I had a midwife when I had Abigail. I loved the hospital, my midwife... everything. But I mentioned it to a few people (older crowd) and they were like "why, oh no! You should go to a dr. blah blah blah.

Now the hopital I go to has a dr. there on the floor if you need him. But I think sometimes dr.'s can be to pushy, to get your baby delivered. So I want to go with a midwife.

What do you all think? What are you going to have?

the "older crowd" from like the 60's and 70's grew up in a time where the woman always pushed on her back and they would actually give women shots to dry up their milk because they thought formula was better... lol... things are better now

Personally if there is a dr on the floor in case of complications, I would totally go with a midwife. Actually we wanted to this time, and considered homebirth, but we couldn't afford it... I had complications and ended up with an ob/gyn over the family doctor that was going to do it anyhow, but that's not the case for most people and if you didn't have complications with your first and are low risk i would really go with a midwife.

I am a little sad actually because it looks like I won't be able to birth w/o going to a hospital and having a doctor since i had 2 births w/ complications now... but if i had been able to do it naturally I would totally be going w/ a midwife or homebirth even. I heard it's lovely and very relaxing rather than having a bunch of medical personnel prodding you.

Also doctors ARE pushy. and they only know what they were taught in school whereas a midwife might help you find more natural measures for things first. Well not all doctor's are like that but, a lot of them don't really even try natural things first.

I already have my group picked out here (we've moved here a year ago, so I hope they ARE available); they are a big group of midwives and have *a* doctor on their floor, I read their comments and MOST of them are big "natural birth" pushers, right up my alley. : ) I'm looking to have another natural birth (Lord Willing), so I'm really excited to get in here.

With the military, at our base, I was only "allowed" to see the midwives for un-complicated matters like my weekly appointments but got delivered by the docs. Ugh. Fortunately, God was watching over me and I wound up being sent to a civie hospital both times and had a woman delivering me, both times!

I *highly* recommend a midwife birth, my midwife birth (my second child) was so much more relaxed, enjoyable (even though I was in pain), and EASY because SHE was working FOR/WITH *ME*! : ) I loved that! Let me know what you wind up going with, you have my interest!

Midwife, midwife, midwife, midwife.

Did I make my point?

Midwife. Totally.

I think with a midwife you have a better chance of getting the birth you desire. That is, if you desire a natural, intervention-free birth ; ) Oh sure, there are some 'midwives' out there who don't deserve such a title. They're simply a doctor with a lighter title. Blech. (I have friends who have run into a few of those)

But I think *for the most part* going with a midwife leads to a more natural birthing experience. And if you've been there before and loved it..by all means...go with it again!!

As for me..I'm going with me, myself and my husband : )

Okay, Tara, Explain: me, myself and dh? How do you do that with out anyone else to help?

and I give you the bravest woman in the world award!!!

I think I'm gonna stick with a midwife. I really don't want to be sliced and diced unless it is an absolute emergency.
Thanks for your imput gals!

Easy....

My body knows how to birth a baby. I trust it to do so. And I trust the Lord to get us all through it.

I do the breathing, the dealing, the coping, the moaning. He does the coaching, the encouraging, the observing and sometimes the catching.

My hub is as knowledged and experienced as many midwives. He caught #2 before the midwife arrived. He helped with #3, as again, midwife wasn't there. He coached me to get into a better position so that he could check for the cord and all that kind of stuff. (you'll have to read my birth stories for the FULL story there haha) And he was there again doing the same for #5..no midwife on the way for that one. We planned on "just us" : )

I just have a rather 'radical' view of birth. I have an immense trust in my Lord and my body when it comes to labor/birth. And I trust that my body will tell us if/when something is wrong, something is beyond our capabilities, in which case we would seek medical treatment.

We've just always done homebirth. They've been uneventful and very successful. Then having 2 episodes where the midwife didn't quite make it and we did just fine on our own...that just encouraged us to go all out on our own last time and again this time. : )

I had a midwife when I had Abigail. I loved the hospital, my midwife... everything. But I mentioned it to a few people (older crowd) and they were like "why, oh no! You should go to a dr. blah blah blah.

Now the hopital I go to has a dr. there on the floor if you need him. But I think sometimes dr.'s can be to pushy, to get your baby delivered. So I want to go with a midwife.

What do you all think? What are you going to have?

Midwife.
I have one now but she is going to quit in Dec. That means I need to find another one. I did have a Dr. w/ my first 2. I do not like the Dr. I had.
I hope to find a new midwife so I don't have to see a DR. If I cant...I will likely avoid the hosp. till the last minute & the nurses can just help me out.

Easy....

My body knows how to birth a baby. I trust it to do so. And I trust the Lord to get us all through it.

I do the breathing, the dealing, the coping, the moaning. He does the coaching, the encouraging, the observing and sometimes the catching.

My hub is as knowledged and experienced as many midwives. He caught #2 before the midwife arrived. He helped with #3, as again, midwife wasn't there. He coached me to get into a better position so that he could check for the cord and all that kind of stuff. (you'll have to read my birth stories for the FULL story there haha) And he was there again doing the same for #5..no midwife on the way for that one. We planned on "just us" : )

I just have a rather 'radical' view of birth. I have an immense trust in my Lord and my body when it comes to labor/birth. And I trust that my body will tell us if/when something is wrong, something is beyond our capabilities, in which case we would seek medical treatment.

