when to start seeing a midwife/ob?
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I'm not sure what the best route is but what I did was contact my MW the day I found out I was pregnant, lol. Scheduled an appt for the next available time (tomorrow) and I'm going to find out what she recommends as far as lab work and all that. Also, the way my MW does it is kind of different from most, I think. They have a homebirth meeting where everyone has their appts so you can also talk to other moms about how they are doing it.
It depends what type of MW you are planning to use, LM, CPM,CNM. If you are birthing at home, well either way really, the MW can't pick up a heart beat until 10 weeks with a doplar, later with a fetoscope. So who ever you set up an appt with won't see you until about 10 weeks. I am having a HB and seeing my MW at 10 weeks, she is actually doing the blood draw or I can ask my mom since she is an RN and then we will send it off to be looked at. I personally wouldn't schedule anything with an OB unless there was a medical need, like bleeding or something. Are you planning a hospital, birth center or homebirth?
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If they're in short supply in your area, as in most places in the country, you'll want to book yourself in right away, lest she take on too many clients due the same time as you and have to turn you away.<br><br>
They may not be able to pick up a heartbeat right away but there still may be things they want to look for in an initial visit, taking history, baseline vitals, and so forth. It doesn't hurt to call and ask early on.
They may not be able to pick up a heartbeat right away but there still may be things they want to look for in an initial visit, taking history, baseline vitals, and so forth. It doesn't hurt to call and ask early on.
well, the ultimate birth would be a HBAC. But I don't know if dh will be comfortable with that because if I <i>did</i> have to be transfered for any reason he does not want me to go to the hospital in our area. So that means the nest closest hospitals are 45 minutes and an hour away. I don't know if that would be too far to go in case of transfer, so unless a MW would let me give birth in her 'office' which there are 2 who live in those cities where the hospitals I might have to give birth else where. It's tough, because if I had to give birth at a hospital with VBAC I'd labor here as long as possible and then not want to go tlll the last possible moment because I don't want to be in a hospital one moment longer then I have to. But with a 45 minute ride in the car, and me waiting till last minute, baby could very well come in the car, lol! Which probably wouldn't be the most comfy place, lol!<br><br>
There are about 3 midwives in the area who do homebirths. Should I call them up and interview them so that I know who I'm most comfy with and then make an appointment with them whenever they start prenatal care?
There are about 3 midwives in the area who do homebirths. Should I call them up and interview them so that I know who I'm most comfy with and then make an appointment with them whenever they start prenatal care?
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My Midwife likes to see first time homebirth Mom's around 6 weeks so she can talk about nutrition and what not. Mom's who have had a previous natural birth and who are familiar with her nutrition plan, she likes to see at 8 weeks. And Mom's she has worked with in the past she will see sometime in the first 12 weeks. She does the blood work and doesn't care for ultrasounds, so I will not be seeing a ob to have those things done. My insurance would cover the lab work, but in the big picture the labs don't cost much so it isn't worth the trouble for me to see the doc and either lie about my plans or deal with his/her negative view of homebirth.
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I will be 5 weeks tomorrow, and just had an initial consult with a midwife today. She'll see me as soon as next week to start prenatal visits.<br><br>
I also saw my holistic doctor last week and he ordered some bloodwork to be done (HCG count, thyroid panel and iron panel).<br><br>
When I had my other three children, the OB office didn't see me until like 8-9 weeks. I feel really good about getting an extra visit in with the midwife!
I also saw my holistic doctor last week and he ordered some bloodwork to be done (HCG count, thyroid panel and iron panel).<br><br>
When I had my other three children, the OB office didn't see me until like 8-9 weeks. I feel really good about getting an extra visit in with the midwife!
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I started looking for a midwife pretty much as soon as I got a BFP, because I didn't know how long it would take for me to find one that I liked (weeks? months?).<br><br>
I met a couple that just didn't feel right to me, and then last week, I met with one that I decided I wanted to work with. I asked her then when we could schedule a first visit--I was almost 6 weeks, and I figured it was too early.<br><br>
She suggested we do the medical history and the lab stuff she does (urine testing, hemoglobin) right then because then she'd have a really early baseline on me.<br><br>
It's a good idea to start interviewing soon, for scheduling purposes, and to make sure you can take the time to find someone you like. They'll all have different preferences on first visits and all, but you can set that up once you've figured out who you want to work with.
