Selecting a MW before getting pregnant?

[Chloe'sMama]

DH and I are hoping to get pregnant within the next 6-9 months and really want a homebirth. DD is 17 months old and fertility has not returned, but I am a planner, so here I am.

I had a nice, but intervention ridden hospital birth with dd and want to avoid that again. Not to mention we want dd to be able to be a part of her siblings birth.

Do midwives work with people before pregnancy? Are there midwives that help with fertility issues (took us 2.5 years to get pregnant with DD, but I don't want the stress with a RE).

Anyways, I am so excited about my future homebirth and want to get it all started!

Thanks

[notjustmamie]

Midwives absolutely do. Some do regular well-woman care and others don't, but most are happy to talk to you if you are (planning to) TTC. I would specifically ask the MWs you interview what their experience or knowledge is regarding fertility issues--especially if you know what the specific problem was/is. Many MWs are quite knowledgeable about herbs and other natural remedies, you just need to ask them individually what they can do and how they would be willing to work with you.

Good luck TTC, and I hope you find a great MW!

[lizvt]

notjustmamie said it well
I think you may just need to shop around a little to find the right midwife for you. The MW I used for my first pregnancy basically did prenatal, birth, and the immediate post-partum care. I am using a different MW this time (it is a long drive to our 1st) and her practice includes so much more....
Good luck!

[Peace+Hope]

we interviewed midwives as soon as we started TTC, and the ones we picked were happy to loan us some books or get an occasional phone call or email.

i DID do an annual exam at a more formal midwifery practice that included a pre-conception consultation, and said if i had problems conceiving, i could make another appointment.

[jess152]

We interviewed our midwife before we were pregnant. I got pg a few months after, then miscarried, got pg again several months later and now I'm 36 weeks. It's been nice to have this long to get to know her.

I don't want to presume you don't know what's going on with your cycle, but are you charting your temperatures, because even if your period has not returned, you can still be ovulating and very fertile! Not everyone knows that, thinking that return of period = fertility, so I just thought I'd throw it out there for you! Good luck!

[pants]

I'm in your same shoes. Were going to TTC again after June of 2010. Were already interviewing midwives. And YES they do meet with you before hand. Good luck!

[JennTheMomma]

We had our Midwife while we were TTCing, I think we decided on her and told her about 2 months prior to becoming pregnant. She likes to talk to clients before they are pregnant so she can set them up on nutritional guidlines, and all that. I would start calling around now, do some interviews, and then pick the one you think best suites you.

[LaurenAnanas]

I did.

We used a group CNM practice with a free-standing birth center. They do well-woman care for all ages, in addition to pregnancy and birth, so I saw them for a "pre-conception" exam that functioned as an interview, too.

The midwife discussed diet and my fertility charts with me and even gave me some suggestions about sexual positions , based on my particular anatomy *down there*.

If we decide to go for #2, I plan to interview local homebirth midwives before TTC, because 1) I don't want to worry about chosing in early pregnancy, 2) I want to have a plan/supplies in place to deal with my debiltating nausea, and 3) they tend to book up quickly, so It'll be easier to ensure I'm on her schedule if I'm an existing client.

[erin_brycesmom]

I selected my HB MW before I got pregnant. I went to a "getting to know you" meeting with a HB MW shortly after we started TTC #3. That first meeting was in Sept 2006 and I didn't have my homebirth until June 2009, lol.