- Pregnancy
- Baby & Toddler
- Parents
- Getting Pregnant
- Baby Names
- Product Reviews
-
Registry
- Community
-
More
Want a personalized experience?
Download the free app
Pittsburgh Babies
Midwives @ Magee
Hi fellow Pittsburghers!
I am 14 weeks preggo and up until this point have been seeing the same OBGYN that I have seen since I was a teenager. We actually live a little South of the 'Burgh but I will still have to deliver at Magee. Someone mentioned the Midwife program, and I was instantly interested. Its not that I dont like my doctor now, she is wonderful, but after looking into the Midwife program I am starting to think that it is more my style.
I am looking for opinions, reviews, and just your thoughts on the Midwives at Magee. I would really appreciate it! Thanks
This discussion has been closed.
Re: Midwives @ Magee
Even before I conceived I wanted to go a more natural route - we considered using the Birthing Center, but felt better about the Midwives at Magee because I would be in a hospital setting (which made my H and his family more comfortable). I definitely wanted a midwife, though - I want as few medical interventions as possible, and so I checked out M@M.
I don't have my first appointment with them until next Monday, so I'll update then, but from what I've heard they're really great. We'll see!
I went to the Midwives at Magee for one appointment and then switched back to my OBGYN. At my first appointment, I became really concerned when I asked her about the medication I was on and when I should stop taking it. She didn't know the answer and she never followed up. She told me she would talk with the doctors and let me know. I ended up having to call my previous two doctors to find out. I also had my NT scan and while my DS results were great, they found two problems (turned out to be minor but still) and I never got a phone call about it. I ended up calling in a panic because I didn't know what the results meant. Even after I called they were less than helpful. They didn't explain what it was and I just called my OBGYN for clarification (and to switch back).
There are several midwives in the group and I only experienced this one. She did say that her and another woman did most of the deliveries, which is why I decided to switch. I didn't want the chance that she was going to be in the delivery room with me. I already know it would make my anxiety sky rocket. Her name is Carol. Now I'm planning a natural birth with my OBGYN.
I go to the Midwives and I like them... note LIKE not LOVE (yet)... you would rotate through the midwives for each appointment and you get who's on call when you go into labor. So, if you love one and hate another, doesn't really matter when it comes down to it. THAT SAID, I don't have an OBGYN and the one I did meet with prior to choosing the midwives was NOT an option (total weirdo guy who didn't impress me either).
Also keep in mind that the MW 'work under' 2 actual OBGYNs, so they SHOULD refer any questions to them. And if anything "goes awry" they would pull them in immediately, prenatal or during labor.
I ALSO didn't really hear back about my Neuchal scan until I went to my appointment, but I could have called. I think in general (everywhere, not just at the MW), if there's no bad news, you won't hear back really.... sux, but that's reality.
I would say, go and get your own feeling. If you don't think it's good for you, move on to an OB or other option!
Let me know how it goes!
P.S. I haven't met with Carol yet... now I'm wary!
Sorry I didn't mean to make you wary of Carol! I was just so unhappy with her lack of follow through. I was already to go with them because they did have actual OBs to consult, but Carol didn't consult one when she didn't know the answer. I couldn't risk her doing that with something more serious.
"I would say, go and get your own feeling. If you don't think it's good for you, move on to an OB or other option!" I really agree with you there. It's such a personal decision!
Hey there. Congrats first of all : )
This is my first and I want to go as natural as possible. I have considered the birthing center, mgee, home birth, and West penn. I have pretty much ruled out home birth and the birth center. I am afraid the birth center won't have room for me when it comes time to deliver so i Just don't want to plan on it all. So, I have been asking everyone that I know between Mgee and west penn and here is the gist of what I have been told....
West penn does a fraction of births per year compared to mgee. That makes them more of a "baby factory" in some sense. I have heard personal stories of ladies saying they didn't feel extemely personal care, more just a number. I feel that Mgee has their routine of how things go and It is hard to break that. My cousin and my sister each had their three kids at West Penn. They loved it.
I don't tour west penn until next month. I am considering L&D there possibly with a doula. (Check out Doula's of Pittsburgh, the lady I spoke to was awesome and they are affordable) I am not fully convinced of anything yet. I hope to hear from more ladies that had their birthing experience at mgee prob as much as you. : )
~best wishes*
I go to Midwives at Magee (3 visits) and really like it so far. Everyone is so friendly and seem to really care. The Midwives and NP that I saw so far were nice and answered any questions I had. I really like the RN, Tawnya too.
I had a different experience with Carol and have to disagree. I think she is great. I have not met her personally, but have spoken to her on the phone. I had an ultrasound that they were a bit concerned about (nothing major), and she called me about soon after. I left a message and she called back the same day. She was great about explaining everything to me and answering questions over the phone.
I still have a few Midwives to meet. I think there is a "Meet the Midwives" event where you can meet them all and get a tour. I will have to look into it.
After an awful experience with the OB/GYN practice I have always gone to, I switched to the Midwives at Magee. I had heard great things about the Midwives, and like you was instantly interested. I called them right after the bad OB appointment (my phone call was answered immediately, unlike the typical 10 minute wait at the OB's office), and the first thing they said was 'congratulations!' (didn't hear this from ANYONE at the OB...boo! They didn't ask me anything about my pregnancy or my feelings, all they did was get right to the medical- blood tests, reviewing charts, etc.)
Before I had my first appointment with the Midwives, we went to the Meet the Midwives event, which I highly recommend. We met all of the Midwives, got a tour of Magee and the rooms, got to ask questions, etc. It was really nice and everyone was so friendly and down to earth. My husband and I felt really excited after this. At our first appointment with the Midwives, we met with the NP (Tonya) who was great. She talked to us for about 30 minutes, gave us a folder of information about the Midwives, hospital and pregnancy, asked us questions, family history, etc and just generally got to know us. Then we went into the exam room with met with Tanya, the Midwife. She was AMAZING. So friendly, funny, she listened, took time to answer all of our questions, asked BOTH of us questions(you know, because there are two of us who are experiencing this together!!!!) and it just felt like I had known her for years. I am so glad that I switched to the Midwives.
I would highly recommend calling Magee and finding out when their next Meet the Midwives session is. It is a great way to learn more about it and see if it's for you. Good luck!
I used the midwives for both of my pregnancies. I loved the practice, liked all the midwives. Tina delivered my first, and Carol was with me in the OR for the c-section with my twins. I LOVE Tina, and really like carol, I never had an issue w/ her not following up though! I will say I don't know why she claims she does most of the deliveries. My best friend is a doula, and a FABULOUS one if you're looking for a doula, who has worked w/ them quite a bit and has only been for a delivery with her at my c-section. They all work on call shifts and if you go into labor you get whichever is there at that point. That's why they want you to see everyone. My appts averaged 45 minutes by MY choice. They were willing to sit with me in the room and answer any questions, vent, whine... just have some adult interaction if that was what I wanted. I rarely waited longer than 10 minutes to be called back and even though I always had a book to read RARELY waited once I was in the exam room longer than a few minutes. I always felt the treated me like I mattered FAR more than the OB practice I started my first pregnancy with.