Tell the Midwife?

[SquirmyWorm]

Question. I am planning to have a home birth, but am "co-managing" with the local hospital b/c I get my prenatals free that way. Should I mention it to the CNM at the hospital, or just call after the baby is born?

[mcsarahb]

This is a touchy subject. I started out with a hospital-based CNM group, and asked them if I could do appointments with them at the same time as with my CPMs. The CNMs said no, they cannot see me at the same time - I had to pick one or the other. I ended up stalling until I had my ultrasound (19 wks), paid for by insurance at the hospital, and then told the CNMs I had chosen a homebirth just recently (a little white lie).

I think it depends on your state, the practice itself, etc. Do you have a homebirth midwife, or planning on doing it by yourself (UC)? If you have a home mw, I would ask her what she thinks.

Hope this helps a little - it's just a hard decision either way. It might be fine, and they might absolutely refuse. Hard to say. Sometimes it's easier to be forgiven after the fact than to ask for permission and be denied...

Sarah

[karenpl]

I think I would call after the birth. Are you going to have a midwife, or an unattended birth? That might make a difference to them, knowing that the baby was checked out by a 'professional' instead of just the mom?

Or you could just tell a few weeks for the birth that you have changed providers? So you won't press the 'you are overdue, so we are going to run tests till we find something wrong' mess?

Good luck!

Karen