[presleysmom]

I am sorry if that is sounds like a stupid question, but I really don't know. I had my first child conventionally (in a hospital, with an epidural etc....), but with my second child I would like to be a little more informed of my options.
Any info. would be apprectiated.
Thanks.

 

[Hayes]

They give a crap?

I had my 1st 3 babes in a hospital with an OB. She showed up towards the end of every labor, checked on me during labor, made me wait for long periods of time for my appts, sometimes with reason,s ometimes without. She never spent more than 5 minutes with me during a visit. Her nurse did most of the work, weighed, measured, listened to heart beat, collected urine.

I had my last baby at home with a midwife. I am plannin gon having this one at home as well. Each of my prenatals is an hour long. We talk about all aspects of my pregnancy and any concerns are actually addressed, not shurgged off. I get answers to my questions and helpful suggestions for problems I might be having. We are friends! My midwife was there for lots of my ds's birth. She was always reight by me during the three hours I pushed. She was able to support me and trust me and not tell me I needed drugs or a c-section.

honestly, my midwfie cares about ME and my baby and not my insurance money or her malpractice insurance.

 

[lizabird]

I had my first 3 or 4 prenatal appts with an OB and then switched to a practice of just midwives. I love my midwives. Even though it's still a group practice, it's at a freestanding birth center and they are totally focused on natural (unmedicated) childbirth and women's wellness, not just "oh, you're here for the standard pregnant woman having a baby" treatment. Certainly not all OB's or all midwives are the same, but I think in general, you'd find that midwives are interested in helping you have the best pregnancy and birth experience that you can have, not just the way they want to do it, but it's more about YOU and YOUR experience. As the above poster said, because they care.

 

[ndunn]

Just ask the c-section rate of your OBGYN and your local hospital, and then ask your midwife what hers is!

 

[magpiedee]

I switched from an OB to a midwife group about 6 months into my pregnancy, and I couldn't be happier. I agree with the previous posters on most points-- seeing my OB took forever and made me feel like a car having an oil change. Get there, wait a while, get inspected and prodded, get out. No warm words or jokes, no humanity, and she always made me feel like my hope for an unmedicated birth was the foolish whim of an uneducated woman.

Seeing my midwives is more like visiting with positive and knowledgeable friends, and I always leave feeling happy and excited about my pregnancy. I did receive several excellent recommendations before making the switch, so i'm confident my decision was right for me, both physically and emotionally.

Good luck finding the right care provider!

 

[oregongirlie]

They see birth as a natural physiological process instead of a potential disaster and don't over-medicalize it. But, they're prepared to deal with an emergency if necessary. They tend to avoid interventions that can cause those emergencies.

 

[mzfern]

Along with what the PPs said, an OB's training is surgery-based. They're going to look for problems and step in to "fix" them. A midwife's training is based on a woman's natural ability to birth her child. They are going to stand by you as you labor and deliver, helping you cope with what you're feeling and allowing you to listen to your body so you can labor most effectively.

That said, beware of MEDwives who talk a good talk but for some reason or another, are way too jumpy with inductions, interventions, risking out, etc.

I

my midwife!

 

[MicheleVet]

To quote the "Baby Catcher" Peggy Vincent:

OBs view pregnancy and childbirth as complicated until proven otherwise. Midwives view pregnancy and childbirth as UNcomplicated and normal until proven otherwise.

She quotes one of the docs she worked with in her book as saying "Normal childbirth is a retrospective diagnosis."

 

[Naughty Dingo]

What I am finding in my experience with my MW, after an OB group and a hospital affiliated Medwife group, is that with my midwife, I am the one who is directing the course of her support and care. She gives me what I need but it is up to me to define what I want. The care is more focused on health, preventive measures, and my emotional needs. I feel like I it is a relationship that isn't about me not having control. It doesn't seem to be about control at all. Also, birth is celebrated as a family, spiritual, wonderful event, not just as the physical process of birth.

ND

 

[mothragirl]

Quote:

Originally Posted by MicheleVet To quote the "Baby Catcher" Peggy Vincent: OBs view pregnancy and childbirth as complicated until proven otherwise. Midwives view pregnancy and childbirth as UNcomplicated and normal until proven otherwise. She quotes one of the docs she worked with in her book as saying "Normal childbirth is a retrospective diagnosis."

i was going to post the same quote! i love it. i switched from OBs to MWs at a free standing birth center at 20 weeks pregnant. best decision i ever made! you can read my birth story in my siggy.

 

[presleysmom]

Quote:

Originally Posted by mothragirl i was going to post the same quote! i love it. i switched from OBs to MWs at a free standing birth center at 20 weeks pregnant. best decision i ever made! you can read my birth story in my siggy.

I just read your birth story and am in tears. Thank you for sharing!