Tell me about Kathy Kleinert (good or bad)

[kakies]

I am looking for a midwife who will attend my vba3c. I was referred to Kathy Kleinert and we spoke over the phone. It would be much easier if I could meet her in person but I live outside of the US and have to choose my midwife through phone conversations the comments other moms can offer me.

I would like to know more about her from people who have met her face to face. What kind of a midwife is she? Did you have a good experience or a bad one? Why did you choose/not choose her?

Tell me anything you can about her. I need to get a complete "picture" of what she's like. Laid back or by the book? Daring or stays on the safe side? Non-medicalized, semi-medicalized or medicalized?

What about her personality. How does she react if a client disagrees with her on something?

Please keep in mind that I am having a vba3c, finding the "right midwife" is crucial to my success.

Any info would be great. Thanks.





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::::Update, Update, Update: Please read the post #16 for the update. Here is the HBA3Cvideo: http://www.onetruemedia.com/otm_site...m_medium=email

[tnrsmom]

Would you be interested in hearing about other midwives in the area as well? Where will you be delivering?

[SMR]

I have not met her, but she is now my daughters primary doctor. A friend of mine LOVES her! She sounds really amazing.. like an old time doc type - she even makes house calls.. I do know that she decided to go back to midwifery after the hospital she was delivering at as a doctor told her that she wasn't doing enough cesareans! So sounds like she's great! Good luck finding the perfect midwife!!

[ebony_vbac]

i knew she was a doctor, didnt know she was a midwife, but i'm pretty sure she attended a vba4c last year, you know 99.9999999 percent of docs wont do that, some midwives wont even do that so i think she's great although i never met her

[kakies]

Sure other midwives can be added to my list. As long as they have experience in vba3c or more?

I want to deliver at home, meaning that I could travel and have a homebirth in whatever state I end up in. Of course it wouldn't really be my home. It would be a rented home, but deffinately out of the hospital.

Unless the midwife can travel to me and it would be a "real" homebirth.

OR- a birthing center would do just fine.

[Shanana]

I am using Stacia Proefrock (Defenstrator here on MDC), and I can't say enough great things about her. She is out of Ann Arbor, but covers much of the SE Michigan area, I believe.

She is incredibly hand's off, non-medical, and has an enormous amount of trust in a woman's body. I am not sure if she has experience with VBA3C, though ... you would have to talk to her about that. We have talked extensively about my philosophy regarding birth, and she is very respectful and understanding of my thoughts and wishes. I really like that she is very cognizant of the baby's birth experience as well -- this is very important to me since my dd suffered birth trauma. Another thing I like is that she gives lots and lots of reasons for why she feels the way she does about things, including examples from previous births she has attended, and it's obvious she is highly educated and does lots of research. I don't ever feel like I'm being dictated to.

Highly recommended .

[haleyelianasmom]

I was contacting some midwives last year, just to get an idea of what was out there. She was one of the ones I contacted. I only talked to her via email, but I was a bit disappointed because she made the claim that if I was vegan through a pregnancy, my baby would be born early. I asked if this was based on some research or studies and she said no, just personal observation. I guess I found that a bit odd. If I hear a claim like that, I personally want the research to back it up and the reason WHY (like is it cause by too little fat? too much soy? not enough protein? low levels of a given mineral?)

However, I DO think it is very cool that someone in the medical field is willing to attend homebirths and do house calls like that, so I have to give her a lot of credit there. Let us know what you find out

[Sally Jones]

Hi, I am coming into this discussion late.

Do you still want input on Dr. Kathy? I have personal experience that I can share, if you wish.

[KestrelDream]

Originally Posted by Sally Jones

Hi, I am coming into this discussion late.

Do you still want input on Dr. Kathy? I have personal experience that I can share, if you wish.

I would like to hear! I started a thread about her too awhile back....so more info would be great!!

[kakies]

Hello. Thanks for the comments you ladies have left about Kathy Kleinert. They have been very helpful. I haven't been on MDC for a while but I would appreciate it if anyone else shared their info with me.

Sally- what was your experience with Kathy like? I am really interested in knowing.

[ColleenM]

I had a C-sec with #1, and although I had a hospital vbac with #2, my dh was nervous about a homebirth with #3. We met with Dr. Kleinert and dh & I were completely at ease with her. She was very easy going even when I was completely off with my dates since I was going by my lmp and didn't get an ultrasound. (and I was off by 4 weeks!! ) I found her to be very knowledgable. The only thing that I was not thrilled with was the postcare, but from what I understand, that can be a problem with other midwives as well.

[kakies]

ColleenM- Why did your dh feel at ease with Kathy? Is it because she is "DR." Kathy or do you think he would feel the same if she were a regular midwife?

How was she during labor and delivery? Did she work like a doctor or like a midwife with you?

[ColleenM]

Originally Posted by kakies

ColleenM- Why did your dh feel at ease with Kathy? Is it because she is "DR." Kathy or do you think he would feel the same if she were a regular midwife?

