Midwives in U.S?

[mrs.green2015]

This might be a long post so sorry in advance.

I live in California and have Kaiser insurance. My OB mentioned something about a midwife and I've seen post on here. This might sound really silly but what would be the difference using a midwife rather than the doctor? It's usually whoever is on call with the doc and I don't love that.

Thanks ladies.

 

[cscbeth8421]

Midwives are fabulous! I live in Boston and used one with my last delivery! They are more into whatever you want for your delivery. More laid back i found. Depending on who is on the day you deliver is who you get. If you work with a midwife, you will get a midwife, just not necessarily the one you have had all along. Unfortunately they have clinic days where they see prenatal and they have delivery days. They prescribe meds, they so everything. If something that is out of their scope of practice they always can fall back to the OBGYN there.

 

[mrs.green2015]

Thanks! Where did you give birth?

 

[cscbeth8421]

I work and gave birth at Mass General hospital

 

[Spiffynoodles]

I'm in the US and a friend of mine had an OB for her first delivery and had a horrible experience, so for her second she went with a midwife and loved it. She had a natural homebirth with minimal intervention, and the same midwife was with her from start to finish. I, on the other hand, love my OB. I like delivering in the hospital, I like the epidural, and I like the cervix checks and everything.

So I think it just depends on what you want out of your experience and who's more likely to give you that.

 

[mrs.green2015]

Thank you spiffy! I guess that's what I am looking for. People experiences and the differences. My OB is fine don't love or dislike her so I'm really open. Just want all the info I can get to make a decision. Lol

 

[klehrly]

I had a midwife for my delivery with my son, but that was in Italy. There, you see an OB basically all the way up until your birth and then if it's a normal delivery you see a midwife, if it's anything more complicated you see an OB. I did have intervention that I wasn't super crazy about (episiotomy) but I healed fine and I only pushed for like 10 minutes, I had my son vaginally without any medications or other interventions. (I didn't even know I had the episiotomy until after I had delivered - at some point all the pain just runs together, lol).

I have worked in L&D as a medic but also as a Doula. I'm still currently a CLC and Perinatal Fitness Specialist/Yoga Instructor. I would totally recommend that you do whatever makes you most comfortable. Natural, unmedicated birth isn't impossible and it's a great experience, but some people prefer to go different routes!

Basically- if you are going for super natural minus the interventions (and yes, technically much lower rates of complications) then midwife- or a super relaxed OB is the way to go.

If you want more on the side of pain management or need more care than what a midwife can offer (I.E. pregnancy complications, high risk pregnancy, etc) then you may be more comfortable with an OB or NEED an OB.

BOTH options have pros and cons. You just need to decide what's best for you. I would recommend you go with whatever and whomever you feel most comfortable with.

If you'd like to know a little more about midwife experiences you should read the book "Ina May's Guide to Childbirth" by Ina May Gaskin. She's perhaps one of the most (if not THE most) influential midwives in American medical history- she even has a delivery maneuver named after for delivering babies with shoulder dystocia - see the "Gaskin Maneuver". I also highly recommend this book to read in general and would basically ban all of my clients from reading any other pregnancy literature if I could! It's full of wonderful, positive birth stories!

 

[mrs.green2015]

Thanks! I'll have to find that book. I'm definitely interested in learning everything I can

 

[GeralynB]

I'm in NY and used a midwife for my son and will be again for this pregnancy. Midwives are usually more laid back. I wanted a natural birth and more freedom with my birth experience. It didn't happen that way lol but that's a whole other story. I can tell you all about it if you like or have any other questions.

 

[Qmama79]

I'm in Canada. I went with mw fr 1st and have mixed feelings about it. They were indeed laid back, and when I had a premature preterm rupture of membranes and was hospitalized at 36 weeks, I didn't see my mw team until after birth as they don't get paid if they can't deliver you. After birth only 1 of the mw was brilliant in helping my LO feed as he hadn't developed a sucking reflex and could not latch and failed to gain weight. The 2 others had conflicting advice! This time I'm going with a doctor's practice with 6 docs that work in the clinic where I'll deliver. I'm feeling a lot more comfortable with that as I'm expecting early delivery again...
It's whatever you expect. I don't get attached to the team backing me in pregnancy as I now know that anything can happen & then others take over. In the end all professionals aim to deliver a healthy baby in the best possible conditions. I think I feel more safe in the hospital where baby can be monitored while labouring.

