https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Mon, 22 Jun 2026 01:47:26 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-questions-to-ask-at-a-midwife-consultation#post-1719658 Tue, 24 Jun 2014 20:08:35 +0000 Boheme 1719658@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Smurfette: I'm not completely sure, but I think we're moving that direction. He has to switch shifts or get out of law enforcement completely before I make up my mind. I'm not pulling nights solo again! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-questions-to-ask-at-a-midwife-consultation#post-1719269 Tue, 24 Jun 2014 16:36:18 +0000 Smurfette 1719269@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@grizz: so you are leaning more towards another? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-questions-to-ask-at-a-midwife-consultation#post-1719255 Tue, 24 Jun 2014 16:26:04 +0000 Boheme 1719255@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@emg86: :heart: </p> <p>@coopsmama: They were just.... solid. That's the word that comes to mind. A good balance between completely natural and evidence based intervention. There was no rush during our appointment, our son was there, and they were just very kind and family centered. I'm really comfortable with their educational backgrounds, their openness to our feelings and decisions, and their proactive way of managing prenatal care. We just really clicked with them and felt comfortable! And I suppose it didn't hurt that when DH and I were waiting, we were looking at their wall of babies and counting the babies/families we knew. SIXTEEN! They have delivered 16 of our friends' babies, and our friends all rave about the level of care they received :happy: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-questions-to-ask-at-a-midwife-consultation#post-1719232 Tue, 24 Jun 2014 16:12:57 +0000 emg86 1719232@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@grizz: Yay!!!!!! I've been stalking this thread for an update :-) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-questions-to-ask-at-a-midwife-consultation#post-1719219 Tue, 24 Jun 2014 16:07:39 +0000 coopsmama 1719219@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@grizz: So I have to ask because I'm curious -- what were some of the main things that you were impressed about by these midwives? Besides their detailed plan for necessary transfers, that is! </p> <p>I'm glad you were able to find providers that seem like a great fit for potential Grizz baby #2! :heart: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-questions-to-ask-at-a-midwife-consultation#post-1719214 Tue, 24 Jun 2014 16:04:01 +0000 Boheme 1719214@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Cherrybee: I am! Eeek! :grin: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-questions-to-ask-at-a-midwife-consultation#post-1719198 Tue, 24 Jun 2014 15:54:28 +0000 Cherrybee 1719198@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@grizz: So glad it went well! So is that you a step closer to possibly considering a second child, then? :heart: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-questions-to-ask-at-a-midwife-consultation#post-1718917 Tue, 24 Jun 2014 13:58:11 +0000 jetsa 1718917@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@grizz: that is awesome, if our laws were more friendly to it, I'd research. My midwife from my first birth who I loved, moved 15 hours away. :( This is all assuming we have another. My DH is pretty adamant he is done. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-questions-to-ask-at-a-midwife-consultation#post-1718904 Tue, 24 Jun 2014 13:55:15 +0000 Boheme 1718904@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@jetsa: My husband was really nervous too! They have a super thorough and detailed plan A. B, and C in case of transfer - you even pay an OB a retainer during your pregnancy! - and that helped quell his anxiety. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-questions-to-ask-at-a-midwife-consultation#post-1718863 Tue, 24 Jun 2014 13:43:15 +0000 jetsa 1718863@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@grizz: yay! what a great update! Also super jealous you are considering a home birth, I wanted one the first time but it makes my dh nervous and its illegal in my state. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-questions-to-ask-at-a-midwife-consultation#post-1718803 Tue, 24 Jun 2014 13:27:27 +0000 LovelyPlum 1718803@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@grizz: :grin: :grin: :grin: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-questions-to-ask-at-a-midwife-consultation#post-1718762 Tue, 24 Jun 2014 13:13:12 +0000 Boheme 1718762@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I *LOVED* them... and so did my husband. I am so very impressed :grin: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-questions-to-ask-at-a-midwife-consultation#post-1717078 Mon, 23 Jun 2014 16:46:00 +0000 Silva 1717078@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@grizz: she's amazing. very smart and practical. I think she does a great job of being an advocate of "however you want to give birth." I've never heard her be judge-y about any kind of birth decision. If all homebirth midwives were like her, things would be a lot different. She works really hard to have good relationships with local hospitals, and thinks that collaboration between providers is the best way to ensure safe deliveries. She is never self righteous....anyway, just bragging :wink:<br /> I'm sure if you have questions that remain unanswered she'd be happy to talk with you. Best of luck! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-questions-to-ask-at-a-midwife-consultation#post-1717042 Mon, 23 Jun 2014 16:24:32 +0000 wonderstruck 1717042@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I would ask a lot of questions about what kind of things they recommend/offer to help manage pain and help you progress when you're in labor. During the tour of our midwife's center they had balance balls, bars for squatting, tubs for laboring in, and told us about a ton of different positions they had women like for laboring and/or pushing, talked to us about acupressure, etc.</p> <p>Of course, in the end none of it did me any good since L went into serious distress. But overall, I think that having midwives like mine, who have tons of options that they want you to take advantage of, is a very good sign. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-questions-to-ask-at-a-midwife-consultation#post-1717035 Mon, 23 Jun 2014 16:19:52 +0000 Boheme 1717035@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Silva: That's a great point! I know they pride themselves on being extremely cautious and objective, and they stay with you until you've delivered and are stable if you do transfer. So I should re-phrase that question to ask about what situations they transfer for, how they make the call, etc. And how cool that your best friend is a home birth midwife! I'm fascinated by them. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-questions-to-ask-at-a-midwife-consultation#post-1717034 Mon, 23 Jun 2014 16:18:47 +0000 Kemma 1717034@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Silva: I think that's a sign of a GREAT midwife! