Looking for midwife in Tampa

[mamainthemaking]

Hello all!

I am a new member at MDC even though I have been lurking around here for quite a while. My husband and I are planning to start TTC #1 sometime in Spring 2012 and I am hoping to do a bit of research prior to that stage. Specifically, I am hoping to find out about midwives/birthing options in the Tampa area. Here's a breakdown of my research so far...

*Breath of Life

Pros: I was impressed with their facility and the classes that they provide (and require) for both moms and partners. Also, it seems from context clues on their website that the midwives are practicing Christians (my faith tradition). The idea of incorporating Christian spirituality into my birth experience seems like it could be easily facilitated if I chose to go with one of their midwives (but not impossible with other options).

Cons: It's a decent drive from our home in Tampa and they don't do homebirths

*Labor of Love

Pros: They do homebirths and seem to have a long history of working with women in the Tampa area.

Cons: Their website indicates that they have recently dropped one of their birthcenters...is this an indication that they aren't doing well and maybe I should look elsewhere? Also, the website only shows one midwife when it used to list several. What does that mean?

*Independent Homebirth Midwives

Pros: Homebirth!

Cons: I feel like it's kind of a shot in the dark because I don't know anything about them. I would assume that I would need to find an outside provider of birthing classes...?

Any information, guidance or recommendations from those who have BTDT would be welcome. What midwife/provider did you choose and what factors helped you to make that decision?

Thanks!

[FloridaBorn]

Hi there!

I used Labor of Love in Lakeland for the birth of my daughter last year and had a wonderful experience.  I do know that their website is NOT the most up to date, so please don't judge them by that alone.  ALL three Labor of Loves (Lakeland, Lutz, and Dunedin) used to be operated by the same midwife, but now it's just the one in Lakeland and Dunedin.  The Lutz location is independently run.

I don't know where you're at in Tampa, but you also might want to check out Sweet Child O Mine childbirth services in Brandon.  http://www.sweetchildbirth.com

[mamainthemaking]

Thanks so much for the information! It is helpful to know that the Lutz location is now run independently from the original Labor of Love because I thought that it had simply closed down. It looks like it also has a separate website (www.laboroflovetampa.com) which I'll have to check out once I get home from work (silly website blocks...). I've also glanced at Sweet Child O'Mine's website. Do you know anyone who has gone there or who has firsthand experience with them?

Thanks again!

p.s. I grew up in Winter Haven

[FloridaBorn]

I don't know anyone who has birthed with Sweet Child O Mine, but the girl who was the birth assistant at my birth, and who also works at Labor of Love, Charlie of Barefoot Birth (doula) works there!!

[carseatqueen]

I've had two births (one at the center, one at home) with the Midwives at Labor of Love Lutz/Tampa and will be having a third in a few months. I don't have any complaints at all. They have two midwives and I really like them both and another that's more part time/as needed (mw out of town, lots of births, etc)

I have heard that they don't do homebirths for first time moms, but I don't know if that's true since I had a HB for my third so it wasn't an issue and I never asked.

[sambelina]

Are any of you military by chance?  We're ttc and are PCSing the end of the year.  I'm pretty sure we'll be living on base and will want a home birth.  I just don't know how that works.  I guess I can call around when I get pregnant, but since you gals are talking about it....  

[2girlsmommy]

i used Kim at Sweet child of mine for my last birth and I am using her for my current birth. She is awesome! If you have any specific questions I would be glad to answer them.