Midwives in Northern, NJ w/possible Hospital Privledges

[MamaSerio]

I am new to the area (i live in Bloomfield) and DESPERATELY want to have a natural birth with baby number 2 (which we will be trying for VERY soon ). I had a mostly natural L&D with my DS in Jan of 09 but after 23 hours of labor i gave into some Stadol (which i wish i had not). My OB basically told me that i didnt need to be a hero and that if i wanted the pain to stop, modern medicine had things to help. ugh, so much for supporting my birth plan.

I am NOT opposed to going to NYC; I hear St. Lukes is awesome.

So all of that to say, I am looking for the following (this list was borrowed from another Thread that fit me PERFECT)

1. I want a waterbirth, the Midwife/Hospital needs that option
2. not be hooked up to a wired monitor (intermittent hand-held prefered)
3. not be hooked up to an IV
4. allowed to move wherever I want during labor
5. allowed to birth in a natural position (standing or on all fours, etc)
6. don't want my water broken or an episiotomy
7. want my child to room-in
8. low lighting (if I chose)
9. allowed to eat/drink

Any personal recommendations on Avalon and The Child Birth Center (now in Clifton) would be GREATLY appreciated. As well as any other options and recommendations for a great midwife. (I am also not completely opposed to a very "granola" and natural OBGYN, but those are RARE)

Thanks!

[marisa724]

I used Avalon at Morristown Memorial for this last baby. I was a VBAC-attempt so a few things were a little different for me, but many things on your list apply -

- Morristown has a beautiful large room with a tub, you just have to request it. I had that room (though I never got to use the tub). I think they may also have a portable tub, you can ask. And you may be able to bring in your own tub if you're worried about theirs being occupied.

- wireless monitoring, I was walking up to the nurses' station and back

- as a VBAC they like to have an IV placed, but I had a heplock instead - just the inserted part, that they can attach an IV to later if necessary

- allowed to move - absolutely, I was walking the halls, in the shower, on the floor, etc.

- I did not get as far as giving birth - my baby had his cord wrapped around him twice, never descended (despite doing everything 'right')

- no water broken

- all the rooms in Morristown's new mom/baby wing are private, baby rooms in at all times. They like to bring the baby back to the nursery for a well-check in the AM, but you can have dad go back to watch, and bring the baby right back. You can also probably kick up a fuss and refuse to send the baby, but I didn't do this -- they are quick about the check and bring the baby to you ASAP without any funny business (I was there for three days and they were great about this).

- low lighting - I think the lights were off the whole time

- I was allowed to eat/drink although I didn't -- I remember them trying to coax me to drink, I was getting dehydrated.

Avalon is a group of three (with one backup) midwives and you'll probably relate better to one or another, that's just how personalities work. The younger Joanne (Cunha) attended my birth and she was very hands off the whole time, just watching and looking at the monitor. When I went in for surgery she was there sitting by my head and didn't leave until I was through recovery and being taken to my room.


PS -- welcome to the neighborhood!

[MamaSerio]

Thank you SO much for the input. would you have any info you could share about cost?

[Nazsmum]

Loved Avalon! They were great.

[marisa724]

Avalon accepted my insurance (BCBS) and so I had a $20 copay, plus something like 10-20% of our hospital costs. As I said, mine was a surgery, so it wound up being in the ballpark of $2000 out of pocket in the end. I don't remember the exact figures anymore.

I should also add that even though I wound up with a repeat c-section, they were very very supportive of my VBAC attempt. I went to 41w5d with this baby, but according to my original due date (from before I was in their care) it would've been well over 42w -- they listened to me about my longer cycles and adjusted the date up by almost a week. This means I didn't get any pressure about delivering "on time".

Once I was over 40w they did want to do a U/S to make sure everything was still fine, and it was then that we discovered that he was wrapped up in his cord. It was around his neck twice, actually. Of course I was a bit panicked but even then, they were calm and they assured me that if we could get him to come down, they could deliver him naturally and untangle him quickly upon exit. Unfortunately we just never made it that far.

[MamaSerio]

Just bumping this post and asking for more info and stories from other moms with any midwives in the area! thanks!

[bolobear]

My colleague has all three of her daughters with this midwife at st lukes in manhattan. She glows when she talks about her experience. Her daughters are in mid to late 20's/early 30's now.

http://www.nywomenshealth.com/midwiv...l-new-york.htm

[santeleni]

All your requests would be easily attended to with a homebirth. Have you thought of that as an option? It's quite safe, and you can be in the comfort of your home. And every midwife has an OP/Hospital backup so if there is a need to transfer you'd be ok. I tried with my first, but transfered and finished with a hospital vaginal birth. I'm trying and with this pregnancy and am optimistic and excited.
Good luck.