How was she during labor and delivery? Did she work like a doctor or like a midwife with you?

DH liked how much experience she had, how she was relaxed and confident and the fact she was a doctor. I don't know if he would have felt the same way about her if she weren't a dr, but I know her many years of experience was a huge factor.

As for the labor, we chatted, joked, watched tv. I couldn't imagine doing that with either of my previous OBs.
My delivery was extremely easy, so I didn't feel like she was all business. Honestly, if I had to choose, she may have been more doctor than midwife, but it was what we needed at the time. I am not a overly touchy-feely person, so maybe she was reading my cues. Hope that helps.

[kakies]

Originally Posted by ColleenM

My delivery was extremely easy, so I didn't feel like she was all business. Honestly, if I had to choose, she may have been more doctor than midwife, but it was what we needed at the time. I am not a overly touchy-feely person, so maybe she was reading my cues. Hope that helps.

I don't know if I clearly understand what you ment by this. When you said that she was more doctor than midwife... I asume that she tends to be not as warm and friendly as a midwife would be, right? Or, did she also feel more medicalized and/or more wanting to intervene than a midwife?

[Sally Jones]

Hi. I am sorry that it took me so long to get back here.

I use Dr. Kathy as our family doctor. I am very pleased with her more "natural" approach than a typical doctor. She has a very soothing and relaxed demeanor.

I use a midwife for my homebirths, not Dr. Kathy. If anything, I am prejudiced AGAINST doctors at births. I am very pro lay-midwife, because I believe that even the best of person is tainted by their medical training.

However, that being said, a very good friend of mine uses Dr. Kathy and she is very happy with her. I was at her home for her births (not in the room), and from what I know, I have only good to say about her. I do believe that she is quicker to intervene than my midwife, but not in a way that alarms me.

I have used my midwife for 15 years, and I did not know Dr. Kathy when I started my journey. If, for some reason, my midwife was no longer available and I was having another child, Dr. Kathy would be one of my choices. I don't know for sure that I would chose her, because I might choose one of the other midwives that I know. However, I might. And she is definitely not ruled out. And that is coming from someone who is anti-doctor at birth, so that is quite a compliment.

In summation, in my opinion, Dr. Kathy is a wonderful Christian woman who remains strongly committed to common sense, despite her medical training.

[kakies]

I'm back after all these months to let you all know how thankful I am for your replies. This thread was very helpful to me when I was trying to decide on a midwife.

We finally chose Kathy and she was able to come over to Puerto Rico for my HBA3C last month. We are very happy with the results and we would like to share our special story with you.:

Here's the video:

http://www.onetruemedia.com/otm_site...m_medium=email

Once again thanks for your information and for being a part of our preparation for a HBA3C.

[SMR]

what a beautiful video! Thank you so much for sharing!!
I met dr. kathy about a week or two after your birth.. and she mentioned it! I'm pregnant and going for a vbac (hospital style though - DH is nervous about the idea of delivering at home) dr. kathy is mine and my daughters doctor now.. but she inquired why would I want to give birth in a hospital and that she specializes in vbacs and then mentioned a delivery she attended in peurto rico - that must have been you!!

Congrats on your amazing delivery! Your video made me cry it was so touching!!

Shannon

[Shanana]

I can never get onetruemedia stuff to play on my computer, but I'm thrilled to hear you got the birth you wanted. Congrats!

[srneda78]

I'm so glad the birth went how you wanted it to go!!

My husband and I just met with Dr. Kathy this past Thursday after a terrible experience with Metro Partners in Womens Health (they decided to risk me out of the Alternative Birthing Center due to my weight alone -- no other risk factors). I did not want a standard hospital birth, so I just switched to Dr. Kathy. Oh, and I should mention that Dr. Kathy was recommended to me by an assistant at my chiropractor's office who used her for her birth. She had a great experience with her.

We were really impressed with her calm demeanor and compassion. I told her my story about the fat-phobia that Metro Partners has and she thought it was just ridiculous. I like that she knows what she's doing as both a doctor and midwife. She says that she follows the midwifery model of care and I can see that. She doesn't seem overly "doctor-ish" to me...then again I've only met her once. My husband does feel more comfortable that she's a doctor and midwife since we're birthing at home. I asked her tons of questions and she answered every one of them thoroughly.

I will try to remember to update this thread based on my experience with her. So far, so good! I really like her.

[eightiesbabeyo]

I love your video, it made me teary-eyed! That is amazing that she went to Puerto Rico for you! It only confirms what I already thought about her - she is one amazing doctor/midwife. She has recently become mine and my daughter's primary care giver after my daughter having a pediatrician that called me an irresponsible parent for choosing not to vaccinate her. We came across Dr. Kathy after reading many wonderful recommendations for her on here, and I'm so glad, because we absolutely love her. I cannot wait for the time that I am ready to have my next LO, because I am really looking forward to having a much more personal delivery instead of an on-call doctor that only talked to me for about 30 seconds before delivering my baby. Congratulations on your Faith, she is beautiful!!! :