Non-Christians: Would You Use a Very Christian Practice?

[revolting]

I'd describe myself as a  fairly observant Pagan, with some Christian leanings. I definitely keep some Pagan music in my ipod shuffle, have goddess statues, tarot cards, and Pagan books lying around my house. We don't have a whole lot of legal home birth options here. The closest home birth midwifery practice is very, very Christian, with a Christian-inspired name, Biblical verses all over the website, etc... I'm worried about it being super uncomfortable. Anyone been in this situation? Did it turn out well?

[Nazsmum]

I know that this not the question that you are asking but...I was the reverse. With my first I'm christian and used a pagan doula.

It turned out well. I had a natural birth and we respected each. I know that it different with a midwife...but I would do what is best and the midwife that you feel is right for you. Do you feel this the right person for you outside of the midwife being christian?

I hope that helps a little

[glassesgirlnj]

I'm a Vodouisant, which means I kinda move between the Catholic and pagan communities. :)

One of my top two doula choices was an evangelical Protestant Christian. The only reason we didn't pick her was that she had just moved to my state recently, so she didn't have many local references to check. (The doula we ultimately chose was Jewish, but I don't recall us discussing religion AT ALL during the labor... and she had no problem with, frex, my hanging up saints' icons in the L&D room.)

I would ask your prospective midwife about experiences she's had caring for patients of different faith backgrounds. If she can't answer that question - if she's NEVER had a patient who wasn't a devout Christian - that might be a sign you should keep looking. But you might be pleasantly surprised!

[homebirthing]

I am a Christian midwife and I LOVE working with families from all different faith backgrounds. While it is always nice to work with Christian families, my most favorite women/births I have ever been to have been with Muslim families. Amazing women. 

[Aradia88]

I am a wiccan and would never go to a christian or catholic birth center or use a very conservative christian midwife.
 

[alaskanmomma]

I had my first born in a Catholic hospital, my 2nd with atheists at a birth center, and my 3rd will be at home with a Mormon midwife. Really as long as they don't push religious beliefs on -me-, idc what religion they are or if they are open about it.

[MidwifeErika]

It never dawned on me to even ask the religion of any of the midwives I hired. I wanted to know about their education/training/experience and also just see how they treated me as a person. I understand that in your case the information is right out there on the website, but why not just meet up and see how the relationship flows? I have worked with some pretty strongly Christian midwives before, but they use their faith as a way to remind them of how to treat others and they actually do no preaching to families. Of course, I know it can go the other way too!

As a midwife, I have been passed over before for not being of the same religious beliefs, so I know it happens, but always just feels a little weird to me. Especially because I am not the sort of person to try to convert anyone to anything and am pretty good at being respectful of beliefs (I am a UUer, it is what we do). 

[velveeta]

I think what matters more is whether the MW is respectful of others' beliefs. My MW is strongly Christian, and I am strongly not. She is incredibly respectful of my beliefs and language about being open to the Universe, etc.

The verbiage on the website would not appeal to me, as I think of it as "too pushy". That's just how I perceive it.

[prettysymmetry]

Yes as long as they didn't try to push their views onnme. Id also stay mum about mine.

[bethandanna]

For me, it would come down to how they are as a person. Do you feel their beliefs come through int heir practice and patient care?  If you click with her, i think that could be a great relationship!

[phathui5]

I would talk to her and see how we click.