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Pregnant and new to Houston - help!

post #1 of 16
9/28/09 at 4:15pm
Thread Starter 
Hello! We moved to the NE Houston area a few months ago, and I am in need of a midwife or OB. I am 20 weeks, and I had been seeing a homebirth CPM since we got here, but we decided that financially we really need to see someone our insurance will cover. Which means no birth center or homebirth. I have an appointment with a CNM that my insurance will cover - Patricia Nami - has anyone heard of her? She is actually the only MW my insurance will cover , so if I'm not happy with her, I guess I need to find a really progressive OB. Also, any advice regarding which hospitals are better would be great too. I read through the board yesterday and got the feeling that St Luke's or Memorial Hermann in the Woodlands would be ok, but my insurance doesn't cover either of them.

I'm heading to the BIRTH fair this weekend to try to get some ideas, but in the mean time, please spam me with your OB/hospital recommendations!

Thanks!!
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post #2 of 16
9/28/09 at 4:32pm
Welcome to Houston (and MDC)!!
We had the same issue with insurance but found that our provider covered the midwives with the Women's Specialists because they actually file the claims under Dr. Zepeda (an OB in the practice). I was able to have everything covered without ever seeing an OB.
We delivered at St. Luke's in the Med Center, but I know the midwives have privileges at Memorial (med center) as well. We live in Kingwood, and the drive wasn't a huge bother to us.
We had good experiences all around. We "escaped" with minimal prenatal intervention, and no intervention during labor and delivery! They are a great option if homebirth or birth center isn't a possibility.
Good Luck!
post #3 of 16
9/28/09 at 5:24pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by allical1284 View Post
Welcome to Houston (and MDC)!!
We had the same issue with insurance but found that our provider covered the midwives with the Women's Specialists because they actually file the claims under Dr. Zepeda (an OB in the practice). I was able to have everything covered without ever seeing an OB.
We delivered at St. Luke's in the Med Center, but I know the midwives have privileges at Memorial (med center) as well. We live in Kingwood, and the drive wasn't a huge bother to us.
We had good experiences all around. We "escaped" with minimal prenatal intervention, and no intervention during labor and delivery! They are a great option if homebirth or birth center isn't a possibility.
Good Luck!
Thanks! I already checked, and my insurance doesn't cover anyone at Women's Specialists. Bummer.

But where is Memorial? I'll have to look again at the list of hospitals that are covered....

Oh, and we're in Porter, so we're practically neighbors!
post #4 of 16
9/28/09 at 6:29pm
Hospitals in Houston are VERY hostile. I would not birth in them short of an emergency. Many of the midwives in town are very flexible on payment- especially coming in at 20 weeks I'm sure you could work something out- barter even.

Meet with a couple.

-Angela
post #5 of 16
9/28/09 at 7:00pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by meesh933 View Post
Thanks! I already checked, and my insurance doesn't cover anyone at Women's Specialists. Bummer.

But where is Memorial? I'll have to look again at the list of hospitals that are covered....

Oh, and we're in Porter, so we're practically neighbors!
Welcome! We are in Kingwood... very much neighbors! I am 16 weeks!

I wish I could help but I have had only homebirths since moving here. If you end up not liking her, though, let me know and I can ask around with my friends. Or if you want to meet for coffee sometime, lemme know!
post #6 of 16
9/28/09 at 7:42pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by AbigailGrace View Post
Welcome! We are in Kingwood... very much neighbors! I am 16 weeks!

I wish I could help but I have had only homebirths since moving here. If you end up not liking her, though, let me know and I can ask around with my friends. Or if you want to meet for coffee sometime, lemme know!
Hi neighbor! What is there to do around here with a 2 year old??? We go to story time at the library in New Caney and the Barnes and Noble at Deerbrook Mall, but other than that and the zoo, we haven't found much to do. Not too many parks in Porter....and the heat! We can hardly play in the yard most days. Lordy, it was 92 degrees today. We just moved here from Kentucky, where it's almost time to turn the heater on by this time of year! Are there any other fun things to do with a toddler around here? Or is there a LLL meeting close by? I'm hoping The Woodlands isn't the closest. I haven't been able to motivate myself to drive that far yet, but I would really love to find some like-minded mommy friends!
post #7 of 16
9/28/09 at 10:09pm
It has been a pretty exhaustive search to find like-minded mommies in this area! I know they are out there; I'm just not sure where everyone is hiding
It's so bad, my husband almost passes out with excitement if he sees someone else at HEB wearing their baby! There isn't a LLL group nearby that I know of, but there is a good BF support group hosted by a local LC at Merry-Go-Round off Woodland Hills Dr. It is every Wednesday at 9:00am. You should definitely come! There is a play area, and all kids are welcome. There is also a local CD group that meets once a month; let me know if you are interested.
PM me if you ever want to meet up!
post #8 of 16
9/28/09 at 10:12pm
Hi meesh, welcome! We are also in Kingwood. I have a name of an OB that works with midwives as their backup...she might be a good one if you *have to* have an OB. PM me if you want the details.

If you want breastfeeding support, come on down! There's a mommy support group meeting at Merry-Go-Round Children's Consignment store on Woodland Hills Drive (the owner is also a lactation consultant) on Wednesday mornings...not LLL, but pretty close. 9 am every Wednesday. You can also just go in anytime and hang out and let the kids play. All the moms that work there bring their kids, so there's almost always someone to talk to/play with. I think they're also starting an "Expecting Mommies" group, mostly to exchange the same type of info we're looking for here.

