Who did you birth with? [Archive] - MotheringDotCommunity Forums

Elismama

09-06-2002, 09:32 AM

I lived in Maryland when Eli was born. We used birthcare- they are in Alexandria, Virginia. They do homebirths and have a birthcenter as well.

You can find out more about them here: http://www.birthcare.org/
Alice Bailes was the midwife who was with us when Eli was born, but they are all awesome women!

The midwives there are amazing, the atmosphere is so cozy and comfortable, and I had a wonderful birth experience. The only drawback was that it was a bit of a treck- 45min-1hour each way. But well worth it.

Best wishes,
jeanie

lotusdebi

09-06-2002, 03:39 PM

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UltimateSerj

09-08-2002, 11:08 AM

i had both of my girls there too!! and i am going to have my next there also, i had 2 great water births there!!(my oldest was there first water birth at special beginnings! nice to see some one else who used them!!!

but they are also under the same direction as the Baltimore birth center..so since she said she didn't want to use them again she may not care for Special beginnings, or you might!

susan

smaug

09-09-2002, 09:22 AM

Hi! Baltimore is the closest to us (an hour!) and we are returning to Union Memorial for a waterbirth (hopefully) with this little guy. We ended up at Union due to complications, but were really impressed with how accomodating they were and supportive of the kind of birth we wanted. Unfortunately, Baltimore Birth Center lost priveleges there. That is the main reason we are going with Slone. She has a great reputation at Union. I was also disheartened that, in the 2 weeks my son and I were in Union following his birth, the director/owner of BBCenter didn't visit or even send word of any kind. The hospital nurse that had been my labor nurse came to visit us often. Visited my son, and came to congratulate us when he got moved "up" to the peds unit! There are some wonderful people there.
If we ever live within close proximity to a decent hospital (our local hospital is horrendous) I would like to try and have a homebirth. Until then .......
Thank you for your responses and links!
UltimateSerj-- with your second birth, did you find the water to help with the intensity of birth? My only fear of birthing this time is that I always hear how much more "intense" second time is. I am afraid of feeling like the baby is going to come shooting out or something. :confused:

Monica

09-09-2002, 10:30 PM

Special Beginnings here too! Just 7 weeks ago and it was fabulous! Would do it again in a heartbeat.

madawna

09-22-2002, 02:04 AM

I was at the Balto Birth ctr the first time too-- and had a great waterbirth there. I will be homebirthing in Jan. I knew I wanted to be at home this time but also a big deciding factor was their current privledges being only at Md. Gen. ( I wouldn't want to go there for a splinter.) Let me know if you'd like info on homebirth. I teach chilldbirth classes and have had a few clients of Kathy Slones-- They have all had wonderful pregnancy/birth experiencs with her. Will you be using a doula there?
best wishes for a great birth!:love dawn

smaug

09-22-2002, 10:31 AM

Hi madawna! Congrats on your pregnancy! I would not be comfortable having a homebirth here in Carroll County. The hospital is horrendous.:sinister But we are moving in couple years, and if we have another baby I will definitely want a homebirth. I really loved the two midwives (and student midwife) that I had at Balto. Birth Center. I was so sad when they lost their priveledges at Union Memorial. So I went with Kathy on a recommendation from a friend. But I don't feel like I have had as much time to get to know her as I did at the birth center. I kinda feel my husband and I are the team and everyone else is just support and experience. When we had the complications with my son I felt confident in my midwives and the hospital nurses, but I felt kinda detached from them as well. I had a great doula and my dh was amazing so I luckily had no fear. That gave me a lot of confidence that whatever happens I can get in a relaxed state and let go. We are really low on money, so we are going with the hospital doula. Maybe I am over-confident, but we are mostly just having her for picture taking and to give dh a break. I don't really have a girlfriend who can be there ,which saddens me a bit. I love having a lot of female energy around me. :lady We are planning a waterbirth. Although, after my first birthing, I will be so happy just to hold my baby when he is born. I will find so much gratitude in that!! :love who are you having at your homebirth?

