Comments on: Midwife, OB, or Family Practitioner : how to choose a caregiver http://metropolitanmama.net/2009/12/midwife-ob-or-family-practitioner-how-to-choose-a-caregiver/ ideas and inspiration for moms Fri, 10 Feb 2012 03:41:18 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: fj198602 http://metropolitanmama.net/2009/12/midwife-ob-or-family-practitioner-how-to-choose-a-caregiver/#comment-112495 fj198602 Thu, 14 Jan 2010 03:15:37 +0000 http://metropolitanmama.net/?p=12669#comment-112495 Christian Louboutin|<a href="http://www.new-fashion.org" rel="nofollow">Louboutin shoes</a>|<a href="http://sites.securepaynet.net/redirect_1.html" rel="nofollow">Louis Vuitton</a> Christian Louboutin|Louboutin shoes|Louis Vuitton

]]> By: LaurenS http://metropolitanmama.net/2009/12/midwife-ob-or-family-practitioner-how-to-choose-a-caregiver/#comment-107722 LaurenS Fri, 25 Dec 2009 18:13:21 +0000 http://metropolitanmama.net/?p=12669#comment-107722 I knew since I was 19 that I would never have a hospital birth by choice. A midwife was a guest speaker in a college course I was taking and her talk convinced me in less than 40 minutes. For my first child, I had just moved to an area in California where there were too many homebirth midwives to interview. So we asked a student in my husband's grad program which midwives he and his wife used. We interviewed them and felt fine with them. The birth was amazing. For our second birth, we were living in an area of New York State where there weren't any conventional options for homebirth. The choices were either underground midwives who mainly worked with the amish community or a doctor who we were friends with who attended homebirths of the "hippy" population. He was very hands off and was perfect for us. I did all my own prenatal care by reading Ina May Gaskin's books. I was a little concerned about having a male as an attendant, but although the birth was very different from my first, it was amazing as well. Currently I live in New Mexico where there are tons of homebirth midwives. I happen to be friends with many of them, so I don't know how I would choose should I become pregnant. I knew since I was 19 that I would never have a hospital birth by choice. A midwife was a guest speaker in a college course I was taking and her talk convinced me in less than 40 minutes.
For my first child, I had just moved to an area in California where there were too many homebirth midwives to interview. So we asked a student in my husband’s grad program which midwives he and his wife used. We interviewed them and felt fine with them. The birth was amazing.
For our second birth, we were living in an area of New York State where there weren’t any conventional options for homebirth. The choices were either underground midwives who mainly worked with the amish community or a doctor who we were friends with who attended homebirths of the “hippy” population. He was very hands off and was perfect for us. I did all my own prenatal care by reading Ina May Gaskin’s books. I was a little concerned about having a male as an attendant, but although the birth was very different from my first, it was amazing as well.
Currently I live in New Mexico where there are tons of homebirth midwives. I happen to be friends with many of them, so I don’t know how I would choose should I become pregnant.

]]> By: Carrington http://metropolitanmama.net/2009/12/midwife-ob-or-family-practitioner-how-to-choose-a-caregiver/#comment-107560 Carrington Thu, 24 Dec 2009 15:23:36 +0000 http://metropolitanmama.net/?p=12669#comment-107560 REALLY great tips Stephanie- most first time moms are lost about this, I really liked the suggestions you gave. I did what you said at the end, found a woman (my sister :)) that had a birth experience I wanted, and then I went to her midwife (with my husband), and we really liked her. So- we went with her! REALLY great tips Stephanie- most first time moms are lost about this, I really liked the suggestions you gave. I did what you said at the end, found a woman (my sister :)) that had a birth experience I wanted, and then I went to her midwife (with my husband), and we really liked her. So- we went with her!

