Anyone know of good midwife and/or doula in Jacksonville, FL?

[Hollin]

We're moving to Jacksonville when I'll be around 30 weeks pregnant and I'm hoping to find a midwife or at least a doula b/c I'm a little afraid of birthing at the Naval hospital. Anyone have a recommendation?

[Turkish Kate]

Originally Posted by Hollin

We're moving to Jacksonville when I'll be around 30 weeks pregnant and I'm hoping to find a midwife or at least a doula b/c I'm a little afraid of birthing at the Naval hospital. Anyone have a recommendation?

From what I understand, the naval hospital is one of the better places to birth in Jax if you have to go the hospital route. We're TTC #3, who we are hoping will be a home VBAC and we're interviewing midwives now, since some refuse to do primary VBACs. We have an appt w/ Sharon from Fruitful Vine this week and are also checking out the midwives cooperative in Gainesville (they travel). I'd recommend starting there if you are wanting a homebirth, but I can get some references if you need someone to go to the base hospital. Feel free to PM me if you want a jumpstart on making crunchy friends, we have an awesome natural families playgroup in Jax.

[Hollin]

Originally Posted by Turkish Kate

From what I understand, the naval hospital is one of the better places to birth in Jax if you have to go the hospital route. We're TTC #3, who we are hoping will be a home VBAC and we're interviewing midwives now, since some refuse to do primary VBACs. We have an appt w/ Sharon from Fruitful Vine this week and are also checking out the midwives cooperative in Gainesville (they travel). I'd recommend starting there if you are wanting a homebirth, but I can get some references if you need someone to go to the base hospital. Feel free to PM me if you want a jumpstart on making crunchy friends, we have an awesome natural families playgroup in Jax.

Well that's good to know. The hospital would be completely free so my husband is kind of pushing that. I don't know anyone who has birthed there but when I looked at their website it was all about episiotomies and such so I got a bit frightened. My first was a good hospital vaginal birth, I guess I'll just wait until I can tour the hospital to decide. I'll definitely PM you when our move gets a little closer. I'd love to find some good playgroups!

[VirginiaK]

I have also recently moved to Jacksonville. I am now about 6 weeks pregnant with my first, planning a home birth, and don't know how to go about looking for a good midwife. We're waiting a few more weeks to tell everyone, so I can't ask anyone I know for references.

[Delaney'sMommy]

Sharon Schmidt & Hope Terrell at Fruitful Vine Midwifery are amazing. Really! I recently had to transfer to their backup OB Dr. Kimberly VanScriver. Turns out that I'll have to have a repeat cesarean birth after all. But I have really enjoyed the care I've received with Sharon & Hope so far & they are so highly recommended. Check out their website! They have a lovely yahoo list too. It may take a little while to be approved. But this email group is outstanding & many of Jacksonville's natural birth professionals are on it, including Bradley instructors and many doulas. As well as many of the natural parenting playgroup families. You can ask questions there and get great information! Best wishes!!

[VirginiaK]

Thanks so much for the input. I had looked at Fruitful Vine's website, and thought it was so warm and inviting...
Called and found out that their charge was $3500 (we don't have insurance). Does this sound like an average price for this area?

[Delaney'sMommy]

Originally Posted by VirginiaK

Thanks so much for the input. I had looked at Fruitful Vine's website, and thought it was so warm and inviting...
Called and found out that their charge was $3500 (we don't have insurance). Does this sound like an average price for this area?

Gosh, I really don't know. Truthfully, there are not a lot of other options for independent midwives in the area. I was just so thrilled to have them around here, I never asked about the price. Then again, we got health insurance 17 days before we conceived, so this time around it wasn't an issue, thankfully.

I can tell you that the top recommended OB in the area, Dr. Kimberly VanScriver charges $2750. We had two pregnancies that resulted in miscarriages last year while we had no insurance and I was seeing her. She delivers at 2 hospitals in the area, so the hospital charges would be on top of that.

I hope you find something that works well for you. I can tell you, after reading about other midwife experiences around the forums (good & bad), that Fruitful Vine is a real treasure.

