When do you call the midwife? (to book a spot)

[mommyfied]

I was wondering how soon you all book your midwife (assuming you already know who you are going to hire)? I'm still early and kind of in denial and scared I might have a miscarriage. I didn't want to jump the gun. I really want to tell her I'm pregnant so I think I'm going to call Monday. I was wondering what everyone else typically does.

[LianneM]

I'm sorry you're feeling worried

I would call right away, just because I know people who have missed out on their preferred midwife due to her schedule filling up. The midwives I know will only take so many women due in the same month, so it's best to go ahead and get on the list.

[francesmama]

As soon as I pee on the stick!
Midwifery care is in high demand where I live. Or I should say there is a higher demand than there is availability of midwives.

[Noelle C.]

Originally Posted by LianneM

I would call right away, just because I know people who have missed out on their preferred midwife due to her schedule filling up. The midwives I know will only take so many women due in the same month, so it's best to go ahead and get on the list.

Exactly. I lucked out getting in with my midwife. She takes six woman, at the MOST, due in any given month, and prefers no more than four, to lessen the chance of being unavailable for a birth. There is one of her. What happens if she's already attending a home birth for someone else? Unless she has a prior policy in place requiring both you and the already-laboring other woman to go to her birthing center, if she has one, and if the other woman is still in a stage to be moved, then you're going to be SOL and have to go to a hospital or unassisted or hope that the other momma finished quickly.

Call as early as possible. Better to get a spot and have to cancel than to wait until your second trimester and find out she's booked. That came out wrong, but you know what I mean.

[xixstar]

I called her at 8 weeks to get on her calendar. I then planned to schedule my first appointment about 20 weeks.

[MamaJenese]

About 5 minutes after I peed on the stick. Homebirth midwives are few and far between here and book fast. Even though I called and got on her schedule right away I did not go in until about 10 weeks or so maybe even later.

[rumi79]

Last time I called after I found out I ws pregnant, I interviewed her first and the first official appointment was at 8 weeks. I never made it to the next appointment because I had a miscarriage in 11 weeks.
There is a $500 non refundable deposit that you pay at the first visit, but my midwife told me that I won't need to pay it again next time when I get pregnant. I will just pay $200 which she withheld for the first appointment. So my midwife rocks, but you need to make sure how does it go with deposits and stuff like that.
Next time when I decide to get pregnant I will wait to pass the first trimester to make an appointment with her. Meanwhile I am thinking to do shadow care with an OB to get an early screening and blodd levels monitoring.

[~Kristina~]

Originally Posted by MamaJenese

About 5 minutes after I peed on the stick. Homebirth midwives are few and far between here and book fast. Even though I called and got on her schedule right away I did not go in until about 10 weeks or so maybe even later.

Ditto! Congratulations and good luck!!

[jenfl]

As a different perspective, midwives aren't that in demand in my area. My midwife took me at 12 weeks with no problem.

[ShwarmaQueen]

I switched from my OB at 14 wks. Although my MW only takes 2 mommas/month, the supply of HBMWs is greater than the demand due to our over-medicalized city.

[Sihaya]

This time I called the day after my BFP, before I was even 4 weeks pg. Our first appt will be at 20 weeks, but I wanted to make sure I was on her schedule and I wanted her to know so I can call her with any questions/concerns I have between now and then.

[DCMama01]

I waited until 12-13 weeks to call and ended up on the waiting list for December babies. I was fortunate to get in by 16 weeks, but I won't be waiting next time!

[jaylily]

I had wondered about what happens if a midwife has a few women due around the same time! It makes sense that they would only take on so many, just in case.

It never occurred to me when I called mine. We just found her while I was looking up stuff about home birth, and called her shortly after we found out I was pregnant, and she took me, no problem. That could have been why - we found her early

[laurelg]

I called my MW early - like 4 weeks? because it was my first and I wanted plenty of time to interview all the area MWs.

We had our meet-and-greet at 6 weeks, and hit it off immediately. I didn't wind up interviewing any others.

We began regular appointments at 12 weeks.

[gentlestrengths]

I have used the same midwife for all of my pregnancies (we did one unassisted though). She doesn't normally see people until 12 weeks. I think if it is a new client she sees them right away and then the next appointment is at 12 weeks. So I have always called right when I find out. This time I happened to find to find out when I was 7 weeks already. My situation is very different though. I am going to get care from one person, and deliver with another (my midwife) because we are in the military and live far from her!!

Still, if you know where you are going, just call right away to make an appointment. She may not see you right away but at least you have the appointment.

[rlmueller]

Call ASAP

They book fast. So I called at 7 weeks, gave them an estimated due date and had first appt at 19 weeks.

[sweetcheeks]

Where I am in Canada, MWs are covered by provincial health, and are very popular and book up FAST. For my youngest, I called as soon as I got my positive HPT at 4wks, 2d. First prenatal wasn't until 10wks.

[lesliesara63]

Yep in my city the midwives are booked solid! You have to call when you pee on the stick. I think they give returning clients a spot no matter what. I can't wait to make that call again

[Belle]

I think I called the day after I peed on the stick. I got a BFP at 11 DPO so it was pretty early that I called her. My midwives only take four clients a month. I wanted to be sure to get on their calendar.

[smeep]

I would call ASAP...like today. My midwife only takes on 6 clients a month (based on EDD, and since she never pressures induction unless 100% necessary, it allows for run-ins into other months) so last time with DS2 I called her "early." We booked my first appointment for a month or so after my first call since I didn't feel it was necessary to see her right away but that way I was officially in her "schedule." With DS1 I met and booked her at about 8 weeks LMP. DS2 it was about 6 weeks LMP but I wanted to get in just in case. I didn't want to risk there being a weird random rush of women all deciding to birth with her whose EDDs were near mine. And when I lost DS2 I called her to let her know and cancel the first appointment and she was very supportive.

In all honesty, we all know that calling or not calling our mw won't make a single differemce in whether our babes stick, but I was glad to have my midwife involved (even if just mostly for post-loss support) for what little time I had him. Sticky baby vibes and congrats!!!