Any recent experiences with Midwifery Care Associates?

[Anonymous]

OP- I had no idea Karen is leaving! Well, I have to say I had a feeling since she's been there for so long and she commutes from PA. She is the one I see most often and who saw me at the start of this pregnancy. I'm so sad to hear this! I hope she's not gone before I have my baby. Angel is the other I feel most comfortable with. I know she has a lot of experience in midwifery b/c she has had her own practice. And Terri seemed pretty cool the first time I saw her. I'm going to continue seeing them and just hope my experience with the newer midwives goes positively.

(I think the new midwife is named Caitlin...)

[Anonymous]

I delivered my first baby with MCA in April-- Nina attended the birth. She was not my favorite CNM in the practice based on my experiences at my prenatal appointments, but she was great at delivery-- very encouraging, respected my birth plan, etc. During pushing the baby's heartrate was dropping dramatically and she basically told me to get my ass in gear and push the baby out or I would be looking at a c-section. Once the baby was crowning, she was very good at guiding me to avoid a tear-- I ended up with a very small 2nd degree that healed in about a week.

The waits in the office are pretty reasonable-- shorter than when I was a patient at Georgetown. Angel is my favorite, followed by Karen. I almost never feel rushed at appointments and they are pretty responsive to phone calls. Overall, I would recommend the practice, but not if you're looking for a really touchy-feely birth experience. They are fairly medicalized for midwives, but as a nurse I'm comfortable with that.

Good luck with your pregnancy!

[Anonymous]

I delivered my DD last year with Angel in attendance.
I had been seen for all my appointments by the other midwives, who were good, and definitely better than my cold and hurried OBs before: the difference was that they really listened to me!
Angel was ready to help with anything but ended up being completely hands-off at the birth, because that is what I needed (I could not bear to have anyone touch me, for some reason, and felt in control of what I was doing).

Unfortunately, I was one of the rare women with nearly uncontrollable post-partum bleeding - and nearly died.
Angel had supported my refusal of a heplock before the birth. In retrospect (hindsight being 20/20), she should have strongly suggested one AFTER the birth when she saw she could not staunch the bleeding rapidly.

I was revived by the quick actions of my husband who alerted the staff and by the nurse who inserted the IV.

[Anonymous]

I had to leave a reply because my experience with MCA was so bad I really don't want another woman to go through anything like it. OP- I think you are very wise to ask about RECENT experiences. As you seem to know, they used to be a different sort of practice and had a good reputation- apprently mostly built around Chris.

Short version: They are now associated with a drs. practice and have to adhere to all the rules and regulations about major issues of care (like inducing as soon as possible after 40 weeks). They did not give me progressive or personal care, which is what I wanted and I went with a Midwife practice. In critical decisions, they pushed me to make fear-of-malpractice based choices. Despite total health and perfect stress tests, they pressured me to induce and told me "my baby could die." I ended up switching at 41 weeks.

Longer Version: My care leading up to the birth was fine, but not great- I didn't feel praticularly listend to when I talked about my hunger and surprising weight gain (50+ pounds). They just kept telling me to eat fruit and veggies and drink water with lemon juice. It turns out I had a thyroid program that continued post-pregnancy.

The real problem came when I was late. I did a stress test when I was 1 week late and everything was fine except in that 10 minute period she didn't move. The midwives said I needed to come in ASAP. OK. but when I gathered my things to go, I could feel her move again. I felt fine and was not at all effaced, dilated and the baby hadn't dropped. I called to say that I wanted to go to my accupuncture appointment, which I made because it's supposed to help move labor, and a chriropracture appt which I made for the same reason. After that I would come in, that very same afternoon.

The midwife said to me (the is sword-for-word) "you cannot wait. You're baby might die." I was ONE week late, had a 100% issue-free pregnancy, and my tests were perfect- and I could feel her move. Why the scary language? I came in and they did another stress tests which was, in the nurse's words "perfect". The nurse said that I'd probably leave within the hour. One of the midwives came in and patted my leg and said they were going to induce. Why?? The test was perfect! Just to be sure she said. I had to stay. In order to leave and not get induced, I had to sign a very disturbing waiver. It's not that I'm super pro-natural, I wouldn't mind being induced at all if I needed it. The issue was that I started to doubt their wisdom and care.

I went to Dr. Tchabo the next day for a second opinion. He was kind and wise and gentle and re-did the tests, which again were "perfect". He said I could wait a few days and did a cervical sweep. I switched to his practice at 41 weeks! I went into labor, naturally, the next day. Tchabo and his team at the VA Hospital Center were EXCELLENT. My dughter was born healthy and happy.

[Anonymous]

06:03-
Can you tell me if your experience was with the new midwives or the more experienced ones? I understand if you do not want to use their names.

I actually had an appointment the other day and was told they hired 2 new midwives, but that they should be done hiring now. Caitlin and Tara. Caitlin is new but seems very much into midwifery from their website. I was told Tara is an experienced midwife and should start in Aug. Also, I was informed Karen is leaving in Sept, not Oct.