]]> By: Madeline http://metropolitanmama.net/2009/12/midwife-ob-or-family-practitioner-how-to-choose-a-caregiver/#comment-107529 Madeline Thu, 24 Dec 2009 06:31:17 +0000 http://metropolitanmama.net/?p=12669#comment-107529 I picked the best OB I found. I didn't consider going any other way. She was definitely kind and took plenty of time with me. She is known for being an excellent doctor and person. Unfortunately, it never dawned on me to really ask questions about the actual labor and delivery. I just thought babies get delivered every day. This really can't be rocket science. Boy, do I wish I had known more then. But, what I really wish I had known is that you can take all the care in the world over who your OB is, but the people who are actually most involved in the delivery (the nurses)you don't get to pick them. My OB showed up after I'd been in labor for 10 hours. The nurse taking care of me didn't realize that I was even in labor...not sure what she thought I was doing screaming so much. By the time the doctor got there the nurse had already messed up quite a bit...not doing some things and overdoing others. It wasn't long before I was told that I had to have a c-section. Next go round I'm looking for a midwife. I picked the best OB I found. I didn’t consider going any other way. She was definitely kind and took plenty of time with me. She is known for being an excellent doctor and person. Unfortunately, it never dawned on me to really ask questions about the actual labor and delivery. I just thought babies get delivered every day. This really can’t be rocket science. Boy, do I wish I had known more then. But, what I really wish I had known is that you can take all the care in the world over who your OB is, but the people who are actually most involved in the delivery (the nurses)you don’t get to pick them. My OB showed up after I’d been in labor for 10 hours. The nurse taking care of me didn’t realize that I was even in labor…not sure what she thought I was doing screaming so much. By the time the doctor got there the nurse had already messed up quite a bit…not doing some things and overdoing others. It wasn’t long before I was told that I had to have a c-section.
Next go round I’m looking for a midwife.

]]> By: Elisabeth http://metropolitanmama.net/2009/12/midwife-ob-or-family-practitioner-how-to-choose-a-caregiver/#comment-107516 Elisabeth Thu, 24 Dec 2009 04:33:24 +0000 http://metropolitanmama.net/?p=12669#comment-107516 We really really want to do a homebirth for my second baby, but I am very discouraged by the prices. I wish that we lived in a country where home birth was covered by insurance, but the thought of $2000 for a midwife versus the $35 co-pay for a hospital birth is a big deterrent for me. Obviously, this is only my situation and my insurance. We are currently researching hiring a midwife in training (if anyone knows anyone servicing Northern California who'd be interested, contact me!). I had a great experience with my first birth in a hospital. It was attended by a midwife only, no doctor, and we had no medication and no real intervention (except for an annoying IV because I was dehydrated from throwing up). It's discouraging to believe in home birth and natural childbirth so much, and to be burdened by the lack of money to make those things happen. We really really want to do a homebirth for my second baby, but I am very discouraged by the prices. I wish that we lived in a country where home birth was covered by insurance, but the thought of $2000 for a midwife versus the $35 co-pay for a hospital birth is a big deterrent for me. Obviously, this is only my situation and my insurance. We are currently researching hiring a midwife in training (if anyone knows anyone servicing Northern California who’d be interested, contact me!). I had a great experience with my first birth in a hospital. It was attended by a midwife only, no doctor, and we had no medication and no real intervention (except for an annoying IV because I was dehydrated from throwing up). It’s discouraging to believe in home birth and natural childbirth so much, and to be burdened by the lack of money to make those things happen.

]]> By: Cindi http://metropolitanmama.net/2009/12/midwife-ob-or-family-practitioner-how-to-choose-a-caregiver/#comment-107495 Cindi Thu, 24 Dec 2009 01:23:13 +0000 http://metropolitanmama.net/?p=12669#comment-107495 I had both of my children delivered at the hospital with our family physician. All turned out well and I wouldn't change a thing. Thanks, Cindi I had both of my children delivered at the hospital with our family physician. All turned out well and I wouldn’t change a thing.
Thanks, Cindi

]]> By: Michelle http://metropolitanmama.net/2009/12/midwife-ob-or-family-practitioner-how-to-choose-a-caregiver/#comment-107430 Michelle Wed, 23 Dec 2009 16:53:41 +0000 http://metropolitanmama.net/?p=12669#comment-107430 For this pregnancy I'm going with a midwife. I'm fortunate to have a friend who is a midwife and asked her for recommendations. Happily there was a group nearby and I'm going through them. So far so good! For this pregnancy I’m going with a midwife. I’m fortunate to have a friend who is a midwife and asked her for recommendations. Happily there was a group nearby and I’m going through them. So far so good!

]]> By: Christy @Jinxyisms http://metropolitanmama.net/2009/12/midwife-ob-or-family-practitioner-how-to-choose-a-caregiver/#comment-107414 Christy @Jinxyisms Wed, 23 Dec 2009 15:18:49 +0000 http://metropolitanmama.net/?p=12669#comment-107414 Great post Stephanie. I went with a Family Practitioner that specialized in OB and I'm really happy with her. She's now my daughter's ped as well. She respects my decisions even if she doesn't agree with all of them. A few of the main reasons we decided to use this doctor were... She included my husband in all of our discussions (as he was at all of my appointments) which meant a lot to us. Also she respected our decision not to vaccinate. We asked her about that early on in our pregnancy so that we would have time to change if need be. I had assumed for years that I would use a midwife but where we live there aren't many so it was nice to find a doctor that was a good fit for us. Great post Stephanie.

