Atlanta GA HELP with Home Birth/Midwife!!!

[SJCottone]

I thought I had a great doctor, until this morning when she told me I could have a home birth if I wanted a dead baby.  And she hinted that after a few hours of active labor, they "recommend" epis and pitocin.  I feel like they'd prefer to knock me out for the entire process.

I need a Nurse Midwife OR OBGYN who will support natural childbirth IN Atlanta.  Not the 'burbs, not greater Atlanta.  Actually IN Atlanta.  I am open to hospital births, but I will not have drugs unless, and only if, the baby or I am in danger.  I am more interested in home births, and specifically water births. 

HELP!

Sarah

[thorn]

the ICAN of Atlanta group has lots of provider reviews on the forum - http://www.icanofatlanta.com/board/index.php

Personally my two recs would be Dr. Joseph Tate or Intown Midwifery.  Dr. Tate delivers at Emory Midtown (his office is in Norcross just OTP though) and Intown is at Atlanta Medical Center.

as far as homebirth midwives, there are only a few CPMs in Atlanta who will do hbacs, some people on the ICAN board have used them as well.

[madlibmama]

It's been over two years since I've been in GA, but the ICAN group is very active there and will have references for you.  I drove two and half hours to have a VBAC with Margaret Strickhauser (awesome midwife, mediocre hospital birth) since VBACs weren't an option in my town.  I know she left the practice/hospital that I delivered at, but is still likely easy to find through ICAN.  Dr Tate is the other big name you'll hear, likely the only OB name you'll hear... excellent at getting VBACs, supports natural birth, but is more hands on than I was comfortable with.  Good luck!

[SJCottone]

OK, I'm a spaz and I put VBAC in the original title.  This is my first baby, and I meant to put something about natural childbirth.  Sorry, I've been reading too many threads today.

Thanks for the info ladies.  I'm looking into it all!

[thorn]

well, my hospital recommendations stay the same as a non-vbac, but that opens up a lot more homebirth midwives.  :)

[lisastrickland]

Margaret Strickhouser is at Intown Midwifery. She delivers at Atlanta Medical Center. REALLY busy practice, sometimes you have a 2-3 hour wait in the waiting room, but SO worth it. I used them for my last pregnancy, and I am currently using them now. There are 3 midwives in the practice, and they are all three awesome ladies. Natural birth focused, wont push anything on you that you do not want.

Homebirth wise, no clue on that one...

[lisastrickland]

oh meant to say- atlanta medical and intown midwifery do water births in hospital. seriously, check them out. they are the best for natural hospital births in the area.

[SJCottone]

Thank you, I'm planning on attending the Meet & Greet at AMC next month.  (although the long waits scare me, unless they do nights/weekends?)

[lisastrickland]

honestly, my last appointment was the longest wait at 2 hours and they were VERY busy that morning... most of the time it is much shorter. you have to realize there are 3 of them in the practice, so they are not all at the office at the same time, and they are midwives, they spend as much time with you as you need, so it takes a little longer. right now they only have office hours 3 days a week, but i believe since they just moved offices, they are looking to add more hours/days, so that should help a ton too.

[KittyKat]

I highly recommend Margaret.

I drove over an hour one way to see her for my youngest child's birth. She's closer now, but I'd drive even further to get care with her. She's a very calming, kind person, or always has been when I've seen her.  I've met one of the other midwives in her group, Amy, and she's been great. Very hands-off about things I prefer hands-off. Very gentle, and I definitely feel comfortable with her, even though medicalized settings tend to make me uneasy and stressed.

Waterbirth is wonderful, and if you aren't finding a good option for a homebirth, Intown Midwifery is what I would consider the next best thing.

[TashiMomo]

Hi Sarah!  I am a first-timer, too, and I also want to have a home waterbirth.  I am meeting with a midwife and her team this week for the first time, but we've had several conversations already and she's super responsive and comes highly recommended (http://www.newlifemidwiferycare.com/).  

I also plan on going to the Intown Midwifery Meet & Greet, because I'd like to be established with a hospital delivery team just in case that's needed - several friends I know have delivered with Margaret and I was at one of the those births - it was a waterbirth, too, and it was just awesome.  So either way you go, I think you can definitely find a great midwife who supports your decisions!

[BarefootBetsy]

You might also want to check out the Georgia Birth Network group. They always have events happening and would be able to get you the resources you need as well. They have a Facebook page.

[BabyMama11]

I know you said not in the 'burbs, but I plan on having a waterbirth with Gifts from Grace which is up in the Alpharetta area.  i feel they really support natural birth.  When I first went to them  I was thinking about homebirth and even though they don't do them, they told me they don't mind doing back up care with your homebirth midwife.  I think you just have to pay like a back up fee to them in case anything happens. 

[DomerJen]

Originally Posted by TashiMomo 

Hi Sarah!  I am a first-timer, too, and I also want to have a home waterbirth.  I am meeting with a midwife and her team this week for the first time, but we've had several conversations already and she's super responsive and comes highly recommended (http://www.newlifemidwiferycare.com/).  

I also plan on going to the Intown Midwifery Meet & Greet, because I'd like to be established with a hospital delivery team just in case that's needed - several friends I know have delivered with Margaret and I was at one of the those births - it was a waterbirth, too, and it was just awesome.  So either way you go, I think you can definitely find a great midwife who supports your decisions!

Charlotte did my first HB and will do my 2nd as well, as long as my pregnancy remains low risk.  I went to Margaret when she was up at ISIS and they were my "shadow care" (though they were unaware of my HB plans).  Charlotte currently is up in Alpharetta, so your prenatal visits would not be in town (though she told me she might move closer to or in town this year).  I don't know of any HB mw's that live in town, though of course they will come to your location for the birth.

[BrendaParrish]

I am a homebirth midwife in the city of Atlanta.  I'm on the north side, inside the perimeter.  16 years experience.  I'd be happy to talk to you.  My website is: http://traditionalbirthservices.com

Brenda Parrish,

DEM, CLC, CCCE

[ruskintl]

I was with Intown until I decided to go for a home birth instead. I ended up with Birthing Way.  www.birthingway.com  Absolutely love those ladies!  Their office is in Marietta so its a little drive from downtown Atlanta.  We live in Grant Park and I made it there usually in 25 minutes.  They only take on a small number of clients so there is virtually no wait and they really take time to get to know you. 

[Shellwege]

For hospital birth, I'd recommend Intown Midwifery. If you are considering home birth, I'd highly recommend Natalie Whitworth that trained with Intown, and has opened her own practice, Southeastern Midwifery. http://southeasternmidwifery.com/Southeastern_Midwifery/Welcome.html