Switching to a midwife! Opinions?

[Amherst1994]

Hello all! Sorry in advance for the novel!

So far I've been seeing a medical doctor for my pregnancy. She is great and I have no issue with her, but I suspect she will not be totally supportive of me wanting to have a natural birth with no medical intervention (unless something is extremely life threatening).

My doctor is very medical. For example, I was very sick my first trimester and she prescribed me meds. Before I took them, I looked them up online and they weren't approved for pregnant women based on a lack of research. They weren't necessarily dangerous, it just made me think at if she was so quick to prescribe medication she might not be onboard and supportive with me having a natural birth.

After my last appointment I was still feeling uneasy. I found a midwife center and talked to them over the phone. I have an appointment with them next week. I'm in the US and this clinic is the only one to use gas and air in my state and the birthing center is top of the line. They have excellent reviews and they talked to me so respectfully over the phone.

I'm seriously thinking of switching over to a midwife. Have any of you ladies tried both a medical doctor and a midwife? What are your opinions on one vs the other? Can you please tell me some pros and cons or just share your experiences? I'm a FTM and I just don't have the experience and neither does anybody I know (midwives don't seem to be as common here in the US)!

Thank you all so much!!

 

[Srrme]

All 3 of my sons were born in a hospital (my last one was an all natural birth in hospital) and this time I am using a Midwife and trying for a home birth. My Midwife is amazing, and is very hands off (which I like!). The atmosphere is much more comfortable for me.

I was pleased with my all natural hospital birth, but I didn't like having to be stuck in the bed after a certain point, and I didn't like how quick they made me push to get him out and get it over with.

 

[MrsKChicago]

I'd switch if you liked the midwives, their birth statistics are good, and they have a good emergency transfer plan.

I haven't given birth yet, but I'm with a midwife group that attends deliveries in a hospital. The hospital has a couple of natural birth focused rooms that are only for midwife use, with big beds, birth tubs, birthing stools, etc. It's perfect for me because I can have the flexible, natural, birth center experience, with the comfort of knowing I'm seconds away from help in a serious emergency.

I'm very happy with the policies of the midwives, and with their birth statistics regarding c sections, epidurals, etc. The stats seem to reinforce that they mean what they say. We had some (resolved) growth concerns for a month or so, and I really liked that they took them seriously, were proactive about finding out more, but there was no medical panic, no rush to interventions, etc. It meant a few appointments with their consulting OB (she would do my c section in an emergency), and I appreciated how they worked together. There were no territory issues, the OB had a lot of respect for the midwives, etc. I liked the OB, and I'll be ok with her if things don't go according to plan, but my midwife care feels so much more personalized. I appreciate that they usually give me a fact sheet on upcoming tests, immunizations, etc at a prior appointment, so I can research and know what I'm consenting to. It's a perfect balance of research based medical care and gentle hippie stuff

 

[Maudine]

I'm currently 39 weeks with my 2nd pregnancy. My first pregnancy I was with a midwife group from the beginning until the end and I loved it. I was able to birth in a hospital in a special birthing suite with the midwives, so it was the best of all worlds. I also happen to work in healthcare and have since switched jobs and work at a large academic hospital. When I got pregnant this time I thought I'd try the OBs at my hospital of employment, thinking they would at least be open to my having a natural birth. I was wrong. From my first appointment on it was like they were signing me up for a C-section. I came away from each appointment feeling like a failure and almost in tears. I even had one of the OBs tell me a plan for a natural birth is all fine and good, but this is an academic hospital and they tend to do more interventions in general. Ok, that was it. I decided to switch back to midwives and beat myself up for ever leaving them in the first place. I switched late in my 2nd trimester and am so so happy I have. They have been nothing but supportive, but still vigilant to my baby and my needs. I know I can trust them to listen to me AND do what's best for us. I say, switch if you have any concern your OB will not listen to your needs. Labor is a very vulnerable time and knowing you have some control over what is done to you and your baby makes a huge HUGE difference.

Good luck!

 

[Feronia]

I would definitely switch if I were you -- midwives are the best! I think the most important thing is to have a respectful care provider with whom you are totally comfortable.

I've had two wonderful births with midwives and can't say enough good things about them and my experiences!

 

[ready4number1]

I think doctors sometimes forget this is a natural process that would happen with or without them lol. And they are trained to provide meds. So yes, go on and switch if it will make you happy.

I am still working on a BFP and plan to go natural as well.

 

[Triocd]

I've always seen and OB/GYN for my annual checkups, but I switched to a midwife for prenatal care and I've got nothing but good things to say! We're delivering at a hospital which has a large midwife group in addition to the ob's on staff. I really like the laid back approach, which is still based on up to date medical research. It's much more "this is normal" than "you have a condition to treat."

 

[fisher640]

I've always seen an OB/gyn but just contacted a midwife practice yesterday to find out more. I'd really like things to be "better" this time around.

 

[gingmg]

I had an ob for my prenatal care but decided to have a hospital based midwife for delivery for the same reasons as you. I had an amazing birthing experience. I felt supported, listened to, and they did so many little things to give me a nice experience (encouraged me to get in the shower, walk the halls, kept the room dark, let me eat and drink, and let me wear my own clothes instead of the hospital gowns). The difference in care was incredible! I would argue for a low risk mama a midwife delievey is actually safer. They dont jump to interventions unless absolutely necessary. With my next baby I'm going with a midwife from the start.

 

[Amherst1994]

Thanks for your experiences/opinions! I'm officially switched over to midwives and am already SO much more at ease. I got a tour of the birthing center and am just absolutely in love!

 

[MrsKChicago]

Glad to hear it! Midwives are great

 

[Renaendel]

Hey, since you are in the US I thought I would give you a heads up on something. Our midwife laws are very different than most countries. I absolutley love midwives but only those with training.

Make sure if you switch that you get a Certified Nurse Midwife(CNM) Not a Certified Professional Midwife or direct entry midwife. CNMs are required to have years of training above and beyond just birthing babies. So you can get the best of both worlds. You get the personal attention of a midwife and someone who can be there for your safety and the safety of your baby if things, God forbid, do go south. Each state sets laws as far as how licensure is granted for the other midwife levels. It pains me to say that a bunch of states ladies can just declare themselves midwives, but they can't declare themselves CNMs and that is how you protect yourself. While CPMs have a listed licensure there are a lot of ways to get around it.

When people in the UK and Canada talk about their awesome midwives and birth experiences they are talking about CNMs. CNMs can actually transfer between countries because the training is comprehensive and consistent internationally. CPMs are only legal in the US and their licensure can not be accepted in other countries due to lack of training.

So yea, I love love midwives, but this is a good way to make sure you are getting an awesome one for you.