[Anonymous]

I gave birth with MCA in early June, after switching at 34 weeks from a high-intervention rate OB practice. Overall, I was very happy with the choice I made.

The OB practice included 7 doctors, and while I liked 2 of them, with the rest I felt like part of an assembly line. Even though I am of "advanced maternal age," my pregnancy was trouble free, and it seemed I was not very interesting to most of the OBs. My questions were usually blown off, and my request to discuss a birth plan was dismissed at 34 weeks with "someone will get to that later."

Two colleagues at work had recently used midwives, one MCA and another a home-birth midwife. Again, because of my "advanced maternal age," I opted to deliver at Shady Grove instead of at home, and so chose MCA. I saw all but one of the midwives, and Angel, Dusti, and Caitlin (who was new to the practice and awaiting her hospital privileges) were the ones I "clicked' with the most. I found the care they provided to be thorough and kind, and most importantly, they took their time and were very interested in my perspective.

When I went into labor, Nina (who has since left the practice) was on duty at the hospital. My membranes ruptured spontaneously, and I was told that I would have to deliver within 12 hours or start on IV antibiotics, due to the risk of infection. Despite my best efforts, I passed that 12 hour mark, though after discussion it was agreed that they would wait until 18 hours to start antibiotics. Nina was very insistent that I start on pitocin, to which I was resistant. I did eventually agree, and in hindsight that is probably the one decision I would make differently. My son was "sunny side up," and so I was in back labor the entire time. Pitocin made the contractions excruciating, and at 20 hours I asked for an epidural. I was very disappointed, because I wanted to deliver naturally, but by that point I was exhausted. Nina had rotated off and Angel had rotated on by that time. Angel was incredibly supportive, and coached me through 3.5 hours of active pushing with incredible kindness and good humor, until my son was born after 26 hours of labor. Amazingly, I had only a tiny tear which healed up easily.

I am certain that had I stayed with the OB practice, I would have had a cesarian section. So I am thrilled that Nina and Angel were patient and supportive and that I had a vaginal birth. Was it a perfect experience? No. Would I use MCA for a second child? Absolutely!

One important caveat I would add is that the IV fluids I received with both the pitocin and antibiotics caused my breasts to become edematous/swollen. I was completely unaware of this possibility! The edema didn't become apparent until several hours after delivery. My son was able to latch on and nurse immediately without problem, but 2 hours later my nipples had almost disappeared. The comment of the in-house lactation consultant was "oh yes, IV fluids have ruined many a good nipple." In short, my full milk supply was delayed in coming in by 2 weeks, during which time my son and I struggled (and he received supplemental formula), my nipples became very sore and cracked, and now 14 weeks later I still do not produce enough to meet his demands. This is despite working with a fantastic lactation consultant. It's most likely that the IV fluids set off this cascade of events, and if I have a second child I will be avoiding IVs unless absolutely medically necessary.

[Anonymous]

I can't speak to truly recent experiences, but Angel delivered my first in 2010 and was fabulous. Now for my second I've met with Tara a few times and _really_ like her. My next appt is with Dusti, so we'll see...

[Anonymous]

This is an old thread, but decided to post here anyway. I delivered my first with MCA at Shady Grove when they were still doing visits out of their birth center. They were great and I had a fantastic, nearly intervention free birth experience. I'm back with them again to deliver another and have my visits in the White Flint office. My wait has never been very long, one time it was 30 minutes maybe, but that was the very longest. I really appreciate that they are still associated with the same OB's they always have been. There have been a few times when I've needed to consult and receive care from their OB's (D&C, pre-term labor) and they were very kind--they are great OB's to have around if needed. MCA has always responded promptly with any after-hours calls I've had. I've had my 1st trimester screen and my anatomy screen at Greater Washington Maternal Fetal Genetics and found them to be great as well--super thorough and pleasant. I think this is where MCA sends most of their patients for ultrasounds. Shady Grove is a great hospital and MCA has been delivering there for a very long time. I think most women who want a midwife attended birth will be very happy with MCA.

[Anonymous]

I'll also chime in on this old thread (thanks for reviving, 11:05)! I delivered my first with MCA at Shady Grove in November, and had a wonderful experience! Tara checked me in and Angel delivered our daughter. My experience didn't go entirely as I hoped, due to a 48 hour labor with an asynclitic baby. After 36 hours, I ended up getting an epidural our of sheer exhaustion, and then pitocin augmentation four hours later when I wasn't progressing past 7cm. That did the trick, and Angel was with the me the whole time I pushed. Just a small first degree tear that healed easily. I had a few ibuprofen afterwards, but felt great. I'm pretty sure I would have had a C-section had it not been for the midwives. I enjoyed my prenatal visits with them, too, found them very knowledgable and respectful. I'm looking forward to delivering with them again for the next baby!