Chicago's ABC @ Western Suburban

[sotaguchimuch]

What are your thoughts on the Alternative Birth Center in Oak Park at Western Suburban Medical Center? I'll be moving to Chicago at 14 weeks and I'm trying to do as much research as possible before I get there. This will be my first birth and I would like to have a natural water birth.

I believe there are 3 midwife groups that practice there, has anyone heard anything about any of the midwife groups?

[cavemama2010]

Hi,

West Sub's ABC is great, I just used it for the normal birth of our third baby in March of this year. Once you are with the midwives, you have nothing to worry about, they really take care of you and the nurses are very cooperative. I used West Suburban Midwives and think they are awesome. One of the midwives, Amy, has a homebirth background if that's something you are interested in as far as mindset. She was my attending midwife and i have also worked with her on a professional level as a birth doula. She really trusts birth and is willing to catch your baby in whatever position works best.

I used the birthing tub and kept my son skin-to-skin on me afterwards for as long as i needed to in the queen-sized bed. You have to be transferred to another postpartum room if the room is needed for someone else's birth...I think we were able to stay in there for about 3-4 hours, though, and it was very comfortable and homey compared to a regular delivery room!

Good luck to you!

[pammysue]

I delivered both of my boys in the ABC rooms with West Sub Midwives. DS2 was a wonderful, amazing waterbirth. It was everything I ever wanted. DS1 was a great birth too. For DS1 I was able to stay in the ABC room for our whole stay-a very rare occurrence.  With DS2 I had to move out the next morning, but it was ok. The nurses were fine, not great, but they generally left me alone. There was no problem refusing things, eye goop, HepB, circ. I think they know the ABC patients are "different" and just let us do our own thing. They are good with exclusive BFing and have a LC on staff now (with DS1 they didn't and I really could have used the help).

When you first go in they will hook you to the fetal monitor in the triage room for about 20 minutes, but that is the most invasive thing I experienced. Actually, with DS2 I was complete when I arrived, so we skipped that.

I love West Sub Midwives. DS1 delivered with Julie, who is no longer there, and DS2 delivered with Cynthia. Both were fabulous: very hands-off (I can't stand to me touched in labor), asking before doing anything, very calm and encouraging. 
 

Welcome to MDC both of you!

[chandasz]

I, too, had both my daughters at west sub. Had a land birth with number one and a water birth with number two.

There are 3 groups of midwives that practice out of west sub. West Sub is really the BEST place to have a normal, non-interventive birth in the Chicago area-- in my opinion.

I do a lot of work in the birth community in that area if you are looking for other referrals. Please feel free to PM me!

I also teach Bradley Classes in the area, if you are interested.

Welcome!!