Need a list of RI Midwives....

[Jojo F.]

I called my insurance (Neighborhood Health) and asked them if a Homebirth is covered with a cartified MW and an OB for back up. They said- no, but if it is an accidental birth at home they will not deny me coverage. I am NOT comfortable with an UC.

So I need a list of RI midwives that HB and that would be willing to bill my insurance for "services".

Are there any?

[plantmama]

Try Sue Smith in Uxbridge MA. She does RI births.
If she doesn't already know if Neighborhood covers her services then she may have to actually bill them for a visit and you will see if it's covered by whether they reject the claim or not.

[Jojo F.]

Thank you

I realize I have asked similar things but this has just been so hard for me to figure something out that will work. Paying completely out of pocket or even half is just not doable for us As badly as I wish it was, it's just not.

[laneysprout]

RI does not legally recognize CPMs, so CNMs are the only midwives licensed to practice by the state of RI.

While CNMs are legally able to attend HBs, none of them do except for one. The only RI midwife who attends homebirth is Michelle Palmer in Charlestown, 401.596.3416.

Most mamas who have HBs in this state see CPMs from nearby MA and CT.

[laneysprout]

Here is a list of CNMs/practices with CNMs is RI. Maybe we can get a mod to sticky this somewhere?

1.Marina Chyten, Fiona Clement
Women's Care Inc.
390 Toll Gate Rd, Ste 205
Warwick, RI 02886
Phone: [phone]

2.Marc A Jaffe MD FACOG
38 Amaral St
East Providence, RI 02915
Phone: [phone]

3.Stephanie Avila, Michelle Blade, Jessica Wilder, Linda Nanni, Fiona Clement
Women's Care Inc
18 Imperial Pl
Providence, RI 02903
Phone: [phone]

4.Michelle Blade, Jessica Wilder, Linda Nanni
Women's Care Inc
247 Roosevelt Ave
Pawtucket, RI 02860
Phone: [phone]

5.Women's Care Inc
2168 Diamond Hill Rd
Woonsocket, RI 02895
Phone: [phone]

6.Everett C. Wilcox Health Center
226 Buttonwoods Ave
Warwick, RI 02885
Phone: [phone]

7.Caring For Women
166 Tollgate Rd
Warwick, RI 02886
Phone: [phone]

8.Tollgate OB/GYN Midwifery Svc.
390 Toll Gate Rd
Warwick, RI 02886
Phone: [phone]

9.Thundermist Health Ctr of Warwick
1219 Main St
West Warwick, RI 02893
Phone: [phone]

10.Thundermist Health Center
450 Clinton St
Woonsocket, RI 02895
Phone: [phone]

11.Comprehensive OB/GYN Care Inc
725 Reservoir Ave
Cranston, RI 02910
Phone: [phone]

12.Mary Mumford Haley and Deb Erickson Owens
East Bay Community Action Program
100 Bullocks Pt Ave
Riverside, RI 02915
Phone: [phone]

13.Family Health Services Coventry
191-195 MacArthur Blvd
Coventry, RI 02816
Phone: [phone]

14.Dept OB-GYN/Midwifery - Brown Univ.
101 Dudley St
Providence, RI 02905
Phone: [phone]

15.Tritown Health Center
1126 Hartford Ave
Johnston, RI 02919
Phone: [phone]

16.OB-GYN Associates Inc
1 Randall Rd
Providence, RI 02904
Phone: [phone]

17.OB/GYN Assoc
358 Broadway
Newport, RI 02840
Phone: [phone]

18.Blackstone Valley OB/GYN
6 Blkstne Vly Pl, #501
Lincoln, RI 02865
Phone: [phone]

[seoul_mama]

Hi Jojo!

Have you had a prior c-sec? If not, try Michelle Palmer. You can get her # through the directory of http://www.ribirth.net/

you can also find a hb mw at http://www.massmidwives.org/

with the exception of michelle palmer, you will need to "import" a hb mw from CT or MA. Paige is also another good person to contact. She's an mdc mom too.

I'm sending lots of positive energy your way in hopes that you can have the hb you're desiring.

good luck!!!!

[Lemon Juice]

Originally Posted by plantmama

Try Sue Smith in Uxbridge MA. She does RI births.
If she doesn't already know if Neighborhood covers her services then she may have to actually bill them for a visit and you will see if it's covered by whether they reject the claim or not.

