About natural births north of Boston

[Dalia Grace]

Hi,

I live in Methuen and I'm trying to decide where to birth. I went about 20 pages deep in this forum and read all about your experiences with Cambridge Birth Center, Mount Auburn, Newton Wellesley, and North Shore Birth Center. It's awesome that I could find all of this info on personal experiences and it really helped me a lot. (Thanks!)

However, I noticed that you aren't allowed to post negative reviews here on the board. So this is my request to learn about the ugly side of these places. Please, if you have a moment, PM me and let me know any information that you think is important to know about these places. I think I basically crossed CBC off my list, but I am curious to hear about the MAMAH, NWH, and NSBC.

Also, do you think I'm crazy for looking into hospitals and birth centers that are 40 minutes away when there are so many other hospitals near me? I interviewed nurses at Lawrence, Lowell, and Winchester Hospital but none sounded too experienced with natural birth. I talked to an awesome nurse from Holy Family who had 2 of her babies there and she told me all about her natural birth: no drugs, labored in the tub, intermittent monitoring, no IV required, pushed in different positions, no interventions, etc. It sounded like everything I am looking for. She recommended her OB/midwife team (Dr. Edwards in Salem, NH) and I was seeing them for my prenatal appointments with the hopes of birthing at HF, but then I miscarried. Then, I found out that Holy Family has a 47% CS rate and now I'm afraid to even set foot in there, so I'm hoping to find new providers for my next pregnancy. Am I right to avoid HF, or do you think if I stick with the team of the OB and two midwives I should be okay? The CS rate totally scares me, but the nurse suggested that there might be certain old-fashioned OBs who drive up the CS rate. I was told that, if I go into labor during the week, then I will get one of the two midwives or Dr. Edwards, but if I go into labor on the weekend I may end up with one of the other 2 people from that practice. Is the practice's CS rate more important than the hospital's CS rate?

Thanks in advance. Since I have yet to have a successful pregnancy, any guidance would be appreciated. :)

Katie

[GoestoShow]

Since you're considering hospital/center births in the Boston area, you may also wish to consider Beverly Hospital --- seems like it'd be about as far away as you would already be heading. They have a birth center, too, which seems to be a bit better than CBC.

Avoid Mt. Auburn. It's been over two years since my birth, and I had to recently go back for another procedure. They had screwed up the appointment so completely that I had to take another half day off from work to schlep to the Longwood area for it since they didn't have time for up to two weeks to accomodate me.

I have yet to have an experience where they don't screw something up --- whether the procedure, the appointment time, the orders, getting my chart mixed up with someone else's......

[Dalia Grace]

Thanks, Goestoshow. BH/NSBC is on my list.

Anyone else? I didn't get any PMs. I'd really appreciate some info because I am totally lost when it comes to choosing a birthplace. THANKS!

[witchygrrl]

NSBC--I lived in North Andover and birthed there. I had a short labor (under 5 hours), and the 35 minute ride was well worth it. They have had people come up from the Cape just to birth there, so Methuen won't be a problem, I'm sure.

Check them out!

[Ablemec]

I have had the opposite experience so far at Mt. Auburn.  I'm only 18 weeks in, but I've never had to wait for an appointment or have anything screwed up.

 

Originally Posted by GoestoShow 

Since you're considering hospital/center births in the Boston area, you may also wish to consider Beverly Hospital --- seems like it'd be about as far away as you would already be heading. They have a birth center, too, which seems to be a bit better than CBC.

Avoid Mt. Auburn. It's been over two years since my birth, and I had to recently go back for another procedure. They had screwed up the appointment so completely that I had to take another half day off from work to schlep to the Longwood area for it since they didn't have time for up to two weeks to accomodate me.

I have yet to have an experience where they don't screw something up --- whether the procedure, the appointment time, the orders, getting my chart mixed up with someone else's......

[Maurine]

I am birthing at Newton Wellesley, and I don't mind sharing this tidbit publically...I've done a lot of internet digging and it seems like as long as you are with a midwife, you can totally have the birth you want and they are very supportive of natural birth.  Other than some outlying experiences I've read about, it seems like the worst part is actually post partum.  I've heard that the staff and the rooms aren't that great in that arena.  However, barring complications, they do let you go home after 24 hours.  

[futuremamaheather]

My neighbor had a wonderful hypnobirth at Newton Wellesley with the midwives there. She raves about it to me. If I weren't having a homebirth, I would birth there with the midwives.