| Welcome to SeattleBirthNet: Birthing In Seattle Childbirth Education and Labor Support for Expectant Families |
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In the greater Seattle area, there are a variety of settings to birth your child. If you already
see an OBGYN or Midwife, they will most likely have privileges to deliver only at certain
hospitals or birth centers (or of course, your home!). Herein lies the question most women
don’t expect to ask—do I like the setting my provider delivers in? If the answer is yes, then
your all set. If not, you’ve got some work to do. The first best plan is to visit at least one
birth center and one other hospital.
You are a consumer with consumer rights! You do not have to stay with the same provider
you have used for previous gynecological care. Shop around—mother-friendly, personable
midwives abound in our city. And if you risk-out of or choose to opt out of midwifery care,
you are in a city with many skilled and caring Obstetricians. Be sure to ask your midwife or
doctor, “Who will deliver my baby?”. This is the dividing line between practices in our area.
If you want a relationship with one doctor and you want her or him to deliver your child this
question is critical. Many moms have gone to the hospital to find a doctor they’ve rarely or
never met deliver their babies. When you want a relationship with your provider that will be
carried through to the delivery, which research shows is the most beneficial to mothers and
babies, this is a question you don't want to take lightly. In a practice where the providers
rotate every 24 or 72 hours, be sure to make appointments with each of the providers in the
practice. Getting to know them is the only way to give yourself the opportunity to work with
someone you know for the actual delivery of the baby. For many women, this system works
out great and they are comfortable delivering with any of the providers in a practice. And
for many others, the thought of a stranger as a doctor is uncomfortable and worth the time
to interview other providers to find a better fit.
In the city of Seattle we are fortunate to have some incredible birth centers well located and
near the hospitals. This allows women to use a midwife, whose model of care is
considerably more healthy and psychologically comforting, without concern about safety (or
of the mess they are afraid will be left behind). If you want help finding a provider who will
provide maternity care and deliver your child, there are some options: find out who your
girlfriends and co-workers use, click here for a list of birth centers, open up the yellow pages
and call around, or you can call or email Jodilyn--she will be happy to help you with
referrals. (206.340.7467)
see an OBGYN or Midwife, they will most likely have privileges to deliver only at certain
hospitals or birth centers (or of course, your home!). Herein lies the question most women
don’t expect to ask—do I like the setting my provider delivers in? If the answer is yes, then
your all set. If not, you’ve got some work to do. The first best plan is to visit at least one
birth center and one other hospital.
You are a consumer with consumer rights! You do not have to stay with the same provider
you have used for previous gynecological care. Shop around—mother-friendly, personable
midwives abound in our city. And if you risk-out of or choose to opt out of midwifery care,
you are in a city with many skilled and caring Obstetricians. Be sure to ask your midwife or
doctor, “Who will deliver my baby?”. This is the dividing line between practices in our area.
If you want a relationship with one doctor and you want her or him to deliver your child this
question is critical. Many moms have gone to the hospital to find a doctor they’ve rarely or
never met deliver their babies. When you want a relationship with your provider that will be
carried through to the delivery, which research shows is the most beneficial to mothers and
babies, this is a question you don't want to take lightly. In a practice where the providers
rotate every 24 or 72 hours, be sure to make appointments with each of the providers in the
practice. Getting to know them is the only way to give yourself the opportunity to work with
someone you know for the actual delivery of the baby. For many women, this system works
out great and they are comfortable delivering with any of the providers in a practice. And
for many others, the thought of a stranger as a doctor is uncomfortable and worth the time
to interview other providers to find a better fit.
In the city of Seattle we are fortunate to have some incredible birth centers well located and
near the hospitals. This allows women to use a midwife, whose model of care is
considerably more healthy and psychologically comforting, without concern about safety (or
of the mess they are afraid will be left behind). If you want help finding a provider who will
provide maternity care and deliver your child, there are some options: find out who your
girlfriends and co-workers use, click here for a list of birth centers, open up the yellow pages
and call around, or you can call or email Jodilyn--she will be happy to help you with
referrals. (206.340.7467)