Clarity

09-22-2002, 06:42 PM

I heard there are some good midwives with privileges at Mercy in Baltimore... and that they waterbirth there? Sis used an not-entirely-legal CPM based out of baltimore at home. (remember you could always birth at a friend's house closer to a hospital you like?) I like BBC, but was dismayed at their problems with hospitals. I was originally with the Maternity Center in Bethesda and was about to switch to Special Beginnings. ( thought they were partially funded by North Arundel Hospital? So the BBC-connection info is new to me.) Has anyone here delivered at their backup, Anne Arundel? I ended up at Shady Grove with MCA's backup docs, Simmonds, et al, who I thought were fine for Dr.s. I have heard VERY good things about BirthCare.

madawna

09-22-2002, 09:33 PM

Hi smaug! Thanks for the congrats! Not planning on a birth party or anything for the homebirth-- just our little family of 3 ( I have a 4 yr old) and the midwife and maybe a girl friend dropping by at some point... In case you don't know, I just wanted to mention that there are some doulas out there who will offer services at reduced rates (and sometimes free) in cases of need--or if they need births for their certification. So you might want to check around and make sure that you really dig whomever is being there with you! I wish you the best for a sweet and uncomplicated birth!!! Dawn:love

UltimateSerj

09-22-2002, 09:45 PM

yeah mercy does water births, but i really don't care for them that much (my mom was the IBCLC there for 5 yrs till march.)

as for special beginnings yes they are funded by north arundel hospital, 2 of the women who are on the board at special beginnings are also at baltimore birth center..(can't think of names) i have had 2 babies at special beginnings and my mom now works with them, so i know there whole history. i haven't delivered at anne arundel but i have severel friends that have and from what i hear its not to bad, the only bad thing is how they treated my friend when she transfered from her home birth to there,(she was trying for a vba2c , and she had some problem and she decided she had enough and went to the hosp.) anyway they treated her like she was a bad mom.

TraceyMc

09-23-2002, 10:43 PM

Hi Smaug
Two friends from my birth class had Kathy Sloane and they both liked her a lot. My dd was born at the Birth Center and it was great, but that was 5 years ago. I did not know they lost privl. at Union Memorial, that's too bad. Congrats and good luck!

Tracey

candiland

10-04-2002, 10:24 PM

HI! I've heard good things about Kathy Slone. A friend of mine used her for her first, but did a homebirth with #2 and #3. Another friend of mine did BBC for her first and a homebirth with Kathy for her second.
I've doula'd for women at BBC quite a few times, and I have to say, I love them there! I, myself, had a homebirth with a CPM for my two births (I live in Balto., in Pikesville).
Anyhow, ask her, totally confidentially!, about homebirth. Since you already birthed once, she may be willing to take you on as a homebirth client with hospital priveliges if an emergency arose. (Extremely unlikely, BTW) And if you want info. about my midwife, PM me with your number. She'll call you back in a week or so.
Good luck!

Moon

10-05-2002, 04:20 AM

I had my first at Maternity Center. I'd recommend it over a hospital birth but I wasn't thrilled.

There is a great new midwife in Alexandria who does home births and id willing to travel. She studied in Tennessee where it is legal and then moved back here for hubby/kids. Please pm me if you want her phone number.

smaug

10-08-2002, 08:30 AM

I feel very comfortable with Kathy, and hear nothing but wonderful things about her. I got very attached to Tina and Evelyn at BBC. I would love to birth with them this time, but I have some fear to overcome. I didn't think this would happen, but I am afraid of a repeat occurance after such bad complications with our son. He would have died if we hadn't been in a hospital with such advanced equipment. I know this birth could be totally complication-free, but I feel more comfortable doing this one back at Union. Then if I have a "normal" birth, I think I will feel like I can birth without complications. It is weird, I have this nagging feeling that I am not "meant" to have an uncomplicated birth! It is my mind playing tricks, I know, but it is there. I think this birth will be very healing if all goes well.
Thank you Moon and candiland for the info on your midwives. I am really hoping for a waterbirth. But I will be happy just to be able to hold this little guy after he is born!! Couldn't do that the first time, so any little "normal" thing will feel sooooo great!!!
:love

