Can anyone recommend a midwife in Alpharetta/Roswell?

[jk13]

I'm fairly new to the Alpharetta area and just got a positive at home test ...now looking for a midwife to do a delivery at North Fulton. Considering a water birth. This will be my second child. I used a midwife for the birth of my first, but it was in Athens, so I am completely lost as to who's "good" in this area. (I've read good things about Gifts from Grace and highly mixed reviews of Alpharetta Womens Specialists.) Any help would be greatly appreciated. Also, any opinions about the pros/cons between a natural birth and a water birth would be great too! Thank You!

[3littlelambs]

I had a waterbirth with Diane (Gifts from Grace) in Mar09 and a natural birth with Janet (AWS) in Feb11. I would have had a waterbirth the 2nd time as well, but the baby came faster than they could fill up the tub. Having had both, delivering in the water was much much nicer, though I did have back labor the entire time for my 2nd, so I'm sure that contributed to the additional discomfort. The water is very relaxing and I think helped a lot with the pushing. Honestly, I can't say there was any pain. All I remember was pressure. One negative--I fainted after getting out of the tub--possibly due to too much blood loss after delivering the placenta in the tub mixed with the different temp of the water vs.room. (I wasn't planning to do that the 2nd time b/c of that experience). 

I absolutely love Janet. I think she is an excellent midwife and so supportive of natural birth. Honestly, the only thing she did was catch the baby. My DH and I labored alone the entire time (mostly in the shower) and neither Janet nor any of the nurses intervened any more than necessary. I also really respect Diane. She is a different personality than Janet (not so laid back) but known for her wonderful bedside manner. She was a strong advocate for me to get to use the tub when I arrived at the hospital at 9 cm. and throughout the whole birth. I think she just may tend to go to interventions a bit quicker if in a stressful situation, if that makes sense? Still, I don't think you could go wrong with either, and N. F is so supportive of natural birth. 

[jk13]

Thanks for the info! If there's anything not appropriate to post on here about them, please PM me. I am getting ready to set up my first appointment and am still on the fence. I did end up having an epidural with my first (not what we had planned on) and want to be supported in my decision either way this time. Does anyone know if North Fulton does a "light/walking" epidural? I had a terrible time with the "full" epi I had with my first and would like to be able to move around if I end up having something...and narcotics are a definite no for me.