looking for water birth in hospital setting NJ

Monmouth Medical is used to women bringing in their birth tubs.

Jersey Shore in Neptune just purchased their own to keep. You just need to but an accessories kit to use it.

Unless something's change in the last year, the only other option for a hospital water birth in NJ is Hackettstown Regional Medical Center:

http://www.hrmedical.org/ChildbirthF...thFamilyCenter

They have large jacuzzi tubs in 2 of their LDR rooms, and regular tubs in the rest. Water births always get priority for the big tubs, and it's a small hospital, so there's never a concern. Hackettstown midwives are wonderful as well...here's a link to their water birth info::

http://www.hackettstownmidwives.com/...dex=9&tabid=17

That's awesome to hear about Monmouth Medical and Jersey Shore. I'm having a homebirth, but it's great to know there are some other options in this area!

Morristown Memorial Hospital in Morristown! They have one room with a big lovely jacuzzi tub and another portable one. It's a beautiful hospital and the staff was great. We delivered with midwives there.

Can you actually birth in the tub at Morristown or just labor in it? I hope you can birth in it...that would be great!

I guess this is too far for you but Elmer hospital also has a birthing tub. From what I understand every room has a tub that you can labor in but there is only one tub for delivery.

I'm using Hackettstown Midwives and having a water birth at the hospital there. I met with Lisa once and loved her. I have my first prenatal appt on Tues with Cindy!

I traveled an hour to have my son at Hackettstown, all of the midwives were great, Roxy was on duty for us. We loved it there--both my husband and my 3-year-old son were there for the birth and stayed with me the whole time I was there--2 days. We had our own room with 2 beds. I did not have the water birth I had planned (long story) but due to the very difficult birth I am certain that had I been elsewhere I would have definitely ended up with a c-section. The baby was born with his elbow hooked over the top of his head and was not coming down, in distress, etc.--in the end I didn't even tear (and he weighed 9lbs 7oz!) I guess what I'm trying to say is that if I were to have another, and even if I didn't want a water birth, I would travel to Hackettstown again. Everyone was so friendly, the facilities are wonderful, they didn't blink an eye to no vaxes/eye ointment/etc. and Dr Chi the pediatrician was amazing!!

the not-tearing bit was amazing to me, since his arm/elbow did come out first, and he was so big. My husband said that the midwife was really working on "something" down there, stretching things out and stuff. With my first, who was 6 lbs 15 oz I "Needed" an episiotomy, I am still mad about that, and the recovery was painful. If you have any other questions let me know. and by the way Congratulations!

A friend here in town just drove an hour to birth at Hackettstown and was beyond thrilled with the experience. Her son had some issues that required transfer to another hospital (I think Morristown) but she has nothing bad to say about the whole thing.

I know she's on here, but not sure how frequently she's here lately (with a newborn!). Also not sure if she did water birth...

HTH

Just curious... if your due date is a bit over a month away, is it too late to switch to a different midwife group and hospital?

I'm a little nervous that my midwife is going to give me a line like "well, you can use the tub for 'pain management', but..." but what? but you're going to expect me to climb out of the tub and get on a table to actually push the kid out? ...and if she does, after reading all of this, I am going to want to look in to Hackettstown, and I'm a little worried about the lateness of the hour here, if you get what I mean.

-Amanda

No, it's never too late! You should make an appointment with the Hackettstown midwives and talk to them...I'm sure they will set your mind at ease. I switched to them at about 24/28 weeks and have a friend who switched much later than that. Good luck!!

I also joined the Hackettstown midwives at about 24 weeks, and asked if it was unusually late. They told me that they had women switch to them in their last trimester. I agree that it's never too late to join, Good luck!