Quote:
Originally Posted by
Greenlea 
Boomer78 - I am going with Oak Park Midwives. I will see them twice in River Forest, then mid Dec they will have an office in Elmhurst near the hospital, so I'll start going to Elmhurst for pre-natal. She said they will do intermittent fetal monitoring during labor AFTER a 20 minute monitoring session once you are admitted. That is one thing that WILL bother me. I had the same thing when I had an all natural birth with my DS1 at Rush Copley in Aurora. Intermittent to them meant every 1/2 hour! I was getting so annoyed with this nurse and her doppler while I'm standing in the shower having a contraction. My DH eventually talked to her and got her to move it to every 45 minutes but it is what it is and Mary at Oak Park Midwifes said its not something she's going to fight about with the hospital - that there's other bigger things to her than intermittent monitoring. So I guess I'll have to live with it.
But OPM I believe are very much FOR natural birth, birthing in any position you want (Elmhurst has 2 free standing birth tubs and they can bring in a portable birthing pool if you happen to be in a room without a tub). But they are still "medical" for lack of a better word. At my 1st appt they ran the gamut on me with tests (HIV, STD, pap, breast exam, urine, etc). But most any midwife who delivers at a hospital is going to be.
Greenlea - thanks. When is your DD?
I has scheduled an appointment with them as well, for next month. I just have to get the copy of my medical records to them now (never done that before).
I only asked a few questions, mostly about the things that bothered me at the current practice and they seem to be OK with the alternatives so far.
As far as monitoring during labor, the mdwife I spoke with told me they absolutely will do an initial strip (with the doppler) for about 20-25 min. - and - if I remember correctly (not so sure now...?) she said if that one is OK then they will do one every hour. But you know, I was really excited they take my insurance and are willing to take me as a patient when I would like to do some things differently I wasn't asking details about labor... I did think, though, that they have more room for their own rules and suggestions, I didn't realize they have to follow the hospital's orders???
Water labor sounds great and I'm kind of excited about that!
I believe the HIV test is mandatory (if you deliver at a hospital), pap smear/breast exam surely aren't (I was able to refuse the pap, and wasn't comfortable with the pelvic/breast exam but was thrown too much out of my element to decline that as well) and I think urine is a must everywhere else, too. I didn't have the STD test done, the midwife simply asked about our relationship with DH and since it was negative when done during previous pregnancy, she didn't insist on one. Hm...I wonder if the Oak Park midwives will want it done?
I have a feeling the other two practices that deliver at Hinsdale (OMG and I forgot the other one) will probably have very similar rules, because they also deliver at a hospital and have an OB on staff.
I'm planning on gettin to the hospital somewhat later (hopefully things will go smoothly and pain will be tolerable - I can dream, right?) - even with more natural minded midwives, because of the hospital rules, but that is just a plan and plans don't always work out.
I actually completely forgot to ask about their IV procedure... Did you happen to ask? That's one thing that would really bug me. I don't want the fluids or be strapped to anything like that.
DoulaSam might know the answer - do you have any personal experience with the routine use of IVs at Elmhurst or Hinsdale hospitals? Is that something the hospital mandates, or can a midwife over ride this? What could happen if I say 'no thank you' (unless there is an emergency of course)?
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