Any opinions on Sheila Roth / Kim Anderson / Katie Lorand (Kansas City)?

[nabarve]

Hi,

I am new to this forum and am looking into my options in Kansas City.

 

I heard about a practice called Midwest Midwifery at Research Medical Center, Kansas City which has 3 midwives:

 

Sheila Roth

Kim Anderson

Katie Lorand

 

This is their link, FYI: http://www.mymidwestphysician.com/CustomPage.asp?guidCustomContentID={1BB85E5A-3D77-476B-842D-412B241BEA87}

 

If anyone here has any good/bad experiences with them, I would really appreciate hearing them!

 

Thanks!

 

[EgyptianHippy]

Hi nabarve,

I can't offer experience other than the prenatal care I've been receiving since about 22 weeks, when I switched my care from an OB practice.

I've met all three midwives, and they are all very comfortable to be around, I especially like Sheila and Kim. Katie seems very knowledgable but not quite a people person, if you know what I mean? However, I was comfortable with her even so, because she didn't shy away from any questions or anything. I don't really know quite how to describe it, it was almost like she didn't feel comfortable with eye contact but that was the only thing that I picked up on, everything else seemed confidence inspiring so I didn't have a problem.

I am pleased because I had a bunch of concerns about birthing with the OB practice I was seeing, and routine interventions along with labor positions, post-birth procedures with the baby, etc. A birth plan is standard for each client seeing the midwives at Midwest Midwifery, in fact I'm finishing mine up this week. It is essentially a document that describes the midwife's typical care, and offers you a chance to voice your choices on things like coached pushing vs letting the mother push according to need, if you'll want to nurse right away, have the baby's checks done bedside, etc.

This is my first pregnancy, and I've felt very comfortable with my decision to birth with the midwifes at Midwest Midwifery. I had seen Sheila Roth recommended in lots of locations on the internet and that's when I checked into their practice.

A place I might consider for my next birth is "Sage Femme" birthing center in Kansas City, KS. My husband was not comfortable with the idea of not being in a hospital, although I would opt for a home birth if possible, so we were able to find what we both wanted by going with Midwest Midwifery.

[EgyptianHippy]

A couple more notes...

On the labor positions, when I spoke to Sheila on the phone before switching, I had a bunch of concerns. I asked about IVs (not routine) and labor positions, and her answer on the positions was basically...whatever I wanted to do/felt comfortable with. I didn't ask the majority of my questions I had written out for her (about a page long haha) because after the major points it was clear things were done differently in their practice.

On the first visit I received a sheet with teas and essential oils that were good during pregnancy, which was nice because I like that there is some understanding of alternative/natural care during pregnancy. I asked Sheila about their L&D nurses, and if they are accustomed to the natural birth methods...if I remember right she said they have their own L&D nurses, separate from the doctor's, which made me very comfortable.

Also, on the note of the hospital, I know someone who worked as an EMT for Children's Mercy. She saw how area hospitals handled emergency situations with newborns, and she was able to provide very good information about her experience with hospital staff in emergency situations (since she saw LOTS of emergency situations of course). She said that Research Medical is the hospital that was preferred to birth at by the EMTs she worked with, and their NICU is the highest level it gets before going to Children's Mercy. She said Research Medical was always very calm and collected in handling emergencies. Not to mention, it's a wonderful hospital, if you do end up needing the care of an OB or the NICU (heaven forbid).

I hope this all helps.

[nabarve]

Hi EgyptianHippy,

Thanks for your reply. That does help a lot. This is my first as well, and I am looking into that group for the same reason as you did (husband not comfortable with out of hospital birth). Maybe I will consider home birth next time around if this one goes well.

I would be interested in knowing how your birth experience was, after your baby arrives.

Best wishes to your family and thanks again!

[EgyptianHippy]

I'll make myself a little reminder to post here :) I'm due August 3rd so not too long to go!!

[EgyptianHippy]

I just wanted to update that I had my son on August 15th, at Research Medical. I was very pleased with the process at Research Medical and am happy with my birth. Kim was the midwife on call when I went into labor. The nurses are mostly used to the way things are done with the midwife group, although I could tell that the natural way made a couple of them nervous, they didn't in any way interfere. For example one nurse commented that she doesn't like when the midwife's patients are laboring on the toilet (I assume she's afraid the baby will fall in lol). When you're a midwife patient I believe they assign more natural birth friendly nurses to you. Kim was there often to check on things and was with me through a good portion of my labor...before and during the pushing phase.

One complaint I have was that in the postpartum room, the night nurse I had was not too helpful with nursing. I felt I knew better than her (she recommended shoving my little one's head in and holding it so he couldn't get away). When she left the room to get sugar water (against our wishes, I wouldn't have let her use it when she returned), my son latched fine and started nursing lol.\

My son is almost 8 weeks old now so it took me awhile to get back here :) Did you decide to go to the midwives for your care? How is it going? When are you due?

[EgyptianHippy]

p.s. In my first response, I had Kim and Katie mixed around.

Katie is very much a people person, it was Kim that I was talking about that seemed distracted the first time I met her.

I do however have a different opinion now. Perhaps the first time I met Kim she was just really busy. I was very happy with the care she gave me. I would prefer someone who was a little more vocal about what was going on. I don't remember if we discussed the anterior lip I had on my cervix before she helped stretch it around my LO's head. By that time, I was not really present.  In hindsight I would have liked to wait out the lip a little longer...I had a labor position in my back pocket to help get rid of it, but didn't really realize what was going on. However, she was really great with supporting me and believing me when I was concerned because I had a slow leak in my water (the nurse didn't believe me lol).

I think the few things I would change about my labor would have been helped by having a doula there to provide suggestions.

[nabarve]

Yes I am going to the midwives for my care and been happy so far. I like all 3 of them. They have been very open-minded and supportive. I like the idea of a birth plan for all clients. Am due late Dec, eagerly waiting for it :)

Thanks again!