No I’m not crazy—well, that’s debatable, I suppose, and would be affirmed if you asked my husband. As I am 35 weeks at the time of writing this post, let me back up.
Our doula Lisa was at the house for a childbirth ed class at the start of my 32nd week of pregnancy. I mentioned that I had signed up for a breastfeeding class at Cooley Dickinson, not the hospital where we were giving birth. A friend took hers there, and it turned out to be cheaper than the one at Baystate, so I signed up. In doing so, I had the opportunity to read about giving birth at CD and about the midwifery center there.
I immediately felt at ease with everything I was reading—the support for the kind of birth I hope for seemed to be oozing out of every page. The hospital even has every woman, regardless of the type of birth desired, fill out a birth plan! (This can take on very different forms, but basically it’s something you write to inform your practitioners of your wishes at birth—from no episiotomy or epidural to I want my baby immediately after delivery to I want to stay in my own clothes as long as possible.)
So as I was telling Lisa that I would be going to a class at CD, I said something about how if we were to get pregnant again while living in Western Mass, I would give birth at CD and use their midwifery center for my prenatal care. She said something to the effect of, “So switch.”
It never occurred to me that I could do that. She shows a video in her hospital education classes where a woman changed providers at 37 weeks, so me being 32 was definitely in the realm of possibility.
Andrew and I did some talking, thinking and praying following that conversation. I contacted the one person I knew who gave birth at that hospital, Lisa had attended a birth there and told me her thoughts, I spoke with the midwifery center and one of their midwives and we took a tour of the birthing floor of the hospital. Everything just felt right.
Now I wasn’t upset with my current midwifery clinic at all. But there were a few times where I felt like they weren’t as excited or supportive as I had hoped. For instance, I told my one of my previous midwives that I had hired a doula. She responded: “That’s good. One to two percent of our patients hire doulas.” I said that to one of my new midwives, and she said, “Oh we love to work with doulas!” Big difference.
Baystate is also a teaching hospital, and it’s the only hospital in our area with a NICU. They see all the high-risk patients, and it’s just bigger and somewhat more chaotic by nature. CD was really quiet, low-key and the vibe just seemed different.
Not only did my conversations put me at ease, but I also was able to compare the birth statistics for Baystate, CD and the midwifery center that delivers at CD. Those helped push me toward switching.
I started seeing the new midwives at 33 weeks, and I’m so glad I changed. The atmosphere is very different—more laidback—and I really feel like I’ll have the support I need to try for my birth goals.
To illustrate some of the atmosphere, think of every doctor’s office you’ve ever been in: that was true of my former provider. Now, picture a Victorian house. That’s the new office. After sitting with the receptionist (yep, sitting at her desk with her), she sent me to the bathroom “for my specimen.” Her instructions? “There are Dixie cups in the bathroom, and just leave it when you’re done.” No sterile glove handing me a plastic cup with my initials on it—I peed in a cup you could buy at Walmart that I picked out of a basket.
The exam room was also really large. And it had toys! Think about it—lots of pregnant women have other children and often need to bring them to their appointments. This office had play areas in the waiting room and in the exam room to occupy said children.
Finally, at my 35-week appointment, I was just chatting with the midwife (I’m seeing each one in the practice at least once to get to know them all), and she said, “You can do this. Your body knows what it’s doing.” Very simple statement, but it was nice to hear her encouragement.
Coming Wednesday: I get off my labor and delivery soapbox and post about the first crafty projects I’ve done for my baby! (I’m sure y’all can’t wait, thanks for putting up with excess words and no pictures!)
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