My husband and I recently moved to Manayunk from Miami and I am trying to get some information on obgyn/midwives in the area.

We became pregnant last year in Miami but lost the baby early in the 2nd trimester. While our Dr was very nice, her office in Miami was extremely busy, she was always rushed in our appointments and it was impossible to get her on the phone.

While I understand this happens all over and impossible to completely avoid, we are really hoping for a more personal experience. I love the idea of using a midwife, but would feel better having the experience in a hospital (we lost the baby because of a birth defect, so I know how suddenly things can go wrong).

Does anyone have any recommendations on hospitals or midwife practices? After searching on this site and other places we have ruled out Penn and are thinking more along the lines of Bryn Mawr or Chestnut Hill but I am having trouble finding the midwives practices online other than the Bryn Mawr Birthing Center.

I would also be willing to go with a traditional OB if someone can recommend a practice that is open to a mother's birth plan and not going to force an unnecessary c-section on us. I would also prefer a female if possible.

Sorry this is so long. I just have a ton of questions and am looking to schedule a preconception visit with a dr in the next month or two. Since my last experience was so disappointing I don't want to make the same mistake twice.

Thanks so much in advance.

There is a midwife practice- (penn midwifery) in the city but that may be a trek. I have heard good things about Bryn Mawr midwivery though

I know someone that told me of a very positive experience birthing at Bryn Mawr's birth center after they had their first in a regular hospital setting. Another friend of mine will be considering it also and reasoned that the place is right across from the hospital so that if complications emerge, you have that option.

Yes, I considered The Birth Center but am worried about absolutely NO access to drugs if I need it. Plus, it's still across the street, which makes me worry a bit. But I am not ruling them out.

Does anyone have an opinion on Ronni Rothman and Woman Wise Midwifery? I have read a few good things about her and would love to hear anyone's stories. Only problem is, she delivers at Chestnut Hill and I heard they are closing their maternity ward soon

I would not go to Chestnut Hill.
I think Bryn Mawr hospital and Lankenau are good choices. Lankenau has a NICU if needed and Bryn Mawr is associated with Dupont if you need it.

I had 3 miscarriages, then 2 full term pregnancies. I went to Jefferson, the high risk group. I primarily saw the nurse practitioner, Maryanne Greenberg who was fantastic! The regular OB practice actually delivered both of my kids. I was very close to needing C-sections, but avoided them thanks to my OB's and some great nurses. My second baby actually flipped into breech position the week before I was due and they were able to do version and then induce me. They were very willing to work with me during both pregnancies.

If you want more info on the practice, PM me.

I highly recommend www.womanwise.info don't know about the Ronnie person you mentioned but Karen is an outstanding care provider and will work with you to make sure that you receive the care that you need.

__________________
"All of this will not be finished in the first one hundred days, nor will it be finished in the first one thousand days, nor in the life of this administration, nor even perhaps in our lifetime on this planet. But let us begin."

~John F. Kennedy

I delivered my daughter (now 4 years old) at The Birth Center in Bryn Mawr. Well, actually I delivered at Bryn Mawr hospital because after laboring for about 24 hours I stopped dilating and my midwife felt it was best to go across the street. She was with us every step of the way and delivered our daughter. I did end up having an epidural, which I had really not wanted -- but I trusted our midwife to advise me at the critical points in my labor. Not once did I feel pressured or coerced into anything, which sadly has not been the case for some friends of mine who birthed without benefit of a midwife. After a few hours' sleep, I woke up naturally, the epidural was dialed back to the point where I could feel my lower extremities (at my request), and less than an hour of pushing later our daughter entered the world. The whole experience, even with the transfer to the hospital, was wonderful.

My mother, who is a nurse and had FOUR (!) c-sections (there was no such thing as VBAC then), said I would absolutely have ended up with a C if I had been a regular patient of the hospital. In our case, it would have been completely unnecessary. The Birth Center midwives are highly trained, they have an excellent relationship with the staff at Bryn Mawr, and the transfer time across the street really was about 2 minutes. Even though I was in labor, it wasn't difficult.

I really recommend you visit them and attend one of their information sessions. It's the best way to be informed. Good luck!

Bugsly - I am sorry about your loss.
I live in Roxborough, and I used the Bryn Mawr Birth Center, as well. Like oliviasaru, I ended up deliving at the hospital because I had to be induced. The midwife was there every step of the way. I also know I would have had a C section if the midwife was not there, as there is no way a OB/GYN would let me push for 4 hours. That said, you are only transferred to the hospital for medical reasons, not b/c it hurts too much.

I don't have any experience with this place, but you may want to check out Valley Birthplace & Woman Care in Huntingdon Valley, PA. Unlike Bryn Mawr Birth Center, I think they let you choose to either give birth at the their center, or the hospital.

I used the Valley Birthplace and loved them. The problem is that they only had privileges at Chestnut Hill. Now that CH is closing, I don't know what they are going to do, but it is worth checking out- they are really great. They do have a freestanding birth center (in Huntingdon Valley, where the prenatal appointments are too, which is a bit of a haul from Manayunk) and do home births, but it sounds like you are looking for a hospital so that wouldn't work for you. Good Luck!

I had both of mine (3 1/2 yo and 2 month old) at The Birth Center and can't imagine doing it any other way, though I was fortunate in that unlike oliviasaru and Earthgirl I didn't transfer. (I believe the transfer rate is about 10-15% overall, and that's usually before you're in labor, if they decide you've got any risks.) They are getting busier and busier due to the shutdown of maternity wards in the region and more awareness of the value of midwifery (overall fewer complications, general better health of mom and baby, more personalized care), so it does take more time than it used to to get appointments and they do book up, but will find a way to get you in, and will always call you back right away if you have an urgent question. But of course if you think you might want any meds it's not for you. For me that was part of the appeal, actually, that in the thick of it I wouldn't have that option so it never entered my mind even in the toughest part of labor. But the care is phenomenal and you really get educated in those 30 minute appointments--sometimes I was like, "can I go now?" while they were grilling me about how I was feeling that week! :o) I wasn't sure with the first one whether I'd be cool with unmedicated birth but they really built up my confidence and it ended up being great.

Oh, and if you decide not to go with them, some of the midwives who used to be there have gone into private practice, so you might be able to get a referral from them for an individual midwife (one is Giselle, who was awesome and helped deliver our first--she is on her own now but I'm not sure where). Then they will still have that solid relationship with the Bryn Mawr people--who are great too, btw.

As said above, the informational sessions are the key. Give a call and register and check it out, it can't hurt! And good luck with your next pregnancy!