Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I feel conflicted in posting this, because I loved the WHC midwives, especially May Wheelwright, and felt so supported by them (except one, who during labor told me I "knew too much" when I asked questions about an induction drug she recommended and should just do what she recommended even though it made me uncomfortable. She also tried to stretch me from 1 cm to 2 cm manually and told me to "get used to the feeling" because that's what labor would be like. I loathed her.).

However, they missed some things throughout my pregnancy and one big, scary thing postpartum that they should have caught. The WHC MFMs were also not great and didn't tell me about a pretty significant bad test result during my first trimester until I was well into my third trimester. Ultimately, I'm sad to say I was disappointed in the care and couldn't recommend them, even though I really did love their bedside manner.

Name names! Who was the bad midwife?

+1

How can this be possible on the test result? All the test results go to your patient portal, and wouldn’t you have known what tests were done and checked the results? Not saying they didn’t miss a phone call but can you be more specific about the test and how you didn’t know the results?

Great question. I was extremely diligent about reviewing my test results in the patient portal, but some of the MFM testing didn’t go into the portal for whatever reason. The test in question was the first trimester screening—I had extremely low Papp-A and no one mentioned it until my third trimester when my baby was IUGR. One of the fellows mentioned it in an offhand way like “well, we would have expected this because your Papp-A result was so bad.” It’s also associated with preeclampsia, which I ended up having, and I might have asked about being on low dose aspirin if I had known I was at a higher risk.

The genetic counselor at the WHC MFM practice had called me to review the first trimester screening results as they related to the likelihood of a problem like Down’s, etc. When I called her after finding out about the low Papp-A to ask why it hasn’t been discussed when she gave me the results, she was shocked and said that one of the MFM was supposed to have contacted me about it.

The midwives also missed that Labcorp hadn’t actually done a test they ordered in the first trimester, so they re-did it right before I delivered. Of course, the test result didn’t come back for weeks—after I had already delivered. I suppose I could have noticed that the test hadn’t been done myself in the patient portal, but I sort of expected my medical providers to be on top of it...for what it’s worth, they did apologize and say it shouldn’t have happened. Just caused some unnecessary anxiety at the very end of my pregnancy and made me feel worried about trusting them.

[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]I would NOT describe sibley birth experience as spa like-during the covid. [/quote]

Nobody who has done it would call pushing a baby out of your vagina as a "spa-like" experience. I am still laughing at the thought of it. OP, when the time comes, you are just going to want that baby out of your body. You won't care how it happens. Choose doctors/midwives that have offices convenient for all your appointments and a hospital that is convenient to your house.[/quote]

+1. Me too. I had my first at Sibley and second at GWU (due to doctor in-network issues) but thought Sibley was much more peaceful and relaxing. But definitely not “spa like”. GW however was unpleasant they kept trying to discharge me and my baby starting at 12 hrs post partum because I had already had one healthy kid and they were crowded and wanted to use my hospital bed.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I feel conflicted in posting this, because I loved the WHC midwives, especially May Wheelwright, and felt so supported by them (except one, who during labor told me I "knew too much" when I asked questions about an induction drug she recommended and should just do what she recommended even though it made me uncomfortable. She also tried to stretch me from 1 cm to 2 cm manually and told me to "get used to the feeling" because that's what labor would be like. I loathed her.).

However, they missed some things throughout my pregnancy and one big, scary thing postpartum that they should have caught. The WHC MFMs were also not great and didn't tell me about a pretty significant bad test result during my first trimester until I was well into my third trimester. Ultimately, I'm sad to say I was disappointed in the care and couldn't recommend them, even though I really did love their bedside manner.

Name names! Who was the bad midwife?

+1

How can this be possible on the test result? All the test results go to your patient portal, and wouldn’t you have known what tests were done and checked the results? Not saying they didn’t miss a phone call but can you be more specific about the test and how you didn’t know the results?

It was one of the Elizabeths—I hadn’t seen her in the office before and it’s hard to remember her face because she was masked. She must have been older because she kept telling me the anxiety I was feeling about my baby, who was being induced because she was high risk, was the same anxiety she felt about giving car keys to her teenage son and that I should get used to it. It felt like the opposite of what I expected midwife care to be.

(It definitely wasn’t Elizabeth Lamme, who also attended my birth and was fantastic and empowering. She somehow was able to do magically painless cervical checks, which really helped with my anxiety after the horrible cervix stretching from the earlier midwife.)

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I feel conflicted in posting this, because I loved the WHC midwives, especially May Wheelwright, and felt so supported by them (except one, who during labor told me I "knew too much" when I asked questions about an induction drug she recommended and should just do what she recommended even though it made me uncomfortable. She also tried to stretch me from 1 cm to 2 cm manually and told me to "get used to the feeling" because that's what labor would be like. I loathed her.).

However, they missed some things throughout my pregnancy and one big, scary thing postpartum that they should have caught. The WHC MFMs were also not great and didn't tell me about a pretty significant bad test result during my first trimester until I was well into my third trimester. Ultimately, I'm sad to say I was disappointed in the care and couldn't recommend them, even though I really did love their bedside manner.

Name names! Who was the bad midwife?

+1

Anonymous wrote:I feel conflicted in posting this, because I loved the WHC midwives, especially May Wheelwright, and felt so supported by them (except one, who during labor told me I "knew too much" when I asked questions about an induction drug she recommended and should just do what she recommended even though it made me uncomfortable. She also tried to stretch me from 1 cm to 2 cm manually and told me to "get used to the feeling" because that's what labor would be like. I loathed her.).

