Giving birth in Jacksonville, FL

Quote:
They may not have a choice. Excerpt from Florida Statute 627.6574:

(1) Any group, blanket, or franchise policy of health insurance that provides coverage for maternity care must also cover the services of certified nurse-midwives and midwives licensed pursuant to chapter 467, and the services of birth centers licensed under ss. 383.30-383.335.

According to the Fruitful Vine website, Sharon and Hope are Florida Licensed Midwives under chapter 467.

Hope that helps!

I adore Sharon and Hope, and the whole Fruitful Vine experience. Sharon delivered my son 5 years ago, and will be attending the birth of this baby, due in February. If I risk out or transfer, I will see Dr. Van Scriver, Dr. Slade, or Evelyn Brady, who is a CNM.

I am under the impression that there are no CNMs that do homebirths or even births in free-standing birth centers in our area. I do not know if that is a legislative thing, or just happenstance. Likewise, I do not think any of our local hospitals extend privileges to CPM.

In you situation, I would contact Fruitful Vine to see if they could let me birth at the birth center under my insurance. If that failed, I would see Dr. Van Scriver's practice, and plan to deliver at St. Luke's Family Birth Place, which is NOT a birth center, but is not awful. The majority of the nurses there are supportive of unmedicated labors, and all are, at a minimum, familiar with them, as St. Luke's is the top choice for moms risking out of home birth or transfering from home birth or birth center births in labor. Dr. Van Scriver's practice is very natural birth-friendly, as well.

Best of luck!

Hi! I am also in the Jacksonville Fl area and my hubby is a Coastie so we have Tricare aswell.

I am currently under the care of Dr. Kim Van Scriver whom is the OB who signs off for Sharon (fruitfullvine). Van Scriver would take over if any situation would arise and you had to birth in the hospital (St. Lukes). I have Tricare Prime, but got a referral for Van Scriver because I insisted NAS allow me to have a VBAC+2 CS and they didn't feel comfortable with it so they referred me out. I looked into the fruitfullvine but I am not a candidate because of my 2 cs. I LOVE Van Scriver and her "team" she is SO professional but personable at the same time!! She has one other Dr. there (who is also Super nice) and a midwife (who is a sweet lady as well) I have seen all three throughout this pregnancy (I'm almost 34 weeks) I have only been to St. Lukes hospital because my 3 yr old was sick but they were great!! I have several friends that have had there babies there and loved it! They have also been renovating the birthing center there and should be finished by the end of this month...it is suppose to be very nice!

Also Tricare prime was not going to cover St Lukes but I got it "taken cared of" but they will take Tricare Standard as far as I know. Feel free to PM me with any other questions about the Dr., Tricare, or whatever!

Best wishes!
Eleisha

I went to VanScriver's office. They are ABSOLUTELY wonderful! They were completely supportive of my NCB plan.

There are 2 doctors - VS and Slade, and 1 midwife, Evelyn Brady. They're all very nice and helpful. They were never overly upset by things. Always spent TONS Of time with me.

Slade was at my delivery, and she is great. I ended up with a C/S after a little over 30 hours of labor, 25 hours after broken waters, and 14 hours at 8cm dilated (3 on pitocin w/ no progress). Dr. Slade didn't suggest Pitocin until I had been stagnant for 9 hours, and then, when I asked she was totally fine with me laboring longer without it. When I still had no progress (another hour of heavy walking, shower, walking, squatting, etc), I agreed to Pitocin. And when that never worked (and I was in insane pain from being in bed - NOT good for me in labor) the c/s.

She was in the hospital for 24 hours AFTER Jack's birth, so I know she wasn't hurrying me along, and even my Bradley instructor agreed that my C was probably necessary. Dr. Slade already discussed VBAC options with me and is completely supportive.

I'd HIGHLY recommend their practice if Fruitful Vine doesn't work out for you.

BTW - does anyone know if you can deliver at FV if you've already had 1 VBAC? I REALLY want a waterbirth, if possible after my next child.

Quote:

When I spoke to Van Scriver for my meet and great apt. (I paid out of pocket to make sure she was what I really was looking for) she made it sound like you can VBAC+1 with FV, but I guess it is on a case by case base...I couldn't even though I have successfully VBAC twice after my first CS (breech) because I had another CS in Sept 2007 for fetal distress and our baby did not make it. So she wouldn't feel comfortable with birthing me...(I really was too scared to have a HB after that but I was desperately looking for someone to support my VBAC+2 (this was before I had found Van Scriver).

~Hope this helps!

Eleisha

Quote:
I believe they have started participation in a study regarding Free Standing Birth Center births and their success rates in first VBACs.

If you have had a hospital or home or birth center VBAC already, they will assist at your home or birth center 2ndVBAC, I know for certain.

Quote:
Really? Is that a newer law? I had a friend do her first VBAC at Baptist at the beaches under the care of a CNM, but that was a little over 7 years ago.