[2Peaches]

I registered on this forum just so I could reply! I delivered my second child at Saint Clare's Hospital in Denville with midwife Marla Scott. I recommend her very highly, she was wonderful. She practices with two Ob-gyns in Denville, it would be well worth giving her a call to set up a consultation appointment to discuss your concerns.

[MamaSerio]

Thanks everyone for the input. Im a little uneasy about a homebirth, simply because I'm crazy over-analytical and I feel like I'd be that 2% that needs a hospital intervention if I'm at home, but if I'm in the hospital, I would be safe, the classic irony of course lol.

I am going to set up consultations with Lonnie Morris' practice and possibly the midwives in Denville. Avalon wants $75 (from what I read in a recent post) for the initial interview, so that turns me off from them a bit. I will also be contacting Georgia Rose, CNM, from St. Lukes and seeing if she will meet with us. We start trying after my next period, so wish us luck!

[MeghanG]

Hi,
It sounds like you have decided against Avalon, but I just want to mention that they will waive the $75 if your first appointment with them is a combined consultation/ pre-natal visit. I know it's not ideal, but when I was switching from my OB-GYN to Avalon, I had pretty much made up my mind that I was going to deliver with them so I was ok with a pre-natal visit being my first meeting. I spoke with Joanne Cunha for about an hour before she did the standard well visit assessments.

Had a fantastic experience with them!
Meghan

[huggingmama]

Originally Posted by MeghanG

Hi,
It sounds like you have decided against Avalon, but I just want to mention that they will waive the $75 if your first appointment with them is a combined consultation/ pre-natal visit. I know it's not ideal, but when I was switching from my OB-GYN to Avalon, I had pretty much made up my mind that I was going to deliver with them so I was ok with a pre-natal visit being my first meeting. I spoke with Joanne Cunha for about an hour before she did the standard well visit assessments.

Had a fantastic experience with them!
Meghan

I am with Avalon as of this past year, and they waived the fee for me because I got an annual exam at the same time as my consultation about VBAC--I was planning to get pregnant at the time. Insurance paid for it. I had the exam, and then about an hour talking with the younger Joanne about VBAC. It was nice.

[marisa724]

I had the same experience with Avalon. Go in as an exam, not just a consult, they can bill insurance then.

I also have to give props to Marla Scott in Denville, she was my first midwife after my DS1 was born, and I was so sad to leave her care! -- Unfortunately she doesn't have the ability to attend VBACs anymore at St. Clare's (not her own fault -- the fault of the OBs who won't back her up).

[kimilia]

I had a great experience with Avalon and continue to do so. Joanne Cunha caught my second daughter and was so peaceful, calm and just perfect. I highly recommend them.

[MamaSerio]

well, i definitly need my annual exam anyway, so that makes me feel SO much better about the initial consultation with Avalon. As soon as we see our "+" ill be setting up our appointments, and this time it will probably be Avalon first, seeing i need my annual anyway

Really ladies, thank you so much. I feel a bit like a fish out of water having no friends or family that have any advise on L&D the natural way for me. Thank you!

[kimilia]

Anytim, MamaSerio. Earlier in this thread I posted all about my birth experience...probably around Feb or March if you are looking back in the threads. If you need anything, you can pm me. I don't live far from you. I used to live in Montclair, but now I am in Parsippany. Have you joined the Holistic Moms Network? Its charter chapter is from Montclair and the women there could be so helpful to you.

[Breathless Wonder]

The birth of my oldest son was attended by Lucille Fream. It looks like she is practicing out of Wayne right now. I really loved her. At the time (almost 18 years ago), CNMs were just coming into some of the NJ hospitals, and doctor back up was fairly hands on. Her OB back up recommended induction, and if it had not been for Lucille, I know I would have ended up sectioned for failure to progress, and fetal distress.

[JulieMG]

Had my first appointment (at week 29) today with Avalon for a VBAC. Fell in love! Would suggest them to anyone. And agree, the $75 fee is for consult only. If you set an appointment for service, that's waived and they still spend time talking with you! Good luck to you!

[MamaSerio]

for those of you who were wondering. we got our BFP this morning, at approximately 8 dpo! so as soon as i officially miss my period, ill be contacting Avalon, Lonnie and possibly the BC at St. Lukes! Thanks so much!

[2Peaches]

Congratulations!!!