Question about natural birth w/ a midwife when laboring at home or a birthing center

[Pink.Frosting]

I have a question.  I've only ever had hospital births, so sorry if this is a stupid question.   If we get pregnant again, I'll have a midwife and will give birth at a birthing center.   When you aren't going to a "normal" OB but you see a midwife instead, do you still get all the same testing done?  What about ultrasounds?  I want a natural birth, not in a hospital, but I still want the same level of care as far as tests and ultrasounds go.  Does it work that way?

[Monadnockmama]

I had births at freestanding birth centers with midwives and I had all the routine blood labs done, an ultrasound around the 20 week mark, and my urine was checked at every appt. We discussed all the other tests that are routinely done and I was able to make informed decisions on them.  I also am Rh- and recieved my Rhogam shots.

[Melame68]

Routine testing was offered. But they give you more info on it so you can make an informed decision about accepting or declining. Not just "we do this test to see if you are diabetic". I didn't know until my thrid baby, only out of hospital, that the rh shot has baby blood in it!

[slupinski]

I just had a home birth with a midwife in pa. She did the blood panels..iron, wbc, etc. I did not have yo get the glucose test bc I was not having sugar issues.....

Keep in tour mind too...... a LOT of the testing docs do is as a precaution ....not bc mom needs the test!!! Mist of the testing is non-personalized nowadays bc they don't want to worry about individualizing when it doesn't need to be.
You'll be great. Just keep a (little) active at least, and trust yourself. -)

[illinoismommy83]

My midwife offers every test that OBs do, but I skip most every test anyway. And they can still order "medically necessary" ultrasounds. I had 3! If anything, its easier to get more ultrasounds with a midwife. They can insist your insurance cover a 32 week one to check baby size for your "safety" during delivery. Haha.

My hospital has a 6 bed low risk ward floors away from the normal scary L&D floor. As long as you have had a kid before and don't plan to use medication you can go monitor-free and have a water birth there. It's like combining a birthing center with a nearby surgical team. They have no rules in that ward, but they make you and your midwife sign off on it before they will allow you in. 

[JoJoBean8]

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