elfie

10-09-2002, 06:14 AM

I used Kathy (at Mercy) with my first and even though the birth was very ong and hard (I ended up pushing 6 hours!) if it were not for Kathy I surely, no doubt would have had a c-section. I'm due with #2 in early March and have gone back and forth about homebirth. I was a practicing doula for a few years before my dd was born and am a great supporter and have attended many homebirths that were just wonderful.
Anyway, Kathy is a wonderful wonderful experienced midwife. She works with another midwife now, Julie I think is her name. She is great too and very warm. I give high recomendations to both, but I will tell you Kathy can be somewhat rigid in the sense of not mother- earthy warm and fuzzy. I happened to have a great support system with me that fulfilled that warm mothering need, so i appreciated the take charge experience and solidiness of Kathy's demeanor at my birth. It was a focus that I counted on when I needed (only at times) to share the lead in my birth. I think that her straight face can be intimidating to first time moms, but I still would recommend herwhole heartleley to someone looking for a midwife/hospital birth. If you want more in fo you can e-mail me.

BTW, I think I know some of you!......you can e-mail me if ya know who I am! hbelz@hotmail.com

Hilary

maguire708

02-20-2003, 09:55 PM

I delivered at the Baltimore Birth Center a year ago.... will most likely do it again! I consider it nearly home birth but with the added benefits of 1) jacuzzi tub, and 2) no clean up. I had some major distrust of my body (I have MS) and ended up pushing for over 3 hours. If I'd been at home I would have panicked and if I'd been in a hospital I would have panicked, been given drugs, and I really think I would have ended up with a C. The BBC offered me plenty of support and security for a NORMAL birth experience. Feel free to email me if anyone has any questions.
julie

ntengwall

05-10-2003, 07:54 PM

I had my first at Anne arundel Medical with Women's OB (HORRIBLE!), had my second at Special Beginnings in Jan of '97 (great birth, but still not home) and just had my third at home in July with a WONDERFUL lay midwife who I will not name to protect her, but feel free to e-mail me privately to get her name. As incredible as the birth center was, it couldn't even begin to compare to my homebirth with my 2 boys and my AquaDoula tub (that I gave birth in). I live in Arnold and teach Bradley classes and do some doula work.

nancy926

05-19-2003, 06:43 AM

we gave birth at the BBC in Nov 02. I had a great experience (Evelyn was the midwife on call when we came in) and would consider going there again. however, we did not have a close relationship with one of the midwives, and i have heard bad/horror stories from other women who worked with this midwife. A woman in our Bradley class gave birth at the BBC with this midwife, and pushed for 10 (!!!) hours. Then Evelyn showed up for the shift change, and her baby was born within 30 minutes. She is pretty sure it was stress-related because she did not like this midwife. (Well, that and her son was almost 11 lbs at birth!)

As for the MD General relationship -- I had an MC in 10/01 while I was at MD General for a diagnostic ultrasound (couldn't hear the heartbeat, spotting for 3 days). I went from the US room to the ER to the OR - had to have a D&C and the whole thing. Everyone at MD Gen was awesome. Very friendly and supportive. I know people have said bad things about MD Gen but this was my only experience w/them and it was positive.

Nancy

supernaturalmom

09-10-2003, 05:02 PM

Greetings!

My husband and I went to Birthcare in Alexandria as well for our prenatal care. We planned for a home birth but ended up transferring to Birthcare due to a slow opening cervix after 20 hours of labor (and the water had been broken for more than 32 hours). We used a prostagladin gel and everything sped along from there. The baby was posterior and so was the cervial opening so she was a bit stuck.

This is why we couldn't be more pleased with the care and support we received from Marsha (our midwife and co-owner of Birthcare). If I had been in the hospital I would've probably ended up on the receiving end of some unnecessary medical intervention (from pitocin to ceasarian). Marsha allowed me the time to labor (while she woke and slept on our couch) and only suggested a transfer when it looked like no more progress was being made in the dialation department. My husband thinks the change of scenery (going to Birthcare) helped us regroup from laboring at home for so long.

I can't recommend Birthcare enough. They also do general GYN care and gave me the only comfortable pap smear I've ever had! :-)

mama_al

09-11-2003, 12:47 PM

DS: 1997, Shady Grove w/OB. YUCK!!! Would not recommend Shady Grove. An all around totally bad experience.

DD#1: 1999,with Gail Chapin at The Birth Place in Hagerstown. She has since moved to PA, but, well, I won't say anything. We didn't "click" like I wanted us to.

