Illinois and finding a doc for post-homebirth?

[kittywitty]

I am in Southern IL and our very AP friendly doc just moved out of state. I can only find one local doc accepting our Allkids right now. We haven't met her yet, but this area is NOT homebirth friendly at all. Is it really necessary to get a doc checkup after birth if there are no problems? I think my mw will do the PKU testing or whatnot and I've never had problems with my babies after birth to need a checkup. I am just terrified that this doc will ask a lot of questions about the birth (which is illegal here) or report me to CPS for it. Especially if I have to tell them before the birth to get them as a provider. I haven't had to face this issue before having had supportive doctors. What does everyone else do? How should I answer their questions?

[jeannineb]

I am in Southern Illinois too. First, homebirth is not illegal in IL. Your midwife might be practicing without a licence, if she is not a CNM working under an MD, but having a homebirth in IL is not against the law. I just had one! I don't know where you are in So IL, but we use Kathy Swafford in Anna. She is pro-vax, but appreciates the parents' right to not vax and was very open in talking with us regarding vaxing, she didn't bat an eye when we told her we had a home birth, she is pro-breastfeeding and when we told her we had no plans to circ she replied happily "YAY!". I have always had good experiences with her. Her PA is friendly, but I would rather see the Dr. herself. HTH.

[kittywitty]

Sorry I didn't specify-I'm on the other side of the state! Anna is about...2 or 3 hours west of me?

I know homebirth itself is not illegal, but alas for me, this one will be. And being investigated by CPS for it is not at all uncommon. Luckily my last UC in this state was not investigated, but it still freaks me out. I wish my doc hadn't moved. And with such short notice!

[MsBlack]

There is also an AP friendly doc or 2 in Carbondale, one whom I especially like--but that is also pretty far for you.

Remember that you do not have to answer a lot of questions, no matter if questions are asked! You can politely redirect the dr to the baby's exam and other reasons that you came to the dr in the first place. If it is someone who gets too nosy, then you can politely excuse yourself and leave.

A question like "I didn't know there were any midwives around here" or "Is that legal", can be answered with a friendly tone and "Oh we find our way to each other" and "Oh yes, homebirth is legal here"--immediately followed by a question or comment to redirect the conversation to the business at hand. If you start to get a lecture, you really can excuse yourself and leave--"I'm sorry, we have made an informed decision and I'm not here to discuss homebirth. If you are not comfortable working with us, I respect that--and will be going now"

Sorry not to have more info for you--good luck!

[kittywitty]

Thanks!

[thebassomatic76]

I know this is an old thread, but if anyone who posted here in still around, can you share the AP friendly docs located in Carbondale?  I'm moving to the Carbondale area in Jan and will be delivering my next child in June.  I'm desperately hoping for a homebirth, and would love to have a "friendly" doc I can turn to after for care.  Thanks.

[MsBlack]

Are you looking for a ped for your kids...an OB/GYN or CNM for yourself, a Fam Practice doc for everyone...or what?  I know of AP and HB friendly resources there, but I need more info.

[thebassomatic76]

Well first, I would definitely like to have a homebirth so yes, I would love to find anyone that would be supportive of that for myself, but it looked to me like there aren't many options for that in this part of the state so I was starting to write it off as a possibility.  Also an AP friendly ped for the kids that is also HB friendly if I am able to go that route would be wonderful, otherwise just AP friendly is good.  I haven't lived in So Illinois since 1999 when I left for military service, so I don't know much about the climate there surrounding HB but in trying to find information on it there, I have hit a lot of brick walls.

[HarleeMomma910]

I'm another posting on an old thread, so again hopefully some of you are still around to check on it!  I'm in Red Bud, IL (1.5 hrs north of Carbondale) and I really really want a homebirth, or a pre-natal and birth experience as far away from a hospital/medical environment as possible.  I'm due in mid July with my first baby and I currently have an okay midwife, she practices out of a women's center, which is connected to Anderson Hospital in Maryville, IL (an hour north of me).  She's sweet, but I still feel like a medical patient and I don't want that anymore.  I know a lot of you are in the Carbondale area, but if anyone has any information for my neck of the woods on HB or AP/HB-friendly doctors  I would really appreciate it!

[thebassomatic76]

Well, I can't give you any help either (I'm sorry) but I'm still here, and still looking for homebirth and AP ped information around here.  It's exhausting, and frustrating.  I hope you have an easier time.  I am to the point of tears and considering UC since that seems my only option outside of a hospital.

[HarleeMomma910]

I'm sorry your search isn't bringing you any luck :(.  Did you try checking over in Cape Girardeau?  Apparently there are some homebirth midwives in my area in IL, according to posts elsewhere, but I couldn't get any more information or figure out who they are, probably because they're so hidden under the radar, which I don't blame them.  I ended up checking around in St. Louis and found River City Birth Midwifery, and I'm going for a consultation with them tonight.  It'll be the next best thing to a homebirth - they seemed a bit leery of coming over to IL to my home to assist me with a homebirth, but I was told they could possibly get me into one of their suites over there, so it'd be like a homebirth.  I'm totally up for that - anything but a hospital is good for me!  But maybe you'll have similar luck if you just check across the river?  MO is a bit easier to work with than IL.  I wish you the best of luck, I certainly feel for ya!