Wichita area - Page 2

[Channelle]

I think I've decided just to give birth in the hospital, but in the Wesley Birth Care Center, which is supposed to be much better and nicer than a hospital. I'm now thinking I'd still like a doula though...anyone have any recommendations? Are doulas usually covered by insurance? Medicaid?

[lilliput]

Hi, Channelle-

I just wanted to give a positive recommendation for the Wesley BirthCare Center. I delivered DS there in September and had a wonderful experience. Part of the packet that you will receive for delivery there is a birth plan form which you can specify exactly what types of interventions you will accept and to what extent. All hearing tests, labs, etc for DS were done in room so there was never a time when he was out of my site. I was quite impressed as to how mother and baby friendly the facility is.

Best wishes for a healthy, happy pregnancy!

[ShadowMom]

Hi there! I'm from Wichita as well. I'm GD/AP and failing rather spectacularly at natural family living at the moment.

I found out yesterday I will need someone to watch my DS for 2-3 days during the week while I'm working for this summer. Does anyone have a suggestion for finding someone? I would really prefer an individual person... strongly prefer someone who is GD. I haven't ever used a babysitter of any kind for DS before so I don't know how to find someone, really. Anyone have any ideas they could throw out?

It's great to see a Wichita thread. I work with someone who has a very crunchy friend in the Wichita area (might actually be in the Newton area I think) and sometimes I wonder if she's on MDC.

[Channelle]

Originally Posted by lilliput

Hi, Channelle-

I just wanted to give a positive recommendation for the Wesley BirthCare Center. I delivered DS there in September and had a wonderful experience. Part of the packet that you will receive for delivery there is a birth plan form which you can specify exactly what types of interventions you will accept and to what extent. All hearing tests, labs, etc for DS were done in room so there was never a time when he was out of my site. I was quite impressed as to how mother and baby friendly the facility is.

Best wishes for a healthy, happy pregnancy!

Thanks! Makes me feel tons better!

[cdc]

HI! A great OB in town is Dr Daran Jensen, super alternative friendly, but he does not have an agenda, so be prepared with your own choices. He is a bit odd, but we loved him! Our Ped is Harrington. Alt vax friendly.

And, we are pretty normal looking wichita...but in our secret little house, cosleeping, extended bfing, and super happy.

[Jennifer Z]

Newton can be crunchy because of Bethel College and it's influence (not many place offer a "non violent conflict resolution" major. Newton also has a wonderful birthing center in their hospital. From my exerience, the rooms are a little nicer than Wesley (the ones where you birth in the rooms), but I had to have a planned c-section with my youngest, so I was in a smaller room. The nursing staff there was outstanding (one of my nurses trained with Ima May) and I love my Dr, but I don't know how he stands with natural births because mine was high risk and complicated, and it was never an option.

I am in NE Wichita, near Rock and K-96.

For those of you who are pregnant, Bionic Squirrel is a faboulous doula and would be a good resource for that. She knows the doctors that support more natural births and those that are intervention happy. She is a great support mama!

Another Dr that is vax friendly is Dr. Timothy Wolff. If any of you have an autistic child, he is wonderful, probably because he has a nephew with autism. He does seem to always have pharma reps in his office, and is fairly quick to rx meds, but also is open to natural methods and is a DO so he does chiro like adjustments if warrented too. He is an interesting mix of western and natural medicine. You will often see his wife and dd hanging out in his office too. We like him, and he is one of the few docs in town that will give you a vax exempt for medical reasons. I know another autism mom who is very into DAN treatments (biomedical...enzymes, vitamins, etc for autism) who does her research and lets him know what she wants and he is cooperative, so I would guess that he would be the same way for other issues. He is on the Northeast side, right in front of Heartpring School, across from the University Congregational Church and a block or so behind the NorthRock Walmart.

Speaking of churches...University Congregational Church is one of the few liberal churches in town. There is also a Unitarian church (at least one, but may be more) on the east side.

[First-Time-Mommy]

necroposting here. i live in wichita, ks and have for a long time. not a parent 'yet' but going to be.

[mmhinton]

To those new or moving to the area - HI! I posted (what seems like) awhile back and checked the site often for awhile. But, then forgot as there was no activity for a long time

Anyway, for those looking for doctors: OB: Dr. Daran Jensen is great (as mentioned in pp). Ped: Dr. Elaine Harrinton - wonderful. "Other" - Dr. Aric Cox - he's a chiropractor who does NO "popping" but uses applied kinesiology and has helped me and my boys as well as other family members SOOO much - He is AWESOME!!!

Doulas: Jan Saggerson, Lindsay Bench, Janine Heincker - I know all of them and they are all fabulous

I currently have two boys ages 3 and 1 and stay home with them. So, anyone interested in getting together - I would LOVE playdates (for them, but for "mommy time" too.... you know, to be able to talk to other mommies on an adult level Feel free to PM me!!!

[Channelle]

Hi guys, nice to hear from you!

Thanks so much for such great lists of doctors to use, I'm definitely searching for a pedi.

I forget about checking this thread, then miss new messages...I'm going to sub this so I'll get notified if anyone posts in it!

[davidwileyII]

alternative birth in Wichita Ks

Hello everyone. My wife and I are very interested in having a natural birth here in wichita but have not found anything that is very accomodating. Our dr is on board with having a natural birth but still we have to do it in one of the hospitals due to our great bcbs insurance. does anyone have any advice or info to help us. jenny wants to be able to get up and move around or possibly have a water birth but it seems like every place only has a bed and that is it, even the wesely birthing center. I know that there has to be other people like us who are trying to deal with insurance but still want the freedom to experience birth the way it should be, not the typical assymbly line style birth that most mothers here in wichita go for.

