I am pretty sure I'm going the midwife route

* hit post too soon *

I had my first appt last night with an OB. This was a different OB than the one I had with first child and as soon as I walked in, I knew I didn't want to be there.

Ever since the birth of my firstborn, I've felt somewhat cheated and not trusted because they intervened so much and I felt everything they did was the opposite of what my body wanted to do. I vowed I would go a more natural route with a midwife next time. I made the appt with an OB just because I wasn't prepared with this pregnancy (surprise) and I'm glad I did because now it solidifed my want for a midwife assisted birth.

Is anyone in the same boat as me?

Message edited 11/20/2009 1:31:06 PM.

Re: I am pretty sure I'm going the midwife route

I'm using a midwife. It's my first baby but I also do not want the standard medical interventions that are common in hospitals now.

Re: I am pretty sure I'm going the midwife route

Im not pregnant with #2, but after my first, Im def going the midwife route next time, I feel the same way you do.

Re: I am pretty sure I'm going the midwife route

I'm debating switching, hate the fact the dr act like I have cancer or some horrible disease they need to treat

Re: I am pretty sure I'm going the midwife route

I initially decided to go with a midwife and found a practice that I loved - but they no longer accept my insurance. Thanks to some great recommendations on this board I found an OB that I feel is very supportive and willing to do what is best for me and my baby (including a possible VBAC).

I would absolutely have stuck with the midwife if not for the insurance issue. I think a large part of why I had a scheduled c-section with DS was because (even though the decision was entirely mine) my OB influenced me by telling me how she had 2 scheduled c-sections and they were no big deal. That's just not true. Major surgery is always a big deal and unless there's a medical or emotional need for it I don't agree that it should be allowed for everyone (that's JMO though). I do not think that would have happened with a midwife, or my current OB.

Re: I am pretty sure I'm going the midwife route

I switched OBs a few times. DH was really against me using a midwife, he's a physician and a little distrustful of someone medically treating me who didn't go through the same rigorous education he did.

At some point I was looking for a midwife who works with an OB. I spoke to one and she actually recommended me to another OB. It was kind of funny.

I love my OB, on my first visit with her at 12 weeks she was already talking to me about having a vaginal birth. I think OBs in general are very different. Ask about where they finished school and then check the teaching hospital for its record in vaginal vs. cesearean and other things.
Also, what percentage of their births are vaginal? what percentage are drug free?

Any OB that doesn't have the time to do a consultation with you, doesn't have time to wait around for your body to do what it needs to do without meds. My OB spent an hour talking to me after my 1st visit while I was fully dressed in her office. That pretty much sealed the deal for me.

Re: I am pretty sure I'm going the midwife route

We only use Midwives

Re: I am pretty sure I'm going the midwife route

I was very disappointed with my first experience. While I was pregnant, they scared me half to death every other week with "problems" the baby had. When I'd press further, I found out these "problems" were all common non-issues that someone was taking too seriously. My delivery experience was horrendous. From them starting pitocin right away to the unnecessary section right down to the d*ck doctor that wouldn't allow my husband (then bf) to be in the room for the section, but allowed my mother.

I got pregnant again & headed straight to a midwife. My pregnancy was smooth sailing, nobody ever made a big deal of nothing & I had a great delivery with a successful VBAC.

Good luck!

Re: I am pretty sure I'm going the midwife route

I've had 2 births with an OB and 2 with midwives, and I would NEVER go back to an OB unless there were complicatins. I love my midwives, and they have made my pregnancies and birth wonderful.

Re: I am pretty sure I'm going the midwife route

Where I live we have a midwife led service, we see no doctors unless you have complications. I saw only midwives when I gave birth to my son, but unfortunately as I am a high risk pregnancy this time around, I am afraid that I won't see a midwife with this birth.