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Birthcare Midwives in Bart, PA?

post #1 of 32
5/17/09 at 12:43am
Thread Starter 
Hi!

I am a mom of 2 who lives in West Chester , PA. I am not preggo yet, and will be hoping for a VBA2C. I went and interviewed with Maren and Angela about two months ago. It was an awesome experience. I'd appreciate your input since you said you had to travel a long way for their care.

Is it worth it? I'd have to birth at Ephrata Hosp.Do you have any experience with them? How about experience with their backup Ob/Gyn?

I want to make an informed decision before I switch care providers.

Thanks!
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post #2 of 32
5/17/09 at 3:04pm
Thread Starter 
Bumping it up! I know I've read comments from some ladies here that have been assisted by BirthCare
post #3 of 32
5/17/09 at 5:06pm
I have only wonderful things to say about the midwives at Birth Care. Not only did I have #4 with them at home, but Maribeth is a dear, dear friend of mine. I have also attended births with the other midwives there with doula clients. I am always so happy to hear that a client is using Birth Care, because I know that every effort will be made to keep a mom low risk and to have a fabulous totally family centered birth. Angela and Takiya are leaving soon (or have already left?), but I am sure that they will be taking great care in choosing midwives to replace them.

BTW-- my 2nd doula client from Birth Care was a VBA2C (this was 4 years ago). Her birth was wonderful, her next one with them was also wonderful and skillfully handled (minor issues), and the only reason she isn't going back for her next birth is a desire to be at home.

IMO-- you are making an excellent choice of care provider!
post #4 of 32
5/17/09 at 6:54pm
Thread Starter 
Can you tell me more about the VBA2C Experience? Did the person birth at Ephrata? I am guessing you were the doula...any advice for a VBA2C? How do you think a VBA2C mama has to prepare for birth that is any different from any other mama?

THANKS!
post #5 of 32
5/18/09 at 8:43am
oh I'm so sad to hear about Angela....I know Tekiya switched back to perdiem with her busy teaching schedule and her son....but I didn't know about Angela.
post #6 of 32
5/18/09 at 10:57pm
I had my dd at Birthcare a year ago and I loved it. At that time, it was just Maribeth, Angela, and Valerie. I know they have hired more since then (and I'm sad to hear that Angela is leaving - any idea where she is going or what she is doing?). Angela attended my birth and it was wonderful. It was super fast so I actually only saw her for about 30 minutes before dd was born, but nonetheless, she was wonderful! My prenatal appointments were always great and I felt very taken care of. In my opinion, they are worth the drive (especially if there aren't any other good options near you). That said, I will probably not go to Birthcare again with any future babies, but only because of the distance. It's an hour from me and while that isn't too far, with my last birth, it was the only uncomfortable part of labor. My labor only lasted 3 1/2 hours total (and really only about 2 hours from "I guess this is probably labor" to the baby being out) and with an hour of it being in the care down bumpy country roads, it was just not how I want to spend half of my labor. However, if they were closer, and if I didn't have such a fast labor with my daughter, I would definitely go back to them. I loved them!
post #7 of 32
5/20/09 at 10:46am
Angela is going back to Africa!

Callieollie-if Birth Care is too far now, may I recommend Rising Moon Midwifery
(Kate Fawley Aseron) for EXCELLENT care!! And she has a new office in Wernersville. risingmoonmidwifery.com
post #8 of 32
5/20/09 at 11:52am
Does Rising Moon Midwifery do just homebirths or birth center births too? I have heard good things about them and about Susan Farrell as well. When the time comes, I'll definitely have to look more into them! (and you can expect a call from me too!)
post #9 of 32
5/20/09 at 3:28pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by hipmamato4 View Post
Angela is going back to Africa!

Callieollie-if Birth Care is too far now, may I recommend Rising Moon Midwifery
(Kate Fawley Aseron) for EXCELLENT care!! And she has a new office in Wernersville. risingmoonmidwifery.com
As much as we love Angela Africa NEEDS Angela....
post #10 of 32
5/21/09 at 1:18pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by callieollie View Post
Does Rising Moon Midwifery do just homebirths or birth center births too?
They only attend homebirths...but the last time I spoke with Kate she was setting up a small birthing center/room at her Chester Springs site for those who couldn't birth in their own home. Like a homebirth away from home. Call and ask about the options they have available.

You could also consult with Meredith Klein (512.694.5487 or email: meredithklein07@yahoo.com). She is one of the midwives that seconds Christy Santoro and will be taking her clients when she has her baby.

