointments begin at 7:30 a.m.

Make an Appointment: 218-631-3510
Prenatal Education: 218-631-7538
Lactation: 218-632-8741
Labor & Delivery: 218-632-8770

Our Obstetrics Providers:

Your Birthing Experience

Our modern birthing suites allow you to welcome your baby in a private, spacious suite designed with your care and comfort in mind. Each birthing suite features state-of-the-art advancements and a full range of amenities to personalize your birthing experience:

A 54” television
A personal refrigerator
Artwork by Minnesota-based artisans
Large tub, suitable for birthing

We realize the birth of your child and the birthing process will be one of the most important experiences in your life, so we’re committed to keeping you and your baby safe and comfortable throughout.

Labor Pain Relief Options

We realize the birth of your child will be one of the most important experiences in your life, which is why we are committed to making this event as safe and comfortable as possible for you and your baby.

Epidural

This is placed in the same area as the intrathecal injection, and then a catheter is threaded in. This allows a continuous epidural drip to run and give pain relief until your baby is born. You will need to stay in bed until the effects wear off. (Intrathecal injections and epidurals are often used together.)

Intrathecal injection

A shot is given in your back that numbs the area of pain for two to three hours and gives immediate relief. You will need to stay in bed after the injection.

Nitrous oxide

Your labor and delivery team members are specialists in using nitrous oxide (laughing gas) for pain relief. It is gentle to laboring mothers. The effects are immediate and powerful enough to help with painful contractions. You are in control of how much or how little you use, and the medication fades from your system within minutes.

Spinal or general anesthesia

Is used for Cesarean sections.

Water births

Our team has been specially trained to assist mothers with water births. Laboring or giving birth in a warm-water tub can help take the edge off the pain and give mothers a little more control over their bodies.

Other pain relief options include giving narcotics intravenously and using our tubs for comfort during your labor.

Pregnancy Guide

Astera offers a pregnancy guide for moms who receive their obstetrics care and deliver at AH. Full of facts, tips and information for expectant moms on subjects ranging from what to expect during pregnancy, delivery and breastfeeding, to the importance of self-care, care of baby at home, and so much more. The pregnancy guide covers a full spectrum of information from the moment a woman finds out she’s pregnant to caring for baby at home.

Specialized care – from people who care

Our experienced team of family practice providers, an OB/GYN, a certified nurse midwife, and labor and delivery nurses are honored to help with one of life’s most important moments – the birth of your child. From our exceptional hospital and birthing suites to caring providers who take the time to truly get to know you, you are more than just another patient on a schedule. We are here to provide personalized prenatal care, regular checkups, or group support in a welcoming, friendly environment. That’s the Astera promise.

Are you looking for a provider? Check out our provider directory.

Education/Classes

Prenatal Education

At Astera, we believe prenatal and breastfeeding education is the most effective way for new parents to help prepare for childbirth and early parenting. We offer one-to-one education for moms during clinic visits.

Pregnancy Pool Class

Our Pregnancy Pool Class is offered quarterly to expectant mothers who are looking for a way to maintain good overall health during and following pregnancy. This class works to address a full-body fitness education, including low-impact aerobic exercise with stretching, strengthening, and range of motion activities for the entire body.

Milk Depot

Astera’s milk depot helps make it possible and convenient for mothers with extra milk to share the gift with infants in need.

Safe Place for Newborns

A Safe Place for Newborns distinction signifies that the health system provides a safe and secure environment for parents in crisis, allowing them to safely surrender their unharmed newborn, up to seven days old, with medical personnel in the emergency room, with no questions asked. In addition, parents can call 911 and have an ambulance dispatched to their location to pick up their newborn, ensuring their well-being and safety.

Circumcision

Circumcision is the surgical removal of the foreskin on the head of the penis. Many parents choose to have their baby circumcised for religious, traditional, and medical reasons. The procedure is often performed within the first two weeks of your baby being born.

Circumcision Billing

Circumcisions are usually performed in the hospital soon after delivery. We have providers who can perform them in the clinic within the first 14 days of your baby being born.
A discounted pre-payment in the amount of $350 will be due before the circumcision can be performed.
The financial assistance program does not cover circumcisions.
All patients are required to sign a waiver. This includes advanced notice to all patients advising if your baby is placed on Medicaid, the service will not be covered as it is considered cosmetic.
For patients with commercial insurance, when your claim processes, we will apply your credit to any co-pay, deductible, and/or co-insurance amount. Any remaining credit will be refunded by check. This check will come from Astera Health.
If you change your mind and want a circumcision after 2 weeks of having your baby, you will be referred to a specialist as the procedure is far more complicated after 14 days.

The National Institutes of Health offers information about the risks and benefits of circumcision.

Blue Band Initiative

The Blue Band Initiative is an effort to alert healthcare providers about a patient’s risk for preeclampsia. Patients at risk will wear a blue wristband during pregnancy and after delivery of their babies. If asked to wear a blue band, keep it on until your provider removes it or tells you to remove it.

Preeclampsia resources for providers:

Preeclampsia resources for patients:

Your journey to motherhood begins here. Call 218-631-7538 to schedule a tour of our Pregnancy Care & Birthing Center today to experience firsthand the personalized care and modern amenities we offer for you and your baby’s special day.