South Jersey / Philadelphia resources for preganancy & birth?

[AnastasiaM]

Hello,

I have just started looking around here, as I have recently had a positive home-test, which is exciting, overwhelming, and a little bit scary.  (If correct, I would be due at the end of March.)  I am 27, this is my first pregnancy, and I am new to the area (Cherry Hill / Voorhees are the two big towns we are near), having grown up in SoutheastPA, and moved here after getting married this spring.  I am very familiar with Philadelphia, but I am not sure if it is a good idea to have a bridge (and sometimes major traffic) between myself and my prenatal/birth care facilities!  Although, I am a bit torn on that, because I know that there are great resources there. . . We are only about 10 miles from the city, but if you live here, you know the time it takes to cover those 10 miles can vary greatly!

I do not even have a regular doctor in the area yet, although I do have health insurance (KeystoneEast).  I am finding it a bit overwhelming to pick out medical providers, especially because I have a fear of doctors, medicine, and hospitals (although  I like going to the dentist, oddly).  I also tend to lean more towards natural or wholistic health care, and prefer to avoid medication when possible. 

I am wondering if anyone here has recommendations for doctors, ob-gyns, midwives, birthing centers, etc., in the area?  (This could include Philly).  Or, any other resources (groups, institutions, classes, meetings, etc.) that might be helpful for pregnancy and birth?

Thank you so much!!

[Nazsmum]

You could look for a La League League (LLL) meeting in your area or even a Holistic mom's group they would be a great place to meet moms and get information.

[AnkaJones]

If you're low risk, Bryn Mawr Birth Center is AWESOME -- feel free to PM me if you want to hear about my experience with them.  I can't say enough about how wonderful they are.

Anka

[amymaew]

There's homebirth midwives in the area, too  :)

[klk197]

Here is an awesome resource that may be up your alley: http://www.choicesinchildbirth.org/

and a pdf of their most recent brochure, Guide to a Healthy Birth Philadelphia 2011/2012: http://www.choicesinchildbirth.org/resources/CIC_2011_Philadelphia_BirthGuide_WebMech_01_hires.pdf

[SpottedFoxx]

While I don't have resources to offer, I did want to warn again the new Virtua.  While they were once known as a good place to have babies, a good friend of mine gave birth to her 5th baby there in June and was asked to stop yelling   Yeah, they don't exactly have the right attitude towards birthing.  She explained that she was doing this naturally and if she needed to scream then she was going to scream - they then tried to push her to do an epidural.    Reason 5,322,353 my medical alert bracelet states "unless death is imminent, do not take to Virtua".  

[AnastasiaM]

Thank you all so much!  Nazsmum, I will definitely check those out, I'm a big fan of LLL.  (Well, from the point of view of someone who has never had a child!)  Ankajones -- I wish I was closer to Bryn Mawr! I'm afraid it would take well over an hour to get there, but I was actually born in nearby BalaCynwyd.   Amymaew -- Thanks, I am definitely thinking a midwife at a birth center or hospital might be a good option for us.  My husband is very concerned about complications, and will definitely want a good back-up option for extra help, should we need it.  (I don't know how concerned I am, yet; I know that I & one of my brothers were born with the cord wrapped around our necks.  I don't know if that means I will have to worry about that for my babies?)  Klk197, those are terrific resources, thank you so much!!  And SpottedFoxx -- funny, I was looking into the Virtua clinics for a first appointment, so that's a big help to know to beware of them!  Where I am, EVERYTHING is virtua, its weird, like this huge empire. . .  (because hospitals aren't like that in Southeastern PA where I grew up). 

I think we decided to put off going to a doctor until after we go away camping next week -- nothing seems to be happening, other than me being queasy and never getting my period.  Just started taking a prenatal vitamin.  When I make an appointment, should my first appointment be with a regular doctor, or an ob-gyn? If you go with a midwife, do you not ever have to go to an ob-gyn? 

[SpottedFoxx]

I grew up in Philly and live in Cherry Hill and I hate hate virtua.  If I were able to get pregnant, I'd risk crossing the bridge to have a baby.  NJ hospitals/docs are just not worth it IMHO.  Heck, our pediatrician is in West Philly!  Fortunately, our son is quite healthy so I typically take 1 day off a year for a well visit so it's no big deal.

[HippieIncognito]

Hey! Even though the BM  birth center is over an hour away, labor is long and if you really want to you could definitely pull that off. I am currently a client at the Birth center and I am about 45 minutes away. They noted that they have clients from NJ who are over an hour so I know it's possible! Probably a bit inconvenient though since you would have to drive there for all of your appointments. If you think there is a chance you would want to birth there you have to call right away. They fill up very fast and there is a long waiting list. I am actually looking into having a homebirth instead so a January date might be freeing up soon :) 

Even though it sounds scary, usually umbilical cords wrapped around a baby's neck are not serious and they can easily be pulled over the baby's head without complication so don't worry about that. It's also not more likely to happen to your baby. Every birth is unique.

Lastly, if you see a midwife, you are right that you would not need to see an OB. The midwife will take care of everything and give you referral for when/if you want an ultrasound.

Hope this helps! I am a birth doula in Philadelphia and pregnancy buddy so I am happy to talk with you or try to answer any questions you might have.