[YummyYumYumMama]

i've been reading some posts from people in different metro areas who are interviewing HB midwives before they're pregnant, sometimes even before ttc. i was surprised by this, but i've heard that since HB midwives can book up so quickly, some people like to interview around pre-pregnancy so that they know exactly who they're going to use once they get their BFP.

i'm planning to wait until i'm actually pregnant and then schedule interviews/consultations at that time, as well as an appointment with WHA in wellesley and talk to them about co-care/back-up care. but yeah - not until i'm actually pregnant. did anyone find that to be an issue here in the boston area? do you wish you had interviewed around while ttc or was it no big deal?

 

[MAMom]

I did interviews before I was pregnant (I think my final interview - which ended up being with the HB midwife that I hired - took place when I was about 2 weeks pregnant).

Some midwives do book quickly, so that is one reason to consider doing it ahead of time, but for me I was also so exhausted druing early pregancy & had 24/7 nausea (plus a very active toddler), I was really glad to have my midwife all taken care of.

=================
Mama to DS 5/03 & DD 2/06

:

: April is Cesarean Awareness Month

 

[veganf]

We didn't have any trouble starting as late as 12 weeks, but we used a HB midwife.

 

[mumofboyz]

We didn't make the decision to homebirth until after 34 weeks. I would have preferred more time but it just wasn't in our cards. I did a lot of interviewing on the phone to save time and ended up with a marvelous homebirth and MW.

 

[YummyYumYumMama]

would it be silly to admit that i'm actually nervous about doing it beforehand? i'm breastfeeding, and i do have some minor issues that could negatively impact my fertility, so i'm not assuming that i'll get pregnant immediately. i feel almost superstitious about interviewing someone pre-pregnancy. not like interviewing a midwife is going to keep me from getting pregnant, but since when do superstitions make sense?

 

[AugustLia23]

I hired 2 HB midwives a good ways into my pregnancy. Unless things have changes since 2007, you won't have any trouble finding a midwife once you are already pregnant. Only a select few are booking up that far in advance.

 

[MetrowestMidwife]

Just an FYI, Women Health Assoc is no longer providing co-care or any kind of back up for mommas choosing to have homebirths. It's a bummer and a total loss to the families in the MetroWest area.

~Alexis Topham

 

[MAMom]

Quote:

Originally Posted by YummyYumYumMama would it be silly to admit that i'm actually nervous about doing it beforehand?

Not at all! If you're more comfortable waiting, then that's what you should do!

Quote:

Originally Posted by MetrowestMidwife Just an FYI, Women Health Assoc is no longer providing co-care or any kind of back up for mommas choosing to have homebirths. It's a bummer and a total loss to the families in the MetroWest area.

That's unfortunate to hear, Alexis. Thanks for letting us know.

Of course, women who are planning HB's can persue co-care without actually letting the CNMs know that's what they are doing. It's a shame that women would have to do that, though.

=================
Mama to DS 5/03 & DD 2/06

:

: April is Cesarean Awareness Month

 

[mrsstarfish]

We are a few months away from TTC our first and I am scouring the internet for information. I wouldn't say that my concern is a midwife being booked - -but more feeling overwhelmed by the information being provided and very ignorant about my choices.
I knew that I wanted natural - that is what got me looking.
But "natural" is such a loose term, especially to a doctor or hospital. Not all hospitals offer tubs for birth (some just during labor) and this came as a huge shock to me. I have a hard time believing anyone who choose a section or pain medication or not breastfeeding or having a doula or midwife present during my most intimate and difficult moments - but this seems to be the "norm" for most hospitals.
I know that you'll never be completely prepared for what happens when bringing your child into the world, but I would like to go into it with at least some guidelines. Truth be told, I'm terrified.
And some midwives only work with certain hospitals, so I'd rather figure that all out now than when I'm feeling desperate. I won't start interviewing until we are actually pregnant, but I'm going to have the list of who to speak to beforehand.
It might seem weird to some, but my DH and I would like determine a least a base of wishes that could be respected in the future.

 

[xmasbaby7]

I would recommend going to an area Birth Circle if you are in MA, since you get a chance to ask moms your questions or just listen to others' experiences.

I wish the Birth Circles had been around when I was TTC, because I would have loved to have had that kind of resource when pregnant.

 

[YummyYumYumMama]

Quote:

Originally Posted by MetrowestMidwife Just an FYI, Women Health Assoc is no longer providing co-care or any kind of back up for mommas choosing to have homebirths. It's a bummer and a total loss to the families in the MetroWest area. ~Alexis Topham

oh man! why did that change? that's disappointing.

Quote:

Originally Posted by MAMom Of course, women who are planning HB's can persue co-care without actually letting the CNMs know that's what they are doing. It's a shame that women would have to do that, though.

i would consider doing that, but it is certainly a shame!

 

[MetrowestMidwife]

They were having issues in securing back up physicans for their office and part of the agreement was for the midwives to not have any involvement in backing up or doing co-care with the homebirth midwives in the community. I got a call personally from them discussing this matter.

As for persuing care but not tell them that you are planning to birth at home, there is a better way to do it without lying. Please message me if you want suggestions on how to navigate this issue.

I do a lot of doula support for a lot of the moms birthing with that practice, it would reflect badly on me if a good majority of the moms that they were referring to me didn't show up for their birth. It does happen from time to time that I have a mom that doesn't make it or choses to birth at home close to her due date but there need to be a formal termination of care.

 

[hikingmommy]

I waited until I was pregnant. One very minor problem was that one of the MWs I wanted to interview (and the one we ended up using) was away on vacation when I was scheduling interviews. She was on e-mail, though, and we chose to wait to interview her before choosing. She was back in time that it wasn't an issue, but I guess if you really know who you want to interview and you aren't superstitious or anything, it could be easier to do it before getting pregnant.

 

[YummyYumYumMama]

thanks for the input, everyone!

alexis - i will PM you to ask you more about this!