Well Rounded Mama: Finding our Midwife.

After finding out that we were pregnant, I had to try and find an Ob. I wasn't super excited about that because there are countless numbers of Obs but none of them have meet and greet set ups available.  So I just had to pick one.  I schedule the appointment for when I thought I would be about 8-9 weeks, since that is when they like to see you first.  I went for the appointment but wasn't super impressed.  The staff couldn't tell me much about billing or how things worked in the office.  They said we'll tell you next time.  Yeah... Plus the office was sterile looking, white walls, everything professionally decorated, but not really inviting.  The midwife in the office saw me vs the Dr I had scheduled with.   They ran the typical tests and did the ultrasound to verify approximate DOB.  Come to find out that we weren't 8-9 weeks we were 13.  Well, I'm not complaining about missing 3 months!  

I came home and did more research on other midwives and I found Well Rounded Mama.  In Nevada you either have the baby in the hospital or you have it with a midwife at home.  I am not comfortable with Drs and hospitals and everything that surrounds that, but Joel wasn't keen on the idea of a home birth with a midwife.  I did more research into the place I had found and liked the fact that they had a meet and greet open house once a month so you can meet the midwives and other staff.  I talked with Joel and he was hesitant but at least willing to come to the open house with me.

We went to the open house and Joel just looked at me as we walked in because it's a store front and offices in back.  There were all kinds of hippie, crunchy, granola things from oils to wraps to teas and energy rocks.  They had a short educational speaker and then introduced the midwives, doulas, and support staff.  I looked at the midwives and mentally decided on one that I want to talk with.  After the education part Joel said he had one that he wanted to talk to.  Amazingly it was the same person.  We both laughed.  I said, "She kind of reminds me of Georgie."  He agreed and we laughed again.

I thought that we would have to wait for a while to get a chance to talk with her but once everyone was excused she picked a spot at a table and we were the only ones that approached her.  We talked for 45 minutes about all different subjects.  Joel had questions and concerns and she addressed things that were normal or just not discussed at a regular Ob or hospital.  Joel left feeling more relaxed and ok with going with her for our prenatal care and delivery.

Joel appreciated the fact that I had found someone I trusted and will have worked with throughout the pregnancy and is going to be available day or night when I have the baby, not pawn me off because she's not working that night.  It will make it easier to call her and say, it's time and she comes.  With hospitals I usually procrastinate going until it gets to a point that Joel is uncomfortable.

We have enjoyed the environment so far.  Our first appointment Joel was exhausted from work and grabbed some pillows in the yoga waiting area and closed his eyes on the floor.  The girls enjoyed covering him with pillows.  It was a relaxed environment.  It was comfortable and not sterile feeling.

 I didn't have to pee in a cup or be weighed.  She took my BP and measured the fundal growth.  She listened for the babies heart beat.  The girls enjoyed this part and were curious.  She asked the girls if they wanted to hear their heartbeat.  Hailey emphatically said no and ran out of the room.  Emi said yes.  Even though there is a Dr table, Tiffany has a couch that we sat on.  I laid on Joel's la for the measurement and heartbeat.  Emi wanted to do the same. We talked casually about questions or concerns.  That is how the visits tend to be.  Relaxed, which helps me feel relaxed.  It should be a good experience this time.