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01-22-2013 at 5:26 PM
hannahhick...
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hannahhicks is not online. Last active: 04-30-2013, 1:57 PMNewbie

Midwife VS OB

I'm trying to decide whether to stick with my new OB or change to a midwife. Last pregnancy and delivery was so smooth and wonderful, but I have since changed OBs. I wasn't happy with the office staff and hour wait times there, and felt my Dr. did not completely addressed my concerns. So, I've only met the new one once at year check-up. She seems nice and I've heard great things about the office. And they have valet parking! Big plus. 

I've only heard great things about the Midwives Group in my city. I'm not sure I want to go natural though (mainly for my husband's sake of severe anxiety,) and feel I may be pressured to. I haven't met with anyone yet, but am going to do a consultation. I love the more personal stance they take with patients. 

Basically, I don't want to make the wrong decision and then be stuck going to one or the other. I also don't want to waste my time (hour drive) and copays going to each place trying to figure it out. But I do want to make the best decision for my new baby, pregnancy, and family. Does anyone have advice or experiences with midwives? I'm also only 5w1d, so I have a couple weeks before my first appt. 


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01-22-2013 at 5:45 PM
LauraT25
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LauraT25 is not online. Last active: 05-18-2013, 1:24 AMGold

It's really up to you, and the care you receive varies with each specific practice.  I started with my regular OB/GYN but was unhappy with the wait times and how difficult it was to schedule appointments, so I switched to a midwives practice.  Though I did like my OB, I greatly preferred the personalized care I received from the midwives - it felt like they really took my preferences into my consideration, and didn't rush me out the door.  Due to a move I actually went to two different midwives clinics, and had similar experiences with both.  I had been a bit skeptical that they might be a little to crunchy granola for me, but there was surprisingly little pressure for alternative therapies and going natural.  I wound up getting an epidural and then a c-section, and my midwife was very understanding and supportive and encouraging without making me feel judged.

I would recommend using a practice that's associated with OBs and a hospital so you don't have to worry about switching if your pregnancy becomes high risk.  After talking to the other moms in my baby class, one of the things I liked the most about using a midwife is that she was there with me constantly throughout labor.  The other moms said they only saw their OBs for a few minutes and then when it was time to push, and often they were left entirely alone while nurses were attending to other patients. 


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01-22-2013 at 6:02 PM
PrimRoseMa...
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You can use both. The practice I use does uses both. I see a midwife most of the time, and an OB.

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01-22-2013 at 6:18 PM
heddy79
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heddy79 is not online. Last active: 05-18-2013, 5:56 AMBronze
Like PP, I go to a practice where they have both.  I have seen the same MW for all of my prenatal care, but she has stopped delivering so I will have an OB, from the same practice, deliver.  I completely love my MW because she is so down to earth, really knows her stuff, spends time talking to me, and is tough when she needs to be (I have a terrible sweet tooth).  

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01-22-2013 at 11:02 PM
Jasmineeel...
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Jasmineeelizabeth is not online. Last active: 05-18-2013, 5:16 AMBronze

I went with a midwife for a more personal experience and that is not what I got at all. I've decided to to change care providers to an OB due to the fact there are not enough midwives in my city to find another one.

It depends on person to person or practice to practice, some midwives are awful, some are amazing.. The same goes for OBs. 

In my opinion if you want a hospital birth with pain medication an OB may be your best bet as midwives specialize in natural births. -- And your husbands comfort should not be the basis on your birth decision. 


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01-23-2013 at 3:50 AM
Kimbus22
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Kimbus22 is not online. Last active: 05-18-2013, 8:24 AMGold

Most practices here have both.  When you're in labor, you get the midwife on duty unless there is a problem that they feel they need to call in the OB for.  I had a midwife through 3 days of labor and 3 hours of pushing until they needed to call the OB in to use the vacuum.

And the midwife was the one who offered me an epidural.


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01-23-2013 at 11:01 AM
cherrys
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cherrys is not online. Last active: 05-16-2013, 8:36 PMBronze
I also go to a practice where they have midwives, OB & a CRNP that all deliver.  I prefer my mid-wife.  We have been friends outside of the practice since before I was pregnant with DS.  When I went over my due date, we had scheduled my induction on a day we knew my midwife would be on call.

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01-23-2013 at 2:22 PM
hannahhick...
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hannahhicks is not online. Last active: 04-30-2013, 1:57 PMNewbie
Thanks ya'll! I'm still confused as to what I am going to do, but I think the best thing would be to visit both offices and see where I feel most comfortable. 

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01-24-2013 at 9:22 AM
callthewin...
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callthewind is not online. Last active: 05-16-2013, 8:15 PMBronze
I loved my experience with my midwife because she was so mellow and down to earth. I didn't feel pressured to do anything I didn't want to do. And both the midwives in the practice were always very available in case I had question or concerns. They gave me the peace of mind to know that I could do what I wanted to do because my body was designed for it!

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