Place of Business

[Kylix]

Did/does your midwife have a place of business? Did she work out of a birthing center or office or hospital or what have you? Or did she just come to your home?

I was looking around recently and found a midwifery "business". I was excited and went to check it out and couldn't tell if it was the midwife's private home or a place of business (on a street of houses--some of which were converted to offices, some of which were private homes). To be honest, I was turned off. The house looked run down. There was no sign out front.

I'm sure that I'm going to get flamed by this post. I really do want a home birth because to me an important factor in birthing is comfort. However, I would not feel comfortable meeting my midwife for the first time in that "place of business". So, I'm trying to find out if that is typical or not.

Kylix

[mamabens]

My midwife comes to my home. Did you try calling first? maybe it was her home. I would maybe call first & ask several questions that you have in mind then set up a meeting.

[tpintsch]

My midwife typically will travel for prenatals, but she had a baby recently so I go to her home. Its not a pristine perfect place, its a little messy. But so is my house so I feel more at peace about her coming here for the birth. She is the most wonderful human being on the face of this earth and it wouldn't bother me if she practiced out of an outhouse, but I totally get why it might turn you off to see a run down place. Its still worth meeting her IMO. Good luck.

[leavemealone]

The MW that I am using has a temporary office right now in a somewhat urban part of town. This is her temporary office, but she did say her new office will be in the same general area. It's almost downtown, right by a univerisity in town and not a location that I really want to go to, but it'll do for now. It's not a bad part of town, but I don't like the 30 minute drive and the one way streets, lanes that end unexpectedly, etc but that's just part of what I don't like about that part of town. My DH was more turned off by the fact that she didn't have chairs in her office - she had pillows on the floor, a coffee table for writing, and toys for kids, but not chairs like you'd find in a drs office. She has one bench/loveseat type seat, but apparantely it wasn't good enough for DH (personally, I think he's a little picky, but that's just me).

[Mama_Leah]

My midwife has a nice little office in town, very cozy and pretty. It is in a small building with other offices (like a massage therapist). She does some home visits but for the majority of the prenatals and the tests I go there. I have always felt 100% comfortable during my visits.

[3xx1xyFamily]

my midwife had a home office (table with stirrups included). All our prenatals were at her home, with the exception of a 36 week appt where she came to ours (making sure she understands the directions & knows her way around our house)

[nashvillemidwife]

I'm not sure what your issue is with her office being in her home. I work out of my home. The front is reserved as a "place of business" (prenatal room, office, storage, bathroom). I don't have a sign out front advertising my home as a business establishment. Despite working out of my home, it is, after all, my home and really not fitting for strangers to be dropping in any time of day without an appointment (not to mention my homeowner's association would make me remove the sign from my yard in a heartbeat). Sometimes I let my grass grow a little tall and get weeds in my flower bed - I'm pregnant and it's 100+ degrees here, not to mention being a midwife means I'm not predictably available when the sun is shining. That has absolutely nothing to do with my qualifications or skills as a midwife. If you want to know more about her skills and her practice, you should call and talk to her.

Some home birth midwives come to your home and others have offices. I don't think it's typical for them to rent out medical-type offices to do business in.

[Shelsi]

I interviewed a few midwives before deciding. The first one had an actual office in a building although she shared it with someone. The 2nd one had an office in her home, and the 3rd one didn't have an office and came to my home. I did not choose based on where they practiced however I did go with the midwife who came to my house for all my prenatals and it was really REALLY nice. We prob won't live here for my next baby so I'll have to choose someone else and I will be looking for someone who will come to my house. It was so nice...I mean the first few times she came we cleaned the house, then of course we got more and more comfortable with her being there and were just "normal" and didn't worry. By the time I was in labor I didn't have any stress over what my home looked like, kwim? Plus she used to bring her granddaughter with her sometimes who was the same age as my ds and it helped keep him occupied which was nice.

Midwives work with as low of operating costs as they can I would imagine. Having an actual office in a building would probably force them to have to increase prices.

[mwherbs]

so yes I have done home visits exclusively(some people really object to this for a first time visit-- so have met in restaurants at times) seen and worked in home office settings I have also worked in midwifery offices that were either investment property or a rental office- to keep costs low I know midwives often catch as catch can-- I remember when a new mw came to town and we went around everywhere to find a place and the business rentals were incredibly high priced like she would have to do a birth a month for the rental alone without utilities or other expenses- then she found an office to share that was in a strange area but it was inexpensive and she painted up the inside- couldn't change the outside much at all -- and depending on how the particular property is zoned you may or may not be able to have a sign out--

[alegna]

My midwife works out of her home. she uses a bedroom that's her "office"

-Angela

[mrforbes]

My midwife doesn't have an 'office' per say, she'll meet you for an interview at a cafe or something if you want, but we just met her at her house. She comes to our house for prenatals.

