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The Birthplace at Wellesley is closing August 31st!

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#81 ·
Hi Ladies.

Since the Birthplace closed and I was planning on birthing there in Nov, DH and I chose to go to the North Shore Birth Center in Beverly. I was very sad and upset when we felt we were forced to leave some midwives that we really liked and a practice that we felt was so wonderful, but we really want a birth center birth and I can't believe that the birth at NWH will be the same as a birth center birth.
Yesterday was my first appt at the North Shore Birth Center in Beverly and it was fantastic. The staff that I met were the most friendly people and answered every question that DH and I had. In addition they are trying to help us get Free Care since we don't have insurace, that is something the Wellesley was unwilling to do. Wellesely wanted all the money up front which was very difficult for us and they would't budge at all when we asked if we could go on a payment plan that would last after the birth. Plus the total cost of care at the birthplace + delivery was $6500 they said that NHW was MUCH more than that.. so I can't imagine haveing to pay more than that upfront prior to my delivery..

So North Shore gave us some papers that had their statistics as well as the Beverly Hospital about birthing and I think these stats are GREAT and wanted to share them.

2004
Midwife Care at the Hospital and Birth Center:
-Csection rate 15%
- Of women starting at the Birth Center C-Section 4%
- VBAC success rate 66%
- 1 vacuum assisted birth (0.5%)
-Transfer rate Birth Center to Hospital 21% (most commen reason need for labor augmentation)
- Birth Center having pitocin induction 12%
-Birth Center pitocin augmentation 20%
- 15% Birth Center clients had epidural at the hospital
-8% had spinal
-1 woman (0.5%) had general anesthesia
-99% were successfully breastfeeding upon discharge
-Episiotomy rate 5%

All Births Hospital and Birth Center (docs and midwives)
2004
2,230 births
- 17% C -section rate
- 11% repeat C-section
-80% of all women who had previous c-scetions who were candidates for vaginal were successful
-452 of the 2230 births were wtih CNMs (~20%)
-80% had continuous external fetal monitoring
- less than 1% required continal internal fetal monitoring
-0% reguired forcep delivery
-22% induction
-additional 37% had labor augmented
- 94% received IV fluids
-13% Episiotomy
-57% epidural
-19% spinal
-less than 1% general anesthesia
-78% were breastfeeding at discharge

I was impressed with these numbers. And impressed with the care that I received there. So far so good and I think DH and I made the right decision to continue our care there.

Linda
29weeks! Expected arrival 11-16-05
 
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#82 ·
My husband and I really wanted to give birth at the birthing center and my due date is tomorrow. Of course this baby has not decided to come out in time. I do however feel better about the hospital (than I did before) because the midwives will still be there and giving me the care that I desire.

We wrote our nasty letters to the doctors and gave the midwives a copy of it. They were glad that we decided to write something...sad thing is we haven't heard from them. It really sucks that they didn't extend the center care to last trimester mothers leaving us all in the lurch. It's really not a good practice motto.
 
#84 ·
It would be impossible to stay open without enough staff. It's also possible to hire new staff, or to deal with clients in a more careful manner. I've heard from several people who were really outraged by that curt letter that went out announcing the Birthplace's closure, and I would have been furious too if I hadn't heard about it somewhere else first. It was so simple and dismissive, and dealt so little with the impact of this decision on the clientele that were being served. Hospital birth, no matter how hard the midwives work to make it wonderful, is not the same as birth center birth. It's not the fault of the midwives-- it's just the reality. And that reality needs to be acknowledged by the Birthplace staff, including the doctors. When it gets brushed off as really not that big a deal, it's invalidating to the women who have thought very carefully about their birth plans and who have chosen not to be in a hospital. It's hard, and I know the midwives must be worried and sad. But I also think that this practice needs to make room for the anger and sadness that are being felt by the women they're working with in order to make a successful transition to hospital-based midwifery.
 
#86 ·
Yep, it was very short. It just said:

Quote:
Dear Clients:

Regretfully, because of staffing shortages we must indefinitely close The Birthplace at Wellesley effective August 31, 2005.

The midwifery staff of Women's Health Associates will continue to provide all prenatal care at the same Wellesley office location, and all our births will occur at Newton-Wellesley Hospital until further notice.

We will continue to work tirelessly to ensure the safe, private, joyful birth experience that you our hospital and birth center clients deserve.

