Would you give birth in a midwifery led unit?

[BellyBelly]

Following on from this Obstetrician's comment:

"As for the mothers themselves, a study of women in Victoria (by the Victorian Government) concluded that only 10 per cent of women preferred the midwife-led option. This does not justify the use of taxpayers' money for a scheme that most parents do not want". -- Dr Pieter Mourik, consultant obstetrician and gynaecologist, Wodonga

If you had a choice, would you choose to give birth in a midwifery led unit (where there is emergency transport available and hospital closeby), or would you prefer an obstetric model of care? I wonder if 10% is reflective of the BellyBelly membership?

[Heaven]

Yes, I would!! I am really really hoping I get to!! Have applied for both the RBWH birth centre and the Ipswich Midwifery Group Practice

[Visitor7]

I voted yes. When I had both my girls (at Cairns Base Hospital) there was no Obstetrician in sight. The midwives did everything, and they did a fantastic job.

[Beach Mama]

I definately would do this. This is the reason with both pregnancies that I have chosen midwife care VS Ob care. Ob's are trained surgeons and if at any time in my pregnancies baby or I were found to need specialised care then I would pay for an Ob(no private cover) but seeing as I don't then I would love to have this option and have gone for the next best thing.
Kel- it would be interesting to see where and who they sourced their 10% from. I doubt it will be reflected here on BB because we are all so educated and empowered thanks to yours truly!

[LaDeeDa]

I've booked in for the FBC at the Angliss Hospital in Upper Ferntree Gully - this is my first baby and I've only heard great things about midwife care

[Lisa]

Funny thing is that among my group of friends... most have chosen independent midwives for their 2nd and so on babies after having their first babies with an obstetrician, and all of my friends will never, ever pay for the "services" of an ob again.
I will never pay for the "services" of an obstetrician

[Bathsheba]

Well I HAVE given birth (and received antinatal care in) a Midwifery Care Unit: Monash Birth Centre. In the end I had a complication but it was no drama getting in an Ob. I would highly recommend it. However I think this centre is now closed I gave birth to my first child there in 1994.

[Kazbah]

I wanted to, but DH is a little paranoid. And the Angliss has a 24-hour discharge thingy and we really needed more time in hospy to adapt.

We paid for an OB and he missed the birth!

[ll80]

I'm going through midwife care at the moment and couldn't be happier with it.

[Trish]

I voted yes, but of course my true choosen one would be a government funded homebirth midwife.

Next to that, a midwifery led unit would be great.

For a healthy person who is expecting a healthy baby I do not see the value in wasting my money on an OB. (not saying this is for all, but to me it's a waste) Midwives do more of the work, get less of the pay and gratification.

Fund more midwives so women can have a better standard of care!!

[Olive]

in a heartbeat!

[gobblygook]

I would love to but they wouldn't let me last time. At any rate never saw a dr during my births anyway.

I prefer homebirth to hosp birth. Freebirth even better.

[erinlynda]

Midwives are amazing! Wouldn't have it any other way. Saw a doctor (GP) only once during my pregnancy to confirm that I was pregnant. That was it!

[~Kate~]

I chose yes! The midwifery care at my local hospital was in the same building as the rest of the hospital so if anything was to go wrong then I was right there. I missed out on being part of the group by 6 months with DD as they only just introduced it towards the end of my pregnancy. I would love to do it as I feel that a midwife is more into the birthing process and not the clinical aspect that drs are.
I did have to have an emergency c/s for her but was in the same spot. My middies cared for me extremely well thru pregnancy, birth and recovery.

[New Dawn]

Considering I have only ever had midwives deliever all three of my bubs I would LOVE to go somewhere where they could get on with what they are best at.... If I knew there was a hospital just around the corner if I needed it then I wouldnt have a problem going to them instead...

Me too Jodi I was lucky enough to have nurse Kelly deliver both my girls I think she is the best.... If I could I would go up there to have my 4th ( when we get UTD) just to have her again....

[Haydies]

How many women did they poll? 10? Where did they do it? Woop woop?

After my first experience in a hospital environment, they're going to have to chase me from out in the fields before I go back for a second try. Course, that probably wouldn't surprise you Kelly. I don't remember any Midwives giving me guilt trips that my baby would die because I wasn't doing what the Dr's wanted...

[silkymist]

I wouldn't even consider a midwife, in my circumstances. Ob and hospital all the way.

However, for people who have trouble free pregnancies, it must be a wonderful, feeling more in control option.

Julz

[Wrys]

I chose undecided. I woul love to have just the midwife present and skip the whole dr bit, but both my pregnancies have had their complications that went totally out of the midwives control. So Id still like the dr to be part aswell... thats a tricky one