Reply to Had an epidural with GW midwives, wondering if they will take me back for #2

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]I agree that its too bad more midwives aren't willing to just HELP women get through birth, whichever way they need to get through it. Would I love to have a midwife because of their extensive experience, special attention and knowledge of positioning etc? Of course! But am I willing to COMMIT to a natural childbirth (after experiencing an extremely painful 20 hour labor that was made bearable by an epidural) and then feeling like a failure? Absolutely not.

Why can't a midwife just say, "we are going to try and assure that you have the birth you want and if that means an epi then lovely!" Instead of "kind of making fun of you for begging for it" after the fact, as one PP said. This is why the movement gets a bad rap. [/quote]

I posted earlier, but the MCA midwives are like this.  They will do everything they can to minimize intervention, will educate you about the drawbacks of epidurals, and still support you if you choose one and recommend them in cases in which they're indicated.

I think people are confusing the issues here: the OP doesn't want to be judged for choosing an epidural during a long, complicated labor.  She shouldn't be.  You can be as committed as they come to unmedicated labor and still have a labor in which medication is, in fact, indicated.  And if it is, you shouldn't be judged for that.

It's not that hard.[/quote]

And the GW midwives don't judge you for that. Jeez. They're not judgey at all! A lot of people say Whitney is, but I don't even think she is as judgey as she seems. She's just driven by a set of ideals that frankly, don't get a lot of respect among a lot of medical professionals. She's got a particular point of view. But even she would recommend an epidural for a labor like OP's, or at least extend it as an option.[/quote]

Except that a doula posted earlier in this thread that some of the GW midwives *do* in fact, judge women who get epidurals.  And another poster wrote that one of the midwives jokingly chided a friend who'd ended up with an epidural.  I don't know if Whitney in particular is one of them, but multiple people posting that they've either witnessed or heard about some judgment around epidurals coming from *some of* the GW midwives indicates that it does happen.

I don't think the MCA midwives walk on water or anything, I just haven't detected a whiff of judgment about this topic in particular from any of them.  People on this board act sometimes as if the GW midwives are the only ones out there, and they're not.[/quote]

I have heard wonderful things about the MCA MWs - and have heard that they are MUCH more epi-friendly.

I personally (delivered with GW MWs) don't understand why you would see the GW MWs unless you were at least 95% committed to what they preach.  They make it very clear that that is their expectation and they won't allow a lot of deviation from the way they want things done.  I tell my friends that going with the GW MWs is "Whitney's way or the highway."  I am 100% committed to that and okay with Whitney, so it worked out really well for me.  But there ARE other options.  If you aren't sure GW is for you, then don't go there... save that space for someone who is completely on board.  I truly don't get it.[/quote]

The GW Midwifery program makes it clear that they want people who are committed to natural childbirth--and if that is not what you want, then you definitely shouldn't go there. Of course, things outside of one's control happen, and that means that there are people who [b]need[/b] interventions and get them. But if you are going into it thinking "I'm not sure about natural childbirth," then I definitely would not go there. There are plenty of doctors and other midwife practices to choose from that are a better fit.

I knew I wanted to go unmedicated unless absolutely necessary, and it was a great practice for me.[/quote]

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