However, they missed some things throughout my pregnancy and one big, scary thing postpartum that they should have caught. The WHC MFMs were also not great and didn't tell me about a pretty significant bad test result during my first trimester until I was well into my third trimester. Ultimately, I'm sad to say I was disappointed in the care and couldn't recommend them, even though I really did love their bedside manner.

Name names! Who was the bad midwife?

I feel conflicted in posting this, because I loved the WHC midwives, especially May Wheelwright, and felt so supported by them (except one, who during labor told me I "knew too much" when I asked questions about an induction drug she recommended and should just do what she recommended even though it made me uncomfortable. She also tried to stretch me from 1 cm to 2 cm manually and told me to "get used to the feeling" because that's what labor would be like. I loathed her.).

However, they missed some things throughout my pregnancy and one big, scary thing postpartum that they should have caught. The WHC MFMs were also not great and didn't tell me about a pretty significant bad test result during my first trimester until I was well into my third trimester. Ultimately, I'm sad to say I was disappointed in the care and couldn't recommend them, even though I really did love their bedside manner.

definitely pick a location that will allow 2 support people. ( doula)

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I loved my births at Sibley but it is definitely more difficult to have a “midwife-like experience” there. So you are right to cross it off your list.

Agreed. I don't think Sibley is anti-doula but there is a not a midwife practice there. I am sure certain providers have a bit more of the midwife mindset but I don't think Sibley is your best choice

I had two unmedicated births (with a doula) at Sibley. I think your “experience” is going to be more dictated by how your body responds to labor. I didn’t need interventions and I didn’t get interventions. However, I’ve got a friend who went for a midwife-assisted birth at GW and ended up needing a c-section because that’s what was best for her and baby.

I completely agree with this poster. I delivered twice at sibley (unmedixated, but no doula) and it was great. I moved around a ton, there was a birthing ball, and I don’t remember much else because I was iN LABOR. the recovery room was private and peaceful, and I went home early. Your birth is dictated by your birth, not who you have around you or the place you are.

All forms of birth pose risks to healthy women, PP. it’s not just c sections FFS.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I loved my births at Sibley but it is definitely more difficult to have a “midwife-like experience” there. So you are right to cross it off your list.

Agreed. I don't think Sibley is anti-doula but there is a not a midwife practice there. I am sure certain providers have a bit more of the midwife mindset but I don't think Sibley is your best choice

I had two unmedicated births (with a doula) at Sibley. I think your “experience” is going to be more dictated by how your body responds to labor. I didn’t need interventions and I didn’t get interventions. However, I’ve got a friend who went for a midwife-assisted birth at GW and ended up needing a c-section because that’s what was best for her and baby.

You are right. At GW that is what it means. They have a very low rate and care about reducing the risks unnecessary surgery poses to healthy women. Other hospitals, not so much.

https://www.consumerreports.org/c-section/biggest-c-section-risk-may-be-your-hospital/

Anonymous wrote:Just saying hi as I'm also in Mt Rainier and due in Jan!

I'm currently with Sibley, but did consider WHC for proximity. Mostly sticking with Sibley because a number of my friends delivered there with positive feedback and it's tied to the OB practice I've used for a while and like (CWC).

I'll post to the Mt Rainier list-serve/FB eventually, but would love to create a text-chain or group for expectant moms in the area.

Definitely join the Mt Rainier Mamas and Papas FB group. Congrats!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I loved my births at Sibley but it is definitely more difficult to have a “midwife-like experience” there. So you are right to cross it off your list.

Agreed. I don't think Sibley is anti-doula but there is a not a midwife practice there. I am sure certain providers have a bit more of the midwife mindset but I don't think Sibley is your best choice

I had two unmedicated births (with a doula) at Sibley. I think your “experience” is going to be more dictated by how your body responds to labor. I didn’t need interventions and I didn’t get interventions. However, I’ve got a friend who went for a midwife-assisted birth at GW and ended up needing a c-section because that’s what was best for her and baby.

I wish more people had this perspective on labor. Well said, thank you.

Yes, this. Sometimes people get lucky. Sometimes people get really unlucky. In most cases it has absolutely zero to do with you or your health and just sheer luck. There are a few factors you can control and many you cannot. With my two births I had preeclampsia, gestational diabetes, epidurals that didn’t work, a malpositioned baby, a bad reaction to a spinal, etc. None of those things were in my control, and I had to roll with them. I’ve watched friends and sisters sail through birth with full faces of make up and pushing 3 times with perfect epidurals and others deal with NICU babies, preterm infants, postpartum mood disorders, breastfeeding challenges, and so much more. If you expect going into it that there will be many surprises on your journey and that some complications may happen in your pregnancy, birth, and postpartum time, and that these may be incredibly difficult, I think you will be far more mentally prepared than if you assume you will just sail through because you are healthy or women in your family have easy births or whatever.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I loved my births at Sibley but it is definitely more difficult to have a “midwife-like experience” there. So you are right to cross it off your list.

Agreed. I don't think Sibley is anti-doula but there is a not a midwife practice there. I am sure certain providers have a bit more of the midwife mindset but I don't think Sibley is your best choice

I had two unmedicated births (with a doula) at Sibley. I think your “experience” is going to be more dictated by how your body responds to labor. I didn’t need interventions and I didn’t get interventions. However, I’ve got a friend who went for a midwife-assisted birth at GW and ended up needing a c-section because that’s what was best for her and baby.

I wish more people had this perspective on labor. Well said, thank you.