[alyssacorinne]

This is my first post on here, so I apologize for just barging in with a request! My husband and I are expecting our first baby in November, and we're planning to move from Boston to the Northampton area in August.<br><br>
It's looking like we may be in Easthampton, but nothing is final yet. Anyway, my husband and I will both be working from home but will still need childcare of some sort, at least on a part-time basis. Are there any local mamas who could share what they're paying for childcare, either for a nanny or an in-home daycare? We just need to figure out a budget and need a ballpark figure to start with.<br><br>
We'll also need to find a new midwife when we move. I've done some research on the local hospitals (sad that there isn't a birthing center option) and it seems like Holyoke might be our best bet, though I've heard about recent positive changes at Cooley-Dickinson. Any recent feedback on either place, or specific midwife recommendations? Availability of a birthing pool is really important to me. For a variety of reasons I'm not considering homebirth this time around, though I would consider it for future births.<br><br>
Thanks in advance for any feedback you can provide!

 

[joyrises]

Hi, Alyssa-<br>
Congrats on your upcoming move to western Mass! It's a great place to birth & raise kiddos.<br><br>
I've attended births as a doula at both Holyoke & Cooley- the midwives are wonderful at both places. Depending what town you end up in, Franklin in Greenfield might be worth looking into, too. They also have a fantastic midwifery practice (Pioneer) and a birthing tub that they regularly use.<br><br>
There's a great resource on mass.gov (go to that site and search for 'birth data'), a record of birth statistics by facility.<br><br>
Good luck!

 

[judecorp]

I am in Easthampton. We moved here from Boston almost 4 years ago. Sorry I'm late to the game, I don't check around here all that often. <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/smile.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="smile"><br><br>
We're expecting our second in November also. We're delivering at Cooley Dickinson but had our first daughter at Franklin Medical Center. Feel free to PM.

 

[lthw]

Hi there,<br>
We moved to Northampton from Providence two years ago and have loved living here. Had a homebirth with #2 here in Northampton, and happy to give you my midwife's name if you're interested. Feel free to PM me!

 

[mamaluvs]

Had both my babies at Holyoke and I couldn't have asked for a better experience. Love the midwives and nurses there.