I'd also met midwives with 'places of business' and don't think it makes any difference - after all, they're going to be in your home helping to deliver your baby hopefully and I can't say what she has to deal with me in some rather, um , unprofessional?moments...

[Pyrodjm]

My midwife does all of her visits at my home. She does not have an office where she sees clients. She will meet in a Starbucks or something if you prefer it for an interview or something though. I love it this way.

[Kylix]

Originally Posted by nashvillemidwife

I'm not sure what your issue is with her office being in her home. I work out of my home. The front is reserved as a "place of business" (prenatal room, office, storage, bathroom). I don't have a sign out front advertising my home as a business establishment. Despite working out of my home, it is, after all, my home and really not fitting for strangers to be dropping in any time of day without an appointment (not to mention my homeowner's association would make me remove the sign from my yard in a heartbeat). Sometimes I let my grass grow a little tall and get weeds in my flower bed - I'm pregnant and it's 100+ degrees here, not to mention being a midwife means I'm not predictably available when the sun is shining. That has absolutely nothing to do with my qualifications or skills as a midwife. If you want to know more about her skills and her practice, you should call and talk to her.

Some home birth midwives come to your home and others have offices. I don't think it's typical for them to rent out medical-type offices to do business in.

I'm sure she's very well-qualified. I was just talking about my first impression. I wasn't actually planning on stopping in. I just was walking in the neighborhood and decided to veer that way and see what it was like. I'm not even pregnant so I don't plan on making an appt.

This post isn't so much about her or her house. I was just wondering what typically happens. Thanks for all those who posted their experiences

Kylix

[sacredmama]

All of the midwives I interviewed were in offices out of their homes. I appreciated being able to get to know them that intimately. The one I chose seemed to have a home that was the most comfortable to me, although that wasn't the ONLY reason I chose her.

[Kim919]

I would make sure that the place you went really is her place of business, but if it is, you have every right to be turned off. Its not unreasonable to expect a HB midwife to also be professional.

My midwife only attends home births, but you go to her office for visits. She only has office hours one day a week. That day she rents an office that is in a large old house that rents out different rooms for different reasons all week (one day there is a yoga class, sometimes they have poetry classes, a massage therapist rents one office, there is a small daycare in the downstairs, etc.) It is a well maintained building, but there is not specifically a sign out front for her. Its a very casual setting, but well kept.

I think you have every right to take it into consideration.

[My*Scorpio]

I've spoken with several midwives. One of them has an office, but she met me at my home for the interview (she lives an hour away). The other two I interviewed don't have offices and do all of the prenatal appointments in my home. To me, this is a huge plus. I'd rather not have to spend the time and gas driving to the prenatal visits.

[mommathea]

My midwife has an office in a small medical building. Lots of small drs offices in the same building. She shares the office with another Alternative dr. They each have a room for their Patient room, share a very small but cozy waiting area, and share a front desk area.

[CanidFL]

Wow, I am surprised so many home birth midwives rent space for offices. I would never expect that. I could not imagine them having to add on the cost of renting an office space.

My midwife works out of her home. She has a little office for her files, a bedroom converted to a prenatal area (with a door to the porch), and the bathroom you have to walk through a few rooms to get there. I don’t see the big deal

When I open my practice, I plan on having prenatal appointments at my house. I have no intention of paying rent somewhere. However, I always keep in mind renting a little office space in my DH’s office (he is studying to be an acupuncturist) and that way we can gain clients from each other. But I might get sick of seeing him all day

[leavemealone]

I think one reason why the MW that I am using keeps a seperate office is b/c one MW's house was raided a couple months ago and the police took just about everything midwifery related including patient charts. If that stuff is kept seperate from her house, then it can't be seized as easily. I do think she keeps her actual birth supplies at home, though so she doesn't have to go to the office to get them before a birth. The office she keeps is very small and seemingly inexpensive, but it serves it's purpose.

[nashvillemidwife]

Originally Posted by ferrum97

If that stuff is kept seperate from her house, then it can't be seized as easily.

I don't follow that. If they suspect she has evidence at two locations, they just get a warrant for both locations.