Homebirth suggestions for Illinois residents

[manxsupo]

I am in my fourth and month wish to have a "home" birth (even if it isn't in my actual home, just not a hospital only except in the case where that makes medical sense). I do not want to travel over 1 hour to Indiana from my home in Illinois, but if absolutely necessary I will do. Anyone in Illinois have suggestions for me to satisfy my requirements?

Best,
Susan

[laughingfox]

I'm not sure where you are in Illinois, but I've heard some good things about HomeFirst in the Chicago area. They're a group of MDs that do homebirths.

[TabithaB]

I live in Illinois and am having a homebirth in October. I have found that options are a little limited here depending on how you want to do it. The CPM's and CNM's can't/won' do homebirths. There a number of "lay midwives" that do though. They are out there. They just kinda stay under the radar.

[Illiana]

I had planned to have a HB in Illinois. The CNM that I found does HB and will travel (depending on how far you are) I ended up not moving there (last min change of plans).
I believe that she is based out of Peoria. Brande Ruskusky and her # is 309-258-3216.

Here is another one that I was told about but don't know anything about..
Bernice's # is: [phone]

I can't find their email addresses anymore.. must have deleted them.. but there are options.. good luck.

[kittywitty]

Where are you at? I also have an IL mw. I wish IL would get in gear and finally legalize midwifery!

[TabithaB]

Yeah. I wish Illinois would get it together and "legalize" homebirth attendance. The midwife part wasn't the hard part. Stuff like getting a sonogram was what I found to be a pain. I actually had to leave the state to go and get a sonogram. That is nutso.

[MsBlack]

Yes, knowing more about where you are will help those of us who know IL mws to help you find one. Can you give a general area/county/major town nearby?

[Romana]

Go ask in the Finding Your Tribe area of MDC. Also, www.birthlink.com is a good resource and lists homebirth providers (legal ones, anyway), at least in the Chicago area and beyond. It differs depending on whether you're within a couple hours of Chicago or not.

[spanishcrunchymama]

Originally Posted by Illiana

I had planned to have a HB in Illinois. The CNM that I found does HB and will travel (depending on how far you are) I ended up not moving there (last min change of plans).
I believe that she is based out of Peoria. Brande Ruskusky and her # is 309-258-3216.

Here is another one that I was told about but don't know anything about..
Bernice's # is: [phone]

I can't find their email addresses anymore.. must have deleted them.. but there are options.. good luck.

ditto this info!!!!

Brande is actually my MW and her supervising OB is Dr. Kendrid. Bernice is also under the same OB, except since Brande got her CNM license, Bernice stop taking clients in the Peoria area. I believe she drives from Peru.

I also have BCBS FEP which is covering my home birth with Brande.

If you are in my area, pm me and maybe I can give you more details if you are interested!!

[Dancinmommy]

HI. if you are in chicago, I can recommend my Midwife, at A Woman's Place...she is amazing, and delivered my DD 3 yrs ago, and I look forward to another homebirth with her this fall.

[skyblufig]

If you're in the Chicago area/suburbs, there's Hilary Kieser at Gentle Birth Care (http://www.gentlebirthcare.com), A Women's Place (http://awomansplacechicago.com/index.html), and Sarah Simmons, and here's a link to the Birthlink listings for homebirth CNMs: http://www.birthlink.com/directory/homebirth.html

Attended homebirth is legal in Illinois with CNMs and OBs. I read on another thread here that Homefirst has (temporarily?) closed its offices, and I'm not sure if there are other doctors still attending homebirths. But there are CNMs and, as others have pointed out, CPMs and lay midwives under the radar in IL. LLL meetings and yoga studios are good resources for finding those if you're interested, as well as the IL tribal area. We just had a homebirth with Hilary in May and it was an awesome experience. Good luck!

[featherd]

Originally Posted by laughingfox

I'm not sure where you are in Illinois, but I've heard some good things about HomeFirst in the Chicago area. They're a group of MDs that do homebirths.

Homefirst no longer does home births.