[mamabtt]

Last night my husband and I visited The Birthplace at Wellesley and loved it! Actually it almost brought tears to my eyes when I saw what my 2.5yr old son and I missed out on - oh well if I only knew then what I know now. Anyway, does anyone here know anything good or bad about the place? Or anyone know of another free-standing birth center I should investigate?

Thanks for any help!

PS - so happy to have found this board!

 

[mumsymimi]

I will be giving birth there in December (as long as all continues to go well!). I have heard lots of very good things about it, mostly from doulas who have attended births there but also from some moms who loved it. There are also birth centers in Cambridge (I think it's Cambridge-associated with a hospital?) and on the North Shore (I believe it's called the North Shore Birth Center. In general, I've heard that birth centers are fantastic places to give birth. Good luck!

BTW, there was another thread about the birthplace on this board. Here's a link: http://mothering.com/discussions/sho...ght=birthplace If that doesn't work, just do a search on this board for "birthplace". You should be able to find it. There were quite a few responses.

Michelle

 

[GruppieGirl]

LOVE THEM!

I had my 11 pound, 23 inch ling ds there in May. It was an amazing experience after a completely horrible one at St. E's/ St. M's three years ago.

My 2yo dd felt as if going to the appointments was a treat for her. The secretary, nurse and midwives always remembered her name and let her help out with things like taking my bood pressure. I have beautiful pitures of dd, dh and myself sitting on the bed in oune of their rooms during one of our visits.

I could go on and on! Just know that I felt like my choices were respected and I had the best care I could possibly have.

Please feel free to pm me if you have any questions or want to chat about the birthcenter.

 

[mamabtt]

Thanks for your responses

I did do the search and found the previous thread which was very helpful though the post from the woman who had a negative experience there did concern me. I am going to look into the place in Cambridge but we feel strongly that The Birthplace is the way to go.

Thanks again!

 

[GruppieGirl]

The negative post you are talking about mentioned a midwife that no longer works there. Hope that helps!

 

[mamabtt]

Thank you Averysmom!! That helps a *lot*

Now there really is no reason for us not to birth there. The three midwives who spoke at the information session we attended, seemed wonderful. Thanks again.

 

[spiritfreedom]

You all are mentioning the woman who had a negative experience at The Birthplace. Someone said that the midwife concerned no longer works there, and I felt I wanted to come to her honor. I delivered my baby with Jane and she was nothing short of fantastic. Awesome awesome lady. She decided shortly after attending my birth that she wanted to travel more and work less hours. That's why she left.

 

[newmomlearning]

Hi,

I had my DD (1/22/02) at the Birthplace and it was wonderful and unbelievable. It was an incredibly positive experience. It really transformed my idea of what birth could, and should, be.

I couldn't give a higher recommendation for a birth setting. I gave birth in the Pink Room and I was treated with such dignity. The BP provides an awesome level of care.

The only thing I would recommend is a Doula or another support person in addition to your DH. My DH did a great job supporting me, but we had no one to help US after the birth with non-Midwife tasks such as packing up to leave, etc.

I'd be happy to answer any questions.

Newmomlearning.

P.S. I'll put a word in for Jane, too. I met all the midwives, who are all excellent. Jane seemed a little more reserved than others on our first meeting, but I truly came to respect her skills and her gifts. I would have been comfortable with her as a birth attendant.

 

[mummamilk]

I know a great Doula if you are interested. I love The Birthplace, but it was too far for me.

 

[leimom]

oops

 

[paloma]

I have heard grand things, but would also suggest the Birth Cottage, just North of Fitchburg, www.birthcottage.com

 

[mamabtt]

Thanks everyone, for your replies. Paloma, thanks for the link. It looks great but mapquest says it is over 41 miles from me so too far.

I do wish there were options other than The Birthplace at Wellesley and the one in Cambridge. I have not been impressed yet by The Birthplace. Only had 3 visits so far though so we'll see.

Thanks again

 

[paloma]

Would I be amiss to suggest staying at home? I know a number of incredible midwives in the area.

 

[RachelGS]

I'd love to hear midwife suggestions. I had a great Birthplace experience for the most part, but am always curious about who's good for homebirths. I know a few people but would love to hear from others...

 

[paloma]

there is a directory at www.mfom.org - mass friends of midwives

One of my favorites serving the area is Adrian Feldhusen birthcottage.com
(also the birth center)

It's not so much a question of who is good as it is who you like. I interviewed 6 or 7 ! (and went armed with pages and pages of non-leading, non-nebulus questions.)

PM me if you are intersted in a larger list.

 

[leimom]

There is a midwife at the Birthplace at Wellesley who does homebirths in her own practice. A neighbor of ours used her for her four births and recommended her. We talked to her about this for our third but couldn't afford to pay out of pocket so happily delivered at the Birthplace again. She might be a good resource. Her name has escaped me but I will ask my husband. She's an older, calm woman and you may have already met her.

You say you have not been impressed yet and I'm wondering what your reservations are.

 

[Quigley]

I had my dd (child #2) at nw hosp with the birthplace midwives. Easy easy birth, so the midwives didn't play a huge role, but.....

I never felt like I connected with anyone at the birthplace. My first born was with Wellesley Women's Care, and I felt much more comfortable with them before the merger.

I also felt like each midwife stood alone at the birthplace. Ask one question, and each mw gives a different answer. For me it was very frustrating. Who/what was right?

That all said, I will have my next child there just because they are the only mw group around and nothing was really 'wrong'.

(I might consider a homebirth, but why? NW hosp brings me food, clean linens, etc. It is all covered by my insurance. Just because I'm in a hospital for a few hours doesn't mean I need to use every service they provide. Jeez- I wouldn't let them draw blood when I checked in for the birth of dd. I said my blood type hadn't changed recently! And you can check out whenever you want.)

Heather

 

[paloma]

BJ Mackinnon may be the midwife who attends at home. She is active in MANA.

On a similar note, we may see medicaid (MassHealth) coverage for homebirth w/ a licensed provider.

 

[RachelGS]

BJ attended me at the Birthplace. She's my midwife-- in the sense that she caught my baby and in the sense that I trust her completely and feel a very deep connection with her. I had a very tough, very long, posterior labor, and she was just spectacular. I'd do a homebirth with her in a minute!

 

[mamabtt]

We have decided to consider a homebirth! I know nothing so I have to do lots of research ASAP as I am already almost half through my pregnancy. I will do a search at the various websites mentioned here and elsewhere but would love names of midwives you all have experience with. I live in the Acton area.

Thanks for all your help so far

ds#1 3yo
baby due Aug 3rd

Update: We have found a homebirth midwife and are very excited to be having this baby at home and relieved not to be going to the birth center anymore. As I was interviewing midwives they all asked which birth center I was going to and I told them. They all said they had many people who were unhappy there. Frankly, that made me feel better because I really felt in the minority after reading all of the positive reviews here. Their open house really gave me a positive feeling about the place but I realize now that I should have interviewed the midwives individually and not relied on the "open house pitch" That would have saved me all of this hassle now while i'm 21 weeks pregnant. Thanks for the help everyone

Now I just have to find other homebirthing moms out there - I don't know anyone and am starting to feel like an oddball!