Birth Center or Midwife Recommendation

nycteach

Hi Ladies,

Our family is relocating to from London to Northern Virginia at the end of December or early January.  I recently found out that I am pregnant and assuming this pregnancy is viable, I'll be 22+ weeks pregnant at that time.

I don't know where we are going to live yet but most likely we will rent somewhere in Arlington or Fairfax county while we look for a house. 

I had a really wonderful med-free delivery with a midwife when my DD was born.  I'm not opposed to being in a hospital but would prefer to have a midwife rather than an OB. 

I am wondering if anyone has any suggestions for a midwife or a birth center.  Do you think I should start making contacts now (or perhaps after 12weeks) or would space or availability be an issue if I leave it until much closer to when we arrive?

Thanks!

DCtoLowcountry

Welcome! There's one free-standing birth center, Birth Care in Alexandria, VA, with midwives, and I would suggest contacting them for availability as they book up. If you prefer a hospital delivery, I hope others can chime in with recommendations for VA, or ask the Birth Care midwives who their backup OBs are. Good luck!

doggylovr

a good friend of mine used birth care in early august and ultimately needed to be transfered for an emergency c/s but she was really happy with the way that they handled everything!!!

CrunchOoEezyMama

We just had a lovely homebirth with Peggy Franklin and Kim Pekin, their group is called Birth by Design.  They do homebirths in Northern Virginia.

ShannonSky

Depending on where you live, you may also want to consider the Loudoun Community Midwives in Leesburg, VA. They deliver at the Birthing Inn at Inova Loudoun - very nice place. I had my DD with them and they delivered our emergency C-section/prematurity birth with grace. They were wonderful. 

FeliOland

I actually went last night to Birth Care in Alexandria https://www.birthcare.org/ for their information session and the room was full with couples!  They do book up fast and after hearing the midwive giving the presentation and seeing the place, I understand why. Both my husband and I were impressed and we will seriously consider. We want to check out one more place in NE DC https://www.yourfhbc.org/about.html (just blocks away from where we live actually), and then we will decide which one to choose.

Good luck!!

Felicia

EndeavorsInDomesticArt

DH and I were really, really turned off by FHBC in DC. It seemed dirty and not very friendly. 

 Birthcare is not covered by our insurance (Aetna), so we will be delivering with Bay Area Midwifery in Annapolis. There are two birthing rooms, it is clean and they have really nice jacuzzi tubs. The midwifes are all great, and they are connected to the Ann Arundel hospital in case of emergency. We are using a Doula who lives in Alexandria to help us with the drive when I go into labor.  

nycteach

Thanks ladies!  Your info has been very helpful!