Hello Wyoming!

[westernskies]

Hi everyone!

[judybean]

I'm in Wyoming! :)

I rarely ever check here because I was never finding any Wyoming people here.. but just so happened to check and here you were!

I'm not in Natrona County though (Washakie, to be exact) ... and I can't help with the midwife issue as well. We're not actively ttc (not pregnant either! ;) ) but I've been thinking about the midwife route for #3 whenever he/she comes along and can't find much in Wyoming at all (let alone anywhere within three hours of here).

But hi!!

[westernskies]

Hi Judy! It is nice to see that at least I am not just echoing around here all by my lonesome. :) Since starting my search for a midwife, I have been told that midwifery is illegal in Wyoming. :irked: Thank goodness this baby still has 7 months to grow, giving us plenty of time to find another option. :)

Nice to meet you!

[judybean]

I certainly don't understand the midwifery rules in Wyoming because I can't seem to find a clear answer (though I've heard they are illegal as well, but can find some listed under midwifery databases... so I don't have a clue).

I hope you find a suitable option! My first two were birthed in a hospital, but they were great experiences because I had the most wonderful doctor in the world. He has now left the town (and the state), leaving just TWO doctors in town so I am actually quite scared of what options that leaves me because neither is ideal.

Nice to meet you as well!

[jaam]

Hi ladies! I'm no longer in WY but I wanted to let you know that midwifery isn't illegal there. You just can't get certified by the state... weird I know... the state just doesn't recognize it or something. I had my baby at home with a midwife in Cheyenne. There's ONE midwife in Cheyenne, and a really great doula who does birth classes and is considering becoming a midwife. But as far as the rest of the state.... :eyesroll I do know of one woman who lives around Carpenter I think who's a midwife but I'm not sure if she's practicing right now. I hope you're albe to figure out a birthing situation you're comfortable with! Wyoming's got a long ways to go with this stuff! If you'd like, PM me and I can give you a phone number of someone who might know of a doula and/or midwife in your area. Good luck! Oh yeah, and CONGRATS!!!


Oh, and it's good to see other crunchy Catholics. ;)

[apecaut]

Hi guys! I'm in Cheyenne. I know, I know, just a little too close to Colorado to be a "real" Wyomingite (is that a word? :wink ). I just moved here a year ago so I'm fairly new. I have something to add to the midwife discussion. I know a woman in town who used a midwife for her third and somehow got her insurance to cover it. I don't know how, but I remember her saying she had a little trouble but they eventually did. And she echoed the no certification by state thing (I don't really understand that). I can ask her for more info If you would like.

[kalisis]

Hi.

I only am in WY for one week out of the month, but I grew up there and wanted to check this thread out. I'm glad to see that there is some activity.

We're looking at moving back in a more permanent way and I just can't bring myself to because I know that all the rest of my babies will most likely have to born in the hospital, ugh. I was able to find a doula in the Sweetwater County area, but so far no midwives. Maybe I'm looking at a DIY for the next one if we're there.

Anyway, I just wanted to say hi and glad to know I'm not alone.

[Aurora]

Hello mamas!

We are considering a move to Riverton, WY. Dh has a job offer but we are waiting to hear about the pay. Does anyone live near there? Do you have any helpful info for us? :D

Thanks!!! :love

[judybean]

I live about 90 miles from Riverton (and have grandparents and an aunt & uncle that live there, and we go there often to visit). What do you want to know about things?! I'd love to help in any way I could!

[Aurora]

Thanks Judy!

I guess I am just curious, anxious. It's a small town, right? Is it nice? I mean, does it feel nice? We are a homeschooling, UC'ing family. I guess the UC part is especially good considering what I have read on this thread about homebirth midwives. ;)

What are the shopping and rental(apartments probably to start)situations?

Basically I feel a bit scared and anxious about moving and am looking for anything you have to say. :shy


Thanks so much! :love

[judybean]

Yes... it's a small town (though the town I live in is SMALLER!)... there is a WalMart (if that's any judge of size for you... there's none in my town). I would guess Riverton has... 10,000-11,000? Maybe just 9,000 .. but somewhere in that range.

It's nice in many parts (where my grandparents and other relatives live), but some, of course, aren't quite as nice. It's right on the egde of a reservation, so there is a large Native American population there... but otherwise predominantly white.

As for shopping... WalMart has been mentioned, there is a KMart as well (just across the strett from WM). There are some more specialty shops downtown, but it comes and goes.

There is a community college also there, nice feature (there are only seven in all of WY).

