Question for those who have had a homebirth with a midwife and/or doula - Page 2

[lachingona1]

Originally Posted by greenthumb3

One question: do you meet with your MW and her assistant at the same appointment or does the assistant have separate appointments or substitute for the MW? This is important to know, too. This can tell you a lot about what kind of care you will get at the moment of labor and birth, too.


Do you have a written agreement between yourself and your MW that you signed when you first hired her services? This may outline what she provides, and may include how she handles her relationship with her assistants. That said, you can always speak up when something doesn't feel right to you, as you are the client and she is providing you services.

Every prenatal appt. I have had, has only been with my MW, except for my last appt where my MW was out of town so it was just the doula/apprentice.(or whatever she is called) That is when she told me that she checks the HR so often during labor. My MW asked me a while ago if it was ok that a student come to my birth, she would just be watching and possibly taking notes. I thought that would be fine but now this so called student did my prenatal appt last week and wants to check heart tones while im in labor. :

I do have an agreement with the MW but it doesn't say anything about her assistants.

Thanks for all the replies!

[Jane]

I have heard of some practices that "sell" the student midwife as a "doula" or "extra pair of hands for labor support" instead of as a midwife. I know I attended my first birth as the camera-person.
It's not an unreasonable protocol to check every 15 minutes, especially if it's just a 5 second check. If she wants to hear the beginning, through, and 1 minute after the contraction, that's a LOT of listening and could be disruptive. I think you should call the midwife. I'd consider you being that worried to be a reason to call or even page-able (daylight hours, though).

[greenthumb3]

Originally Posted by lachingona1

Every prenatal appt. I have had, has only been with my MW, except for my last appt where my MW was out of town so it was just the doula/apprentice.(or whatever she is called) That is when she told me that she checks the HR so often during labor. My MW asked me a while ago if it was ok that a student come to my birth, she would just be watching and possibly taking notes. I thought that would be fine but now this so called student did my prenatal appt last week and wants to check heart tones while im in labor. :

I do have an agreement with the MW but it doesn't say anything about her assistants.

Thanks for all the replies!

Sounds like the apprentice might be overstepping her boundaries with the MW, esp. if the MW said she'd just be there to "take notes". Unless something changed with what the MW has the assistant do and the MW just hasn't "updated you" yet. Oooh, fun, fun for you to be in the middle of this one . Yea, I think I would be irked, too! Good luck.

[HappyMommy2]

If this woman thinks that she is good at her job but "most laboring moms get mad at her" ... then that is just plain ridiculous.

The whole idea is to have a gentle home birth!

If something she is doing makes EVERYONE mad... then ... HEEELLLLLOOOOO???? ... maybe she should rethink it! I would not let this person attend my birth.