In A Mild Panic

[zenproof]

Ive just been informed by my Midwife practice (one of the only options for women seeking a natural birth experience in a hospital) here in Atlanta - that they will no longer be providing midwife services as of July 13th. They are all leaving. I have my 3hr glucose test scheduled for next week with them.

WTF.

I don't know what to do. My head is spinning about the lack of options I may be facing now.

[b-girl]

Ahhhh.. that's crazy. I don't know the laws in your state but is that not considered patient abandoment? Probably not.... GA sucks just as much as Fl does in healthcare (at least in rights of advanced practice nurses).

Have you gone over to "finding my tribe" and into the Bama, GA, Fl section? Maybe ask if anyone there knows of somewhere you can go?

I'll do a quick search and see if I can find anyone for you. Are you in the heart of Atlanta or one of the outlying suburbs like Decatur or Marietta (or something)?

Are you willing to go to a birth center if there is one available? Would you consider a homebirth?

[zenproof]

I am near decatur. I am currently driving 40mins away to this place now - so driving isn't an issue. North Fulton Hospital is one of the only hospitals that offers water births and they have the lowest cesaren rate. So ideally I want to go THERE!! I was not open to a homebirth, but now im sorta of thinking of it. I just dont know if i could do it. I am so scared of this to begin with.

Ugh. this blows. I'm waiting to hear from my doula and hoping she will have some suggestions. my husband thinks i should just wait and talk to the midwife at my next appt and see what she thinks. but im sort of in panic mode and want to 'fix' this NOW! I hate feeling like i don't have a plan right now!!

Thanks Bgirl.

[b-girl]

Okay after a quick search it seems the only legalized midwifery in GA is CNM (certified nurse midwives).

Crap... Fl is out of the question right (don't know how far of a drive that would be for you)? Midwifery is legal here so we have CNMs and LMs (licensed midwives), all certified or licensed by the state.

Are there any progressive Ob/Gyn practices that you know of? Will the midwifery practice help you out and give you the names of the MDs they have their protocols signed with (I'm pretty sure they use protocols with Advanced Practice Nurses in GA like we do here in Fl).

[ein328]

There is a very good midwife in Macon! I know it's farther away, but it's better than out of state. She works in an ob practice, but is very popular and well-liked. I have several friends who have delivered with her and had great hospital births. If you're interested, I'll pm you her info.

My midwife is even better, she did homebirth for years before joining the ob practice here, but I live 30 minutes farther south of Macon (1 1/2 hours from downtown Atlanta, roughly). Not sure how far you are willing to travel.

[b-girl]

http://www.isisobgyn.com/

I think the midwife delivers at the hospital you want.

[ein328]

Oh, and b-girl is right. CNMs are the only LEGAL midwives in GA. There are others who practice homebirth, but since it's not technically "legal," insurance won't cover it. I have more info on some of them, too.

[zenproof]

yeah florida is kinda out of the question. its like 4hrs to the border from atlanta. ugh.

what are protocols? im sure if i just sat tight i would get some guidance from the head hauncho midwife there (she has quite the reputation) about what to do. i am just freaking out and feeling really impulsive about finding a replacement. NOW.

i dont know of any progressive ob practices here.

[b-girl]

Originally Posted by zenproof

yeah florida is kinda out of the question. its like 4hrs to the border from atlanta. ugh.

what are protocols? im sure if i just sat tight i would get some guidance from the head hauncho midwife there (she has quite the reputation) about what to do. i am just freaking out and feeling really impulsive about finding a replacement. NOW.

i dont know of any progressive ob practices here.

I figured Fl was out of the question.

Protocols are the agreement that advanced practice nurses (nurses that have masters degrees like nurse practitioners and cnm's) sign with the physician they work with. Fl and Ga suck as far as rights for apn's, so we have to sign an agreement with them saying what we can do, while practicing with them. We're not allowed to practice without protocols signed with a MD (though in other states we do have rights to practice).
So the midwives must work with at least one physician. Typically that physician is more "open-minded" than the run of the mill Ob/Gyns.

For example the physician who has protocols signed with the midwife practice I go to is the only physician in my large area that will attempt VBAC.

[octobermoon]

hey, i have a CNM for my HB and i think they are just fine. i know people poo-poo them on here at times but you gotta work with and accept what you've got sometimes....YK? plus ZEN if you do explore homebirth a CNM might be a good fit for you. good luck! i know this must be stressful...what a BOMB to drop on a first time pregnant lady! keep us posted! i'll be thinking of you. it'll work out...deep breathes....... i wouldn't wait as your DH suggested though. this is probably something you need to work on. i'm sure he's trying to calm you down or something. good to have that balance and all....but i wouldn't be buying it either. : and all that.

[Julia24]

I just don't understand it - WHERE are they all going?

I think I would call and try to get some more information - if they all have new gigs lined up you wouldn't want to be behind the boat getting new appts, yk?

[zenproof]

Its all very hush hush. Sh*t has clearly gone down there.

I have called and asked my MW to call me - she gets in tomorrow. Hopefully I can get some answers. I dont even want to go it for the damn 3hr glucose test next week.

They can kiss my butt.

[cristeen]

Originally Posted by zenproof

Its all very hush hush. Sh*t has clearly gone down there.

I have called and asked my MW to call me - she gets in tomorrow. Hopefully I can get some answers. I dont even want to go it for the damn 3hr glucose test next week.

