Recomendations on a Midwife for Homebirth in Towson/Baltimore?

[Tryamour]

Hi everyone, I'm new here. My sister in law suggested this site when I told her I wanted to deliver naturally and was considering a homebirth.

I'm 25 weeks and we just moved to Towson so I'm looking to switch from my current OBGYN to a midwife and possibly deliver at home.  I don't know anyone in this area and would really appreciate some direction as to where to find a midwife who attends home births or has hospital privileges.

Thank you!

[wilddreamergrl]

http://sacredjourneymidwifery.com/home

I think she's in Germantown, MD but travels for homebirths. I think that's close enough. 

[lyndie]

Evelyn Muhlhan CNM of Alternative Birth Choices http://www.altbirthchoices.com/ attends home births & is based in Catonsville (20 - 30 min drive to Towson).  I think she also has hospital privileges at Mercy?  but don't quote me on that... someone please correct if that's wrong.

Joey Pascarella CNM of Sacred Journey Midwifery (mentioned by previous poster) is my midwife & is based in southern Maryland, south of Waldorf. (1.5 - 2 hr drive to Towson with minimal traffic)  I don't know exactly where she lives because prenatal visits are done in my home.  She used to have office hours in Waldorf but no longer.

There's also Susan Dodge CNM based in Odenton & Karen Webster CPN based in Elkton.  Searching any of these names on MDC will net you lots of reviews!

(edited to add more info!)

[LaurenAnanas]

Anni Rodriguez of Simply Born http://simply-born.webs.com/

She's in Cockeysville and new to the area as of 2010, but attended births in California for a long, long time before moving out here.

[MegBoz]

Yes, I'm pretty sure Evelyn still has priviledges at Mercy. She's also the only CNM doing HBs in the greater Baltimore area (I don't think Joey comes as far north as Towson)- unless Anni renewed - anyone know? (She was a CNM, but let it lapse since she didn't need the certification in California, but renewed now in Maryland.)

CPMs are illegal, but we have some who practice anyway, including Karen Webster  who I'm currently seeing & highly recommend:

http://www.womanwise.info/

Prenatals are at her home office in Elkton. That's probably a 1 hr 10 min drive for you from Towson, but very minimal traffic (just some on 695, but that stretch of 95 going up to Towson will be fine).

There's another CPM, KC, who lives in Northeast Baltimore city. Would be very close to you. PM me for details (Due to her illegal status, she prefers anonymity.) There are currently efforts to legalize CPMs & the climate isn't too bad, so nothing really to worry about.

[Tryamour]

Thank you so much ladies!
I feel much less overwhelmed now.

[Isaac'sMa]

Originally Posted by MegBoz 

Yes, I'm pretty sure Evelyn still has priviledges at Mercy.

She doesn't

[a1673]

Yeah, I heard Evelyn was no longer delivering at Mercy, or any hospital, as of the first of the year. 

[russsk]

KC was my mw and I can't recommend her highly enough.

[MandyGail]

Another fan of KW!  good luck in you search!

[BirthWithFaith]

It's important to get in touch with the midwife in question and interview her and ask her her status and any questions you have.

Good luck!

Edited by BirthWithFaith - 4/12/11 at 4:37am

[Maidenwisdom]

Congratulations on your pregnancy and your choice to switch to a homebirth.  For what it is worth I second everyone's recommendations on HB MWs!  Some of the MWs have busier schedules than others and operate in different ways (i.e. home prenatals vs office visits; labor assistants, etc.). I second JeskaMB2B's advice... since you have a a few months ahead of you I would recommend interviewing a few of them for personality and operating systems.  Good luck!

Danielle

[KatyLinda]

Thanks for all this info!  We're a few months from TTC again and I will be looking for a homebirth this time around.  I'm glad that I do have options here in Maryland!   If anyone wants to PM me with details about their HB MW I'd love to hear about it while I try to figure out who I want to go with!

[qadirqutiesmom]

Thanks for sharing all this information. I am currently 22 weeks and wanting to have a home birth. I know I'm starting a little late, but I didn't think there were any midwives within my insurance that did home birth, only to find out Evelyn takes UnitedHealthCare. Although, I haven't interviewed any midwives nor have I talked to my insurance company in case I can't find someone in-network that is available and I feel comfortable with, this info gives me hope that my dreams of a home birth without a huge out of pocket expense is possible. I hope that when I do find a MW that is the right fit (hopefully soon) I can get my insurance to cover at in-network rate if the MW isn't in network; it's the only way my husband will agree to the home birth since we didn't plan in advance for the added expense of the birth. Although I know I can get full coverage if Evelyn is available I live in Gaithersburg/Germantown area and she's in the b'more area which is quite a hike for prenatal appointments; it also seems that everyone says she pretty busy. Anyone in MD have UnitedHealthcare and get in network coverage for an out of network provider? I know I've seen on the home birth boards that some women have gotten it the in network benefits, but I'm not sure if any of those women were in MD. Thanks for the information again ladies. I'll be on the phone to all these MW asap!!

[homewithtwinsmama]

Hi I work at ABC.  We do take UHC.  Call our office manager Wendy at 410-455-9659.  Office open Mon, Wed, Thurs 9-5.

[qadirqutiesmom]

Thanks homewithtwinsmama, I called and Evelyn has reached her patient limit for my due date :(. Now I know for next pregnancy to call as soon as I find out. I was hoping it would work out so there was less work for me to do with the insurance company. 

[kayp]

Hello all, I'm so glad I found this thread! I'm living in Chicago and am currently 20wks preg and seeing a wonderful home birth midwife. We are relocating to the Baltimore area (closer to Owing Mills) within the next few months. Unfortunately I don't have a set date yet and am starting to feel a bit worried I'll be 39 wks by the time we move. 

At the advice of my current midwife I'm going to start some phone interviews for the Baltimore area. Could someone please send me KC's info? Thanks for your help

[KatyLinda]

Welcome to the area!  KC is no longer attending births.  I'll send you a PM with the current info. 

[LaurenAnanas]

KC is not currently practicing.

Anni will go to Owings Mills, try calling her. She was my midwife last year and she's fantastic. 

FWIW- The Baltimore area is very small, compared to Chicago, and homebirth providers here are few and far between right now.

[homewithtwinsmama]

Anni is moving to PA first week of February.  If you want to talk to her you need to call now and find out the details of what she is doing.   I don't have any details other than that she is moving.