I have contacted her, Jojo. She is really nice but to see if she is covered by my insurance she sent me a form that I have to fill out and send to her billing company...it will be $20 to find out.

[plantmama]

That would actually be cheaper than going for a visit and finding out you have to pay for it if insurance doesn't, that would be about $120 I think? And sometimes it takes long enough that you are due for you next appointment and still don't know.
I hope a HB works out for you jojo, if not I hope you have a great non home birth!!!

[Jojo F.]

Originally Posted by laneysprout

RI does not legally recognize CPMs, so CNMs are the only midwives licensed to practice by the state of RI.

While CNMs are legally able to attend HBs, none of them do except for one. The only RI midwife who attends homebirth is Michelle Palmer in Charlestown, 401.596.3416.

Most mamas who have HBs in this state see CPMs from nearby MA and CT.

Michelle Palmer's # is now 401.474.1539; [e-mail]
Her back up is Mary Mumford-Haley in Pawtucket, RI.

She was really nice and I hope to work something out with her

[laneysprout]

Originally Posted by Jojo F.

Michelle Palmer's # is now 401.474.1539; [e-mail]
Her back up is Mary Mumford-Haley in Pawtucket, RI.

She was really nice and I hope to work something out with her

Thanks for the updated contact info. Glad it's working out for you!

[ollineeba]

In regards to Michelle Palmer-
While planning my HB, I went to the hospital for some strange pains (not labor-related). The hospital CNM freaked that I was planning a HBAC (even though I'd already had a VBAC with my 2nd baby) and she called her 'friend' Michelle. Even though I'd never met Michelle, she felt it was her place to look up my homebirth midwife, call her, and give her the third degree about her qualifications (who actually is much more experienced than Michelle)- apparently because my HBAC could hurt Michelle's career
Her lack of faith in the birth process (and blatant disregard for patient confidentiality) really would make me think twice about recommending her to anyone, whether they have a scarred uterus or not.
It was a really upsetting experience for me, and I just don't want anyone else to have their peaceful gestation turned upside down like mine was.

[Jojo F.]

ollineeba- Thanks for the heads up. I'm just curious as to how your HBAC could have hurt Michelle's career. I'm not trying to start anything, just genuinely interested. I mean, wouldn't more HBs benefit other HB MWs?

[dmbarker]

I've been working with Michelle for two months now. I switched from an o.b. to her and really like her. She's been very straight forward with me and willing to listen to my concerns and work with my family.

Her practice is new but she has a lot of experience and has been in the midwife field for awhile. She is working hard to establish her practice as a recognizable and respected office in Rhode Island as this is new ground for a homebirth midwife to set up an "office" in RI. I've had three hospital births before since I wasn't comfortable with having an out of state midwife come down to South County and I'm extremely happy that I am going to get my homebirth at last.

I'm sorry that Ollineeba had a bad experience and hope that she calls Michelle to discuss it if she feels wronged.

[ollineeba]

Originally Posted by dmbarker

I've been working with Michelle for two months now. I switched from an o.b. to her and really like her. She's been very straight forward with me and willing to listen to my concerns and work with my family.

Her practice is new but she has a lot of experience and has been in the midwife field for awhile. She is working hard to establish her practice as a recognizable and respected office in Rhode Island as this is new ground for a homebirth midwife to set up an "office" in RI. I've had three hospital births before since I wasn't comfortable with having an out of state midwife come down to South County and I'm extremely happy that I am going to get my homebirth at last.

I'm sorry that Ollineeba had a bad experience and hope that she calls Michelle to discuss it if she feels wronged.

It would be a little strange to call her.. I've never spoken to her before, let alone met her. That's why I was really upset- she had nothing to do with my care, so she should have just stayed out of it!
I was just shocked at her behavior, as was my CPM.
I do think that what Michelle did was very, very wrong.. but I think the hospital CNM who called her to discuss my case is really the one who was breaking patient confidentiality.

I just think that we owe it to each other to make recommendations honestly- that way we can go in with as much info as possible. It's not helping anybody if we're just blowing sunshine all the time, whether we mean it or not, you know?

[ollineeba]

Originally Posted by Jojo F.

ollineeba- Thanks for the heads up. I'm just curious as to how your HBAC could have hurt Michelle's career. I'm not trying to start anything, just genuinely interested. I mean, wouldn't more HBs benefit other HB MWs?

