HELP!! looking for OB/midwife/Birthing center in Va Beach/ TRICARE network

[candeluchita]

So I'm 5 weeks and 5 days pregnant. My husband is in the Navy and my pregnancy thank God seems to be a low risk one. After my first trip to the ER due to cramps (that are normal) I realized that I don't like military hospitals and I had read awful things about them.

My husband and I want a natural birth with no pain medication or induction meds either. Here is the issue, we don't know anyone here in Virginia Beach that could recommend us an OB or midwife (better if at birth center) that works with Tricare prime. 

I really would like to have a voice in my labor and delivery and I know that will not be the case if I give birth at a Military Hospital in the area. 

Thank you so so so so so much! 

Candy 

[Jenga]

Congratulations!

I have a friend down there who just switched late in her pregnancy to Bon Secours.They're even intact friendly.

You need to switch to Standard, but Standard covers almost everything. I don't think you will be able to get seen off base with Prime unless you have a referral and Portsmouth isn't likely to give you one. I couldn't get one here at Bethesda even considering that they're double and triple booked for OBs!

I don't know if there are many birth centers around, but I recommend doing it now because I know my friend called a couple and they wouldn't take her early in the 3rd Trimester. 

If you go to your Tricare office, they can give you a list of OBs and Midwives (maybe even at birth centers, which Standard does cover) who take Standard and you can call all of them before you switch. I went to mine and explained that I didn't want to birth at Bethesda, and the woman completely understood and told me she didn't know why anyone would birth there if they had the choice. Standard will leave you with almost no costs, in the end, if you choose a network OB or midwife. 

I don't think you'll be able to do it on Prime though, because that will involve a referral and getting an OB at the MTF to agree that you need to be seen off base. 

Good luck!

[sunnygal27]

I agree with the previous poster. You are going to have to switch to standard in order to get out of the military facility.  I recommend doing that. Then head over to Bon Secours DePaul.  They have a midwifery center in the hospital that is amazing.  We are military and I had my son there.  The midwives are amazing and I had a great birth experience. Natural. Also I highly recommend checking out birthinsightva.com, it is a birthing class. It was life changing for me.  If you do birth at the midwifery center they require you to take a class with birthinsight or someone else. If you have any questions, just shoot me a message. Good luck!

[MilitaryDoula]

Standard is the way to go. Also, check out Birth Matters Peninsula. They are on facebook and the members are other natural mamas and professionals who support natural birth. Congratulations on your baby!

Marie