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-questions-to-ask-at-a-midwife-consultation#post-1717027 Mon, 23 Jun 2014 16:14:11 +0000 Cole 1717027@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I would ask about some of the practical things like how it works when you have questions both during off hours and during regular hours, how test results will be relayed to you, how easy scheduling is, how late they typically run etc. </p> <p>I got all the right answers from our midwife group about care but I failed to ask thorough questions about these things and it's making me miserable- I don't know if they would have told me their office is a disorganized mess and it might take them days to call me back but after I brought the issues up with both the midwives and the office manager no one was shocked or tried to suggest it was out of the ordinary. I can't imagine other offices could possibly run this way too but I strongly recommend digging into this side of things too. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-questions-to-ask-at-a-midwife-consultation#post-1717021 Mon, 23 Jun 2014 16:11:23 +0000 Silva 1717021@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@grizz: for what it's worth, regarding transfer rate- my best friend is a home birth midwife, with a slightly above average transfer rate for our area, but she is actually proud of it. She has great relationships with local hospitals and OBs, and basically says "I know my limits, I will help you identify yours, and if we need to go in we go in." Might be worth asking about how/when they decide to transfer. She says it's most commonly maternal exhaustion in her practice. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-questions-to-ask-at-a-midwife-consultation#post-1717020 Mon, 23 Jun 2014 16:10:54 +0000 Kemma 1717020@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm not sure how applicable this is for the American model of care but I would be asking how big their caseload is at any one time. NZ midwives typically take between 3-6 births per month but they tend to work independently and are also responsible for postnatal care for six weeks following the birth. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-questions-to-ask-at-a-midwife-consultation#post-1717007 Mon, 23 Jun 2014 16:02:46 +0000 AprilFool 1717007@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@grizz: Good video! I see a lot of my labour in the video. Luckily I didn't have to go for a car ride. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-questions-to-ask-at-a-midwife-consultation#post-1716941 Mon, 23 Jun 2014 15:36:28 +0000 Boheme 1716941@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@AprilFool: This was really helpful for me to watch too. Its how midwives managed an asynclitic labor.</p> <p>Warning: You might not play this if you're at work :) Its a birth video.</p> <p><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_QW14o6Geyk" rel="nofollow">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_QW14o6Geyk</a> </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-questions-to-ask-at-a-midwife-consultation#post-1716931 Mon, 23 Jun 2014 15:33:23 +0000 AprilFool 1716931@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@grizz: When you find the answers to these can you let me know :)</p> <p>*Odds of a repeat posterior birth, odds of a repeat asynclitic birth<br /> *How a repeat posterior or repeat asynclitic would be managed </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-questions-to-ask-at-a-midwife-consultation#post-1716014 Mon, 23 Jun 2014 10:21:59 +0000 LovelyPlum 1716014@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@grizz: :grin: I'm thrilled for you! And for the thought of maybe-baby Grizz, but only if it also comes with an at peace mama. Let us know how it goes! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-questions-to-ask-at-a-midwife-consultation#post-1716009 Mon, 23 Jun 2014 10:17:55 +0000 Boheme 1716009@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@emg86: Home birth! But they have an awesome working relationship with my new OBGYN (who used to be a back up for The Farm!) and will doula for me if I end up choosing the hospital setting. And thank you so much! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-questions-to-ask-at-a-midwife-consultation#post-1716001 Mon, 23 Jun 2014 10:14:27 +0000 emg86 1716001@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@grizz: Is it a home birth/center midwife group? I just emailed a friend questions we asked our midwife. Let me dig them up.</p> <p>ETA: Just saw your transfer rate question, so I'm assuming home birth. :-) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-questions-to-ask-at-a-midwife-consultation#post-1715996 Mon, 23 Jun 2014 10:13:21 +0000 Boheme 1715996@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@LovelyPlum: Thank you! :heart: I had a great conversation on the phone with the midwife who owns the practice, so I'm really excited about meeting them! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-questions-to-ask-at-a-midwife-consultation#post-1715985 Mon, 23 Jun 2014 10:09:26 +0000 LovelyPlum 1715985@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@grizz: just want to say :goodluck: ! I think that considering your previous experience, you're being very level-headed and open-minded about moving forward. Super proud of you! I hope that the consult goes really well and that you leave armed with good info! :heart: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-questions-to-ask-at-a-midwife-consultation#post-1715836 Mon, 23 Jun 2014 09:22:06 +0000 Mae 1715836@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'd also ask how they handle postpartum care if you did need interventions. I had a c-section but was still under midwife care postpartum and I think (now) that was really inappropriate. Considering that I had a c-section I think I should've been transferred to an OB for all my post-op care. </p> <p>(I am unhappy because my midwife missed a post-op complication the OB spotted right away after an emergency visit when i started spurting blood at home... :/ ) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-questions-to-ask-at-a-midwife-consultation#post-1715696 Mon, 23 Jun 2014 08:29:34 +0000 septca 1715696@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>* What is their standard birth plan - doula required? Hep lock? Water? Skin to skin? Delayed cord clamping? Delayed vaccinations/newborn procedures?<br /> * how long will they let you go? 42 weeks? Induction policy and procedures?<br /> * how do they handle breech presentation?<br /> * how do they rotate on call schedules? Will a specific MW be with the whole time or will they switch shifts?<br /> * specific diet and exercise regimen?<br /> * testing - what do they offer/recommend? In house or separate lab?<br /> * recommend specific birthing method? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-questions-to-ask-at-a-midwife-consultation#post-1715673 Mon, 23 Jun 2014 08:19:48 +0000 Boheme 1715673@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>ETA: NOT pregnant. I am still deciding if I even want a second, and meeting with care providers before the fact is part of my decision making process :) I don't want to have to make this decision after I'm pregnant if we decide on another! </p>