Kingsport, JC, or Bristol Tenn

[mommac2006]

Looking for a midwife, doula, or an OB that is at least close to crunchy.

I am currently seeing Saunders with HVMC and I am not pleased as of late. The office seems unorganized anymore. He also confuses me on my due date because he just skims the chart and I'm basically left feeling like I wasted a good hour drive just to hear, "Ok, this is good, that is good, baby's heartbeat is good...come back in 2 weeks." The reason I started going to this doc in the first place is because of his positive feedback from two friends of mine, but they were emergency situations and obviously he was more one on one then than he is now since his practice has grown. Its very impersonal.

Anyway, so I want a VBAC and he hasn't discouraged against that, but I don't have the feedback on that I would like to have when it comes to actually carrying through with what he says. I am working on my birth plan and am afraid of having a power struggle when it comes to the pushing position and so forth. My next appt is next week, so I will be asking him the necessary questions and hopefully get the answers I need. I just feel like it may be too late to find a good practice if I need the backup. I should have done this in the beginning, but I honestly thought he would be an attentive doctor.

I live in SWVA, so I am already driving at least an hour to see this practice and would really like to find a provider or doula in Kingsport or the surrounding areas listed in the title of this thread. Thank you!

[nashvillemidwife]

Are you interested in a home birth? There is a directory of home birth midwives at www.tnmidwives.org/directory.html. I notice the link to Angie's website is not working, I will look into that.

[Out2Lunch]

Hello!!! I'm sorry you are not pleased with Dr. Saunders. My oldest son was delivered by Dr. Saunders and my youngest by Dr. Beckner. They were always so wonderful. I did notice that the office was indeed unorganized and I ended up waiting for most of my appt's. However, the Dr's were wonderful IMHO. I hope that your next appt goes well for you and if not, that you are able to find the support you are looking for!

[vivigirl2008]

Hey I saw Dr. Joy Anderson and she was great. She used to be with Appalachian but is now with East TN OB/GYN. She always gave me the time I needed and was very supportive and understanding.

[mommac2006]

Originally Posted by nashvillemidwife

Are you interested in a home birth? There is a directory of home birth midwives at www.tnmidwives.org/directory.html. I notice the link to Angie's website is not working, I will look into that.

Yes, a home birth would be more ideal, but I am afraid that I am too late in the game to even thinking about doing so. On top of that, I thought most do not attempt it with women who have had c-section, I could be wrong.

I spoke with Saunders today and it appears that they will not let me move freely during laboring and I will be restricted to the bed, which is exactly what I want to avoid. On top of that, the only birthing position I will be allowed is sitting up with my legs in those stirrups.

Needless to say, I left the office very emotional today as I have no backbone to argue with the doctor. I do like the fact that he acted interested in my birth plan, but its just not enough as I do not want to be restricted during labor. I guess I will just stay home when I go into labor and allow my labor to progress, then go in?

I'm just afraid that I am going to be stuck with this as I was ignorant throughout this whole pregnancy and assumed they would allow me to move freely during laboring and etc. I'm very disappointed and am so ready to change, but I just don't know who would take me at 35 weeks. I know, I waited too late.

[tubulidentata2]

PM me if you are interested in a home birth. It is always worth a call. I have contact info. for the two home birth midwives that work in this area. I believe that one will work as a doula upon request.

I just planned a home birth VBAC two weeks ago, but I ended up transferring to a hospital (Indian Path Medical Center) during labor (through no fault of the midwife) and ended up with a C-section (necessary this time). The doctor on staff was Dr. Mark Withrow, and he was pretty great about the whole thing. He was very encouraging about the VBAC and treated me very respectfully, especially since I basically came in off the street and had a birth plan with lots of requests/demands. I did get an epidural, so I don't know his feelings about walking during labor, but he was so great about everything else (delaying cord clamping during C-section, keeping the placenta, having my toddler nursing during labor, etc.) that I would think he would be fine. My doula and midwife were really impressed with him.

