Midwife

beachcomberbride

I'm due in February and am going to start selecting a midwife this week. For those that had midwives, how did you ultimately choose them? What swayed you the most about a specific person over another? Cost, attitude, education, number of births attended? Thanks for the help

hollowway

I switched from an OB to a Midwife in the same clinic. Easy choice. I will deliver in the same hospital and they are 20 minutesfrom the house.

meltoine

Well, there's only one HB midwife in my area. I'd have to travel 2ish hours to get to the next one, so it was a pretty easy choice. 

That said, my MW has 40 years of experience with no serious complications for any mom or baby in her care, so I was pretty confident. If she was inexperienced or had had several bad outcomes, we would have pursued other options.  

MamaInMN

We interviewed a few midwives and ultimately picked the one that suited our personalities best and that I was most comfortable with.  Cost was pretty much the same across the board so that was not even a factor.  Distance to come into our conversations a little bit but wasn't the deciding factor. 

They should all be willing and able to meet with you before you make any decisions so you'll get a feel once you start meeting them! Good luck! 

Haley.Beth

I knew from the first few minutes with my midwife she was going to be who we chose. We just shared a common philosophy about birth, and I agreed with everything she does. She wasn't as experienced as I would have liked, but her background made up for it (she is a former Army medic, and her partner is a former trauma MD). Dh and I are both very scientifically minded, realistic people, and were looking for a midwife that was as down to earth as we were. 

The bottom line is, you'll know when you meet her. Have a general idea of the kind of birth you want, and make sure she can help you get there, and it helps when personalities and expectations match.  

SidraJedi

Chemistry.

We both felt the midwives we chose could be friends with us and that influenced our decision more than anything.

MdWestMom

Personality. Obviously you want a MW that is experienced & within your cost comfort. Spend more time discussing your ideas about birth with her, and getting a feel for her practice & personal style - be sure you are a good "fit"....not all MW's have the same opinions on birth styles, medical interventions, etc. It's also important to consider WHERE you will give birth....if its a hospital, your MW needs to be backed by a Dr with admitting privileges at that facility. 

vcabbyw

Same as everyone. Chemistry/personality compatibility. After I got the basic info out of the way of how she handled transfers/emergency situation, I knew we just clicked. And my husband liked her.

mikaylabrown

I googled midwives in my area.  I read my midwife's bio online, and called her for an interview.  The connection that we had at our first meeting was what ultimately led me to choose her over an OB.  It was her calm demeanor.  I couldn't help but feel relaxed and at peace around her.  It was a special connection.   We also share the same beliefs about God.  Prayer was going to be a big piece of what she did.  That was a plus for me. 

 I am using a different midwife this time, as my first midwife is on maternity leave.  This midwife is very similar.  It is very important to be sure there is a connection there.  If you feel uncomfortable with them before birth, then that will not help when you're in birth.   

YellowLily2013

My friends recommended their birthing center. I checked it out and liked the vibe and the idea of having a natural birth.

I see all the midwives there are 4 or 5. I really like the rotating schedule. So you can learn different perspectives and will know everyone would could possibly be present at birth.

Summer889

Since this is my first, and I'm nervous about...well, everything, I decided I wanted to give birth in a hospital.  That narrowed my options down to about 3 midwife groups in my area.  I picked the one that was the closest so it would be most convenient for my prenatal visits.  So far, they seem great and I've heard lots of good things about them!