Care providers!

[weliveintheforest]

So, has anyone started the search for a mw or care provider yet?
I am already worried about this because my options are somewhat limited!

[FiberLover]

I did!

I called the CNMW office that I've been going to for the last 3 yrs. Yes, this is my 1st pregnancy, but I've been seeing them for women's health annual exams for a while, and I love them!

So, my choice was easy. And, if by chance I needed to see an OB/GYN instead of a CNMW, I also have one picked out. I had to see her for a colpapscopy a while back, and she was great too.

Good thing that the new hospital has a birthing center with waterlabour/birth options too.

[mothragirl]

we're interviewing my top choice for MWs on monday! since this will be our last we're paying out of pocket for a homebirth. my last birth was at a free standing birth center and i really wanted to be home, but insurance wouldn't cover it.
why are your options limited?

[kirk_heidi]

Well, I found a CNM at the medical school here. She said that I can probably have everything I want at the county hospital. Everything incudes VBAC, water labor/birth and only intermittent monitoring. We will come up with a birth plan and talk to all the attending OBs and CNMs about it so there is a good likely hood that it will be allowed. Since it is the medical school, I can't be guaranteed the same person who sees me will deliver, it is whoever is on call. There is only 1 private doctor in the city that does VBACs and he doesn't even consider water labor/birth, all the rest of the VBAC docs are at the medical school clinic.

I can't have a homebirth or even a birth center birth because that would cost us out of pocket and my husband is saving up to go to school (he can't get financial aid). HOwever he just informed me tonight that he is planning on getting a vasectomy. I am starting to have some issues with not being able to have a homebirth since this will be my last time. I was ok with it when I figured I might have another chance to do it but now that I know this is my last chance I am feeling pretty bummed, especially if the money that could have paid for my birth center birth is going to get spent on his vasectomy that I don't agree with.

Wow, sorry about that really bad run-on sentence. As I typed about my provider choice all the feelings started to arise. I was fine with my decision until he dropped the bomb on me tonight.

[weliveintheforest]

Thats a pretty big bomb, so it's understandable heidi

Well I said my options are limited, and I guess that's not quite true, because I have options, I just don't like them. There are only 2 mdwives in my town, and I've been at a couple of births with one as a doula, and while I thught she was a very nice lady i am not sure I want her to be my mw... and don't have really high hopes for the other. So I am meeting the other anyway, and if it doesn't go well I am hoping to just hire a doula who is experienced and has taken some midwifery courses to be with me and thats it. It's early but I feel like I have to decide NOW because it is so hard to get in with the midwives!

[kirk_heidi]

Thanks Sheila!

I hope you find someone you like! It is such an important and precious time and we should be comfortable with our provider. The doctor I had with my 3rd yelled at the nurse in front of me because I had refused an epidural. He had his partner break my water and then they left to another hospital to do a c-section! Needless to say that I delivered my baby while he was gone and he was pissed. He said that it was the reason he wanted all of his patients to have epidurals. If I had known that I never would have gone to him! The nurse told him I didn't want it but I guess that wasn't good enough for him. He wanted me to labor all day to make it convenient for him.

With that said, I hope you find the right person so you can have the experience that you want!

[lesliesara63]

My city only has one midwifery practice and I called them last Sunday when I got my BFP. They called back asked some questions and said they would call back this week to let me know if they would be taking me. No call yet. I was only the third person to call for December so it shouldn't be a problem but still. I really just want to know I have an appt. I am already in with an OB since he is my RE but I desperately want to have a homebirth!

[GearGirl]

Wow Heidi, he sounds like a nightmare! I am going to call a random ob near me that my primary care recommended. She has a website and looks like she will be fine. I am moving in June, so for me it really doesn't matter too much because I plan on finding someone I really, really like when we move for the last 5-6 months. I probably wouldn't even bother with finding anyone until then, but after two very early losses I want this monitored a little more closely! My guess is that I will probably luck into finding someone I like and I won't want to leave, but I'll deal with that when I have to. My first ob was absolutely fantastic, and my second was ok, but he wasn't there for the delivery, I ended up with this amazing doctor. If I still lived in Boston I would be begging her to take me on.

[~MoonGypsy~]

I had a dream last night that I went to Ina May and she knew me by name and was so excited that I was pregnant again. Do you think TN is too far from AZ?