For what it is worth, the rest of the hospital experience was also really good. I had to push a bit for a few things (no separation of baby from parents and giving vitamin K orally instead of in a shot), but they were otherwise very accommodating. My toddler and newborn slept in the hospital bed with me each night (I wasn't blatant about the newborn sleeping with us and pretended to be awake whenever someone came in) and my husband slept on the guest bed. My toddler was with me throughout everything but the surgery, and no one even gave a shocked reaction to my tandem nursing a three year-old and a newborn. If anything, I got a positive response (at least to my face .

Good luck with your plans, and feel free to PM me.

~Carrie

[branm]

MommaC I was wondering if you have found a Dr/Midwife yet. I am not currently pregnant but doing reasearch in hopes of a Summer 2010 VBAC. Your post caught my attention because I am also trying to find a supportive Dr. and I also live in SW VA. I live In Pennington Gap...where are you located? Good luck with your VBAC! I hope I am able to catch your wonderful VBAC birth story!

[tubulidentata2]

Dr. Lenita Thibault ([phone]) is supposedly VBAC-friendly. I know someone who had her first VBAC with her and is planning a second.

[mommac2006]

Originally Posted by tubulidentata2

PM me if you are interested in a home birth. It is always worth a call. I have contact info. for the two home birth midwives that work in this area. I believe that one will work as a doula upon request.

I just planned a home birth VBAC two weeks ago, but I ended up transferring to a hospital (Indian Path Medical Center) during labor (through no fault of the midwife) and ended up with a C-section (necessary this time). The doctor on staff was Dr. Mark Withrow, and he was pretty great about the whole thing. He was very encouraging about the VBAC and treated me very respectfully, especially since I basically came in off the street and had a birth plan with lots of requests/demands. I did get an epidural, so I don't know his feelings about walking during labor, but he was so great about everything else (delaying cord clamping during C-section, keeping the placenta, having my toddler nursing during labor, etc.) that I would think he would be fine. My doula and midwife were really impressed with him.

For what it is worth, the rest of the hospital experience was also really good. I had to push a bit for a few things (no separation of baby from parents and giving vitamin K orally instead of in a shot), but they were otherwise very accommodating. My toddler and newborn slept in the hospital bed with me each night (I wasn't blatant about the newborn sleeping with us and pretended to be awake whenever someone came in) and my husband slept on the guest bed. My toddler was with me throughout everything but the surgery, and no one even gave a shocked reaction to my tandem nursing a three year-old and a newborn. If anything, I got a positive response (at least to my face .

Good luck with your plans, and feel free to PM me.

~Carrie

Wow, sounds like a very cooperative doctor. If you don't mind my asking, I just got back from reading one of your posts about how labor went your attempted VBAC. Does the doctor know why your contractions were so intense? This is what makes me nervous about going through with a homebirth even if my husband would let me. A part of me would love it, but then the negative part is like, "Don't try it."

I mean, I would actually really love to try for a HB, but its just my husband forbids it. Its his income and so, I really have no choice.

[mommac2006]

Originally Posted by branm

MommaC I was wondering if you have found a Dr/Midwife yet. I am not currently pregnant but doing reasearch in hopes of a Summer 2010 VBAC. Your post caught my attention because I am also trying to find a supportive Dr. and I also live in SW VA. I live In Pennington Gap...where are you located? Good luck with your VBAC! I hope I am able to catch your wonderful VBAC birth story!

I'm sorry, but still no such luck as I am getting very little feedback. I have a friend who is seeing a doctor with The Seasons, but by the time she gets familiar with the woman and her practice, I'll probably already have my baby lol.

Good luck!

BTW, I am from BSG.

[mommac2006]

Originally Posted by tubulidentata2

Dr. Lenita Thibault ([phone]) is supposedly VBAC-friendly. I know someone who had her first VBAC with her and is planning a second.

Thanks! I'll look into it.

