Midwives at Magee vs. The Midwife Center (Pittsburgh) - Page 2

[CookAMH]

Thanks for sharing. Seemed like from talking to them that they would be ok with 42+ - maybe that is more if baby is head-down and ready to go?

[cappuccinosmom]

Thanks for sharing. Seemed like from talking to them that they would be ok with 42+ - maybe that is more if baby is head-down and ready to go?

All I know is what happened with me. They started to get nervous at 41 weeks but not pushy. In all honesty I think it's their backup doctors and the review board that is the problem, the midwives are awesome. : And definately the baby flipping around caused some worry.

[joelene22]

Originally Posted by cappuccinosmom

I'm curious to hear more about Magee. I'd heard about Patrick Thornton but never considered a male midwife really. I've been wondering though, after the last two experiences, if Magee would be more comfortable for someone who tends to go more than two weeks "overdue", or if they would just be worse.

To be honest, the next baby I might just have an "accidental" unassisted birth.

I ended up pre-eclamptic in and out of Triage with skyrocketing BPs toward the end of my first pregnancy. The OB consult for the MW at Magee started talking induction around 38 weeks. It seemed to me that my MW were receiving some pressure too. But they were great. I agreed to bedrest and I went in every other day (M, W, F) for non-stress tests. If the baby didn't sound good on one they sent me for a biophysical profile. The baby always looked good on them. So long as we both kept looking good on them, my MW kept putting the other docs off. Finally at 41.5 weeks though, my amniotic fluid got dangerously low in comparison to what it was 2 days earlier and we agreed to induction. My son ended up being born at 42 weeks exactly (via c/s) after 60 hours. I did not have any pressure from my MW to induce and never any to do a cesarean. Even at the end when it became emergent and they were rushing me to the OR, my MW was running alongside my gurney, crying and telling me over and over, "There's always VBAC, I'm so sorry." Unfortunately, for me there won't be VBAC since my uterus ruptured, but I feel like my MW championed for me every step of the way.

[zus888]

Well, I can't add too much. I did go with The Midwife Center in the strip district. And the only problem I had with it was their "we welcome children/siblings" policy, which didn't seem to be the case when my children came. It was suggested to me that I not bring them with me the next time. I felt humiliated.

Didn't really matter in the end, because they decided to drop me as a patient. I've got health issues that could cause complications, making me not as low-risk as they'd like. I don't blame them. They can only go by what the perinatologist recommended. So, now I'm with the Midwives at Magee. I've only had one visit, and liked it enough. Not sure how the birth will go, but I have faith that things will go according to the birth plan in my head (which I really need to get on paper!). And it also looks like my risk factor will go back to low-risk - but we'll know for sure in a week.

Also of note, one of the midwives at the Midwife Center is now working with the Magee Midwives. My only complaint so far with Magee is the hassle and cost of parking. Grrr....

[cappuccinosmom]

It was suggested to me that I not bring them with me the next time. I felt humiliated.

[joelene22]

Originally Posted by zus888

It was suggested to me that I not bring them with me the next time. I felt humiliated.

I'm sorry.

I hope your risk decreases and you are very happy with the MW at Magee. It is a hassle with parking sometimes, but the MW are great.

[georgiapa]

I was wondering if anyone knows what level of risk the midwives at Magee are comfortable with. If I get pregnant again, I will be high risk (I have Lupus). I had a horrible experience with ob's and the very thought of going back to obs makes me want to put of pregnancy. Crazy- I know. I'm hoping that the midwives will be able to take me...

[amyfarr]

Originally Posted by georgiapa

I was wondering if anyone knows what level of risk the midwives at Magee are comfortable with. If I get pregnant again, I will be high risk (I have Lupus). I had a horrible experience with ob's and the very thought of going back to obs makes me want to put of pregnancy. Crazy- I know. I'm hoping that the midwives will be able to take me...

I would call and ask them so you know for future reference. I would think that being at Magee and having Maternal-Fetal Medicine right there they might be more likely to take moms that the Midwife Center couldn't. Let us know what you find out if you call them.

Amy

[georgiapa]

Amy- I think I am going to call and find out. I know MFM does any c-sections for the Midwives, so that is a really good point. I'll let you know what I find out.

[joelene22]

Originally Posted by georgiapa

I was wondering if anyone knows what level of risk the midwives at Magee are comfortable with. If I get pregnant again, I will be high risk (I have Lupus). I had a horrible experience with ob's and the very thought of going back to obs makes me want to put of pregnancy. Crazy- I know. I'm hoping that the midwives will be able to take me...

With my first, I was your run of the mill preeclamptic.

The second time though, I had a history of prior uterine rupture. Definite scheduled cesarean, no question about it. The midwives worked hand in hand with the high risk doc (Robert Kaminski who I also adore) from the start. I never stopped being a patient of the midwives. I was not an MFM patient. I think maybe they had to transfer me the day of my c/s, but I was definitely a patient of the midwives the rest of the time, before and after.

Hope that helps!

[amyfarr]

I have also heard really good things about Dr. Kaminski if that helps.

Amy

[georgiapa]

Amy and Jolene- Both of your input helps alot. Thank you. I'm going to give the midwives a call, and because of the Lupus I'm supposed to consult with MFM before and during any pregnancies. My son is 20 months and I'm only now beginning to think about doing this all again.

[zus888]

I don't have lupus, but have the elevated antibodies that come with it and cause all the risks to pregnancy associated with lupus. I had a perinatal consult at Magee at the request of the midwives at the Midwife Center. It was then that it was recommended that my care be transferred. The midwives at Magee took me on with no problems. If the pregnancy went to high risk as a result of the antibodies, I would then be transferred across the hall to the MFM. The midwives work really closely with them so a transfer is quite simple. When I had the echocardiogram to check the baby's heart, the cardiologist (might be a perinatal cardiologist) came in and spoke with me personally. Seems he's held in high regard by everyone there and has been practicing a long time. I think you will not only be accepted by the midwives there, but will feel quite comfortable with the level of care offered to you!!! I've passed week 25 with no problems with the baby's heart, so thankfully, I'm now out of the risk period. Good luck to you! I think you'll be happy with your choice if you go with the midwives at Magee. I'm feeling a lot more comfortable now that I'm "settled in" there, and sort of wish I had started my care there in the first place.

[dogretro]

I was under the care of the MW at Magee & then switched care to TMC at about 30 wks. This was all due to insurance reasons, I had previously never had woman care anywhere other than TMC. I really liked the midwives at Magee, v nice, never a wait to see them, either. I reeeeeeally wanted to birth at the center, but had a scheduled breech c/s (breech from 21 wks on!). Actually, I reeeeeeally wanted a home UC, but dh would never go for that, so the center was our compromise. He was looking forward to it too, no drugs, wires, or interventions, get to leave v soon, etc. AGH was great for a c/s & the post-natal care was AWESOME. Baby slept in my bed all the time, nurses thought it was cute! No pressure to bottle-feed, take the baby, etc. Excellent nurses all around, wonderful. Im def bummed about HAVING to deliver in the hospital next time, but the law is the law, I suppose.. IDK, can a hospital MAKE you have a c/s for a breech delivery if you are already laboring there? I will still go to TMC for care, though.

I also went to AGH for a version. It was not bad, a little scary, but nothing traumatic. Baby could not make it all the way around, had her legs crossed. Oh, and Kathy was w/ me for the version and Ann was w/ me for the birth. Ann has been the one I have seen the most over the years.

Maggie, I, too, have thought the next one might be an "accidental" uc homebirth, hee hee.