DD#2: 2OOO, Baltimore Birth Center, with Eileen. I had a good experience there. Didn't get the waterbirth I wanted, because I went faster than they thought I would.

Natalie was born in December of 2OOO and we had the most wonderful student midwife, Lexi. She did most of the attending. I loved her! Does anyone else know her or know where she is now? I think she was from Massachusetts and moved back shortly after DD#2 was born.

WATER IS AMAZING!! I spent time in the tub with DD#1 and it made it go so much faster and got rid of pain until I went into transition. With DD#2, I got in the tub at home, until it was time to go to BBC. I couldn't have done it without water. I didn't want to get out. I just felt this urge, this need to be in the water. The contractions were like waves to me and the water helped me to visualize waves and get me through them.

I also went to this lady, Joann Loeliger, who did a sort of guided visualization with me. That made such a difference in how I handled my third labor. I have numbers for her, but I don't know if they are good at this point. She used to be with GBMC, I think it was something like the Wellness Center or Center for Intergrated Medicine. During the meditation, or whatever it was, she had me picture the placenta in my body. I went for a sonogram a few weeks later and the placenta was esactly where I "saw" it! My session with her helped me to really get in tune with my body. I'll try to track down some info on her.

Who is the homebirth lay midwife who practices out of Baltimore? Most of my friends have used her, but I am drawing a blank on her name. I think it is also Kathy. I know she is highly recommended. I met her once and really liked her. I just never used her because we had insurance that would pay for a birth center, but we couldn't pay a lay midwife out of pocket, even though I really wanted her.

I don't know Kathy Sloane, but I have never heard anything negative about her. It's just that she practices out of a hospital, and I never wanted to go back to one!

ntengwall

09-11-2003, 02:45 PM

Are you thinking of Karen Carr? That is who I used for my homebirth and I LOVED her!!:hippie

UltimateSerj

09-12-2003, 08:43 PM

oh wow you went to biirth place and didn't click!!??? wow
i had exactly one appointment with gail and came home in tears and went right back to my midwifes in arnoldwhich is an 1 1/2 from where i am in smithsburg..
Eileen Is really nice she is at Special beginnings often and friends of my moms!

Water birth rocks:D
a friend of mine used karen carr to very nice lady..not quite my type though,

susan

ntengwall

09-13-2003, 09:36 AM

I used Special Beginnings with my second and had a very nice birth with them. I knew though that I wanted a homebirth with my third (I didn't want to have to go anywhere and didn't want to deal with all the logistics of bringing the boys to the birth center since I knew I wanted them at the birth). The first few times I met Karen Carr, I thought she wasn't my type either. Totally NOT touchy feely, BUT in the end, that is what I loved about her!! I didn't want a midwife who was going to be hovering over us (we actually considered an unassisted birth!) It was perfect...she had been to 2 other births that day, so she came to our house around 1 pm and took a shower, my mom made her an omlet, and then she went to bed in our guest room. When she heard me going through transition (you couldn't miss the maoning), she got up and came in for the birth. If someone where interested in an unassisted birth, but not quite there yet, she's definelty the one to have!

pixiepunk

09-24-2003, 09:12 AM

i birthed with the midwives at the Maternity Center in Bethesda and had a fantastic experience! I *love* them, and plan to continue seeing them for routine care, and to deliver any future babes with them as well.

tandemmama

09-24-2003, 11:32 PM

Since her name is out here already, I will say that I birthed with Karen as well. :D It went beautifully and I agree that she doesn't rub you the right way at first, but it's just what I needed. When I was pushing, and she was directing me, it just didn't feel right and I asked if she could stop talking to me and just let me do it. She stopped directing and let me do what I wanted. I liked that :)

DoulaCindy

10-21-2003, 08:09 PM

As a local area doula, I LOVE attending births at birth centers for exactly the reason women choose to have their babies there: more intimate environment, dedicated, continuous support from professionals (who stay low key) and freedom to birth the way they want to.

I also had my daughter at Special Beginnings two years ago...it was a fantastic experience. I highly recommend both local area birth centers: Special Beginnings in Arnold, MD and Bay Area Midwifery Center in Annapolis, MD.

Feel free to contact me if you would like more insight into birth centers....

Also...feedback concerning Kathy Slone has always been positive among the doula community!

