BellyBelly Life Subscriber
It sounds like it would be a good outcome either way. I've read about Peter Lucas and it's good to read positive stuff about Jan, as I was going to contact her when it's our time again. Do you feel comfortable with Peter? Is there a cost difference?
It may also help your family etc if you tell them you'll be having a doctor and a midwife. (Not wanting to disrespect midwives, who are more than capable, of course).
GL - looking forward to hearing how it all goes.
Registered User
by him being there with Jan, would it be him catching? or Jan still doing the primary care and catching and him just sort of hanging around as her backup?
good luck with making the choice, so lucky you have that sort of professional support around you to give you what you really want!!!
go with your gut, and what you will feel most comfortable. Have you met Jan's backup midwife? maybe meet her and see what you think you can get from her, comfort and support wise.
basically it is what you feel will work best for you, what and who you are most comfortable with and who you think will provide you with what YOU want and not take over the situation.
good luck!!!
Registered User
Tashy it is cheaper to go with Peter as lead carer, because I get loads back from Medicare. But TBH it's not really a deciding factor...
It would definately help with family!!! Not mine, but DH's - we haven't even told them I'm pregnant yet (waiting til end of 1st trimester) but I KNOW they will freak the heck out about HB!
My MAIN concern is - I want a successful HB. I do NOT want to transfer to hospital. Am I less likely to need to transfer with a GP? E.g. if something really goes wrong, is there anything he can do that might help avoid a transfer?
BellyBelly Life Subscriber
Honestly, no. You are least likely to transfer to hospital with an independent midwife who screens her clients appropriately for risk factors. I don't think having a GP there would make any difference. In fact, having an experienced midwife as opposed to a less experienced GP, the midwife is at an advantage because she is more likely to notice the very early signs of a potential problem, and help you manage that, rather than not noticing until complications occur.
Registered User
The GP and midwife you are looking at are both very experienced, with Peter Lucas who
and Jan Irelandhas been a general practitioner for 35 years...and has attended in the order of 5000 births as a specifically trained General Practitioner. Peter has wide experience with hospital deliveries and planned Home Birth.
I don't think the experience of either professional is in dispute. I think it is really important how comfortable you are with your health care providers and how they work with you.who has been involved in hospital births, birth centre establishment and home births for 30 plus years.
(Quotes are from the Clinic they work at, found through Google)
BellyBelly Life Subscriber
Given their background, I don't think it would make a difference which way you went - so I'd go with whomever you feel most comfortable with.
BellyBelly Life Subscriber
It would be interesting to see how the changes being brought through re: medicare and midwives affects things. I think it may soon be that midwives HAVE to work with doctors. I'm not sure - I'm not understanding what is going on.
Registered User
Just a quick updateWe have gone ahead with the IM, Jan, and couldn't be happier!
We've had a couple of appointments (on the sofa lol) and are really happy with our choice.
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