Choosing the Right One

[scribblerpnp]

I am definately wanting to go the Midwife route with pregnancy (in early stages of "we'll think about getting pregnant, but will actively try not to"). I am a nurse practitioner (peds only thankyouverymuch) and try every way I can to see NP's for my health care (support your sister/brother :) ). I know the obvious questions and things I need to look for when trying to find that perfect fit and am asking the nursery/ L&D nurses at the hospital where I do rounds for their recommendations. What are the little things I should pay attention to? What are some warning signs (not obvious) of a questionable/bad midwife? I am definately all for the lady partsl birth and definately all for pain meds if it isn't going to be quick, so I know to see if the midwife is OK with that. I'm also not a person who needs a lot of face time with my provider either, I'm happy to get it, do what is needed, and let me leave.

Thanks for any help in advance!

[May_baby]

The American College of Nurse Midwives (ACNM) has some good resources for researching Midwifery care:

Welcome to myMidwife.org

I'd also like to add that you might be suprised by how important "face to face" time is in Midwifery. Your post sounded like you are used to an in-and-out model of care. Midwives operate at a different level and I hope you find the right one to show you that you are important and valued as a patient and as a woman.

[Jolie, BSN]

I have only met one midwife (CNM) in my career that I disliked. She would get on her high horse and prattle on for hours about how women needed to take control of their bodies, labor naturally, etc. But whenever a patient arrived at our (hospital based) birth center at an inconvenient time, she was lightning quick to pressure her to into AROM, pit, epidural, etc. I don't have statistics to back me up, but I am certain that she had the highest rate of interventions, including C-sections of ANY of our providers, CNM or MD.

There is no quick way to know if you have chosen a midwife whose philosophy is compatible with yours. Take your time to get to know the provider you choose, and feel free to ask questions about how s/he facilitates (or manages) laboring patients.

My favorite means of getting the inside scoop on who is good and who is not is to befriend some of the OB nurses and find out who they see.

Best of luck to you!