If u live in Pittsburgh, MWs at Magee Q...

BBhopes15 · August 2012

Hi there, So if you recall I am currently with a solo practice OB. As much as I like him I am leaning towards switching to the Midwives at Magee. I guess part of me feels like it might may the whole experience easier and more like what we want. I have yet to check them out and I know time is running out soon. So I was wondering if any of you have any experience or tales regarding the MW at Maggee. Thanks in advance!

catsinawindow · August 2012

No personal experience here, but I'll be watching this thread, too, b/c I'm moving to Pittsburgh next month.

Have you heard of/seen the Midwife Center Pittsburgh? I'm considering them for my next LO, but, admittedly, need to do more research.

catsinawindow · August 2012

Also, if it helps at all, Angie's list for the Midwives at Magee shows very good ratings (an A). It's not the same as personal anctectdotes, but it's something Smile

(The Midwife Center got really good ratings as well)

Toluca_Lady · August 2012

I am seeing these ladies this pregnancy (only 12 weeks now) but so far they've been great. Like you, I really wish I could read more threads about them. I'm curious how many end up with natural births.

runlong3 · August 2012

I'm currently seeing the MWs at the Midwife Center, so no help with the ones at Magee (although I have been really happy so far at TMC). I have heard, however, that their "birthing center" is not separate and you deliver on the same floor as everyone else (not sure if that makes any difference or not).

sleepybeth · August 2012

I'm normally just a lurker here, but I thought that I'd come out of lurkdom since I have personal experience with the midwives. I switched to them midway through my first pregnancy from a regular OB, and delivered both my son and daughter with them (most recently just three weeks ago!). Overall, my experience was very positive.

I actually had two inductions - the first because of high blood pressure at 39 weeks, the second because I was 42 weeks and little girl showed no signs of going anywhere! Both times they used Cervidil to induce me and then I was able to go naturally from there (no Pitocin, no epi). You are in the same rooms as everyone else at Magee, but I've heard that the nurses who are more supportive of natural birth tend to work with the Midwives. We had great nurses both times.

There are quite a few midwives, but I saw almost all of them during my regular visits, and they have a monthly "Meet the Midwives" in conjunction with a hospital tour (I think) to meet those you haven't met. You could probably attend that just to meet them and see if they fit with what you want.

As far as testing and ultrasounds, they offer all the same genetic testing, ultrasounds, etc. as regular OBs. They don't push things like internal exams as you get to 36+ weeks - they asked, I declined, and that was it.

I did take Bradley courses the first time around, which I think helped a lot. The midwives are willing to be flexible on a lot of things, but it helped to know what to ask for. They also recommended some things that I wasn't comfortable with (cytotec for a big one!) but were willing to go another route once I expressed displeasure. They also let me have a capped IV port instead of an IV, let me walk around with a mobile monitor during labor, put the baby right on my chest when delivered, postponed the eye drops, let me push in varying positions (2.5 hours for the first one!), let me use a birthing ball, etc. It is still very much a hospital environment, so you have to be prepared for that. For example, they weren't flexible about letting me eat during labor (and I was starving!). I had a doula the second time around, which I would highly recommend, just as extra support.

That's all I can think of off the top of my head, but let me know if you have other questions.

cbj09 · August 2012

I'm with the midwives right now! They are absolutely wonderful. I've heard good things about the Midwife Center as well too. My biggest concern is that Magee is a bit of a baby factory (something like 10,000 babies a year?!?) but I have had nothing but positive experiences with the midwives thus far. I think it is at least worth seeing if you can set up an appointment with them, then decide on switching after you've met with them.

BBhopes15 · August 2012

yes, I have. My DH however would prefer a hospital setting. I figured the MW at maggee was a good compromise.

