New Brunswick mamas? - Page 2

[Endellion]

hello all, it took a lot of effort to find this thread. i' am in the Lincoln/Fredericton area. just got my permanent residence in June and found out i was pregnant shortly after.
is it just me or are there not many resources for pregnant women? no birthing centers, only two hospital, no midwives, i cant even find prenatal classes? i just found a doctor and he wont even be seeing me until my second trimester begins, its all so worrying just seems very... i don't know

[Magali]

Originally Posted by Endellion

hello all, it took a lot of effort to find this thread. i' am in the Lincoln/Fredericton area. just got my permanent residence in June and found out i was pregnant shortly after.
is it just me or are there not many resources for pregnant women? no birthing centers, only two hospital, no midwives, i cant even find prenatal classes? i just found a doctor and he wont even be seeing me until my second trimester begins, its all so worrying just seems very... i don't know

I live in West NB, near Edmundston. There are so very few resources for pregnant ladies here, and even less for those of us who would rather have more of a midwifery model of care. If I am not mistaken there is a midwife in Fredericton, and at least one doula. Here is a link for the doula website. She is too far away for me . I am doing an unassited pregnancy/hospital birth and after much soul searching I have decided that it is the best way for me to go. I'm 36 weeks now and only saw a Dr. (who I was very unimpressed with) 3 times in my second trimester for bloodwork and ultrasound. Everything else I can do at home. If you do want to see a Dr. before your 2nd trimester, then it sucks you don't have access. But from my experience, you should be just fine. I went in at 18 weeks. But I hear you on not getting the care you want. New Brunswick needs some big changes.

[ATD_Mom]

Not a single midwife in New Brunswick (Kate in Fredericton is no longer a midwife). There is a kind, educated woman in Moncton who assists women who would like to have UCs. But no midwives. There will be one in Sackville next summer, but that's too late for most of us.

I just spent thousands of dollars to travel and have my baby at "home" in Ontario. After having done the same, but to Nova Scotia, for my first.

If you're interested in having midwifery legislated here, please do join the group Birth Matters. Mostly busy mothers in the organization so it's hard to get things done, but certainly passionate women here who are working toward a solution.

[quantumleap]

Keep looking on the doula front! I met a born and raised Saint John-er not too long ago who is active in "natural" circles, and she had no idea that there are at least four trained and practicing doulas here. Sometimes it's not a service you find super easily, but I bet there's someone around. Have you tried putting an ad on kijiji or something along those lines? Ask chiros, yoga instructors and/or NDs, etc. Our local pharmacist was actually a font of information when we first moved here and I was newly pregnant. I hope you find someone!

Natalie in Moncton (the birth attendant) does travel, though I don't know how far. She comes to Saint John, and Fredericton is pretty much equidistant. Edmunston might be a bit much! I would hesitate to recommend her, but she might still be an option (and many people love her services!).  

Endellion - if your hospital has birthing services, and they do, I can pretty much guarantee that they run a prenatal class. Whether or not you want to take that sort of prenatal class might be up for debate, but there's going to be *something* available. ;) Congrats on the residency, by the way!

[Endellion]

sorry i just saw the replies i kind of lost this site for a while

the hospital here doesn't offer prenatal classes just breast feeding stuff

my experience there was absolutely horrid but i have my little girl and that's all that matters