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Seeking natural-childbirth-friendly Midwife/OB recommendations for healthy 41 year old expectant mom
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Anonymous
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I'm 19 weeks pregnant with my first baby, and everything seems to be going well so far. Although I'm classified as "high risk", I've had great results on our genetic screening tests and am otherwise completely healthy. I'm currently with the Reiter Hill OB practice and scheduled to deliver at Sibley. However, after learning about the high rate of unnecessary C-sections/interventions, my partner and I are anxious about our choice.
The Reiter Hill docs seem friendly and personable enough, but not particularly enthusiastic about natural childbirth. We are on the waiting list at BirthCare in Alexandria, but I am a little anxious about not being close to a hospital in the event that something goes wrong. Can anyone recommend a midwife and/or OB practice that would give us the best of both worlds, support for our attempt to deliver naturally but also medical backup if needed? Many thanks in advance! 
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Anonymous
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While I don't have a suggestion for you, just remember that the doctors aren't just cutting women open for the hell of it. They are trained to look at certain factors and make an informed decision to have a healthy mother and child. They are trying mitigate as many risks as possible. My friends that had to have natural childbirth due to epidural medication allergies said they wished they could have drugs and they went through all the prep classes, were informed and knew going into it. Modern medicine is a good thing!
Once you are that close to your baby being delivered, you don't care how they get out of you so long as it's healthy. |
Anonymous
| Physicians and Midwives in Alexandria has both and OB and a midwife on call at the hospital at all times. They only deliver at Inova Alexandria though, if that is convenient for you. |
Anonymous
So you obviously don't like the idea of natural childbirth but lots do. I say that as someone who has had an unmedicated labor and delivery and at no poInt wanted drugs. And while the health of the baby was always the foremost consideration, I most certainly did continue to care how she got out. Your experience is just that--not a universal truth. And it is certainly not the case that every c-section is medically necessary, though of course in the middle of labor, you are in no position to make that judgment, which is why it is important to have a caregiver you trust. OP, Dr DeSouza has the reputation of being the most natural childbirth friendly doctor in DC. I haven't delivered with him yet, but so far my experience is good. |
Anonymous
Speak for yourself, dear. And maybe do some research!
I had a natural childbirth at 37 and loved it. I didn't find it to be terrible in any way but rather, an amazing experience. My OB was Dr. Malcolm Desouza, in spring hill DC. That sounds like a hike for you, so another choice in NoVa is Dr. Tchabo, who gets high praise on these boards. A third option is family birth center, which I think is associated with washington hospital center (and near it) in case anything goes wrong. They are midwife based. |
Anonymous
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Where are you located, OP? From the sounds of it, you are in DC. Have you tried the midwives at GW (Whitney Pinger is the main midwife and I think their practice is called WISDOM)? They have a fantastic reputation, but get booked quickly so I'd contact them fast. I've also have heard that at least some of the doctors in the OB pracitce there are supportive of natural child birth.
Alternatively, there are the midwives at the DC Family Health and Birth Center (yourfhbc.com). In addition to delivering babies at their birth center, they delivery at Washington Hospital Center. I had my DS with them (at the birth center) and thought the midwives were great. If you are considering BirthCare, it sounds like you are also possibly interested in an out of hospital birth. In that case, there is another midwife practice, M.A.M.A.S. who do homebirths. |
Anonymous
| Had my babies with foxhall--naturally. Know others who did with them as well. They were pretty fine with whatever you plan as long as everything goes fine (and for what it's worth, I had a very long first labor and was never pushed to have interventions). Labor nurses at sibley were great. |
Anonymous
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This is OP: Thanks to all for your support and helpful suggestions! Thanks to the moms for sharing their experiences with natural birth and specific OBs and midwife practices!
As for locations, I'm located in Alexandria, near the King Street Metro. I work near Smithsonian station in DC. While convenience is important (we've yet to buy a car, but looks like we'll need one soon), finding a provider we communicate well with and trust trumps that. I know it's a bit late in the game, as I've just learned there is an August waiting list at WISDOM as well as BirthCare, but I'll follow up with the several other providers that folks mentioned and keep looking... If anyone else has additional ideas or suggestions, please let us know. Thanks again. |
Anonymous
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I had a natural birth at GWU through the OB practice. The nurses and residents at the hospital were totally supportive and I felt no pressure to even augment despite my water breaking before I got there and having meconium in the water. My active labor was about 10 hours. Delivered 15 hours after my water broke.
I was officially a patient of Dr. Gaba's but for the last six weeks or two months I saw Erika, one of the midwives. I got the impression that I would have been handled the same with any of the OBs. (Granted, I wasn't high risk.) |
sybersus
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OP - WISDOM is about to have two new full-time midwives come on board. I would email Whitney to get on the wait list right away -- you may have more luck than you think! Good luck.
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Anonymous
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Just wanted to add some encouraging words to you OP. I had my second and third DCs at the Maternity Center in Bethesda. (my first was born in a hospital in CA, with an epi and I hated the whole scene). Loved the unmedicated, midwifery approach and would do it again in a minute. FYI, I had big babies, and delivered my 3rd when I was 40. She was 10.5 pounds. I had zero complications, and it was a fabulous experience. I know the Maternity Center doesn't do deliveries onsite anymore, but I think the midwives still do prenatal care and then you deliver at Shady Grove.
Also, you may want to consider taking hypnobirthing, or another natural childbirth-based prep course. It made a huge difference for me. Good luck! |
Anonymous
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I had an unmedicated birth with Karen King (Certified Nurse Midwife) of Arlington Women's Center at age 36, and about to have another one at age 38. The OBs in the practice are great too, and the hospital staff (at Va Hospital Center) and the nurses were VERY supportive and enthusiastic of my choice.
If you really want to pursue an unmedicated birth, I also suggest getting a doula. That made ALL the difference in my birth, and helps to convey that you are very serious about going no drugs. |
Anonymous
I second the rec for Karen King, and absolutely GET A DOULA. It will be invaluable no matter which midwife or OB you're with. Even better, try to work with a doula who knows your OB or midwife so that they can work together without tension during your labor. |
Anonymous
I also had a natural birth at GWU through the OB practice. This was before they had the midwife practice at GW. And Gaba wasn't my regular OB, but she delivered me. All the docs and nurses were very supportive. For me personally, didn't need a doula. Good luck OP. |
Anonymous
| Attending the orientation at BirthCare allayed my husband's fears about being "far" from a hospital -- you might go to one if you haven't already. Good luck with the wait list. There's a list of DC area midwives on the Birth Options Alliance website, though you've gotten good suggestions here. |