She attended my birth in March and is absolutely fantastic. She's new to the area (transplant from Texas where CPM's are legal) but not to midwifery.
post #11 of 32
5/22/09 at 3:31pm
I absolutely LOVED going to Birthcare with my last baby...I had 3 pretty good hospital births, but really wanted a waterbirth. My hubby wasn't comfortable with a homebirth, so we decided to go to Birthcare...It was 2 1/2 hours from my house I would absolutely go there again. Maribeth was my midwife and she was just great...

I have also attended (as a doula) a VBAC with her at the Ephrata Hospital, where I thought she was amazing as well...She did a great job oh helping the mom stay focused in on her labor while she handled all the *hospital* stuff...the mom was very pleased with her VBAC and said she would certainly go there again (She was about an hour or so from the hospital).
post #12 of 32
5/27/09 at 11:20pm
Thread Starter 
Can you elaborate on how the hospital "handled" your VBAC doula client with Birth Care? I'd be interested to know.

Thanks!
post #13 of 32
5/29/09 at 9:37am
I talked with Maribeth about this and the unfortunate thing is that you wouldn't have the midwives attending. Did Maren explain this? My understanding is that with a VBA2C, the midwives would need to hand over your care to the back up docs at the end. This is only the case for a primary VBA2C. So, the NEXT birth after this one could be attended by the midwives. I would think that they should have explained this to you. This was the case with the mama I mentioned too. Birth #3 (VBA2C) was at Birth Care and then transferred to a back up doc, Birth #4 was then attended by the midwives at Ephrata.

It's the ridiculous idea of having an "unproven pelvis". Once you prove to the medical establishment that a baby fits and your uterus can handle birth without rupturing, then they will allow you to birth with the midwives.

It is still a good idea to go with a midwifery practice though, because they can help keep you low risk throughout the pregnancy. We have had moms who go to certain ob practices and they all end up high risk by the end of pregnancy. It's SO subjective. Plus, even though you might end up birthing with obs, they are at least obs who are generally supportive of what the midwives are trying to do--support birth.
post #14 of 32
5/29/09 at 12:08pm
Thread Starter 
Actually, Angela and Maren said that one of the midwives would be there with me in the actual birth. They'd meet me at the hospital. So... what can you sau about the actual OBs? Any reference?
post #15 of 32
5/29/09 at 7:30pm
hhhmmm. that's interesting b/c it wasn't the way things were a couple years ago and when I talked to MB about it a couple of days ago she indicated that they transfer care at the end.

the obs... they are obs. The practice from my impression is basically on board with midwifery care, but they are obviously going to be practicing more the way they practice as physicians. It's liability. From my experience with the other non-midwife births with them, there are some who are great and some who are less so.

The key question though is whether or not the midwives at Birth Care will attend you, or if the care will be transferred. Thanks goodness you have lots of time to figure out these questions!

Still, all things considered, you are probably in better hands going with this practice than any other, even if the docs get your care in the end.
post #16 of 32
6/1/09 at 7:32am
Thread Starter 
Hmm..it intimidates me to build a relationship with the midwives and then get the rug moved from under my feet at the end and birth with a doctor who I don't really know ...without the midwives there to support me. [SIGH]
post #17 of 32
6/1/09 at 8:37pm
Ok, I think that there may have been a misunderstanding and Maren didn't realize that you had had 2 c/s AND were a primary VBAC. At this point, there is no one that will do a PRIMARY VBA2C in the area (Lancaster-ish). My recommendation is to contact a local hb midwife (perhaps Kate at Rising Moon in Chester Springs) or the other suggestion that was thrown out was call Dr. Weber at Women and Babies Hospital in Lancaster. He may be open to doing it.

I am VERY sad to know that Birth Care can't accept VBA2C clients, even in the hospital. And I'm sorry that there was a misunderstanding.
post #18 of 32
6/1/09 at 10:25pm
Thread Starter 
Hmm...I'll call Birth Care on Wednesday and confirm before I rule them out... or they rule me out, rather

Angela and Maren were both there...Angela was the one giving the details...we'll see...
I'm crossing my fingers
post #19 of 32
6/3/09 at 11:05am
Just attended a BEAUTIFUL HBA2C last night! A wonderful care provider-- if you are interested, pm me...
post #20 of 32
9/23/09 at 1:25pm
Hi,

I'm currently 29 weeks pregnant and just recently decided I wanted to go natural. I live in West Chester, PA.

I've been spending the past few weeks trying to figure out what to do, as I realize that both my OB and the hospital (Paoli) I'm set to deliver at are not going to be very accommodating.

Luckily, I just contacted Birth Care in Bart, PA. I have an appointment on Friday. After hearing everyone's feedback on the midwives there, I'm very excited.

I feel a little sheepish for waiting so long in my pregnancy to figure these things out, but hope that it's not too late to change providers and get the birth I feel is best for both me and my baby.