[Turkish Kate]

Fruitful Vine's charges are par for the course. Remember that Dr. Van SCriver's fee is her fee only, doesn't include the hospital bill, pedi, and all the other "routine" stuff that comes along with a hospital birth.

I met with Sharon two weeks ago and was very comfortable with her. Even my hsuband had to admit she was a nice lady. LOL If you're looking for other alternatives, or just want to check out other options, there's also the Midwives Cooperative outside in Gainesville and Karin Pugh of Loving Arms Birth Services. I talked to her on the phone and she has such great positive energy.

Heya, HollyBenMom! I know you!

[amayhew]

$3500-$4000 is normal for midwives in the area. PM me if you'd like the name of my midwife, I'm not sure how far she travels, but her fee is $3500.

[MrsSchnippy]

Originally Posted by Delaney'sMommy

Sharon Schmidt & Hope Terrell at Fruitful Vine Midwifery are amazing. Really! I recently had to transfer to their backup OB Dr. Kimberly VanScriver. Turns out that I'll have to have a repeat cesarean birth after all. But I have really enjoyed the care I've received with Sharon & Hope so far & they are so highly recommended. Check out their website! They have a lovely yahoo list too. It may take a little while to be approved. But this email group is outstanding & many of Jacksonville's natural birth professionals are on it, including Bradley instructors and many doulas. As well as many of the natural parenting playgroup families. You can ask questions there and get great information! Best wishes!!

You are not able to VBAC with KVS? I know she will do primary VBACs, especially if your first birth was a vaginal delivery. Are you needing a VBA2C? Also Dr. Sanchez at Shands will do VBACs. He may even do a VBA2C? I know that it is shands BUT to get your VBAC it might be worth it!!

I highly recommend Sharon! She is just amazing! I know of some mamas that she has worked out payment plans with since they didn't have insurance.

Also for doulas I recommend Cee Miller http://www.kjsl.com/~cee/ (although she may not be taking anyone right now) or Heather Palmer http://www.lotusinbloom.net/.

[Delaney'sMommy]

Originally Posted by MrsSchnippy

You are not able to VBAC with KVS? I know she will do primary VBACs, especially if your first birth was a vaginal delivery. Are you needing a VBA2C? Also Dr. Sanchez at Shands will do VBACs. He may even do a VBA2C? I know that it is shands BUT to get your VBAC it might be worth it!!

I highly recommend Sharon! She is just amazing! I know of some mamas that she has worked out payment plans with since they didn't have insurance.

Also for doulas I recommend Cee Miller http://www.kjsl.com/~cee/ (although she may not be taking anyone right now) or Heather Palmer http://www.lotusinbloom.net/.

My first dd was vaginal, second dd was c/sec. This time I was approved to do a vbac with Sharon since I have a proven pelvis, and I was SO excited! Then my old OB expressed some concern when I asked my records to be transferred. My second dd was a medically necessary c/sec and he feels it's still medically necessary (thinned out uterus on upper right side). KVS and I couldn't find any research to show he's wrong or right, so she says we should go with the safest route. Another c/sec.

I'll be having her thoroughly check out that area of my uterus while she has me all opened up though to see if he was right or wrong! If he's wrong you can be darn sure I'm getting it documented so I can have a VBA2C next time. I'm slowly coming to peace with my c/sec to come. Dr. Sanchez was not covered by my insurance unfortunately.: I wish I could afford to pay out of pocket, but we cannot.

I've heard wonderful things about Heather Palmer as a doula. I've gotten lots of advice from her about other things. Seems she's an expert on so much!! I love Cee Miller, but yes, I think she has stopped taking clients for now. We have some lovely doulas around here, we are so lucky!!

[VirginiaK]

Thanks so much for the input. You guys are awesome! My hubbie and I plan to attend Fruitful Vine's "meet the midwife" event on October 1st. I'm excited.

[annettemarie]

I know this is an older post, but I've removed several posts where members have offered their doula services. If you yourself are a doula, please PM the OP and do not answer her on this thread, as advertising in this manner is against the User Agreement. Thanks!