[branm]

I went to Seasons with my first preganancy. I loved it. BUT I will not be going there for my next. There are too many Drs. So even if one was VBAC friendly you would still run into obsticals with the others. They were also very pushy for me to be induced....very pushy. Somehow they actually talked me into it. I was induced on my due date FOR NO REASON AT ALL!!!!! Gee I wonder why I had a C section! I was dumb and uneducated but I know better this time. I just don't think it will be the place for me. When I went in for my 6 week check up I asked the nurse practioner if I will be able to have a VBAC with my next she said "well you can, the hospital allows it but most usually take the easy way and just schedule a cs" yeah I won't be going back!

[tubulidentata2]

Originally Posted by mommac2006

Wow, sounds like a very cooperative doctor. If you don't mind my asking, I just got back from reading one of your posts about how labor went your attempted VBAC. Does the doctor know why your contractions were so intense? This is what makes me nervous about going through with a homebirth even if my husband would let me. A part of me would love it, but then the negative part is like, "Don't try it."

I haven't asked my midwife or OB yet about the intense labor. I know that my midwife was surprised by it (in conjunction with the slow progress), but I was too emotional in my postpartum visit to ask. Even at the hospital, I had Pitocin and my toddler nursing, and contractions were very strong yet not productive. I am still very confused by the whole thing. I will probably ask the OB on Friday. Perhaps it had something to do with the cord being so short.

As for trying an HBAC, I do think it would be stressful to not have your DH's support. I used to look at it only from the mother's side, since it is your body that is going through this. However, in our case, we now have to pay for the HBAC ($3100), doula ($900 because it was such a long labor and we needed her to hep with DD), *and* the C-section ($6000). It may be different for others who have different insurance, but we have a high deductible and the midwife is "out of network", so goes towards a separate deductible. My DH was all for HBAC, but we are both really stressed about the financial outcome. We're glad we tried the HBAC simply because we both feel like it gave me the best shot at a VBAC, and now we know we did everything we could and won't look back regretfully thinking that we might have had the VBAC if we did things differently. However, if it were safe for me to try a VBAC again, we would not do an HBAC.

With that being said, my midwife assists a lot of VBACs and doesn't have a high transfer rate. If you have decent insurance, you could still give it a try.

[mommac2006]

Originally Posted by branm

I went to Seasons with my first preganancy. I loved it. BUT I will not be going there for my next. There are too many Drs. So even if one was VBAC friendly you would still run into obsticals with the others. They were also very pushy for me to be induced....very pushy. Somehow they actually talked me into it. I was induced on my due date FOR NO REASON AT ALL!!!!! Gee I wonder why I had a C section! I was dumb and uneducated but I know better this time. I just don't think it will be the place for me. When I went in for my 6 week check up I asked the nurse practioner if I will be able to have a VBAC with my next she said "well you can, the hospital allows it but most usually take the easy way and just schedule a cs" yeah I won't be going back!

Wow! Thanks for that information. Maybe I should tell my friend as she is planning her 3rd VBAC.

I ended up with a section seeing Manoharan. I never want to go back there. Like you, I was induced for no real reason other than I was over my due date and my son was weighing over 9lbs.

So far, the doctor I am seeing discourages inductions, but how do I know he won't push for a section? Ugh! I'm suddenly feeling very depressed.

[branm]

I've heard bad things about Manoharan from others as well. Their office is really unorganized! My SIL is going there and I went with her once...it was a horrible experience for me and her!

I really really really wish that Seasons felt right but it just doesn't. I loved it there. Loved all the Drs. I could see a few of them being VBAC friendly but not all. I've thought about going there for my yearly that is coming up to see what they have to say. The nurse practioner just had a cs her self because her baby was big...she didn't even get induced just had a cs so I'm thinking that she was speaking for herself KWIM? BUT I don't want to waste my time going there when I could go for my yearly somewhere else to see how I felt. Ahh I don't know what to do!

How do you find a Dr? Do you just go when you get pregnant and change if it's not working out? Or do you actually "interview" different places to see?

When is your friend due? I would love to hear how it turns out for her if she decides to stay at Seasons.