Cordially,

Co-Medical Director Paul Richer

Co-Medical Director Paul Gaither
 
#88 ·
I was really upset when I got that letter too. I actually found out here before I got my letter in the mail. I felt that it was so impersonal and cold. I think that is what got me so upset at first. I was outraged that they didn't tell me in person (I was just there a few days earlier for an appt). It is strange because I had a weird "feeling" something was going on at my appt because the MW seemed very rushed and just not 100% with us during the appt she totally seeemed pre-occupied and at some point told us that BJ was leaving. Plus the receptionist kept telling me not to pay the $3000 that was due for my birth. She kept making BIG EYES at me and saying "OH don't pay that much money" when we owed them $6500 by that date, and before they were all a-ok with taking our money. So we left them the check and luckily they never cashed it and gave it back to DH when he went there in person to see what was going on. PLUS they made me do the urine test and the weight check in the medical side, and told me that was they way it would be for now on and apparently the Birthplace's bathroom where I normally do that there was a letter posted by BJ saying that she was leaving.. but I never read it because I went to the medical side bathroom.
hm.. I guess signs of distress were there.. I guess it would have been difficult to have a midwife call everyone and tell them, but that letter just really bugged me. It still bugs me. ARGH. We did officially make the switch to North Shore and I like them a lot. I just hate seeing a Birth Center close. My relatives and friends who are strongly against Birth Centers and Homebirths were OVER-JOYED to say "I told you so" about it. eh. ok.. enough with my rant!!

Linda
 
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#89 ·
I am happy and sad to say that my son was the last baby born at the Birthplace. It was a beautiful experience after so much stress. I feel for all of the mamas and babies who have been denied this birth option.

There is hope of another birth center in the future and I pray they can make it happen. I can't imagine ever birthing in a hospital again.

I am sorry to hear that people felt treated so coldly. The letter from the docs was pretty unsympathetic. On the other hand, I felt very well supported by the midwives and Grace. They were always available to me and really helped me through the grieving process even as they were mourning themselves.

I wish all of the Birthplace clients peace in their births and their healing process.
 
#90 ·
Congrats, allbrightmama! You must have gotten in just under the wire.
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If you ever write up the birth story, please post a link here, I'd love to read about the last birth at the Birthplace.
 
#92 ·
Quote:

Originally Posted by allbrightmama
I am happy and sad to say that my son was the last baby born at the Birthplace. It was a beautiful experience after so much stress.
How wonderful for your family! I too would love to hear your birth story!

What time was dc born? Who was in attendance? And all of the details of course!
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#93 ·
I was wondering who the last one would be! I had planned on birthing there but DD decided to come a little faster than could be managed and she was born in my kitchen. I have to say, though that Valerie was amazing and supported me so much on the phone.

Congrats, allbrightmama!
Image
 
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#94 ·
Wow! Congrats, Kerrie! That sounds like an amazing birth.

I had my first appointment since the closing announcement yesterday. Another drawback to the closing, besides having the hospital as the only option for birth, is that clients don't get a post-birth home visit from a midwife anymore.
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#95 ·
Kerrie - Congratulations to you! Your kitchen delivery may be one of the reasons I was able to birth there. I was told to come in sooner rather than later because there were two moms the previous week who didn't make it to the Birthplace before their babies were born. Maybe I will see you at the Tea?
 
#96 ·
My water broke on Sept 1st the day after the center closed and had to deliver at Newton-Wellelesy. At first my husband and I were agravated because had it broke 24 hours earlier we could have delievered at the center.
This is why they had to close the center.
Valarie was on 48 hour duty. She was with me the entire time of my labor and birth - but she was also jumping back and forth between numerous people. She was increadible but my husband saw her leave afte the 48 hour duty and said she looked exhausted.
There is NO WAY that she could have been doing this at both the birthing center and the hospital. She would not have been able to do her job well. The care I received was increadible. I was able to labor the way I wanted and deliver the way I wanted. The hosptial Nurses were wonderful. It was an eye opener.
We had also written a letter to the doctors who sent out the notice and later when we met with him about our son, apologized because we just didn't understand the situation until we saw it. Valarie and Jen were the only two full time Midwives juggling the situation at the hospital the entire time I was there.
So, I guess it's something for everybody to think about. Until they get more staff, it is unsafe for both the mother and the midwives and just unpratical to have the center open.
 
#97 ·
Thanks for sharing your experience, Lactavia. Congratulations! I hope others will post about their upcoming births at NWH and at the birth center in Beverly. I'm newly pregnant with #2 and unsure where I'll go for care and the birth this time. I'd really appreciate hearing the real-deal, KWIM?
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#98 ·
I would definatly go back for care with the midwives and I would definatly give birth again at Newton-Wellelsly with the midwives. It was great. I also plan to do my post-partum with the midwives and keep them for my regular obgyn care as well.
 
#99 ·
Quote:
So, I guess it's something for everybody to think about. Until they get more staff, it is unsafe for both the mother and the midwives and just unpratical to have the center open.
Oh, I completely agree, and I don't think anyone here was suggesting otherwise. I'm just befuddled by the fact that it's so difficult to find midwives who want to practice at a birth center. I asked Grace about it when I had my last appointment, and she said that they really just can't find any midwives, that midwives are afraid of the liability of attending births at a birth center, and discharging mothers and newborns without a doctor's sign-off. And Grace confirmed that the closure is permanent. They've stopped looking for a way to find more midwives and keep the center open.
 
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RachelGS
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