I've been doing some research and found two midwives I hadn't heard of when I was preggo in 2005. One is a naturopathic dr/midwife and the other considers herself a homeopathic midwife! I'm so excited to interview with the two of them.

[weliveintheforest]

That is exciting Katie!

[mama_b]

I'm going to see a CNM who was recommended to me here. With my last pg that ended in m/c I was going to see a homebirth midwife and have no ultrasounds, testing, etc. unless medically necessary. But now that I've had a m/c I really want an ultrasound to see the baby and put my mind at ease. Once I know everything's okay I'll probably switch to a homebirth midwife if it's a single baby. But I have an overwhelming feeling that I'm having twins, so if that's the case I'll probably birth in the birthing center in the next town over with the CNM.

[moderngal]

I went to a CNM for my annual a few months ago and talked to her about birthing. I'm going to stick with her- she's local, seems pretty good, and delivers at the hospital I want to deliver at. I'd love to go to a birth center, but there isn't one nearby and since my my last pregnancy was high risk (and I have a complicated medical history) DH and I are not comfortable with a homebirth.

I do want a doula though, too. I have no idea where to even begin looking for one or how soon I'd need to start to interview them. I guess I should get on that.

[GinaRae]

I finally contacted a mw who I will see on April 13th. She's excited to meet me, doesn't mind that I am overweight and it seems like a good fit. Without her, my options for a homebirth are limited. We'll also be finding out if the insurance will pay for any of the homebirth. Hubby won't be happy if we have to pay, but I am committed to a hb and so is he. We'll make it work I hope!

A vasectomy without making that decision together and in the place of a home birth seems cruel and not something a partner should do. I do hope you can change his mind or find some peace. Good luck, Mama, we're here for you!

[kirk_heidi]

Originally Posted by GinaRae

A vasectomy without making that decision together and in the place of a home birth seems cruel and not something a partner should do. I do hope you can change his mind or find some peace. Good luck, Mama, we're here for you!

My husband is usually a very reasonable man so hopefully he will change his mind. I told him how I felt and he said he won't be getting the vasectomy right away. I think he plans on waiting until until the baby is about a year. I am hoping that by then he will be doing really well in nursing school and will reconsider having one more. I decided the best way to deal with it is to wait for awhile and then bring up the idea of waiting to do it until he finishes school. We have talked about permanent birth control measures and he know I am not in agreement but he is saying he is sure he doesn't want any more. I think he may just be afraid of having another one before he finishes school. We will see. I am feeling better now that I know he isn't getting it done with the money that could have gone for a homebirth or birth center birth.

Thanks for the support! :

[weliveintheforest]

Originally Posted by moderngal

I do want a doula though, too. I have no idea where to even begin looking for one or how soon I'd need to start to interview them. I guess I should get on that.

Unless you live in a an area with a big shortage of doulas I would guess you'd be okay! Out of the 7 people so far who have asked me to be their doula, only one was in the first trimester, one was in the second, the rest were in their third

[lesliesara63]

I finally heard back from my midwife practice and they made an appt for April 17! Now to find a doula. The one I had with dd is no longer available, her replacement is a friend of mine who is fabulous. But she has decided after 4 yrs of doula work to go to nursing school & isn't taking any clients. Choice #3 is also a friend of mine just starting out as a doula. Guess what she's unexpectedly due with #3 on Dec 7. So it looks like I'll be interviewing others.

[kirk_heidi]

Originally Posted by lesliesara63

I finally heard back from my midwife practice and they made an appt for April 17! Now to find a doula. The one I had with dd is no longer available, her replacement is a friend of mine who is fabulous. But she has decided after 4 yrs of doula work to go to nursing school & isn't taking any clients. Choice #3 is also a friend of mine just starting out as a doula. Guess what she's unexpectedly due with #3 on Dec 7. So it looks like I'll be interviewing others.

Wow! I hope you find someone you like.

[Sihaya]

Originally Posted by weliveintheforest

So, has anyone started the search for a mw or care provider yet?

I interviewed four midwife practices in March and decided on one the same day we got our BFP. I'm very fortunate to be in an area with a lot of options when it comes to home birth mws (plus a birth center 15 minutes away if we didn't want a hb).

[~MoonGypsy~]

That was quick Steph! Congrats

[Sihaya]

Thanks Katie! I was actually interviewing them in preparation to start TTC in June. I kind of felt silly for being so far ahead of the game. But now I don't feel so silly anymore