They really owe you an explanation - and as responsible practitioners they should have made some kind of arrangements for their clients.

That being said, if you're stressing over it, don't take the test - stress can effect the test results, and you have a higher chance of returning a false positive.

[KristinDoula]

Hi Zen! I'm not in this DDC (I'm in October), but I'm a doula south of Atlanta, and a friend in one of my doula forums mentioned that this was going on. I'm REALLY curious why your midwives are leaving...and where they might be going.

I have a WONDERFUL recommendation for you ~ it depends upon how far you're willing to travel. There is an AWESOME CNM in Newnan, with the PAPP Clinic. Her name is Eileen Thrower. And I HIGHLY recommend Newnan Hospital. A lot of moms choose not to go there because it's an older, smaller hospital...so most of them choose instead to go to the big, huge, brand new, beautiful hospital in Fayetteville. I will admit, it's a gorgeous hospital. But it doesn't have anything "extra" like labor tubs or offering water birth, etc.

Newnan Hospital is amazing! Their staff is SO supportive of natural childbirth. They not only don't tell you you "can't" do things certain ways, they *encourage* natural methods, including eating and drinking as you wish and as you need. They ASK PERMISSION for anything they do, do not require constant EFM, do not push IV (or even heplock), they read and respect birth plans...on and on, I could go!

Eileen is the epitome of midwifery care, and she has excellent assistance in the hospital from the nursing staff. The PAPP Clinic is the only OB practice that delivers at Newnan, and the doctors there are all also supportive of natural childbirth. (Though I think the midwives are the IDEAL route.) There is one other midwife there now (I'm wondering if any of these CNMs leaving your practice might go to Newnan???). I haven't met her yet, but I have heard wonderful things about her, too.

I am rambling on now, but seriously...I cannot recommend Eileen or Newnan Hospital highly enough. I have done multiple births there (and in other hospitals), and it's just a totally different world! Every birth I've been to in Newnan I've described as "as close to homebirth as you can get in a hospital!"

Please let me know if you would like more info or have any questions.

Also...if you *are* interested in considering the homebirth route, I HIGHLY recommend my midwives: Claudia Conn & Debbie Schneider with birthingright.com

[hipmummy]

s as I know this can be very stressful. You will find someone. It sound like the local mama's have aton of resources for you already.

[MichelleAnnette]

I'm from ATL and had my son there at home with a midwife (a CPM) and I am fairly familiar with the birth climate there. You may want to look into homebirth, at least interview some midwives. Because of the laws in GA, I don't want to put my midwife's name on here but PM me if you want to know. She has a website. North Fulton was my back up hospital. The CNM's who work there have all sort of switched around in the past couple years. Margaret, whose last name I have forgotten, used to be the go to midwife for a natural birth, but I am not sure where she is practicing now. Then there was Kay, whose last name I have also forgotten, and I don't know where she is either. I think they both are at or have been at Isis OBGYN. My back up OB was Dr. Barrett who joined an OB practice during my pregnancy. He used to practice solo but had to join the practice (Northpoint I think) because he wasn't making enough money or something. I like him a lot and would recommend him, although he did not attend my birth, I would feel comfortable with him if I HAD to be in a hospital. You would of course want to consider who he practices with and what their philosophy is in case you do not get Dr. Barrett at your birth. I moved 1.5 years ago so I don't know what all has changed - maybe ask in the finding your tribe section. That is how I found my midwife with my first. The yahoo group Breastfeeding Support for Mothers is run by some ATL mamas, and several of them have given birth at North Fulton. Might be a good place to ask. You said you have a doula - I bet she knows more than I do!

You can absolutely have a homebirth in GA. There is a thriving community. I just don't want to post names publicly.

Try not to freak out too much - you DO have natural birth options, both at North Fulton and at home. I am in FL now where CPM's are licensed and there are way more options in the ATL area than where I live. I do have a CPM but she is the ONLY one in the entire area. I had several to choose from in ATL. It's cheaper in ATL too.

Even if you go with a good OB like Dr. Barrett, you will still have your doula there, which will help a lot. I'm sure you'd prefer a midwife but there are good OBs out there.

[texmati]

Oh zen! that's just awful! It's incredibly unproffessional for them to all leave just like that with no notice!

Can you write them a letter at their new practices? The should know what lurch this leaves you in!

[acemama]

Sadly, I've seen more and more CNM practices closing up shop. It is usually out of their control with all of the "politics" of birth these day. Many CNM's have been sort of pushed out of the hospitals. As sad as it is to see it really is happening. I know my CNM sent out a letter to all of her patients that she was leaving (the only one left). The best these practices could probably do was give this 30 day notice. While it really stinks for you, it probably stinks for them too. Chances are this wasn't all their idea. But there is still plenty of time to find a new caregiver that will meet your expectations. It looks like you have been given a lot of new names to follow up with. Call around and see who you can get interviews with. Good luck and who knows, maybe you will find someone you like even better.

[firewoman]

Zen-I'm so sorry you are having to go through this. I agree that giving homebirth another look may be a good choice and check out Kristen's info (unless that hospital is too far)

[Ednaldine]

In Your Boat

Hi, I feel your pain. I'm due end of Sept/beginning of October and was planning a birth with Isis and I'm at wits end with al the drama...

Just wanted to let you know you've got company! I called Alpharetta Women's Services where Kay Johnson is currently practicing and got the after hours answering service. I'm going to go ahead and try to get in with them as a backup. I'd look into that if I were you.