And.. let's see... rental situations? Honestly, I don't know. And I'm not sure we get their newspaper (I work at a newspaper office), but I would think it wouldn't be terrible to find housing there.

Need more info? Just ask!

[Aurora]

Thanks Judy! :love The fact that it is a small town really appeals to us. Dh would probably have to move out first and the little ones and I would follow in about a month. I'll post here when we have a decision about moving or not. :)

[westernskies]

Hi Aurora!

Just saying hello from Wyoming. :) I live a few hours from Riverton, but we head over through that way a few times a year. There is a great pumpkin patch not to far from there that we go to in October. Be sure to post if you are coming or not- I know what it is like to move and know no one. Even though I am not very close- I would love to be on the welcoming committee. LOL

[judybean]

Yes, you'll certainly have to let us know if you decide to move or not!

Oh, and this might help, the newspaper there has a website, and it even lists classifieds, which could help you in locating a rental. The site is: http://www.dailyranger.com .. Every once in a while I've taken some sports pictures for that paper, so I know some of the staff there. ... And really, I was just in Riverton... well, the weekend before last. My oldest, Madeline (almost 3!) goes over with my mom on many Fridays to go out to lunch with my grandma and grandpa.

So if you need to know anything else, I'd be glad to help you in any way I could!

[Aurora]

Thanks westernskies and Judy! I feel much better about things. :shy Judy, I'll check out the site. :)

I'll let you know when we know.

[Aurora]

Rock Springs?

The homeschooling group I was looking at didn't have much nice to say about it. It is close to being a mob town and awful? :bigeyes Lovely. Rock Springs is another possibility.

[Dawnalex]

I live in wyoming..we live in a very small town...Marbleton/Big piney
I know that there is a midwife in Jackson Hole, I went to SLC to have all my kids (Not becuase of that but becuase im high risk) And there is a great midwife in ogden...

I dont know much about Riverton (havent been there much)
But we go to Rock Springs 1/2 times a month...
Its growing and getting bigger, you might have a hard time finding housing there becuase its growing so fast. But if you catch it at the right time you might get lucky.
RS has alot of shopping, Walmart, Kmart, smiths, albertsons,small mall and i think there getting home depot or something similar. They have some nice resturants and a really nice community center for the kids.
Other than that i dont know a while lot, we usually go for shopping and to "have fun" and we like to go down there for the car shows and the rodeo in the summer.
If you need any help give me a holler, Who is your dh working for? Is he in the Oilfield?
Thats what most everyone around here does...

Oh yeah...
Im not 100% On the HS groups but i think there are a few in RS, but im not totally sure

[kalisis]

Rock Springs?

The homeschooling group I was looking at didn't have much nice to say about it. It is close to being a mob town and awful? :bigeyes Lovely. Rock Springs is another possibility.

Um, yeah. Rock Springs has a bad rap in the rest of the state, but it's really not that bad. I grew up there, and I'm not such a bad example of the human form...ha, I ended up here in the same place you did.

I don't know anything about the mob and during certain times of the year, it can be quite lovely.

We're really seriously considering moving back there to raise our kids.

[judybean]

Yeah, Rock Springs gets a bad rap often because it does have quite a ... shady history to say the least. It was a very wild town (there's a great special on A&E.. about the whole Ed Cantrell thing)... not as bad now, but still the stories carry on. There's actually a great website I just found: http://www.wyomingtalesandtrails.com/rocksprings2.html that has a lot of the history of the town and why it's portrayed as a Wild West town :)

That said... I like Riverton better ;) But, I've been there a lot more often as well.

ETA: I loved learning much of the history of Rock Springs in my Wyoming History class at UW! :)

[Aurora]

Thanks everyone! :love

It doesn't look like we will be heading to Wyoming, at least not now. If we do end up there I will let you know. :D

[Linley's Mom]

I just logged on to the site for the first time trying to locate families living in the Casper area. My husband, daughter and I just moved here in November from VT and what a change it has been!

We are looking to connect with some families that live a more natural lifestyle and have not had much luck. If there are any familes in the area we would love to hear from you! - Jody

[ladybug021305]

You know I actually think that there are alot of women living in wyoming but I don't think half of us have spoken up. I live in Cheyenne and I know a girl that had a midwife... She said she did't like her to much though. Maybe because she wasnt planned to have one im not sure?!?!

