I am pregnant with di-di twins and am seeking a midwife or OB who will support my preferences, which are in order of importance as follows:
-I do not want a c section, so the midwife/OB would need to be prepared to deliver baby b even if it's transverse or breech;
-I do not want an epidural, and I don't even want to give IV or epidural access;
-I don't want to be forced to labor on my back with baby B (which i understand happens because of the requirement that baby B be on constant fetal monitoring);
-I would like to be able to labor and birth in a tub;
-I don't want to be forced to push in the OR;
-I don't want some ridiculous time frame for birthing baby B (the research says a couple of hours is ok);
-I would like delayed cord cutting for baby A and baby B, unless there's an excellent reason not to delay; and
-I would like to breastfeed as soon as possible.
The midwife groups I have looked into already are these:
-Swedish Covenant (won't take twins);
-Illinois Masonic (won't take twins);
-North Shore Associates/Evanston Hospital (won't take twins except as a transfer in the 38th week after a perfect pregnancy and only then if both twins are vertex);
-Northwestern (I've heard they won't take them, but not first hand. Appointment is this week);
-Western Suburban (will take twins but require (a) IV and epidural access; (b) laboring with the second in the OR; and (c) laboring/pushing on your back with the second (to allow for fetal monitoring);
-UIC (no idea - can't get them to answer the phone); and
-Hinsdale Hospital (not sure their deal, reluctant to go there because it's so far from the city).
I would seriously consider doing this at home, if I could find someone with the requisite experience and willingness. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Right now, it seems to me that the hospital-based midwife thing may be harder to accomplish than finding some amazing OB who notwithstanding their surgical training is exceedingly willing and able to do a vaginal delivery for both.
Thanks in advance for your help!
I am going to the midwife group at Hinsdale Adventist Hospital. Their policies are mostly in line with what I want. The things I don't love are that I will have to give IV access (but not epidural access) and that I will have to labor in the OR (but will not be confined to a bed).
The upsides are many, including that I don't have to be on constant fetal monitoring, so I can labor squatting, standing, etc. and that I can't risk out (because you they loop in a perinatalogist from the beginning).
I'll let you know how it goes, and thanks for all the advice!
I think you will be taking a big risk by doing this at home with only a midwife available. Hope you find what you are looking for . LL
"The midwife/bogon would need to be prepared to deliver baby b even if it's transverse or breech?"
Really? Obviously the health and safety of your babies is not your priority. You are treading on thin ice with this dangerous proposition.
Like another poster said below, having your babies born alive and without brain damage should be your #1 priority.
I hope you don't find anyone willing to take this on. But if you do, best of luck for a healthy, safe delivery of both precious babies.
There is a reason that all if those hospitals do not do twins and that the one that does has requirements on delivering the second. Maybe you need to do a little research on what could go wrong and WHY it's so dangerouse to insist on doing things the way you are describing. What's more important, having BOTH babies born alive and without brain damage or you controlling the way you are going to have them. I'm sure you are not, but right now you are sounding very selfish and making this all about you and your wants and not what's best for your babies.
Okay, first off - twins or no, DO NOT go to Northwestern, especially if you don't want your babies delivered within a pre-determined time frame. I rarely give advice based on anecdotal information (I delivered at IMMC) but with the exception of maybe three or four women out of around 35 I know delivered at Prentice, their experiences were horrible.
Secondly -- and I am not judging, I am just saying -- if your priority is having a vaginal birth, then check out home birth meetup groups. They should be able to refer you. If your priority is bringing home two live, healthy babies, with a live, healthy mama to care for them, you may want to re-consider your options. I totally get that you want your wishes respected, and you probably want a birth experience, not a medical one. I am telling you, however, as the parent of a special needs child -- the disorder's origins are genetic, not birth-trauma related -- it is a tough row to hoe. Ask yourself this: if one or both of your fetuses is in trauma during a vaginal delivery, are you up for raising a child with a physical and/or cognitive impairment?
I certainly wish you the healthiest of deliveries. Sorry if I'm not all "think positively and hope for the best!" about your posting. You never know what life with throw at you, though, so I feel like I'd be doing you a disservice by saying otherwise.
Having the twins at home might be hard because insurance may or may not pay for the midwife there. Your twins health and safety is number one, and you may or may have to consider options (even a c section) if necessary. Best of luck to you.
I used the midwife group at NMPG at 680 N LSD, but I don't know their policies regarding twins. Good luck!
I had my daughter with West Suburban Midwives. I loved them. I did not have an epidural. They will do everything they can to help you. I highly recommend them.
I just scheduled with the UIC midwives. I just risked out of HB with HBP issues is Hillary Kiser. She used them as one of her back-ups and they are "known" for having the ablilty to do things other midwife groups aren't able (Swedish and West Sub won't take me this late, 30 weeks) due to resources and training. The phone numbers are:
###-###-#### Hosp.
###-###-#### Clinic
###-###-#### On Call Midwife/Tour (click 4 then 7 I think)
They were really busy when I called 2 weeks ago. So busy I couldn't schedule a tour. I didn't ask about twins b/c I have a singleton here.
