Birth Care Women's Health: Napier Lisa B

I have to echo what has already been written. I came to Birth Care when I learned I was pregnant with my first child. Every visit I had with Birth Care exceeded my expectations. The midwives and the staff took the time to get to know me and my husband. Our questions and concerns were always addressed completely and respectfully, no matter how silly the questions may have seemed to us. The care I received was comprehensive - everything from exercise and diet recommendations, to required birth preparation classes. Our home birth was beautifully managed. The gentle, peaceful way that our son was born in to the world was only made possible by the amazing midwife, midwifery student, and assistant who attended our birth. In the days following my son's birth, the follow-up care we received was outstanding. Again, taking as much time as necessary to make sure our new little family was doing well. I will forever be grateful to the entire team at Birth Care, but in particular to my midwife, for helping us achieve what was, in my eyes, a perfect birth. I will continue to utilize Birth Care for their women's health services, and if we decide to have more children, we will deliver at home with Birth Care, if possible. more

I had my first baby at home with BirthCare and am seeing them currently for prenatal care for my second child. All of the staff was attentive and personable. The midwives always called back to answer my first time mom questions no matter how late it was or how insignificant the question. The midwives offered and educated me about all of the tests that are available to a mother in the hospital. When I was found to be GBS+ they were able to prescribe me antibiotics. During birth they administered IV antibiotics as well, just as they would have in a hospital except here I didn't have to worry about anything else being ""snuck in"" on the IV. My midwife did all she could to help me avoid an episiotomy but I ended up needing one anyway which she skillfully performed. Because my birth was long and I have a low iron count (not anemic but still very low), my midwife was also able to administer a small amount of pitocin to assist with healing contractions as well as apply a catheter and stitch up my episiotomy. In my opinion BirthCare demonstrated that they were able to perform all of the gold standards of care that any woman expects from a hospital birth in the comfort of my own home. However, my birth was 21 hours long with lots of stalling and I feel that if I were in a hospital I would have been pressured into a C-Section or at the very least medicinal intervention. During my long labor my baby's heart rate was monitored regularly and at no time was it abnormal. My baby was born all pink and healthy, looking around and cooing contentedly and was immediately placed in my arms/on my chest. On a personal note, it was absolutely the best feeling I had ever felt in my life, and I don't know why anyone under normal circumstances would forgo that natural cocktail of hormones for a numbed delivery. Afterward my husband and I fell asleep with our little one between us and the CNM and birth assistant tidied up and left. We didn't have to worry about getting in a car or messing with an infant carseat. Our pediatrician does home visits and BirthCare also has the ability to do the newborn metabolic screening at your home. It was just rest and basking in the new baby glow. Absolutely fantastic. more

Both of my children were born at home with the support of BirthCare midwives. I was fully supported, both during pregnancy and after pregnancy. I still use them for my well women care and look forward to my visits. \r \r Prior to being accepted as a client, I was screened to make sure I was a good candidate for a home birth. My prenatal visits were very pleasant, with my questions being answered. I was encouraged to prepare for my birth, and I always felt in good hands. When issues arose, the midwives had the information to resolve them. For example, my daughter was breech very late in pregnancy and the midwives helped me with exercies to help turn the baby, and ultimately recommended I go see an OB at Virginia Hospital Center to turn my daughter. The turn was successful, and I was sent back to the midwives' care.\r \r I had a couple of abnormal pap tests, and again, I was referred to an gynecologist, where the issue could be resolved.\r \r BirthCare midwives have helped me with family planning, provided support through both of my home births (and they were perfect), and in general provided the relaxed atmosphere I wanted for my births.\r more

I had always planned to give birth in a birth center, and was thrilled to find Birth Care. Each time I met with a new midwife I wanted *that* one to deliver my baby. I left every appointment choked up because I was so happy with my care at every appointment. When I was around 25 weeks, we decided to have a home birth. Since things rarely go according to plan, my water broke smack in the middle of the first of those two blizzards we had in Feb. 2010. When I called Marsha at 6 am, she started calling her neighbor up the road (at 6am!) with a tractor to come plow her out so she could get to us and give us the birth experience we wanted -- despite the fact that she might not make it back home for a couple of days! In the end, we decided to keep everyone safe and off the roads and hop in an ambulance to the hospital. Our original birth assistant couldn't make it, but she called the other birth assistants on the list to see if anyone could get to Holy Cross Hospital to be with us. Sure enough, Liz came to our rescue. And she and Marsha did my post partum home visits, despite the roads still being awful. Their dedication to my care was tremendous. more

MDawn: My heart goes out to you and I am sorry for your loss and the great pain you are experiencing. \r My experience with Birth Care was totally the opposite. \r \r My experiece with Birth Care was wonderful. My prental visits were exciting and I loved going to them. The midwives placed a strong emphasis on my health and my babies health. They discussed at great length the importance of maintaining a healthy diet. Their focus was always with me and my babies health. This was always the priority. My prenatal visits were sometimes an hour long if I or my partner had many questions. I had met Alice years before I gave birth while I was living on the West Coast. I knew if I was back in this area these are the midwives I would birth with when I had my baby. I went into labor on Super Bowl Sunday. It was very light pre-labor. I had lost my mucous plug and contractions were not consistant nor steady. During this entire time of prelabor the midwives were in constant contact with me and encouraged me to be in contact with them. They cared greatly about my progress. I went into real labor two days later after a snow storm and had a great long 18 hour labor and birth. The midwife and birth assistant traveled in the snow storm to meet me at the Birth Care birth house in Alexandria. I had a great labor experience, even though it was long. Fetal monitoring was consistant and the support I was given was nonstop. I was able to float for many hours in the tub to help ease my back labor. I also was able to get into many positions to help open up my hips and body to birth my baby. I never once doubted my decision to birth with the support of a midwife. The Birth Care midwives were a team and they cared about me and my baby. I was rubbed and massaged and given positive feedback throughout my entire labor. My midwife was the most sweet and caring woman. My childbirth attendant had had five babies herself, 3 of them born at home after a c-section and she supported me with positive feedback, kindness and encouragement. She had the magical touch that I gravitated to during my labor. I was never left alone. And I was always treated with great respect. They never doubted me. Careful medical attention was given to my labor and a deep trust in the process. They respected my choices which included delayed cord clamping and no vaginal checks unless absolutely necessary. I was supported and loved and cared for the entire time during my labor and post partum. My post partum follow ups were also positive and caring at my house. My blood pressure was carefully monitored and my stats were reported. My daughter was born healthy with the assistance of these midwives. Breastfeeding was encouraged and supported. I nursed for nearly 3 years. I just recently went back for my well woman visit and it was a hour long! No doctor provides that much time for a well woman visit. It was great to be back and have a nice chat about my health with a skilled midwife who cared about my health. \r \r Birth Care has a very good record and excellent statistics. \r \r I am sorry for your loss and your pain, and sometimes things happen. I hope you are able to heal. I am sure the midwife and assisant who were involved are also suffering greatly. I don't know a midwife who goes into the profession to do harm. more