Sincerely,

Cindy Sauerwein, CD (DONA)
Chesapeake Birth Companions
www.ChesapeakeBirthCompanions.com

elfie

10-26-2003, 04:37 PM

I'm guessing you may have had the baby already and was wondering who you ended up birthing with?

I had my new little guy with Kathy again in March and it ws such an incredible experience! Kathy was so wonderful and I just fell in love with her as a midwife all over agin. This birth was quick and was one of the last births at Union Memorial so it was pretty empty. The water tub was great. And I just had about as nice of a hospital birth as you could have. Kathy was warm and fuzzy when I needed it, funny when I needed humor and stern when I needed guidence.

So obviously I recomend her with high regards!

ntengwall

11-06-2003, 10:08 AM

I live in Arnold and I had my first with sOBs at the hospital at Clatanoff Pavillion (Anne Arundel Med)--horrible, but natural birth! Second was at Special Beginnings and it was great, BUT...no where near as wonderful as my home-waterbirth with my lay midwife last summer!!!!!

jogirl

11-13-2003, 08:32 PM

I'm quite a bit further south than most of you, but I gave birth at St. Mary's Hospital in St. Mary's County last January. Carol DeHaven, CNM, caught my daughter after a beautiful natural birth. My midwife and doula paved the way for a great experience and the hospital was fine with all of my decisions ('cept they made me ride the wheelchair out... I wanted to walk to the car!).

smaug

11-14-2003, 09:26 AM

elfie, what do you mean the last birth at union???

does Kathy not use union anymore?? I did have a wonderful pregnancy/birth experience with Kathy and Julie. I am so glad I went to them. Julie was on call the morning I went into labor with Julian. I started labor aroung 5:30 a.m. (although I think I was in very light labor all night but slept through it) and had Julian at 10:20 a.m. I had him in the birthing tub at union. The room was so darn hot. I wanted to get out of the tub a few times it was so hot. But Julie kept reminding me I had wanted to have a waterbirth. One of the doors on the tub came loose and water was pouring out into the room and corridor. Julie was leaning over really helping me not to tear (I had a 4th degree tear w/first babe) and then she really had to help get him out when his shoulders got stuck. So water was everywhere. I didn't even notice until after the birth. But it caused a bit of panic to everyone else. He was a ten pounder and I had a couple little tears. Julie was awesome. I really miss them. Can't wait for my next pap smear!:thumb

ntengwall

11-14-2003, 10:20 AM

Union Memorial does not do births anymore! Their L&D ward was closed down. Probably because so many uneducated women would rather go to the "chop shop" at GBMC!

maguire708

09-14-2007, 09:20 AM

I meant to post this earlier... I had my third babe in March with Evelyn (and Lora) of Alternative Birth Choices. She also was with us during my first birth in 2002 at the Baltimore Birth Center. My home birth was very fast and relaxed and I continue to recommend Evelyn for anyone looking for homebirth in Maryland.

phathui5

09-14-2007, 01:18 PM

2000- St Joe's in Towson with the midwives at Women's Health associates. Medwives would be the proper term, as they were very medical and into hospital policy. I wouldn't use them again.

2003- Baltimore Birth Center. I wish they were still open. They were great.

2005- Special Beginnings. Another good experience. I would use them again if we lived closer. My only problem is that I'm usually anemic during pregnancy and they kept saying that if my iron didn't go up then they couldn't deliver me at the birth center. Luckily, it did.

2007- KC. The best so far. Her assistants are wonderful. I loved being at home and feeling in control of my surroundings.

lolo'smom

09-14-2007, 03:59 PM

[QUOTE=phathui5;9175465]2000- St Joe's in Towson with the midwives at Women's Health associates. Medwives would be the proper term, as they were very medical and into hospital policy. I wouldn't use them again.
QUOTE]

I also had dd at st. joes with Mary Knauer of WHA whom I loved (I switched from Prevas). I heard someone else say they didn't liker her here once, what a different experience! She was gentle, patient and let me lead the way. I've moved since then and haven't decided where to have #2 (due in march) but it probably at Easton Memorial with Dr. Liu, DO.

I wish there was some sort of birthing center in Easton, annapolis is a 45 minute drive, at least.

womancaredoula

09-16-2007, 08:49 AM