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DC Birth Center v. Birthcare v. Whitney Pinger
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Anonymous
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Just found out I'm pregnant (hooray!), and am looking for a midwife (i'm dedicated to a natural birth).
I love what whitney pinger is all about, but i'm a little nervous about being in a hospital (plus no tub). Anyone have any wisdom/advice about the two birthing centers |
Anonymous
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Congratulations!
I was very lucky to get a spot at BirthCare around 22 weeks (I was on the waitlist for a few weeks). I haven't had my baby yet but have been extremely happy with the care I have received. I also contacted Whitney Pinger but she was already booked up for August. Whatever you decide, I would advise calling as soon as possible! |
Anonymous
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I'm using Birthcare and I LOVE them. Here's a few reasons:
- they've been totally accessible throughout my pregnancy. I've called in the evenings, late at night, at 2 am on a Saturday, etc, and they've always returned my call within a minute or two. I feel like I can ask them any question, at any time. I feel SO well cared for. - they let me make all of the decisions about my care (I declined first trimester screening, etc) - they don't rush me through appointments -- I take my time and ask ALL of my questions - they're very committed to keeping birth natural and low-intervention, but also have all the neccessary emergency backup supplies at hand, so I feel very safe with them I could go on for a while about how much I love them. Caveat: it's my first baby so I have nothing to compare it to. WARNING: they fill up FAST!!! If you want to get in you need to call ASAP! |
Anonymous
| About to have my second with Birthcare and my only negative is that I live in DC, so it's a haul. Other than that, I LOVE them. |
Anonymous
| I recently switched to the DC Birth Center and though I have only seen two of the midwives there, I have to say they have both been wonderful. I like that they have a free standing birth center with tubs that you can labor in. But aside from being in DC (so it is close to me), I really liked the fact that the midwives practice at Washington Hospital Center. This means that if something were to go wrong, and you get transferred to the hospital - or if you are higher risk and have to birth in the hospital - you are still their patients and will be involved with your care there. (of course, if you need a c-section a physicians will take over.) |
Anonymous
| Hi. I have no experience with either of the 2 midwifery practices, but did just recently deliver naturally at WHC with Whitney. If you can't get into one of the practices (which seems to be your preference) please know that Whitney is AWESOME! There was only 1 L&D nurse with us & at no point was there ever any mention of any drugs/interventions. They monitored the babys HR intermittently (as I was moving around, in the shower, etc.). Whitney was great suggesting positions that might be comfortable for me. I liked the reassurance of being in a hospital too if 'anything happened'. I'd use Whitney again in a heart beat. Good luck with your decision - you can't go wrong! |
Anonymous
| Jumping in on this thread to say I'm in a similar position, and would love to hear more from folks! Especially reasons why you made a particular decision to go with one provider versus the other. |
Anonymous
| Here is how I would weigh it: if you are positive that you would like an out-of-hospital birth, then go with Birthcare. They have been in business forever, and they are very very solid as a practice. They are an especially good choice if you are considering a homebirth, because that is their specialty. On the other hand, if you definitely want a hospital birth, then go with Whitney Pinger - she is SO fabulous. That leaves the third choice of the DC Birth Center. I see this as a good choice for those people whose DH wants a hospital birth, but you want a birth center (or maybe vice versa) and you're not really sure what your decision is going to be. You will have your whole pregnancy to discuss it, weigh your options, and wait and see what develops during the pregnancy itself. If you wind up staying totally low risk, and factors allow, then you go for the birth center. If you both wind up feeling better in the hospital, then you have that option. Though as I mentioned before, if you are CERTAIN that you want either a home/birthcenter birth, or you are CERTAIN you want a hospital birth, I would go with the other midwife practices, because I believe that they have more experience than the midwives at the DC BC (even though the DCBC is really great, the midwives tend to be newer). Another way to look at it is Birthcare and Pinger both tend to get long waiting lists, so you could start your care with either one of them and if you change your mind about the type of birth you want, you can switch to the DC BC because they provide both in and out of hospital birthing. Lastly, if you really want a waterbirth then it's DCBC, because they are the only practice in the city that does waterbirth. (Homebirth midwives also do waterbirth - at your home of course - but if you are solely interested in homebirth then there are many other midwife practices besides these that you could be considering!) |
Anonymous
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to 20:36 - 19:46 here, and just want to say THANK YOU. That is exactly the kind of insight I've been looking for. Unfortunately we haven't figured out our answers to those questions yet, but your post really helps me classify my choices. I hope it helps the OP too!
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Anonymous
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so helpful -- thank you!
i know i don't want a hospital birth, and tubs seem like a good idea, but Whitney seems like such a gem! I went to the orientation at Birthcare before I was pregnant (this is the OP -- just found out -- whoo hoo!) and thought it was great. I've just heard so many positive things about Whitney too. Can anyone who used Whitney comment on what it was like to be in the hospital? Hospitals sort of freak me out... thanks! |
Anonymous
| There are a lot of threads about birthing at WHC and Whitney so doing some quick searches might help you. In general, many of the threads about WHC seem to indicate that the L&D nurses are good but that the post partum nurses leave a bit to be desired. Another issue I have read about repeatedly is that it can be difficult to get help with breast feeding at WHC. But I have not birthed there and that is information based solely on what I recall seeing in other threads when I was trying to make my decision. |
Anonymous
First off, if you definitely don't want a hospital birth, then don't go to a hospital. They are an annoyance - even with a fabulous midwife like Whitney. You still have to contend with certain protocols, potential for having the baby taken away, dealing with the postpartum unit and not leaving when you want to. So, here's an idea: find one of those spectacular homebirth midwives in the area (and they exist, just not talked about here on DCUM) and have a waterbirth in your own living room using an aquadoula. Honest, there are solo-practice homebirth midwives who are just as awesome as Whitney, plus have some more flexibility with certain situations because they are not bound by hospital/obstetric protocols. In the meantime, I would at least get in with Birthcare so that you have a spot, and then if you don't find the perfect solo midwife, then you can stay with them. |
Anonymous
I delivered with Whitney several months a go and was very very happy. You do not feel you are in the hospital. You are free to move, take shower and do whatever makes you feel comfortable. You literally forget you are in hospital. On the other hand, if smth happens and you would need some medical assistance , that will be easy to get in hospital vs home or birth center. Ideally, our bodies can give birth and Mother Nature is all we need, in reality being overstressed, overworked and having kids later in life gives room to different scernarios ......... It was an easy choice for me and I will use Whitney again, if I decide to go with # 2  .
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Anonymous
| I was just on the phone with Whitney, and she said after the birth you can leave when you want to. Would anyone who has birthed at WHC with Whitney comment on the procedures after the birth? |
Anonymous
| I checked out/left WHC 48 hrs after a normal vaginal delivery. I didn't ask about leaving any earlier. They made me leave a hep lock in for 24 hrs after delivery even though I never needed it during or after delivery. I suppose if you've been discharged by your midwife or OB the hosp should let you go. What you need to confirm is whether they would discharge your baby before 48 hrs had passed. |