Worth looking for a backup up OB for my Twin Cities homebirth?

[lilkat]

Hey, all. I'm pregnant with my second and looking for some advice.

With my first I was planning a home birth, but ended up at Woodwinds when I developed pre-e at 38 weeks. I got all my pre-natal care from my DE midwife, so when I got sick I didn't have a pre-existing relationship with an OB and I just got whoever was on call. The nurses at Woodwinds were great, but the OBs I saw (all four during my 3 day labor) were indifferent at best and preachy at worst.

This time I'm planning a home birth again, but considering parallel care in order to establish a relationship with a practice, in case I need to go in again for something. I just don't know where to begin. I got kind of burned last time: my GP told me that she would be my back-up, but when my blood pressure went up she freaked out and lectured me then sent me to Woodwinds. Also, one of the big reasons I'm planning a hb is because I plan to decline a lot of the standard testing, and I don't like the idea of spending a ton of time/energy/money on prenatal appointments where I only see the OB for 6 minutes. But it'd be nice to have some support and sympathy if I do need to transfer.

So, what do you all think? What have you homebirthing mamas done in the past? Is shadow care worth it? If I decide to start seeing an OB now (I'm almost 10 weeks), who would be most supportive? Any recommendations for OBs or practices (in the Twin Cities) would be appreciated...

TIA!

[azurite]

When Kim Garret was my midwife (DearBorn) she had a back up doc named Lourdes (not sure of last name as we were on first name basis) she was awesome and trusted midwife entirely...I would suggest getting ahold of Kim and asking about Dr. Lourdes. She was a Doc at a Women's Clinic off Lake St (I think she primarily helped Latinas). I ended up at St. Joes so used Lourdes and Kim and really Lourdes respected her role as back up to the midwife...no ego involved.

[lindsayjean]

Dr Hartung?  He's in Hudson, but is amazing.  I believe he has hospital privileges at other Twin Cities hospitals.

[cc_mama]

Definitely recommend Dr Hartung. We tranferred to him - drove over an hour in rush hour traffic after 24+ hours in labor. My midwife was treated as part of the time - no pressure on interventions (except one night nurse). Other nurses wanted to learn from my midwife.... I was 42+5 and a VBAC so any other dr or hospital it probably would've ended up in a repeat c-section.