What's your thoughts on having a midwife vs. an OB or Dr? I have a midwife this time, and I'm totally loving it!!!

I had a certified nurse midwife with each baby, and I loved my delivery experiences despite the medical interventions that occured in the end(induction, pitocin and so on). In fact, I had the same CNM both times(very rare in a military setting) and gave Amanda the middle name of Robin after her:)

I had midwives (CNM) for both my pregnancies. In fact, I never saw a dr the entire time. I loved it! DH loved it too, mostly because they were willing to let him step in and do the "catching" as both girls were born. He says they were two of the most incredible experiences of his life.

Sadly, my practice has now done away with midwives entirely, so I will not have that option again.

I had an OB (and will have the same one next time because I really liked him.) My RE would only release me to an OB.

I had my family dr with Emma, an OB with Kenny and a midwife with Clark. The midwife was the best! She really took the time to talk to me and really seemed to care!

i have an ob.

i have too many risk factors :rolleyes: and would never consider not seeing an ob.

I had an OB with all three kids. The practice I go to had a CNM that you could see during your prenatal appointments but once you reached 36 weeks they only permitted you to see the OBs and have them deliver you too. She was really nice during my appointments with Victoria and when I tried to schedule ones with when I was pregnant with Alex they said she had left. The practice hasn't hire a new one so I don't think they are going to offer it anymore. :( Thankfully, the OB I had during delivery were great. There's only one guy there that I can't stand and would love to see shot. :lol:

Dawn

I had perinatologists with Janelle. I *had* midwives this pregnancy, and will again in 11 days, but untill I get to 34 weeks i'm back with peri's because I'm considered high risk due to premature labor and dilation. I really want to go back to the midwives, but I understand why they won't deliver a premature baby (34 weeks is no longer considered a preemie at u of m hospital, just pre-term).

I had a CNM with Mary. I absolutely loved it. She was really easy going. I didn't have an ultrasound but she would have let me if I'd wanted it. I gave her my birth plan and she actually modified with things like saying that I didn't even want a well instead of saying I didn't want an IV. Drugs were never even mentioned at my birth. If I called with an issued like extremely light spotting in the beginning she would just say lets give it a day and if it isn't better you can come in. She was the only one that checked me during labor except the very last time the nurse did it. I got to deliver squatting on the floor which was the only place I felt comfortable. I really learned to trust her a lot. With an OB I don't think I would have. Also I went to one appointment with an OB before I switch and she was in and out of the room in 5 minutes. A lot of my appointments with the midwives last up to 45 min. or longer. They asked me lots of questions about my lifestyle and never left the room until I was done asking questions.

I had both. My OB's practice employeed CNMs and when you went for appointments you would alternate who you saw. So 50% of the time I saw the CNM. I could have had her deliver if I wanted too also. I went with the OB though b/c I really liked him. Plus he dealt with high risk pregnancy (which I supposedly was b/c of a birth defect in my hips)

I dont have a preference. I used an OB for this pregnancy (my first) dont know if I would go with a midwife next time or not. I really like my doctor alot! She was great!

I would prefer to have a midwife, but my insurance won't cover it. I like my OB pretty well, but I am definitely looking into a midwife next time around!

I had an OB, but will likely go with a midwife when it's time for #2.

Kate

I had a midwife, the midwife was there right through my pregnancy when I discovered I was pregant and on the delivery day itself. She even came to the house for 10days after Sarah was born to see how we were getting on.

I would reccommend midwives, they are very personal on a friendly basis and not intrusive with the medical side of things. She made me feel more comfortable. In fact, in the UK Midwives are the only option unless you run into difficulties through labor.

I started with an OB. I thought I liked her at first but when I presented my birth plan things really changed. When I had originally asked when they induce I was told its up to the patient... I didn't want pitocin at all and suddenly she was saying because I'm diabetic they'd induce me at 38 weeks. Well she knew I was diabetic and should have told me that to begin with. Every week I'd say no and it was a huge struggle... My blood sugars were normal and the baby was measuring small, but she kept insiting I'd have a huge baby because I'm diabetic.

At thirty weeks I switched to CNM practice. I worked with 3 midwives and I loved them all!!! I felt more comfortable discussing my concerns and was not treated like a high risk patient... which despite being a type II diabetic I didn't feel I was since I only had 10 high reading the entire pregnancy and they were no more than 20 pts high... and most were within 5 pts high. I was able to move around and use the tub during labor. Drugs were not mentioned once in my labor. I didn't even have to have an IV. The only thing they made me do is an NST before admitting to the birth center to make sure Nick was okay. Mind you that was a hellish 45 minutes for me hardest part of my labor because I had to be on my back... (If I stayed with my OB I'd be hooked to the monitor the entire time)

Funny thing is my old OB made it seem like it would be a compromise to get to my due date... well if I stuck with her I would have been induced the morning I went into labor... Plus if I give in and went at 38 weeks well Nick was 6 lbs 15 oz when he was born on two days after his due date so he definatelly wasn't ready 2 weeks before

I think Australia is similiar to the UK, Cat, in that midwives seem to be more the norm here too.


