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Oakland
Citizen
Username: Oakland
Post Number: 44
Registered: 11-2004
| | Posted on Monday, May 15, 2006 - 12:17 pm: | 
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I am very interested in natural childbirth (none/as little as possible medical interventions, pain meds, etc.) and probably a water birth, and have done a lot of research on this topic, and believe that what I may be looking for is a midwife, but in the interest of thoroughness, and to satisfy the worry-warts in my family, does anyone have a OB-GYN that they would recommend that would fit the bill? I'd love any recomendations. Thanks. |
MeAndTheBoys
Citizen
Username: Meandtheboys
Post Number: 3749
Registered: 12-2004
| | Posted on Monday, May 15, 2006 - 12:28 pm: |
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I could be wrong but I believe most OB/GYN's fit that bill. I don't think there are any out there that are going to force drugs on a woman who doesn't want them, although that does seem to be a common misperception among women who have yet to have a child. My OB/GYN's were wonderful, and I can't imagine them having any objection to a woman giving birth the way she chooses. Drs' Pitman and Klachko on Northfield in West Orange (or maybe Livingston). |
snowmom
Citizen
Username: Snowmom
Post Number: 14375
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Monday, May 15, 2006 - 4:04 pm: |
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Go with the Certified Nurse Midwife! The group in West Caldwell, Avalon, wonderful. My 3 teens were delivered au naturale, in hospital, by nurse midwives. The months of prenatal care were also very special. Good Luck!! |
ffof
Citizen
Username: Ffof
Post Number: 4720
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Monday, May 15, 2006 - 4:28 pm: |
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Suppose your kid ended up being breach or sideways or cord around the neck, or what if you never dilate all the way (my sister) after 24 hours, what then? |
Former Cowgirl
Citizen
Username: Formercowgirl
Post Number: 82
Registered: 3-2006
| | Posted on Monday, May 15, 2006 - 5:23 pm: |
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I would beg to differ with MeAnd...
With my first, I had a lovely female OB, not locally, who was supposedly "pro-natural childbirth", etc. etc. Was fine with me having a birth plan. Was supposedly going to try to help me avoid a c-section despite my "small stature and pelvis." It's only in hindsight do I realize that she and many obs are very, very cautious about childbirth in these days of medical malpractice insurance. That she probably had a c-section planned for me from day one. AND, in reviewing my medical records recently, I've found that some valuable information regarding my pregnancy status was not shared with me that might have led me to make different choices about my birth experience.
I think it also depends a lot on the place in which you give birth. From what I've heard, St. Barnabas is VERY interventionist and has one of the highest c-section rates in the state. Also anecdotally, I've heard that most of your labor at St. B is monitored by the on-staff residents and a lot of docs don't appear until you're closer to giving birth.
All that being said, I've chosen to go with a certified nurse midwife who happens to practice WITH 2 obs. This gives me the comfort I want in being with a practitioner who allows me to attempt the type of birth I want; and reassures the rest of my family who think I'm a little nutso for not going with an ob-gyn.
This might be the happy medium you are looking for.
PL me if you want more info and I'd be happy to let you know who I'm currently seeing and where I'm delivering. |
snowmom
Citizen
Username: Snowmom
Post Number: 14376
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Monday, May 15, 2006 - 6:12 pm: |
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Cheers for you FCG, I hope you enjoy your pregnancy and have an easy & fast labor to boot!!
You are quite right about the happy medium; of course you want back up for the 'just in case' scenario, and a hospital setting for the same reason, but you are also right on target regarding interventionist attitudes.
Good luck & keep us informed.. |
Amie Brockway-Metcalf
Citizen
Username: Amie
Post Number: 536
Registered: 6-2004
| | Posted on Monday, May 15, 2006 - 11:01 pm: |
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ffof, I'm not sure if you're trying to be "funny" or not, but all CNM must practice with an OB in NJ, and must deliver in a hospital, since state laws do not allow freestanding birth centers.
Oakland, I delivered my 2nd with Avalon at Mtside; the OB they worked with was very nice. If you felt strongly about seeing an OB instead of a midwifery practice, one who works in tandem with midwives must be supportiv of natural birth. |
Jersey_Boy
Citizen
Username: Jersey_boy
Post Number: 829
Registered: 1-2006
| | Posted on Monday, May 15, 2006 - 11:08 pm: |
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Morristown has a nice midwife practice. And a great neonatal service for the "just in case" scenario.