HTH!
post #9 of 16
9/28/09 at 10:13pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by allical1284 View Post
It has been a pretty exhaustive search to find like-minded mommies in this area! I know they are out there; I'm just not sure where everyone is hiding
It's so bad, my husband almost passes out with excitement if he sees someone else at HEB wearing their baby! There isn't a LLL group nearby that I know of, but there is a good BF support group hosted by a local LC at Merry-Go-Round off Woodland Hills Dr. It is every Wednesday at 9:00am. You should definitely come! There is a play area, and all kids are welcome. There is also a local CD group that meets once a month; let me know if you are interested.
PM me if you ever want to meet up!

HaHa!! Hi Allical!
post #10 of 16
9/29/09 at 7:19pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by mom2annika View Post
HaHa!! Hi Allical!
Long time, no see!!! It is a shame that we meet up more in cyberland than we do IRL! We need to remedy that...
post #11 of 16
9/29/09 at 9:48pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by meesh933 View Post
Hi neighbor! What is there to do around here with a 2 year old??? We go to story time at the library in New Caney and the Barnes and Noble at Deerbrook Mall, but other than that and the zoo, we haven't found much to do. Not too many parks in Porter....and the heat! We can hardly play in the yard most days. Lordy, it was 92 degrees today. We just moved here from Kentucky, where it's almost time to turn the heater on by this time of year! Are there any other fun things to do with a toddler around here? Or is there a LLL meeting close by? I'm hoping The Woodlands isn't the closest. I haven't been able to motivate myself to drive that far yet, but I would really love to find some like-minded mommy friends!
uhhhhh, that'd be it... haha!! I do love The Woodlands, though! Never been to Kentucky but I do love the weather in San Diego better than Houston!
post #12 of 16
10/4/09 at 8:24pm

jackie griggs

have you considered jackie griggs? I just had a baby with her at the bay area birth center ... my insurance did not cover it at first but she worked with them and eventually they covered the birth at a in network cost.my insurance company was small but she is covered by most major insurance companies at the in network rate
post #13 of 16
10/17/09 at 8:54pm
Check out Paula Davis in Conroe. Her home is in New Caney and I believe she'll do appts. there, too. I'm pretty sure she'll work with you on payments to make your life easy. We spend a lot of time in Porter....hitting Tractor Supply. Otherwise, we drive past it often.

In Kingwood, there is a kids' consignment store called Merry-Go-Round. In there, there is also a breastfeeding consultation business called My Little Juel. They are AWESOME!! Suzanne Juel is the owner of both. She really is super nice and helpful. On Wednesday mornings, at 9 am, they have a LLL type meeting. She can't be a LLL Leader b/c she's a professional LC, but she runs it pretty much the same. I've never been to it, b/c I am just never available Wed. mornings, it seems.

Anyway, welcome to Porter. We're from up north too, (PA/DE/IN depending on the time) I hope the current weather is making you feel a little better. This summer was just wicked, even for Houston.

I don't have any good suggestions for day to day toddler stuff, but for a special treat, if you go down to 1960 and head East, there is farm down there on the left about 10 miles (?) you can't miss it. It's a GIANT petting zoo place. I've never been there, but would love to go. My own farm is basically a petting zoo, though, so it's not been a top priority for me.
post #14 of 16
10/21/09 at 3:15pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Past_VNE View Post
In Kingwood, there is a kids' consignment store called Merry-Go-Round. In there, there is also a breastfeeding consultation business called My Little Juel. They are AWESOME!! Suzanne Juel is the owner of both. She really is super nice and helpful. On Wednesday mornings, at 9 am, they have a LLL type meeting. She can't be a LLL Leader b/c she's a professional LC, but she runs it pretty much the same. I've never been to it, b/c I am just never available Wed. mornings, it seems.
I am a huge fan of Suzanne and Merry go Round too! Suzanne just started a Saturday BF support group for all the moms that can't make it on Wed. mornings. It starts at 10:30am every saturday.
If you ever have Wed. free you should definitely come by though, having that group keeps me sane!!
post #15 of 16
10/21/09 at 4:25pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by allical1284 View Post
If you ever have Wed. free you should definitely come by though, having that group keeps me sane!!
I'm in KW too. I'm going to have to check out the group when my little monkey is born. I need nursing bras so I think I'm going to see her Suzanne very soon.

Other than that, there is a story time at the Harris Co public library KW branch and a puppet show for the older kiddos. I'll be going starting next week.

Alilical, remember me? I'm in KW too, and one of these days I'm going to make it to the Cloth Diapering Meetup!
post #16 of 16
10/21/09 at 4:46pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by ShwarmaQueen View Post
Alilical, remember me? I'm in KW too, and one of these days I'm going to make it to the Cloth Diapering Meetup!
I remember you! I saw your message on the CD play group RSVP about being done with work soon; you must be very happy about that!!
The BF group at Merry Go Round is great! Don't feel like you have to wait for the next bundle to arrive to come by; we have fun just sitting there talking with other moms! There are plenty of toys in the play area to keep your older LO entertained (there are usually other older kids there too).
I'm glad you mentioned the library, I will have to check that out. I lose it if I don't get out of the house often
Hope to actually meet up one day!
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