Thoughts on OB/midwife after fertility clinic pregnancy?

[Anonymous]

Hi All,

I'm curious for all of you that got pregnant as a result of fertility services - my positive is after an FET - what kind of OBGYN or midwife you all moved on to after graduating from your fertility clinic?

Before I found myself going through every procedure in the book to get pregnant, I would have envisioned myself with a hippie-dippy doula in a birthing center...but now, after all of this work getting pregnant, I am wondering what is actually the best option.

I am hoping to still incorporate some of my desire for an unmedicated/in the tub kind of birth but I also feel a lot less idealistic about conditions of birth and I just want for me and baby to be safe and healthy.

Curious what you have done and if anyone has recommendations for OBGYN/midwife in Fairfax.

Thanks!

[Anonymous]

I went with an OB (capital women’s care). My only priorities (aside from a healthy baby) were convenient location, ease of getting an appointment and painless birth (epidural).

[Anonymous]

^ and I forgot to add: congrats on the positive result!

[Anonymous]

I LOVED Arlington women’s center. They have midwives and OBs and they work closely together. My birth was with an OB but it was darn close to a midwife experience!

[Anonymous]

First of all- CONGRATULATIONS!!! Go wherever you want! Because you did IVF, you will be considered "at-risk" which can be annoying so be prepared. I also didn't know until after the birth that FET babies are typically larger- not as large as my baby was but typically larger. (This is documented in scientific studies.) Just FYI.

I went with the midwives at Medstar because they valued an unmedicated birth and had nitrous (laughing gas) available. I also wanted to be with midwives in a hospital setting in case there was an emergency. It was important to me that there was a good NICU available just in case because my sister had had an emergency birth.

Unfortunately, you can't control much with pregnancy and my FET baby was over 5,000 g (11 lbs)- really great nutrition/exercise here; no GD; my mother had large babies too so we guess it was due to an FET baby + genetics?! I also had an issue with my fluid/cord possibly slipping out so I delivered via c-section, but the midwives were still there to hold my hand in the OR and facilitate skin on skin asap. My baby was admitted to the NICU due to some fluid in the lungs, which they said is a pretty common issue with c-section deliveries. (I wish I had been more prepared since separation is painful!) I hope you get the birth plan you want but try not to be too married to the fantasy birth. It's easy to get your hopes dashed when you create too many expectations that you can't control.

We also did a hypnobirth class which was just ok IMO. From your posting, it sounds like you might like the book "Mindful Birthing." Good luck!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:First of all- CONGRATULATIONS!!! Go wherever you want! Because you did IVF, you will be considered "at-risk" which can be annoying so be prepared. I also didn't know until after the birth that FET babies are typically larger- not as large as my baby was but typically larger. (This is documented in scientific studies.) Just FYI.

This is not necessarily true. That may depend on the practice.

[Anonymous]

Don't go with the GW midwives.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I LOVED Arlington women’s center. They have midwives and OBs and they work closely together. My birth was with an OB but it was darn close to a midwife experience!

OP here - I used to go to them when I lived in Arlington but it's kind of a trek from where I live now in Fairfax. It's kind of funny, for whatever reason, from the time I first went to an OBGYN when I hit puberty my mom always took me to a midwife.

There seems to be a similar practice in Fairfax so I might try them: https://www.fairfaxobgyn.com/services/midwifery

Thanks!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:First of all- CONGRATULATIONS!!! Go wherever you want! Because you did IVF, you will be considered "at-risk" which can be annoying so be prepared. I also didn't know until after the birth that FET babies are typically larger- not as large as my baby was but typically larger. (This is documented in scientific studies.) Just FYI.

I went with the midwives at Medstar because they valued an unmedicated birth and had nitrous (laughing gas) available. I also wanted to be with midwives in a hospital setting in case there was an emergency. It was important to me that there was a good NICU available just in case because my sister had had an emergency birth.

Unfortunately, you can't control much with pregnancy and my FET baby was over 5,000 g (11 lbs)- really great nutrition/exercise here; no GD; my mother had large babies too so we guess it was due to an FET baby + genetics?! I also had an issue with my fluid/cord possibly slipping out so I delivered via c-section, but the midwives were still there to hold my hand in the OR and facilitate skin on skin asap. My baby was admitted to the NICU due to some fluid in the lungs, which they said is a pretty common issue with c-section deliveries. (I wish I had been more prepared since separation is painful!) I hope you get the birth plan you want but try not to be too married to the fantasy birth. It's easy to get your hopes dashed when you create too many expectations that you can't control.

We also did a hypnobirth class which was just ok IMO. From your posting, it sounds like you might like the book "Mindful Birthing." Good luck!

OP here - I think I might be considered "high risk" anyway...I'm overweight and 37 and while SGF never made me feel old I believe I'd still be considered "advanced maternal age". There's just a lot to consider I guess. Congrats on your baby and thanks for the recommendation of Mindful Birthing - I've not heard of that one!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:^ and I forgot to add: congrats on the positive result!

Thank you so much - it feels like it has been a long time coming (and it has - 2 years ttc!!)

I appreciate your perspective. Having SGF Fairfax less than 20 minutes away with easy traffic has been so helpful with so many appointments. And since nothing went according to plan with TTC, I feel like trying to plan my "perfect" pregnancy and birth just seems like an exercise in futility. Not to sound like a downer but this whole fertility thing has given me a ton of perspective.

[Anonymous]

Congrats!!! My first successful pregnancy was from an FET. I elected to go with a group of hospital-based CNMs for prenatal care and delivery, and I loved my experience with them.

Not all IVF pregnancies are considered high risk. This varies depending on practice.

[Anonymous]

My first pregnancy with via IUI at 35. I saw midwives and had to have some additional testing/screening due to my age but not the method of conception. Congrats!

[Anonymous]

I was 36 when my FET worked and was considered high risk. Totally boring pregnancy became a 90 min labor at 34 weeks. Everything worked out and she’s a happy healthy 4 Years old now but be aware pre-term is apparently increased w ivf. No one ever told me!

[Anonymous]

I'm almost 21 weeks with an IVF pregnancy and have been going to NoVa Group for Women near Innova Fairfax Hospital. I like them, and they are definitely not considering me high-risk because it's an IVF pregnancy. (They have, however, encouraged all of the usual testing due to advanced maternal age.) I'll also note that I'm obese (but otherwise healthy - good A1C and blood pressure), and they've done a good job of not making that a really big deal. Something that, by the way, the MFMs at Innova Fairfax have not done - I've been reminded both times that I've been there (for the NT and anatomy scans).