J.B. |
Monster©
Supporter
Username: Monster
Post Number: 3213
Registered: 7-2002
| | Posted on Tuesday, May 16, 2006 - 12:42 am: |
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My wife and I used the services of The Childbirth and Women's Wellness Center in Englewood, NJ for our sons birth.
Monster Wife was very happy with their care, and I was too.
My sons birth was a VBAC birth, and after having spent hours at the center he finally decided to grace us with his presence, the cord had been around his neck, and the midwife who was working with us was a site to behold, one moment she was on the bed with my wife projecting a very comfortable earthy, calm, collected aura around us, the next she was like a well oiled machine jumping into action and saving my sons life until the ambulance came to transport him to Teaneck hospital.
I rode in the ambulance with Monster Boy to the hospital, and later the Nurse Midwife (after having seen to my wife) came to the hospital to check on things, etc., she even gave me a ride back to my wife later.
As it turns out, when we moved to Maplewood we found out that our Midwife lives here, or at least did, but a quick Google search shows that she is now at The Avalon Center For Women's Health, and apparently lives in West Caldwell, or nearby.
Another check online, and I find out she used to live down the street from MOL's own Buzzsaw.
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mim
Citizen
Username: Mim
Post Number: 587
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, May 16, 2006 - 9:16 am: |
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I have heard that there were no more freestanding birth centers in NJ, but I thought it was a liability issue, not a STATE LAW. Unbelievable. Back to the 50s, I guess, when midwifery wasn't even legal.
We used the wonderful midwives at the Childbirth Center in Englewood, when it still existed. I cannot recommend midwifery highly enough. They are total pros; you are in no way risking your life and your baby's. And their holistic view of women, birthing and babies which will empower you forever. |
Amie Brockway-Metcalf
Citizen
Username: Amie
Post Number: 537
Registered: 6-2004
| | Posted on Tuesday, May 16, 2006 - 9:23 am: |
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Mim, you might be right, regarding the liability issue. I was going to deliver #1 in a fbc in CT, literally across the street from their affliated hospital, best set-up in the world. Sadly he was 2 1/2 weeks late and we ended up in the hospital anyhow! |
Former Cowgirl
Citizen
Username: Formercowgirl
Post Number: 87
Registered: 3-2006
| | Posted on Tuesday, May 16, 2006 - 11:32 am: |
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Plus, Oakland, any Certified Nurse midwife could give you lots of information to pass onto your family about their profession, about the requirements to be licensed as a CNM, etc. This was very helpful for me in (a) being confident enough to talk to my family members about my choise and (b) helping some of them see the light.
As my CNM put it, they are allowed to do everything except give you a c-section. |
doulamomma
Citizen
Username: Doulamomma
Post Number: 1426
Registered: 3-2002
| | Posted on Thursday, May 18, 2006 - 4:50 pm: |
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Howdy Amie & all,
Just wanted to jump in and add a few points of information...
As Mim indicated, birth centers are not illegal - the Englewood center's closure had nothing to do with law or liability, per se...it was that the cost of malpractice insurance was too high...the center is still open for well-woman care & prenatal care - the midwives catch babies at Pascak Valley Hospital now. There are a few types of midwives that are legal in NJ...CNM (certified nurse midwife) is one type - they were RNs first (the other types became midwives without first being RNs). CNMs don't have to work out of hospitals - some of the fine homebirth midwives that serve our area are CNMs. Midwives frequently do not practice "with" or for OBs (though some do), but are backed by them...for instance, Avalon maintains it's own office (unless their Clifton office is shared with the Doc?) & practice but enjoys a relationship with an OB who will jump in if someone risks out of the practice (multiples is one scenario), needs additional care during a labor that veers off-course or needs to give birth by cesarean. I know of no OBs in the area who offer water birth - but there are midwifery practices that do, including Avalon (and Hacketstown & Childbirth Center; Midwives of Denville offer water labor but not waterbirth)
Births attended by midwives have as good or better outcomes statistically (maternal/fetal mortality stats) - obviously high risk cases are skewing stats for OBs. Assuming one is healthy & low risk, there is not an issue of safety in making the choice between OB & midwife - they are simply different models of care & which is better for a healthy pregnancy is a matter of preference
For more information, check out http://www.childbirthconnection.org/article.asp?ck=10163#model
Best,
DoulaMomma |
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