 

[minties]

Midwives are lead maternity carers in New Zealand and I don't know any different, but the general consensus seems to be that they are more laid back, caring, and are there to promote a natural and happy birth. I see a doctor when I'm sick or something is going wrong, I can't equate that with pregnancy. I can with birth as I only ever came across a doctor when there was a problem. Usually men, usually working in a hospital environment and always brisk and uncaring. The midwives work independently from clinics that are homely and cosy.

You interview and choose your own midwife here, the ones I used only have a caseload of about 3-4 women per month so they always seem to have time for you. You can text them, they'll text or call back. That midwife attends your birth, no matter what kind. They can prescribe meds, check your cervix, get you an epidural organised, attend your birth at home hospital or birthing centre. They aren't hippies or scary people with only towels and a pot of boiling water

 

[GeralynB]

I should add I gave birth in a hospital. You can find midwives that deliver in hospitals if you are more comfortable with that

 

[DaisyDreamer]

MW are the doctors you want if you'd like them to intervene as little as possible. IE, if you tell them something is wrong they will listen but they won't try to push for you to do one thing or another like doctors with medicinal contracts would. They understand that YOU know what's best for YOU and BABY, they can offer more info IF you want it.

I see a MW every month for a quick appointment to talk about symptoms and check my weight and BP. It's very low-key and I feel comfortable enough to tell them about eating/vaporizing cannabis for nausea. Likely would not reveal that to an OB.

Overall I get a more trusting feel from a MW and they put you in control of the birthing plan whatever it may be. Often they offer more alternative and natural routes to childbirth (tubs, hypnobirthing). The office I go to has a birthing center on site--there's a tub and a bed and a bathroom. You can choose to have as little or as many people with you there and just the MW is in there. Really cozy room. I would rather deliver there then under bright hospital lights with 100 people frenzying around.

 

[mrs.green2015]

Thank you all so much! Geralyn I would love to hear about your experience.

 

[GeralynB]

I had planned to have a natural birth so decided to use a group of midwives that delivered in a hospital. I wanted to be in a hospital in case anything happened. My water broke 11 days early at 4:30 in the afternoon. We got to the hospital around 7. Contractions started in the car but weren't that close together. Once we got to the hospital they checked us in and brought us to our room. Contractions were stronger and closer together. They were painful but bearable. I sat on the edge of the bed most of the time but got up and walked around and used my exercise ball too. At 7 am the midwife came to check me and I was only 4 centimeters. At that point my water had been broken for a long time and a doctor probably would have made me get a c section. But baby was fine and so the midwife suggested pitocin to try and get me to dilate faster. I agreed. They were extremely busy at the hospital that day and she said there were no delivery rooms available yet so I stayed in our room for a few more hours. I got into the shower at that point because contractions were really strong . Finally at 1pm ( 20 hours into labor) a delivery room was available and they were going to start the pitocin. I then opted for an epidural since pitocin contractions are not natural and very strong and I was already exhausted. After the epidural I was actually able to get some sleep. I didn't reach 10 cm until 6:30 am. Finally at 7:00 it was time to push. The nurse I had was not good and was not telling me when or how to push. Thank goodness for my husband bc he was holding my legs and counting and telling me when to push. The nurse I had just prior to shift change at 7am was amazing and I wish she was there for the pushing. At around 10:00am after 3 hours of pushing I was totally exhausted and said I couldn't do anymore. Finally the midwife and about 5 doctors came in and were talking about using a vacuum to get the baby out. But before we did that they said let's just try a few more pushes. With the guidance of the midwife and doctors I was able to get him out in 3 pushes. He was born at 10:32am after a 40 hour labor. Things didn't go as I planned but I think I would have ended up with a section of I hadn't used a midwife. I'm happy I had a vaginal birth and that they didn't have to use the vacuum.

 

[Spiffynoodles]

I just have to say, not all OBs are brisk and uncaring. My OB is so comforting and funny and makes me feel totally at ease. She listens to me and acts on my wishes and never pushes anything I don't want to do. I'm sure some OBs are cold and unfeeling, but I bet some midwives are, too.

 

[mrs.green2015]

Thanks for your story Geralyn.
I'm glad they didn't use a vacuum or the c section. I really want a natural birth. I guess I'll have to talk to my Ob more to get her feel for everything since she's new to me.

 

[pookied]

UK is also midwife led in maternity. I don't understand why america has not followed suit.