There was one Dr. at Seasons (he was my favorite) Dr. Marden. He isn't there anymore but I thought about going to him. He has wonderful bedside manor...I mean wonderful!!!! He was one who asked me how I felt about inductions during my first pregnancy but I'm wondering if he had to ask that under the group since they all asked it? He just seems like he would be supportive but I don't know.

I know your biggest concern is not being able to walk around during labor...that is mine as well. I am planning on heading on over to Kinsport/Bristol when I notice that my labor has started a good pattern and labor in a hotel as long as possible with a doula that way when I get to the hospital I won't have to labor in bed as long. I'm really hoping I get to the hospital right before pushing though!

I've even thought about going to the birth center in Knoxville. It is only 2 hours away but the traffic is more unpredictable so I don't know yet.

Sorry this turned into a book!

[mommac2006]

Originally Posted by tubulidentata2

I haven't asked my midwife or OB yet about the intense labor. I know that my midwife was surprised by it (in conjunction with the slow progress), but I was too emotional in my postpartum visit to ask. Even at the hospital, I had Pitocin and my toddler nursing, and contractions were very strong yet not productive. I am still very confused by the whole thing. I will probably ask the OB on Friday. Perhaps it had something to do with the cord being so short.

As for trying an HBAC, I do think it would be stressful to not have your DH's support. I used to look at it only from the mother's side, since it is your body that is going through this. However, in our case, we now have to pay for the HBAC ($3100), doula ($900 because it was such a long labor and we needed her to hep with DD), *and* the C-section ($6000). It may be different for others who have different insurance, but we have a high deductible and the midwife is "out of network", so goes towards a separate deductible. My DH was all for HBAC, but we are both really stressed about the financial outcome. We're glad we tried the HBAC simply because we both feel like it gave me the best shot at a VBAC, and now we know we did everything we could and won't look back regretfully thinking that we might have had the VBAC if we did things differently. However, if it were safe for me to try a VBAC again, we would not do an HBAC.

With that being said, my midwife assists a lot of VBACs and doesn't have a high transfer rate. If you have decent insurance, you could still give it a try.

This would give me a little bit of hope considering that she doesn't have a high transfer rate, but I'm not sure if our insurance covers it. I'll definitely have to find out from my husband. He'd most likely discourage a homebirth anyway. He will not inform himself.

I am interested in their contact info, if you want to pm it to me.

[mommac2006]

Originally Posted by branm

I've heard bad things about Manoharan from others as well. Their office is really unorganized! My SIL is going there and I went with her once...it was a horrible experience for me and her!

Actually, their office is more organized than the one I am currently going to. I can't believe how unorganized they are. I mean, I've even been asked why I am getting an u/s when the doctor is the one who ordered the u/s. Talk about confident right there. Or how about everytime the doctor enters to see me, I am always either further along or behind my due date. I mean, that is, he just skims the chart and says, "Okay, you are such and such weeks today." and I'm like, "Huh?" Is my due date changing lol.

I really really really wish that Seasons felt right but it just doesn't. I loved it there. Loved all the Drs. I could see a few of them being VBAC friendly but not all. I've thought about going there for my yearly that is coming up to see what they have to say. The nurse practioner just had a cs her self because her baby was big...she didn't even get induced just had a cs so I'm thinking that she was speaking for herself KWIM? BUT I don't want to waste my time going there when I could go for my yearly somewhere else to see how I felt. Ahh I don't know what to do!

Yep, that does speak for itself.

How do you find a Dr? Do you just go when you get pregnant and change if it's not working out? Or do you actually "interview" different places to see?

We interviewed a couple, but not as thoroughly as I should have. The first was Erin Mullins at NCH and she tried to discourage a VBAC when I was pregnant last year and so I went to Saunders and settled since he didn't discourage it, but in fact, encouraged it.

When is your friend due? I would love to hear how it turns out for her if she decides to stay at Seasons.