See, I don't really know, either. I don't understand how my birth choices had anything to do with her. I think she was just thinking about herself- and that if something happened during my homebirth (since I had a c/s with my first baby- I was planning my second VBAC), than it would reflect badly upon everyone who is involved in the local homebirth scene.
She sees herself as a real groundbreaker and doesn't want anything to put that in jeopardy-- and I think VBACs make her really, really nervous.. I don't know why, but there it is.

[dmbarker]

Ollineeba, I understand your feelings and would probably feel similar in the same circumstances. I also tend to be one of those people that like to talk things out and would have let Michelle and especially the cnm at the hospital know that I felt that boundaries had been crossed that shouldn't have been.

I was just trying to give my perspective that in my dealing with Michelle, I feel she has been straightforward and honest with me and willing to work with me to get the birth I want. She might have circumstances that she doesn't feel comfortable working with but she has been open about those and has discussed options when I have asked, she has also been open to working with me about other things that other midwives might not feel comfortable with. That's why we all try to find what's best for us and what works for you may not for me.

Originally Posted by ollineeba

See, I don't really know, either. I don't understand how my birth choices had anything to do with her. I think she was just thinking about herself- and that if something happened during my homebirth (since I had a c/s with my first baby- I was planning my second VBAC), than it would reflect badly upon everyone who is involved in the local homebirth scene.
She sees herself as a real groundbreaker and doesn't want anything to put that in jeopardy-- and I think VBACs make her really, really nervous.. I don't know why, but there it is.

[MommyMuse]

Michelle Palmer is wonderfully nice, from my experience. I have already spoken to her about a future homebirth, and I'm not even pregnant yet! LOL
Mary Mumford-Haley is my personal midwife for well-woman care--LOVE LOVE LOVE her! I have honestly considered a hospital birth (VBAC) at Memorial, simply because she is so wonderful. However, in the end, I have to go with the homebirth plans and be confident that the backup is fantastic. By the way, Michelle was made aware that I would be a HBAC with no prior vaginal births, and she did not seem overly concerned. Therefore, I have to wonder about the perception that she has a problem with HBAC...it seems odd, given my experience. I am not in any way discounting the experiences of others...just adding my two cents.

[ollineeba]

Originally Posted by MommyMuse

Michelle Palmer is wonderfully nice, from my experience. I have already spoken to her about a future homebirth, and I'm not even pregnant yet! LOL
Mary Mumford-Haley is my personal midwife for well-woman care--LOVE LOVE LOVE her! I have honestly considered a hospital birth (VBAC) at Memorial, simply because she is so wonderful. However, in the end, I have to go with the homebirth plans and be confident that the backup is fantastic. By the way, Michelle was made aware that I would be a HBAC with no prior vaginal births, and she did not seem overly concerned. Therefore, I have to wonder about the perception that she has a problem with HBAC...it seems odd, given my experience. I am not in any way discounting the experiences of others...just adding my two cents.

It's not a perception, it was her policy (for lack of a better word?). Unless things have changed in the last 6 months (my dd was born in January 2008), she doesn't do them. Mary Mumford Haley confirmed this for me as well (I saw MMH up until 24ish weeks while contemplating the homebirth idea).
BTW, I love Mary- she's a sweetheart. And Memorial is great (a real diamond in the rough), should you end up with a hospital birth.

[ollineeba]

Originally Posted by dmbarker

Ollineeba, I understand your feelings and would probably feel similar in the same circumstances. I also tend to be one of those people that like to talk things out and would have let Michelle and especially the cnm at the hospital know that I felt that boundaries had been crossed that shouldn't have been.

I was just trying to give my perspective that in my dealing with Michelle, I feel she has been straightforward and honest with me and willing to work with me to get the birth I want. She might have circumstances that she doesn't feel comfortable working with but she has been open about those and has discussed options when I have asked, she has also been open to working with me about other things that other midwives might not feel comfortable with. That's why we all try to find what's best for us and what works for you may not for me.

I'm a talker, too, but I just feel strange calling someone up out of the blue-especially someone I don't know- and to be honest, I'm still really angry about all the stress she caused me at nine months pregnant, so I don't think I could keep it together.
I'm really happy that she seems like a good fit for you, though. I know we all need different things and that's great that you've found a good match. I hope you have a beautiful birth!