Any BTDT Deliver with a midwife?

strlitemiss · June 2015

I delivered DS with a CNM in a hospital, last minute. This time in am delivering with a midwife in a birth center. Any questions in should be asking? My appointment is tomorrow! I am a slacker.

LittleLotero · June 2015

I had a midwife with my DD five years ago during my whole pregnancy and I loved her. I delivered at a hospital, but I loved the care I received from her. I never felt like she was any less of a doctor based on her title. I guess I'm no help with questions, but I would highly suggest a midwife to anyone!

wagvan · June 2015

I had 5 of my 7 births with midwives. 4 were with CNMs in the hospital (one of those was a waterbirth) and my last was a homebirth with a CNM. I would ask if she is a CNM. I'd ask about her transfers and what happens in case of a transfer start to finish. I'd ask about her infant resuscitation certifications. About what things will risk you out of a birth center birth. How far is the birth center from the hospital. How far from a level 1 ICU hospital. I'd ask how many deaths or close calls she has had in her career regardless of the causes. What would she do in case of an abruption, a amniotic fluid embolism, a cord prolapse, preeclampsia, breech, shoulder dystocia, etc. If she explains everything away, run the other direction.

PS I LOVE midwives, but I have heard way to many sad stories of underqualified, flying by the seat of their pants midwives who did not take legitimate risks seriously or have the training to cope with them, and babies and sometimes mom ends up dead or severely injured. Just be very careful and know what qualifications are required in your state.

bookqueen · June 2015

I don't know what BTDT means, but I had a midwife for my entire first pregnancy AND delivery. The OBGYN office at the hospital employed lots of midwives and the one I had I absolutely loved. I wish I was back home still so I could go through it with her again.

bookqueen · June 2015

wagvan said:
I had 5 of my 7 births with midwives. 4 were with CNMs in the hospital (one of those was a waterbirth) and my last was a homebirth with a CNM. I would ask if she is a CNM. I'd ask about her transfers and what happens in case of a transfer start to finish. I'd ask about her infant resuscitation certifications. About what things will risk you out of a birth center birth. How far is the birth center from the hospital. How far from a level 1 ICU hospital. I'd ask how many deaths or close calls she has had in her career regardless of the causes. What would she do in case of an abruption, a amniotic fluid embolism, a cord prolapse, preeclampsia, breech, shoulder dystocia, etc. If she explains everything away, run the other direction.

PS I LOVE midwives, but I have heard way to many sad stories of underqualified, flying by the seat of their pants midwives who did not take legitimate risks seriously or have the training to cope with them, and babies and sometimes mom ends up dead or severely injured. Just be very careful and know what qualifications are required in your state.

7 BIRTHS?!! Holy crap!

strlitemiss · June 2015

Our midwife is amazing

Super qualified and experienced.

oregontrailmom · June 2015

My 2 cents that probably shouldn't count for much. With my first I had an OB GYN all through the prenatal care. The day before I gave birth she went on vacation. At the birth I was supposed to have the on call OB but she had to go to a c/s so for the actual delivery I had a midwife in the room. I had no problem with her and she was doing a fine job until she gave me an episiotomy (sp?) with no anesthesia. Let me repeat that: I had no pain meds or numbing medication anywhere and she took a pair of scissors and cut open my vagina. Let me just say it was the worse pain I've ever felt.

So that's what I think of when I think of midwives. I totally get that it would not be a normal thing for all midwives and an OB could have done the same but I cringe every time I think of this.

HBirdie · June 2015

@bookqueen : been there done that

I saw a midwife for all of my prenatal care and she was my provider for my first 36 hours of labor. Then when I needed a c-section, she assisted the on-call OB. My experience with her was absolutely stellar. She was caring, comforting, gentle, thorough, and extremely well qualified. I liked the OB I had for my delivery just fine (and I saw a few at my practice when my MW wasn't available), but I felt much better cared for by my MW. She took on less patients than every other doc at the practice, so her appointments were twice as long by design, and I felt like she truly cared about me. And she wasn't all hippy dippy granola, which I was a little afraid of, haha.

Make sure your MW is qualified, of course, but in my experience it's a great option and they provide excellent care.

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