I went with a Family Practitioner that specialized in OB and I’m really happy with her. She’s now my daughter’s ped as well. She respects my decisions even if she doesn’t agree with all of them.

A few of the main reasons we decided to use this doctor were…
She included my husband in all of our discussions (as he was at all of my appointments) which meant a lot to us.
Also she respected our decision not to vaccinate. We asked her about that early on in our pregnancy so that we would have time to change if need be.

I had assumed for years that I would use a midwife but where we live there aren’t many so it was nice to find a doctor that was a good fit for us.

]]> By: Holly at Tropic of Mom http://metropolitanmama.net/2009/12/midwife-ob-or-family-practitioner-how-to-choose-a-caregiver/#comment-107382 Holly at Tropic of Mom Wed, 23 Dec 2009 06:47:49 +0000 http://metropolitanmama.net/?p=12669#comment-107382 I tried, really tried, to find a midwife for my last pregnancy. One I didn't agree with, one didn't return my calls and another was moving. I ran out of time trying to find a midwife and decided to just stay with my OB. I tried, really tried, to find a midwife for my last pregnancy. One I didn’t agree with, one didn’t return my calls and another was moving. I ran out of time trying to find a midwife and decided to just stay with my OB.

]]> By: Cyndi http://metropolitanmama.net/2009/12/midwife-ob-or-family-practitioner-how-to-choose-a-caregiver/#comment-107372 Cyndi Wed, 23 Dec 2009 05:34:32 +0000 http://metropolitanmama.net/?p=12669#comment-107372 I initially wanted a homebirth, but I was very uncomfortable with the main practice in my area that does homebirths and I was unable to find an independent midwife whose schedule was not full already. I instead found an amazing group of midwives who were extremely pro natural birth--but who only do hospital deliveries. I loved their demeanor, their philosophy, and their statistics on c-sections (practially zero). Looking back I am glad I was in the hospital, although it's not what I initially would have chosen. I feel I had the best of both worlds--I had a midwife and nurse with me my entire labor who could not have been more supportive of natural pain management and birth. I never once had to lie on my back in bed, but chose the positions I wanted to labor and birth in. I never once had a monitor hooked up to me or an iv, and I was free to eat and drink. I feel very blessed that way. The room had dim lighting, my choice of music, a laboring tub, and a shower. I honestly felt more relaxed knowing I was in the hospital and that there was medical help available if I did need it (which I didn't). This group of midwives has since disbanded (to my dismay) and I may consider a homebirth in the future. My hospital experience was not typical, and I fear that if I have a hospital birth again, I won't have it so easy the second time with my choices of pain managament, labor positions, etc. I was very fortunate to have midwives at the time who were on staff at a hospital. I never once saw a doctor for anything pregnancy or birth related. If I have a hospital birth again, I will still work with a midwife and I will hire a doula as well, just for the extra support. I initially wanted a homebirth, but I was very uncomfortable with the main practice in my area that does homebirths and I was unable to find an independent midwife whose schedule was not full already. I instead found an amazing group of midwives who were extremely pro natural birth–but who only do hospital deliveries. I loved their demeanor, their philosophy, and their statistics on c-sections (practially zero). Looking back I am glad I was in the hospital, although it’s not what I initially would have chosen. I feel I had the best of both worlds–I had a midwife and nurse with me my entire labor who could not have been more supportive of natural pain management and birth. I never once had to lie on my back in bed, but chose the positions I wanted to labor and birth in. I never once had a monitor hooked up to me or an iv, and I was free to eat and drink. I feel very blessed that way. The room had dim lighting, my choice of music, a laboring tub, and a shower. I honestly felt more relaxed knowing I was in the hospital and that there was medical help available if I did need it (which I didn’t). This group of midwives has since disbanded (to my dismay) and I may consider a homebirth in the future. My hospital experience was not typical, and I fear that if I have a hospital birth again, I won’t have it so easy the second time with my choices of pain managament, labor positions, etc. I was very fortunate to have midwives at the time who were on staff at a hospital. I never once saw a doctor for anything pregnancy or birth related. If I have a hospital birth again, I will still work with a midwife and I will hire a doula as well, just for the extra support.

]]>