I met a couple that just didn't feel right to me, and then last week, I met with one that I decided I wanted to work with. I asked her then when we could schedule a first visit--I was almost 6 weeks, and I figured it was too early.<br><br>
She suggested we do the medical history and the lab stuff she does (urine testing, hemoglobin) right then because then she'd have a really early baseline on me.<br><br>
It's a good idea to start interviewing soon, for scheduling purposes, and to make sure you can take the time to find someone you like. They'll all have different preferences on first visits and all, but you can set that up once you've figured out who you want to work with.
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I had a scan at the OB at 5 weeks but I've been having pains, they are doing another at 7 weeks, once everything is confirmed to be OK, it won't be till 11weeks 4 days when th next scan is needed
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<div>Originally Posted by <strong>ccasanova</strong> <a href="/community/forum/post/10277935"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/community/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style="border:0px solid;"></a></div>
<div style="font-style:italic;">well, the ultimate birth would be a HBAC. But I don't know if dh will be comfortable with that because if I <i>did</i> have to be transfered for any reason he does not want me to go to the hospital in our area. So that means the nest closest hospitals are 45 minutes and an hour away. I don't know if that would be too far to go in case of transfer, so unless a MW would let me give birth in her 'office' which there are 2 who live in those cities where the hospitals I might have to give birth else where. It's tough, because if I had to give birth at a hospital with VBAC I'd labor here as long as possible and then not want to go tlll the last possible moment because I don't want to be in a hospital one moment longer then I have to. But with a 45 minute ride in the car, and me waiting till last minute, baby could very well come in the car, lol! Which probably wouldn't be the most comfy place, lol!<br><br>
There are about 3 midwives in the area who do homebirths. Should I call them up and interview them so that I know who I'm most comfy with and then make an appointment with them whenever they start prenatal care?</div>
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I'd encourage you to start interviewing now - the sooner you can decide on who you'll work with the sooner you can start working through your fears about the transfer scenario, etc. I know for my HBAC I had so much baggage the first time!! I really needed each appointment to ask questions and get centered. By the time I was nearing my due date I had processed all those "what ifs" and just felt ready to birth...<br><br>
As far as the transfer situation, I'm in the same boat in terms of there being an undesirable hospital close, and the ideal one about 50 minutes away. Remember that by and far the most common reason for transfering your homebirth is NOT for medically time sensitive situations, but for fatigue or pain relief. You'd have plenty of time to decide and get to your ideal hospital. If something needing faster care was needed (only in like 2% of births - including VBACS) I PROMISE you won't care which hospital you go to.<br><br>
ANYWAYS...back to the thread <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/smile.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="smile"><br><br><br>
We are seeing the M/W at 10 weeks for our first appointment. This is our second HBAC, and with our first I think we saw/interviewed her around 6 weeks.
<div class="smallfont" style="margin-bottom:2px;">Quote:</div>
<table border="0" cellpadding="6" cellspacing="0" width="99%"><tr><td class="alt2" style="border:1px inset;">
<div>Originally Posted by <strong>ccasanova</strong> <a href="/community/forum/post/10277935"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/community/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style="border:0px solid;"></a></div>
<div style="font-style:italic;">well, the ultimate birth would be a HBAC. But I don't know if dh will be comfortable with that because if I <i>did</i> have to be transfered for any reason he does not want me to go to the hospital in our area. So that means the nest closest hospitals are 45 minutes and an hour away. I don't know if that would be too far to go in case of transfer, so unless a MW would let me give birth in her 'office' which there are 2 who live in those cities where the hospitals I might have to give birth else where. It's tough, because if I had to give birth at a hospital with VBAC I'd labor here as long as possible and then not want to go tlll the last possible moment because I don't want to be in a hospital one moment longer then I have to. But with a 45 minute ride in the car, and me waiting till last minute, baby could very well come in the car, lol! Which probably wouldn't be the most comfy place, lol!<br><br>
There are about 3 midwives in the area who do homebirths. Should I call them up and interview them so that I know who I'm most comfy with and then make an appointment with them whenever they start prenatal care?</div>
</td>
</tr></table></div>
I'd encourage you to start interviewing now - the sooner you can decide on who you'll work with the sooner you can start working through your fears about the transfer scenario, etc. I know for my HBAC I had so much baggage the first time!! I really needed each appointment to ask questions and get centered. By the time I was nearing my due date I had processed all those "what ifs" and just felt ready to birth...<br><br>
As far as the transfer situation, I'm in the same boat in terms of there being an undesirable hospital close, and the ideal one about 50 minutes away. Remember that by and far the most common reason for transfering your homebirth is NOT for medically time sensitive situations, but for fatigue or pain relief. You'd have plenty of time to decide and get to your ideal hospital. If something needing faster care was needed (only in like 2% of births - including VBACS) I PROMISE you won't care which hospital you go to.<br><br>
ANYWAYS...back to the thread <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/smile.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="smile"><br><br><br>
We are seeing the M/W at 10 weeks for our first appointment. This is our second HBAC, and with our first I think we saw/interviewed her around 6 weeks.