[huntercainsmom]

Hi I live in casper, wyoming I have a son Hunter who is 9 weeks old. I don't know of any midwifes but am looking forward to chatting. :slingboy: Mindy

[harvestmama]

Hi everyone! My husband and I (and 2 year old daughter) are considering a move to Star Valley, WY, about 50 minutes from Jackson. I'm trying to find links to homebirth midwives (I've read about the illegal thing), attachment parenting, breastfeeding, etc., but don't seem to be having much success. Is there anyone out there with information? Frankly, I'm quite nervous about making the move, particularly if home birth is not an option.

[PAflower]

Hi ladies. Although I don't live in Wyoming, my family does. My grandmother lives in Rock Springs (not so bad there) and the rest of the family lives in Sheridan. In fact we were just out there a couple of weeks ago.
My husband goes back and forth about moving there. I told him I would only consider it if I went back to school to be a midwife, since there aren't many there. I could also start a LLL and promote my sling business! But, I hope you all have a good summer. It's pretty there right now!

[kalisis]

Hi ladies. Although I don't live in Wyoming, my family does. My grandmother lives in Rock Springs (not so bad there) and the rest of the family lives in Sheridan. In fact we were just out there a couple of weeks ago.
My husband goes back and forth about moving there. I told him I would only consider it if I went back to school to be a midwife, since there aren't many there. I could also start a LLL and promote my sling business! But, I hope you all have a good summer. It's pretty there right now!

Hi Heather. I grew up RS and you're right, it's not that bad. I hate when people who've never been there make judgements about it. I had to stop reading this thread for awhile b/c that post really made me angry. Why beat up on a place that you might move to???

Where do you live now? And what kind of sling business do you have?

[PAflower]

Hi Ashley,
I now live in Pennsylvania. I see you live in NY. A bit far for both of us from WY! :LOL Do you ever go back and visit?
I like your site. It looks very nice. :thumb I actually make and sell my own slings at www.KiddieCradles.com

Good luck with your site!

[kendall'smom]

Hi ladies! All this talk about Rock Springs....I just moved here about a month ago and really like it so far. I don't think it is bad at all. I am from Michigan so it is a huge change of scenery, but other than that, it seems to be just an average town.

Anyway, do any of you actually live here now? I have not been able to find any mom/baby groups at all, let alone one with my parenting style. I would love to find some moms to get together with.

[kalisis]

Hi ladies! All this talk about Rock Springs....I just moved here about a month ago and really like it so far. I don't think it is bad at all. I am from Michigan so it is a huge change of scenery, but other than that, it seems to be just an average town.

Anyway, do any of you actually live here now? I have not been able to find any mom/baby groups at all, let alone one with my parenting style. I would love to find some moms to get together with.

Hey! We should get together. We live in NY primarily, but spend one week every month in Rock Springs. I might start living there at least half the month, maybe more, soon and it's hard. I see all these people I graduated high school with, but I didn't have that many friends and I can see just from all their baby accessories that we wouldn't have that much in common. We just got back, today in fact, from WY, but will return on the 18th. We're planning to be there for Clark's first birthday.

So, let's see if we can get together. That would be fun.

[kendall'smom]

Sounds great! Just shoot me a message when you get to town and we can make plans.

[Idnak]

Hi all! I live in Cheyenne... My DH and I moved here in Dec 2002 when he got a job at the TV station. I'm not nearly as crunchy as you all though :lol:

Kandice

[hjohnson]

Hi ladies! What can you tell me about Cheyenne? DH has sent a resumé to Echostar in hopes of finding work. We are tired of Charlotte.

[katejlogan]

Hello,

I don't live in Cheyenne, but my mom just moved there. It is a large city by Wyoming standards. There is a CC college, two high schools, and I don't know how many middle and elementary schools. I think lots of people from Colorado have been moving there because the cost of living is less and no state income tax, but still w/in commuting distance to Fort Collins.

There is quite a bit to do there, especially in the summer, but you have to look for it. Wyoming is a kinda do your own thing state and while people are very nice it isn't an overally social state.

As for AP parent groups, I haven't heard of any, but that doesn't mean there aren't any. You may want to look to the Morman community. They are a very family oriented group of people and there are usually day cares or babysitters in that group that would be a close match to AP families.

This goes for all communities in Wy. There is a strong Morman population in the state. We are going to send our dd to a pre-school run by a lady who is Morman because she is awesome and has a great program. We aren't Morman, but I'm not worried about that. Don't believe all the horror stories you hear about how kids are teased or excluded from activities if they aren't a member of the church.

Katie

[elanorh]

Hi all!

