Some support, please, for move to Houston

[mamaro]

Hello out there, it is looking more and more each day that a move (back) to Houston is in the works for us. We lived in Houston from '95 to '98, but had not yet conceived any children (fertility issues) and we were very different people, then. (Out to eat all the time, dual income, wouldn't have considered nursing beyond a year, etc.) Now, I am a SAHM to a still nursing 3+ yr old and am panicking about this move. It's just so scary thinking of all that I will have to reestablish. For instance, I have been trying to conceive again and knew just who I would have attend me for my homebirth here in OH, now I'll have to make all new friends, find EBF friendly doctors, WAH, WAH etc!! Well, you all get the picture and I'm sure you understand. I guess I just wanted to say hello and see if there are others like me out there. My husband is talking a lot about the Spring area, so if anyone lives out that way and could share a bit about living there, I sure would appreciate it. (We lived in a nice apartment complex on the edge of Bellaire when last we lived in Houston.) Some specifics about length of commute to downtown from Spring would also be greatly appreciated. (For DH NOT me!!) Oh, yeah, I remember as a "youngster" always thinking that the Heights was a really cool little area, but I also remember that crime was a pretty serious problem for the few I knew that lived there. Anybody know if that situation has improved? Anyone homebirth around there? Any and all thoughts/support is more appreciated than you know. I would like to add that my husband and I are originally from the NE and we LOVED Houston when we lived there before, I'm just scared because everything is so different for us 4 years later!

[aliandaudi]

oh no... is it really still looking this way?? i hope not. :crying

[Ame]

The Heights is no longer the crime ridden place you recall. They have revamped the area and now the tiny little vintage houses go for 4ooK. There are lots of homebirth mamas there and EB mamas too. I dont know much about Spring except that it is far from where I lived (I just moved to Oklahoma from SW Houston).

You can check out www.mamatron.org for more info on the Houston mamas that could help you.

[Marlena]

Hey - we're in Houston, too (well, Missouri City, SW of Houston). I don't know much about Spring, though the little I do know (from clients at my former law practice) indicates it's a bit of a schlep from Houston (45minutes+, but don't take my word for it), and while it's pretty and you can get land out there, it's also, well, maybe not quite as welcoming to diverse ways of doing things as you may have found on the edge of Bellaire (where dh and I lived before dd was born - we come originally from the NE, too, btw). I second the info about the Heights. Missouri City, otoh, is only about a half hour from Houston (although given the locations you mention, it sounds like your dh will be working on the north side, rather than closer to the south, perhaps?). If you're looking for land, you can still get it out here (though it's going fast, and prices are also starting to go up pretty quickly). As for sympatico groups, I've just started looking into AP groups in the area, but haven't yet heard anything back (via email). Drop me a note if you have any specific questions, or want to chat!

[Marlena]

By the way, I did hear back from the AP group in Houston! You can subscribe by sending a message to APIHouston-subscribe@egroups.com. I really recommend that you do - as I found out, there are more of us out here than I'd previously thought! (There's also currently a discussion there about area docs and midwives who are supportive of VBACs (and natural birth).) Good luck, and do let me know how things turn out for you!

--- Mare

[mamaro]

I just wanted to thank all of you for your responses. We've been vacationing and travelling the last couple of weeks so I'm just getting back to all of you now. For the moment, it looks like we are staying put in Ohio, (dh didn't get the job :crying ) which I feel guilty for having mixed feelings about, since I know dh feels disappointed. Anyway, I know he will continue to interview for other positions in Houston as they become available, so this still could happen, and I am so appreciative of all the information you all provided. Thanks so much and I'll keep you all posted!