Midwives deliver at Holy Cross?

[Anonymous]

I did a tour at Holy Cross last week and really like the hospital. I am currently 18 weeks long and seeing an OB. I am thinking of switching to a midwife since I want a natural birth, but would like to deliver at HC if possible. Does anybody have experience delivering baby with a midwife at HC? Thank you!

[Anonymous]

No, there aren't any midwives who deliver at Holy Cross. The few holy cross OB practices who have midwives working on their staffs, won't allow the midwives to actually attend births.

There are many highly skilled and experienced homebirth midwives who attend births in the Silver Spring area (assuming you live near Holy Cross). Some women who choose homebirth also maintain their relationship with the OB so that if something were to occur during the labor process that required care from a hospital, they would have a care provider who they were familiar with. Options for homebirth midwives include Erin Fulham (www.mamasmidwives.com) and Joey Pascarella (www.sacredjourneymidwifery.com).

Other hospital-based midwifery options in the general area include Midwifery Care Associates (www.midwiferycareassociates.com) who deliver at Shady Grove, and Dimensions Midwifery (www.dimensionsmidwifery.com) who deliver at PG Hospital. A little further away is the DC Birth Center (www.yourfhbc.org) and Special Beginnings (www.specialbeginnings.com)

Good luck to you in finding the perfect midwife!

[Anonymous]

I live 5 min away from holy cross and drove right by it on my way to Shady Grove to deliver my baby with the help of my wonderful doula, Ursula Sabia Sukinik and midwife, Sharon Bruehwiler from Midwifery Care Associates...totally worth it. I may have had an unnecessary c section had I not been under the care of such skilled women.

[Anonymous]

If you're set upon Holy Cross, it might be worth contacting the doula collective that used to work in-house there and now works independently but goes to mostly Holy Cross. They're probably familiar with all the practices and could tell you which would be most likely to support a natural birth. Their website is www.byyoursidebirth.com.

If you're open to other options, this is a list of midwives in our area:
http://www.birthoptionsalliance.org/midwife_list.pdf

I'm partial to midwives myself and feel it's worth a bit longer drive to have one. I know there are OBs who are supportive of natural birth, and some midwives who may not be, but overall, I think you stack the deck in your favor by choosing a midwife.

And I'm not sure your feelings on home birth but I just had my second babe at home and it was healthy, safe, and complication-free. I loved it.

[Anonymous]

Thank you, everyone! The info your provided is very helpful to help me make decision. I might explore the MCA + Shady Grove. We live about 30-40 minutes from the SG.