https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Thu, 23 Apr 2026 17:26:41 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/choosing-a-midwife-as-your-care-giver#post-139733 Fri, 27 Apr 2012 06:25:01 +0000 kgbee 139733@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I went with a group of midwives that serve a local birth center (in central TX). All are CNMs or CPMs, and we rotated through the different midwives for our various appointments, so that we'd at least have met with whoever was on duty when we went into labor. I wanted to try for a medication and intervention-free birth, as well as have the option to move around during labor if I wanted to do so. I felt that the birth center midwives would be more supportive of those desires than my OBGYN at the time. Working with the midwives during my pregnancy and then during labor/delivery was absolutely fantastic, and I'd do it again with no hesitations. </p> <p>Questions to ask: what certifications do they hold, whqt hospital privileges if any do they have, what emergency and hospital transfer procedures do they have in place, what is their transfer rate, what postpartum care/checkups do they offer? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/choosing-a-midwife-as-your-care-giver#post-133351 Sun, 22 Apr 2012 16:05:10 +0000 Minnie_Girl 133351@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@regberadaisy: In the US there are CNMs, CPMs, DEMs, LMs, CMs...all different varieties of midwives with different backgrounds, training, qualifications, and certification/licensing. </p> <p>The two major types of midwives are CNMs and CPMs. CNMs are RNs with midwife training. CPMs are midwives trained through different programs and certified without the nursing background. </p> <p>That Wife did a guest post on finding a midwife among CNMs/CPMs which has a bit more info: <a href="http://www.hellobee.com/2011/11/28/finding-a-midwife/" rel="nofollow">http://www.hellobee.com/2011/11/28/finding-a-midwife/</a></p> <p>The best places to find information on CNM and CPM qualifications are at ACNM and NARM. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/choosing-a-midwife-as-your-care-giver#post-133085 Sat, 21 Apr 2012 23:20:28 +0000 ktdid23 133085@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My women's care practice has GYNs, OBs, and Midwives. When I called to let them know that I'd gotten a positive pregnancy test, they set me up with a midwife to confirm and at that appt I was given the option to stay with the midwife group or transfer to the OB group. We decided that because I was a low-risk pregnancy and wanted an unmedicated birth, I'd stay with the midwives. I loved my experience with them throughout pregnancy because it was very relaxed and I never felt rushed at appts. I didn't have the option for a birth center - they only did hospital deliveries. That ended up to be an amazing thing because I had an emergency c-section... my girl's head got stuck on the way out :-) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/choosing-a-midwife-as-your-care-giver#post-132901 Sat, 21 Apr 2012 14:44:05 +0000 ohapostrophe 132901@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Jumpingjacks: I wanted to add- I chose to give birth in a hospital setting with my midwife. I had a birth center option as well. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/choosing-a-midwife-as-your-care-giver#post-132891 Sat, 21 Apr 2012 14:18:06 +0000 Jumpingjacks 132891@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@regberadaisy: Where I live in Canada midwives are a part of the publicly funded healthcare system. They need to complete midwife education at a university and pass the Canadian Midwifery exams and a provincial clinical exam. They have hospital privileges just like doctors and can order tests, prescribe medications etc. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/choosing-a-midwife-as-your-care-giver#post-132890 Sat, 21 Apr 2012 14:08:06 +0000 Jumpingjacks 132890@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@bpcmarj and @ohapostrophe: Thanks for your input, I appreciate it.</p> <p>@minnie_girl: Thanks very much. That document is very helpful too. I will be using it. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/choosing-a-midwife-as-your-care-giver#post-132884 Sat, 21 Apr 2012 13:43:01 +0000 ohapostrophe 132884@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I chose to switch to a midwife practice after the OB practice I had been going to told me they would not be supportive of a natural birth ("well you can try but if it goes over 6 hours we do generally add pitocin"). Had a great experience and an unmedicated birth. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/choosing-a-midwife-as-your-care-giver#post-132844 Sat, 21 Apr 2012 12:13:23 +0000 regberadaisy 132844@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Just curious because although I had no intention of it for #1 I might consider it for #2.<br /> What are the medical qualifications and training for a midwife? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/choosing-a-midwife-as-your-care-giver#post-132839 Sat, 21 Apr 2012 12:02:57 +0000 Minnie_Girl 132839@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>DH and I are in the midst of this process right now, actually. I met with a group of midwives around 7w and will meet with them again around 9 or 10w for a second official meeting with my husband. </p> <p>I used this document as the basis for my questions: <a href="http://www.mothersownbirth.com/questions%20for%20midwives.pdf" rel="nofollow">http://www.mothersownbirth.com/questions%20for%20midwives.pdf</a></p> <p>I've known for a long time that I wanted to give birth at home, and that midwife care would be the perfect complement to that. Major factors for my choice were having a comfortable/safe setting to give birth (as my mental and physical comfort will directly affect the birth), and the state of my physical/mental health (very good...lots of interventions would just make them worse). </p> <p>I liked that the midwives focused on good nutrition, exercise, and preparedness as the best ways to prevent complications in birth. I will get continuous one-on-one care with them, which I would not get with a doctor. I'll know every single person at the birth. They will offer emotional support, and will also provide all of the expected medical support. With a good midwife, I'm getting excellent whole care and am not getting shuffled through a (frequently inflexible) system. </p> <p>In my experience, midwives also expect you to be well-informed, and will encourage you to do your own research on all aspects of birth. Come to the meeting prepared! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/choosing-a-midwife-as-your-care-giver#post-132835 Sat, 21 Apr 2012 11:55:05 +0000 bpcmarj 132835@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I chose a midwife, but she delivered my youngest sister 14 years ago so it was someone that I at least knew of. My main reason was knowing that I wanted to have a birth with as little interventions as possible, and that she was my best option for that. Also, I have seen many friends at different OB offices see a different doctor each time they went in for an appointment and they had no clue who would be there on the day they have their baby. I didn't want that. My midwife is the only person I have met with and she will for sure be there with me when I go to have the baby (due on Monday). </p> <p>Questions you could ask: what hospital do you have privilidges in? How long have you been a midwife? Are you a certified nurse midwife? How many deliveries do you attend a year?</p> <p>Good luck with your choice!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/choosing-a-midwife-as-your-care-giver#post-132826 Sat, 21 Apr 2012 11:36:11 +0000 Jumpingjacks 132826@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Did any of you choose a midwife over a physician as your care provider and if so what were the main factors in your decision?</p> <p>We're still TTC. I have a pre-conception appointment with a midwife next week. If you used a midwife, do you have any advice for questions I should ask her?</p> <p>Thanks! </p>