[Jude-a-buddies-mom]

If you want somewhere that takes insurance you might consider the Yoder Birth Center. I know some mom's here in Wichita that have given birth there and had great experiences. I personally used a local homebirth midwife but I did have to pay out of pocket for all of it.

[bionicsquirrel]

Originally Posted by Jude-a-buddies-mom

I personally used a local homebirth midwife but I did have to pay out of pocket for all of it.

But it was worth every penny, right Michelle?


I am the midwife that Michelle referred too and I am also a doula.
My advice is to find a practitioner that you really connect with, whether that is a doctor or midwife is up to you. Then, hire a doula. This is the single most important move for first time parents. There are so many benefits to having a doula present at your birth. You can contact me privately if you want names of practitioners in the area.

Also, don't hesitate to interview midwives just because you feel reliant on insurance. We are very affordable and take payments, but also, this is the birth of your child and you should really make it the way you want it. If that means birthing at home or a birth center, then there is always a way to make it work.

I will second Michelle's suggestion for the Yoder Birth Center. That is a lovely place, but they do still have a bed in the middle of the rooms.

Take care and Good Luck with whatever path the two of you choose.
-Bianca

[Jude-a-buddies-mom]

Totally worth every penney

Yes to everything Bianca suggested.

Originally Posted by bionicsquirrel

But it was worth every penny, right Michelle?


I am the midwife that Michelle referred too and I am also a doula.
My advice is to find a practitioner that you really connect with, whether that is a doctor or midwife is up to you. Then, hire a doula. This is the single most important move for first time parents. There are so many benefits to having a doula present at your birth. You can contact me privately if you want names of practitioners in the area.

Also, don't hesitate to interview midwives just because you feel reliant on insurance. We are very affordable and take payments, but also, this is the birth of your child and you should really make it the way you want it. If that means birthing at home or a birth center, then there is always a way to make it work.

I will second Michelle's suggestion for the Yoder Birth Center. That is a lovely place, but they do still have a bed in the middle of the rooms.

Take care and Good Luck with whatever path the two of you choose.
-Bianca

[glitterdaisymom]

AP group link?

Was there a link somewhere in this thread that goes to an AP group in Wichita? I think I missed it. I would LOVE to get together with some other AP mamas (and/or dads). Currently I'm getting my fix by attending LLL.

We're on the North side of town, just a mile south of Park City. We rent a little (900 sq. ft.) bungalow on a tree covered acre and LOVE it. It's like living in the country but being within reach of the city.

[carmenmama]

This thread dead?

I registered on Mothering b/c I'm interested in connecting with other AP moms in the Wichita area. Another poster asked about AP meetings around here but all I could find were meetings in Topeka. Anyone interested in informally meeting or at least having an email support group?

My oldest boy will be 3 next month and I also have a 3 month old baby boy. I've nursed both boys (weaned the first mid-way through my 2nd pregnancy) and we co-sleep. I recently returned to work and am having a difficult time juggling everything. Of course my friends with kids are helpful and supportive, but I don't know any moms that have the same issues I do b/c they parent differently. They are wonderful moms, but I can't really ask them about ideas regarding how they put their kids to bed at night when they all just put their kids to bed at night alone. They can't understand when I'm struggling b/c the baby will only sleep in my arms and my toddler doesn't go to bed until we do so I have trouble finding time to do things like clean and shower They just wait until their kids' bedtimes at 8pm and do whatever they need to do then. My kids go to bed with us. I love this but I'd like to comiserate with other women who live this lifestyle and share ideas.

I realize I could just go to LLL meetings but I haven't really been able to find a meeting near me at a convenient time. That's why I thought an email group of some kind might be nice...
Any interest?

[glitterdaisymom]

carmenmama - I feel the same way you.. I have my "regular" friends... but sometimes feel like I don't face quite the same parenting issues they do because of difference in parenting styles. Yahoo! has a Wichita Attached Families group. I just requested to join. It looks like it's a small but fairly active group.

[carmenmama]

Thanks glitterdaisy I'll try to go by and check out the group!

[mmhinton]

to carmen... and glitterdaisy...
First of all HI!
Second, I know it sounds cliche, but I know how you feel / can relate to your posts! The AP group mentioned has just started "meetings" each month - it is very nice to be able to chat with "like-minded" mommies

I have a 3 1/2 yr old son and a nearly 2 yr old son. If you have any thoughts, comments, questions, or would like to try to meet with other mommies, feel free to PM me

[Doulaamber]

Hi everyone! My name is Amber and I live in McPherson (about an hour north of Wichita) and mom to a 7yr old and a 5 yr old.

I'm a doula but haven't practiced since we moved to KS almost 3 years ago and hoping to get back into it.

Nice to meet you all!
Amber

[Jennifer Z]

Originally Posted by Doulaamber

Hi everyone! My name is Amber and I live in McPherson (about an hour north of Wichita) and mom to a 7yr old and a 5 yr old.

I'm a doula but haven't practiced since we moved to KS almost 3 years ago and hoping to get back into it.

Nice to meet you all!
Amber

I grew up about 20 minutes northwest of you and live in Wichita now. I have a lot of cousins in Mac and my brother lives there. Welcome to Kansas!

I have an 8yo boy (Autistic) and a 4yo dd (typically developing). If you ever get to Wichita, like for the Zoo or Exploration Place, and want some company let me know. We home school, so our schedule (outside of speech therapy appointments) is pretty flexible. I *should* get over to Mac more, but honestly, I don't very often these days. If I do, I will see if you are available for a park day or something. (Lakeside park is AWESOME).