We've just always done homebirth. They've been uneventful and very successful. Then having 2 episodes where the midwife didn't quite make it and we did just fine on our own...that just encouraged us to go all out on our own last time and again this time. : )


I think that is so awesome!! and again the bravest woman award goes to you! (dh too, except he's not a woman (cheesy grin)

have had both and mid-wife totally rocked- both dh and I feel that way. -ren

holy cow just realized who I was responding to- congrats on being preggers!!!! -ren

I guess I am a big chicken, I wanted a Dr., hospital, and most important (ha ha!) drugs!!! My 4 births went well, the 1st was the worst -pushy nurse. But it was much more pleasent then I expected ( I have a very vivid imaganation!). I had epiduals and not very much pain, I was total able to enjoy the babies and they were so alert. Just remember however you want to have your baby is the best way for you.

holy cow just realized who I was responding to- congrats on being preggers!!!! -ren

Thanks Ren *big smiley*

First time around delivered with doc, but had care with THE best heaven sent mid wife!
I believe delivering with a mid wife they will do everything in their power to help me achieve my wishes. :)
Also, isn't there sort of a knowledge/ way of thinking rivalry between docs and midwives?

I have to say I went with doctors and would all over again..I had a wonderful experience and the nurses who cared for me were awesome. In fact with Trent I had several student nurses that cared for me and they spoiled me rotten.

Mmm I'm praying I will be spoiled this time around during my L and D and stay!!! :)

I've come to the conculusion that it doesn't matter if it is a doc or a midwife. I think you have to get a feel for the person you are seeing. If they are willing to do everything they can to make your birth plan happen then I think they will do great.

I had a group with 2 MW and 1 DR who's views were lined up like a mw too. I had such a great birth even though it didn't go as planned, because there are no "what ifs" I ended up being high risk (High BP), my baby was high risk (being born a month early and me being on CRAZY meds that effected him) and they let me be induced for 5 days (my bp were undercontrol for the most part) I don't think most dr. would allow their pateint be induced for 5 days because they would have more important things to do ya know. But she was just as on board with me trying for a vaginal, no pain med birth as I was, and even though the time came when Josh started not doing good and I ended up having to have a C-section with him, She at least let me try all we could do to get him to come out vaginally. I think thats most important when you choose a provider, that your views and theirs line up and they won't push you into doing something you don't want to do, or rush you into a "C"

Wow Tara, you do deserve the brave woman award! LOL Thats so neat though since you haven't had complications I think thats great that you do home birth with just you and DH. :) Although I guess if you've given birth 5 times your body probably knows labor/delivery pretty well!

I'm going with a doctor but laboring/birthing at a birthing center where nurses will be there with me to labor and the doctor will come in to checkup on me and for the actual birth. Am looking forward to it with some anticipation!

I've come to the conculusion that it doesn't matter if it is a doc or a midwife. I think you have to get a feel for the person you are seeing. If they are willing to do everything they can to make your birth plan happen then I think they will do great.

I think you are right. I had a doctor for prenatal and the birth with my first. She was awesome. I had a wonderful experience. With my second, I had a midwife for prenatal, then moved and had to have a doctor for the birth. The midwife was fantastic, but I didn't know the doctor and my experience was less than wonderful. I think there is definitely something to be said for having a relationship (and a good one at that!) with the person delivering your baby...it makes all the difference, whether it be a doctor or a midwife.

Oh, and I would be open to either a doctor or a midwife for any other babies I have...but I will admit I am a bit chicken when it comes to birthing at home. I would probably only have a midwife in a hospital.

but I will admit I am a bit chicken when it comes to birthing at home. I would probably only have a midwife in a hospital.


Homebirth *isn't* for everyone : ) I completely understand that. But I just think it requires trust in your body to do what it was designed to do. Like natural childbirth in general. Yes, I know, there are exceptions, as there are to every rule. I'm not getting into that, I'm saying "in general/in most cases". ; )
But I think far more people *could* do a homebirth and would actually like it if they just looked into it. If they really recognized it as an option. If they really wanted to take control of their birthing experience. If they would only assume more of that responsibility.

** and I'll back down off my soap box once again this evening...I better get out of this forum before the tomatoes start flying *wink*

I had a doctor last time with Kylah and had a not so great experience.... LONG wait times for my appointments, cold environment at the hospital, my doctor wasn't even there to deliver Kylah etc etc.

I've chosen to go with a team of midwives this time and have LOVED it. I've never ever had to wait to see them, they spend time with me, they put the ownership on me to make decisions rather than pushing the bloodwork, ultrasounds and everything else on me and the biggest thing for me is that they will for sure be there at the hospital with me.

My mom is sooooooo wary about me using a midwife but it's because she's never known anyone to use one. She doesn't understand that they have a ton of training and if they feel uncomfortable, they will transfer care right away to an OB at the hospital to take care of things. There's still the stigma out there that midwives are this "crunchy granola" thing where you're not allowed medication, you have to deliver at home, you use olive oil for lubrication etc. hahaha. Hopefully my experience will better educate the older generations in my family. :)

So far I haven't felt anything "crunchy granola" about them... I just feel like it's a warm, caring, women empowering thing!

Laura