I want a midwife. Everyone seems to freaked out by the idea, I've done my research and I know what I'm getting into. My first pregnancy and birth was so uncomfterble and my ob n nurses made me feel like I wasn't important n like I was just another pregnant woman that they had to get in and out as qickly as possible. I hated the whole doctor/ hospitol experience.

Bonnie - posted on 12/04/2011

If you truly want a midwife than get one. It is up to you and only you, not everyone else.

~♥Little Miss - posted on 12/04/2011

If you are in the states, this is how I found a great midwife. I called the Labor and Delivery unit of the nearby hospitals, and asked if they knew any. Man, they are HONEST about who to recommend, and who is affiliated with the hospital. That is how I found mine, and the practice I used. They had 5 midwives that I rotated through, and one doctor that stood behind them, on the sidelines and was there for consults if needed. It was awesome!

~♥Little Miss - posted on 12/04/2011

Mandy, I don't know if you are in the states or elsewhere...but I am in the states. I also had a miserable 1st experience in the hospital, ending up in a c section that was not mandatory (I later found out). I had a midwife for my VBAC, and they were awesome. Do what you feel is right for you and your baby....not what everyone elses opinions are. Good luck.

Stifler's - posted on 12/04/2011

I agree with Erin midwives are great. I am from Australia too and most of our care and checkups are done by a midwife unless you want an OB. I would do your research on the midwife's training if they're not common around there. They're great because they push for natural birth and know a lot about breastfeeding usually.

Erin - posted on 12/03/2011

That is so true... I missed my son when I was having my daughter....What part of the world do you live in? I live In New Zealand and it cost us nothing for midwife and nothing to have a baby in a birthing centre or hospital.

Kelina - posted on 12/03/2011

kill them with research and statistics. When I wanted a home birth with my second, (and first) everyone thought I was nuts. i was told i was being irresponsible, that I was dumb, that I didn't care about my baby, etc. I'd just spout information until they shut up and walked off with dazed looks on their faces. It's amazing what information can do. I dealt with midwives through both my pregnancies and am again with my third, but won't attempt a homebirth again. it's too dangerous for me. And besides, why birth at home when we have such a wonderful maternity ward where I don't have to cook, clean or listen to my kids all day?

Erin - posted on 12/03/2011

Have you thought about getting a midwife and birthing at home... If you have had no complication with your first Pregnacy then look into this... My hospital I gave birth to is 45 mins away... but my midwife is local... so If i needed advice she was there... and i live in New Zealand so they are universte trained.

Erin - posted on 12/03/2011

I think midwife are wonderful... They make you feel at ease and they are trained to deal with Pregnancy... I had to have my babies in hospital even though I had a midwife... But I felt important either way... So if you want an midwife go for it.

Michelle - posted on 12/03/2011

I have had 3 children, all in hospital but was always looked after by midwives. The only times I saw a doctor was when my first wasn't coming out and I had to have him vacuumed out and my third to get stitched up.

Here in Australia it's usually the midwives that look after you unless you can't do it on your own.

If you want to have a midwife I say go for it. It's your body and your child.

Minnie - posted on 12/03/2011

Search around.

Just be aware that there are absolutely wonderful midwives and then there are midwives who are 'OBs' in midwife clothing.

Figure out your birth wishes and really get to know your prospective midwife, learn her birthing philosophy and such.

Sherri - posted on 12/03/2011

Okay so go with it. I personally never in this lifetime would use anything but an OB and my hospital birth but that is me. However, I have also been with my OB for 15yrs and he knows everything about me and has delivered everyone of my kids and has taken care of me for that long as well. So we have quite a rapport with each other

Firebird - posted on 12/03/2011

Next time I get pregnant, I'll be seeing a midwife. They're a little easier to come by in Canada than in the U.S. though. I had a decent experience with my ob when I was in labour last time, but I'm under the impression that I just got lucky.

Mandy - posted on 12/03/2011

I feel that people will take a doctors word over any thing. I don't understand why every thing has to be done through doctors. They even tell you to not attempt at home remedies. I am also wiccan so home made is my thing. We are told to trust in people that know absolutly nothing about us individually, its rediculous. I would like a CPM and birthing center but most places are atleast 45 minutes away so I'm being ptimistic.

Erin - posted on 12/03/2011

If you are in the US, midwifery care is very much the exception. That's why people seem freaked out by it. They think only an OB is capable of caring for a pregnant woman and attending a birth. The rest of the world disagrees, however.

Maternity care is midwife-led in most of Europe, the UK, Australia and NZ. We have better perinatal/neonatal/maternal outcomes with midwives than the US does with their over-medicalised system.

But, our midwives are university-trained. From what I understand about the US midwife situation, there are huge inconsistencies in training and credentials.

What sort of midwife are you looking at? CPM? or CNM in a hospital? Are you considering a homebirth or birth centre?