BBhopes15 · August 2012

sleepybeth:
I'm normally just a lurker here, but I thought that I'd come out of lurkdom since I have personal experience with the midwives. I switched to them midway through my first pregnancy from a regular OB, and delivered both my son and daughter with them (most recently just three weeks ago!). Overall, my experience was very positive.
I actually had two inductions - the first because of high blood pressure at 39 weeks, the second because I was 42 weeks and little girl showed no signs of going anywhere! Both times they used Cervidil to induce me and then I was able to go naturally from there (no Pitocin, no epi). You are in the same rooms as everyone else at Magee, but I've heard that the nurses who are more supportive of natural birth tend to work with the Midwives. We had great nurses both times.
There are quite a few midwives, but I saw almost all of them during my regular visits, and they have a monthly "Meet the Midwives" in conjunction with a hospital tour (I think) to meet those you haven't met. You could probably attend that just to meet them and see if they fit with what you want.
As far as testing and ultrasounds, they offer all the same genetic testing, ultrasounds, etc. as regular OBs. They don't push things like internal exams as you get to 36+ weeks - they asked, I declined, and that was it.
I did take Bradley courses the first time around, which I think helped a lot. The midwives are willing to be flexible on a lot of things, but it helped to know what to ask for. They also recommended some things that I wasn't comfortable with (cytotec for a big one!) but were willing to go another route once I expressed displeasure. They also let me have a capped IV port instead of an IV, let me walk around with a mobile monitor during labor, put the baby right on my chest when delivered, postponed the eye drops, let me push in varying positions (2.5 hours for the first one!), let me use a birthing ball, etc. It is still very much a hospital environment, so you have to be prepared for that. For example, they weren't flexible about letting me eat during labor (and I was starving!). I had a doula the second time around, which I would highly recommend, just as extra support.
That's all I can think of off the top of my head, but let me know if you have other questions.

Thanks! Your response is very informative.

pc150805 · August 2012

I did not have a great experience with the MW so much so that I ended up switching back to my OB. I do have to say though that I've talked to a lot of people and I seem to be the exception. I felt like they didn't listen to me and they definitely didn't answer my questions. She told me she'd ask the doctor and get back to me and never did. That was my experience, but I do know that lots of people have a great experience with them!

I had a great hospital birth with the Maternal Fetal Medicine doctors because I ended up being high risk.

runlong3 · August 2012

BBhopes15:
yes, I have. My DH however would prefer a hospital setting. I figured the MW at maggee was a good compromise.

This was DH's and I's biggest concern when deciding on going with the Midwife Center -- what about an emergency? We went to their orientation where they show you around the center and answer any and all questions you have -- a lot of them specific to this fear most people have. It really helped set DH's mind at ease and we decided to go there.

I can't remember the exact number, but their transfer rate (they transfer to Mercy and the MW goes with you) I believe is well under 10%. When asked about emergency transfers they said they are extremely rare -- they will usually transfer you long before it gets to that point. (There is also an OB that looks at all the patient cases just to double check that you're still okay to stay with the MWs if that's also a concern of your DH, though you never meet them.)

I guess it kind of depends on what YOU want, as you are the one having the baby. Comparing to the PPs experience at Magee, a couple main ways they differ: No routine IVs or saline locks, they encourage you to eat and drink, and no electronic fetal monitoring (they use dopplers and stethoscopes intermittently instead). How important are these things to you?

I also forgot to mention -- if you still want a hospital birth with MW but aren't keen on Magee, the MWs from TMC will also do hospital births at Mercy, so that's an option as well.

blueeyedgirl27 · August 2012

BBhopes15:
yes, I have. My DH however would prefer a hospital setting. I figured the MW at maggee was a good compromise.

I go to TMC as well and love them. If it helps any, TMC is affiliated with Mercy so if your H prefers a hospital setting you can L&D at Mercy and the MWs preside over your care the whole time (and I've heard many positive things about Mercy's maternity unit too). I personally was unhappy with the level of care I received at Magee (they were also very pushy with medical interventions) and know many others who felt the same, but you'd probably see that with every hospital.

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If u live in Pittsburgh, MWs at Magee Q...

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