This is my first post here at MDC. I've lurked for a few days - Mothering was recommended at another more mainstream board I frequent, as a good magazine and I finally tracked one down in a store and found that I was "home!" So, my subscription is sent in and I am ready to settle in.

I'm originally from Montana, Westerner to my bones - married a guy from Sheridan and located here several years ago. He grew up here, and has family here, and my aunt and uncle ranch outside of town so it's comfortable for us that way.

We're both pretty introverted, with extensive friendships elsewhere so didn't expend a lot of energy making friends outside of work before Ina was born (Oct 2003) - so many of our friends HERE have grandchildren now, or no kids at all. My big project this year is to try to find friends with children who we agree with in re: parenting. I'm not sure how I'll go about it, but Ina loves other kids and we need to expand her network beyond the few kids she knows right now....

In terms of midwives, I'm not sure what the law is. I would have liked one, but there wasn't one here when I was pregnant with Ina. We chose a practice which has a nurse practitioner too, and they've recently brought in a nurse/midwife, especially for those who want ncb and bf support etc. Which is pretty cool - although our doc didn't blink an eye about ncb and bf from me anyway. :) And I have a friend who gave birth at home (a quick labor, out of town on a dirt road) and all she had to do was go in for an ER checkout later that day. We tease her that she just did it 'cuz she's cheap. ;) The whole thing cost her a couple hundred dollars.

[PAflower]

- married a guy from Sheridan and located here several years ago.


Howdy! I too married a guy from Sheridan! Perhaps they know each other. It's not that big of a town. :lol

We now live in Pennsylvania but we love the west. His grandmother owns a pottery show there in Rock Springs.

Good luck living there. Perhaps you can email me and we can see if our husbands know each other!

[hjohnson]

Hello,

I don't live in Cheyenne, but my mom just moved there. It is a large city by Wyoming standards. There is a CC college, two high schools, and I don't know how many middle and elementary schools. I think lots of people from Colorado have been moving there because the cost of living is less and no state income tax, but still w/in commuting distance to Fort Collins.

There is quite a bit to do there, especially in the summer, but you have to look for it. Wyoming is a kinda do your own thing state and while people are very nice it isn't an overally social state.

As for AP parent groups, I haven't heard of any, but that doesn't mean there aren't any. You may want to look to the Morman community. They are a very family oriented group of people and there are usually day cares or babysitters in that group that would be a close match to AP families.

This goes for all communities in Wy. There is a strong Morman population in the state. We are going to send our dd to a pre-school run by a lady who is Morman because she is awesome and has a great program. We aren't Morman, but I'm not worried about that. Don't believe all the horror stories you hear about how kids are teased or excluded from activities if they aren't a member of the church.

Katie


Thanks for the info! We are definitely moving there. DH will be working for the Dept. of Transportation. Good Bye Charlotte!

[Momma_Camille]

I know this is a ridiculously hold thread but I just wanted to say HI!

I live in Rawlins, WY. My DH works on the railroad so he goes back and forth between Green River/Rock Springs every other day or so.

We are anticipating a move to Cheyenne (still with the railroad) in the next year or so I think!

I'd love to find some other like-minded mommas around here. I'm so tired of people thinking my sling wearing, cosleeping, no hitting parenting is "wierd".

Add to that the fact that my dd is adopted and not the same race as me..... :lol

The makes me dang near a freak around here ;)

[SarahDC]

Hey all! Great to find you all on here. I just moved to Wyoming with my DH, just graduated from chiropractic school and moved to Thermopolis to practice with my father who's also a chiropractor. We love it so far, it's a really friendly little town.

We'll be TTC next year, so I'll be asking you all about midwives out here!

[judybean]

I was just in Thermopolis yesterday! (ate at Prospector's Pizza after stopping at Nature's Corner)!

[mlally]

Hello

I live in Southern WY, near Baggs, and have lived here all of my life. I wear my baby and have NIP EVERYWHERE (meetings, church, rodeos, school events, state fair, etc.) and have never had anyone give me a hard time. I find people here pretty tolerant.

My ministers wife does homebirth with a midwife in Laramie. I know she has done that three times with no problems at all.

[mamaberd]

Hey All-

Would anyone be interested in a Laramie-Cheyenne group? We could meet every-other-week and alternate cities. ???

I just found out yesterday I am moving back to Laramie! We left when our DD was 4 months old- so I'd love to meet some great MDC mamas there.

We had a homebirth in Laramie with a MW from Colorado- if anyone needs a recommendation for a MW let me know.