In Chicago, I went to a midwife group (yes, they deliver in an actual HOSPITAL) that works with an OBGYN. Baby Bear did NOT want to come out, and my midwife was incredibly patient and knew that she was descending by progressing very slowly. I pushed a ridiculous amount of time (6+ hours, Mr. BBH says), but she eventually came out with a cone head! She was healthy, and I was happy that my midwife did not rush her out, since she was going to come on her own. {I also had a really supportive team of Mr. BBH and my awesome Dula Debi.}
SO now fast forward to our Michigan move… I had to get a 6 week post natal check-up from Baby Bear’s birth and found the closest doctor that took my insurance. He was very nice, so I just continued to go to him and did not take the time to look for a midwife.
Once I got pregnant with #2, I found out that Dr. Banooni does not deliver at the hospital that my insurance pays for. I desperately looked for a midwife, but our insurance does not include midwives in their plan or in their hospital system at all. Sad for two reasons: Midwives probably cost the insurance company much less money then medical interventions, and Midwives are paid less then Doctors, so that is good for the hospital budget. I personally felt that the birth philosophy of midwifery is more along the lines of how I want to birth my baby.
We love Dr. Banooni, and I would let him deliver #2. He is always caring and remembers things about us. (I am sure that he writes them in the chart, but he ACTUALLY takes the time to look!) He even greets Baby Bear and speaks to her in Hebrew. He is very hard to replace. He did tell me, though, that he would not let me push for as long as the midwife did, but we would worry about that later or discuss options when I was further along.
Since I have to switch doctors to deliver at a covered hospital, I met a new Doctor for this month’s check-up. He was recommended by a good friend and also by Dr. Banooni. He was really nice until I told him my concern that I wanted to be able to deliver without intervention if this baby is as stubborn as Baby Bear. He said something like {I don’t remember the exact words} “We don’t have the same time commitments as Midwives.” Meaning that he would be too much in a rush to let the natural process happen. I really do not want any unnecessary intervention like forceps, vacuum, episiotomy, or c-section just because the Doctor is lazy. If there is something with the baby needing to get out, then I understand those medical interventions being necessary. Now we are stuck on what to do, but I think that most Doctors are going to have that same philosophy. What to do?
Tags: birth plan
I’m not going to be much help here. But I am in a similar boat and hoping that someone gives you an answer that would also help me. My husband and I are currently trying to conceive, we have just moved to a new area, and I am searching for a doctor and midwife. I don’t even know if midwives are covered by our plan, either! However, I very much do not want intervention, I want a natural birth if at all possible and am so scared I won’t be able to find a place to do that. The only thing I can suggest is to keep looking and maybe you’ll find a doctor that is more in line with your own birthing philosophy; a more physiological birthing physiology. Good luck!
I so feel for you! I find that prayer and not giving up really pay off!. My husband only wants ME TO USE A m.d.. i WANT MORE A MIDWIFE.We joined a group with one M.D. ,and two midwives. We now feel we are hugely benefiting of the team availability. I still hope to find someone in the new york area who will do a home water delivery. Best of luck, and never give up! Congratulations!