She is due near the end of January. Hopefully she will have a positive experience. She was seeing Judy(? not sure that is her first name) Phisher or however her last name is spelled and she is the one who helped her accomplish two VBACs, but that's with induction. That's not really safe for an attempted VBAC as you well know.

There was one Dr. at Seasons (he was my favorite) Dr. Marden. He isn't there anymore but I thought about going to him. He has wonderful bedside manor...I mean wonderful!!!! He was one who asked me how I felt about inductions during my first pregnancy but I'm wondering if he had to ask that under the group since they all asked it? He just seems like he would be supportive but I don't know.

Now a days, you just never know about doctors and their practices unless there is enough good feedback about them. I hate going under impressions because so far, the impression I have gotten of my doctor is not very good as opposed to what I have heard about his practice.

I know your biggest concern is not being able to walk around during labor...that is mine as well. I am planning on heading on over to Kinsport/Bristol when I notice that my labor has started a good pattern and labor in a hotel as long as possible with a doula that way when I get to the hospital I won't have to labor in bed as long. I'm really hoping I get to the hospital right before pushing though!

I initially wanted to labor at home, but given that the hosp is an hour away, that may be too risky. My husband won't let me do the hotel thing so I am stuck having the wonder the hallways of the hospital during labor. At least he agreed to that.

I've even thought about going to the birth center in Knoxville. It is only 2 hours away but the traffic is more unpredictable so I don't know yet.

Sorry this turned into a book!

Wish I could get my hubby to agree to something like that, but he's not budging. An hour drive is enough for him. *sigh*

I've written a book on here a time or two lol.

[branm]

Hmm I don't know of a Judy fisher/Phisher at Seasons. I looked on thier website and don't see her on there either. Do you know if she is new? I can't beleive they induced her!

I am so happy I came across this forum. As you know it is very hard to find any info on this online due to the size of our area. And to find someone from BSG is just crazy!

Do you think that you are just getting nervous about your upcoming due date which is making you question your Dr? It sounds great that he encourages VBACs. How long will they let you go past due? I really hope you will post your birth story on here, I would love to read it!

[mommac2006]

Originally Posted by branm

Hmm I don't know of a Judy fisher/Phisher at Seasons. I looked on thier website and don't see her on there either. Do you know if she is new? I can't beleive they induced her!

I am so happy I came across this forum. As you know it is very hard to find any info on this online due to the size of our area. And to find someone from BSG is just crazy!

Do you think that you are just getting nervous about your upcoming due date which is making you question your Dr? It sounds great that he encourages VBACs. How long will they let you go past due? I really hope you will post your birth story on here, I would love to read it!

She didn't practice with The Seasons. Here is all I could find on her:

http://www.healthgrades.com/director...D-E81C3B4D.cfm

I know what you mean about finding locals on a website like this, especially from around our area. Its definitely not a common thing lol.

The reason I am starting to doubt my ob is because he has been giving me lots of u/s lately to not only check on my hydronephrosis, but to also check on the size of the baby. That's where I am torn because I remember in the beginning he mentioned something about a baby being too big to birth. So, this makes me paranoid because I know estimates can be off, even though it wasn't with my son. And because he said he will not induce due to increase risk of UR, but how do I know he won't try to push for a section?

The reason for this question is mostly because of the u/s and monitoring of the baby's size. That makes me real nervous.

I am trying RRL and EPO to get the ball rolling on some action and toughen my uterus. I will hopefully be getting the EPO tomorrow. I so wish there was some midwives/doulas that practiced in our area.

[branm]

Oh that is frustrating! I know it will be hard but you can refuse the us if they are only checking the baby's size. You can also refuse to scedule a cs if they are only advising it due to size. Have you ever checked out babycenter.com? They have a VBAC board that has been very helpful to me.

I have found one midwife in Kingsport, Donna McDonald. I haven't heard anything about her though.

I found a couple of doulas, but unfortunatley I can't remember the site that I found them on. I have been e-mailing one back and forth. She is helping me find an OB. If you would like I can give you her e-mail.