I love having a midwife. They make me feel very confident about my body, the pregnancy and my baby

I've been seeing a CNM throughout this pregnancy, but since the hospital she works at doesn't do VBACs, I'm gonna have to switch care providers. :( I will probably end up with an OB because the hospital I'm most likely gonna deliver at (it was recommended by my CNM because they do VBACs and she worked their for like 15 years and says that they'll take really good care of me) no longer has CNMs. My CNM is applying for priviledges at that hospital, but she doesn't think that she'll be approved in time for my delivery. :( So, since I will most likely have an OB, I am gonna hire a doula (one that my CMN referred me to), to help ensure that I get the birth that I want.

I had the midwives. When you see the midwives here, there are 5 of them so you rotate through all of them. It's nice because you are guaranteed to have one of them at your birth. They are all very wonderful. They all have very similar philosophies and work extremely well together. With Carter, I ended up with a C-section and they do not do that. So, I had an OB I never met, but at that point, I could have cared less. I never saw the doctor anyway. I only heard their voices. With this child, I will see the midwives until the end. Then I will start seeing an OB to discuss and schedule another C-section most likely. Here, you can also see both if you want. You just alternate between the two.

I think in general(at least from my experience), the midwives spend way more time with you, explaining things and making sure you are comfortable. I never had to wait more than 10 minutes in the waiting room (and that was rare to wait that long) for an appointment. Also, they are with you through your entire labor, unlike most OB's around here at least. Now, of course, if there are other women in labor, they will rotate between you, but they don't just let the nurses take care of you and come in at the last second. They are the for most of your labor. I really like the care that you are given with the CNM's.

Then there are people who will tell you that they don't know as much as the OB's and that if you had any complications, an OB is the best! I don't know about that. I just know what I know from my personal experiences!

It looks like I might be able to have a midwife afterall!! :clap: I found a group of midwives that practice in a hospital near my apartment. The good thing is that they do VBACs and my current CNM knows them and says that they're really wonderful. I talked with one of them on the phone this week and she was very nice and informative. I have a VBAC consultation with her on March 10th! I can't wait to find out more about her birth philosophies and about the hospital she works at. I also have a VBAC consultation with an OB at another hospital on the 9th. I'm hoping though that the midwives and the hospital that they work at mesh with my birth philosophy because I would REALLY rather have a midwife!!

I had both... my OB practice had 2 OBs and a CNM. I saw Gwen (the CNM) for most of my prenatal visits, but by the end I was considered high-risk (due to PIH) so I knew I was going to have one of the OBs doing my delivery. I ended up with a c-section anyway, so I would have had an OB regardless.

I really liked Gwen, she was really helpful and knowledgable (and a mom herself).

I also had both, which I really think is the best of both worlds. My OB has a CNM in his practice, so I would alternate between the two of them for my prenatal visits. My OB made it very clear to me that he couldn't guarantee which one of them would do the actual delivery, although I could request one or the other.. but if the one I wanted was already doing a delivery or whatever, it would be the other one. But, fortunately, I liked them both so much.


Turns out.. I was induced.. and my OB planned on doing the delivery himself, but sent the CNM to check on me in the morning after the pitocin was started, and she found me to be 9 cm! So, needless to say, she stayed and did the delivery, and she couldn't have been more wonderful.

I have had midwives both times (the second time I also had a doctor because I ended up having a c-section) and I loved the experience. They have been really nice and supportive!

I had an OB the first time. I really liked him, but I'm considering a midwife for #2.

Sarah

I had a ob for my first. I hated her. I would wait for at least an hour at every appointment and then she would only spend 5 minutes with me. She would just brush off any concerns that I had. And she tried to change our minds regarding circumcision. She just had a horrible bedside manner. And when she delivered my son she didn't suction him well and he was spitty the first few days.

I wanted a CNM for this pregnancy, but there are none at the hospital I will be delivering at. But I am delivering at a different hospital with a new OB who I really like and I am hoping that I will keep on liking her.

During pregnancy, I saw both the OBs and the CNMs in my practice on a rotating basis. I liked them all but just seemed to click better with the OBs personality-wise, so I chose to have the OB on call deliver DD.

OB for the first...........disliked her.

Midwives for the second..............loved them all!

OB for the first...........disliked her.

Midwives for the second..............loved them all!

Christina... I noticed you arefrom Rochester NY. Thats my home town and a friend of mine is newly pregnant and wanted to work with a midwife but didn't know where to look. Maybe you could PM the info.

I've been really pleased with my midwives. Three midwives work with three OB's in the same office. The appointments are nice and relaxed. I always feel like I have time to ask questions.

I started out with a GP but she would not have been able to deliver me and would have transferred me to an OB at 30 weeks, so I elected to change to a midwifery practice. It was important to me to have a chance to build a relationship with the person at my birth.

Here midwives have their own practices. I love them and I have never regretted changing. They work in teams of 2 and each midwife takes turns with my appointments, so I get to know both of them well. One or both of them will be at the birth. I couldn't rave more about the experience I've had.

First time I went with a doctor/midwife practice and this time I'm going with a midwife-only practice that runs out of an independent birth center.