DH called the doctor as soon as we were able. We couldn't before the middle of last week because I didn't have my residency (and thus healthcare) yet. Then the doctor's office was closed Thursday and Friday. DH called yesterday (DH does it because my Danish sucks and we never know who's going to be able to speak English) and we were told the first appointment is always at about 8 weeks, so I got scheduled for next Friday. The doctor will then refer us to a midwife.<br><br>
Midwives are the norm here, but there's no guarantee you will always work with the same one. There is a push to go in that direction but the last I checked it had not gone through yet.
Midwives are the norm here, but there's no guarantee you will always work with the same one. There is a push to go in that direction but the last I checked it had not gone through yet.
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I called my mw right away and had an unofficial appt at 6 weeks to fill out paperwork & talk about nutrition. My first offical appt is at 12 weeks.
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GL with your HBAC mama! I will be having one too. <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/love.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="love"><br><br>
My first "appointment" is today. I call it an "appointment" because I wanted my DH to find out if they did ultasounds at the clinic on-site where he works. They don't, but he went ahead and scheduled me anyway. <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="/img/vbsmilies/smilies/eyesroll.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="roll"> So I'm not sure what all I'll really be doing once I get there,but at the very least they can refer me to somewhere else for an ultrasound.<br><br>
I just wish time would go by a little faster. I don't want to jump the gun and interview midwives before I know when my "official" EDD is. I already have all their names and phone numbers lined up, I just need to call.
My first "appointment" is today. I call it an "appointment" because I wanted my DH to find out if they did ultasounds at the clinic on-site where he works. They don't, but he went ahead and scheduled me anyway. <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="/img/vbsmilies/smilies/eyesroll.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="roll"> So I'm not sure what all I'll really be doing once I get there,but at the very least they can refer me to somewhere else for an ultrasound.<br><br>
I just wish time would go by a little faster. I don't want to jump the gun and interview midwives before I know when my "official" EDD is. I already have all their names and phone numbers lined up, I just need to call.
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I think it depends too.<br>
I started out my last pregnancy with an OB and she scheduled the first appointment for 8 weeks because that's when they do the vaginal U/S.<br>
During that pregnancy I switched to themidwives I will be using again this time around. I called and they said to schedule an appointment between for 10 and 12 weeks.<br>
They will send me the paperwork so I can just bring it to the appointment. Nothing has changed since my last homebirth with them so I don't really need a consult.<br>
Plus I can always call or email if I need to know something earlier.<br>
I think I am going to wait until about 12 weeks for my appointment because I really, really want to hear the heartbeat and I'll be disappointed if I go too early and they don't find it.
I started out my last pregnancy with an OB and she scheduled the first appointment for 8 weeks because that's when they do the vaginal U/S.<br>
During that pregnancy I switched to themidwives I will be using again this time around. I called and they said to schedule an appointment between for 10 and 12 weeks.<br>
They will send me the paperwork so I can just bring it to the appointment. Nothing has changed since my last homebirth with them so I don't really need a consult.<br>
Plus I can always call or email if I need to know something earlier.<br>
I think I am going to wait until about 12 weeks for my appointment because I really, really want to hear the heartbeat and I'll be disappointed if I go too early and they don't find it.
thanks for all the replies mamas! <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/smile.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="smile"> I finally got my list of available midwives in the area and either called or emailed them for a consult. <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/smile.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="smile"> Just the thought of having someone come to my home to do prenatal visits makes me giddy! <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/biggrinbounce.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="bgbounce"> So different from picturing going to an OB's office and waiting for an hour so they can see you for 10 minutes. Literally, my last OB ran an average of 1.5 hours late. In retrospect he was worth it, but he's not even available to me now because I have since moved. So...I'm hoping DH will be on board with me seeing a midwife and having a HBAC. (He's more a conventional medicine type of guy. <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="/img/vbsmilies/smilies/eyesroll.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="roll">)
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Cynthia - so exciting! Good luck with your search and let us know how it goes!
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I really want a UP...so far no mw or Dr....i'm going to do my own care..and have a UC. This is my 4th and i feel very comfortable trusting that my body is doing a great job.
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