Questions you asked?

i never really had any questions up until now at 31 weeks.....aside from sex questions maybe! lol good luck thou :) :)

My midwife will give me a measuring tape with how big the baby was at the ultrasound. That is always kinda cool.

She doesn't need to take blood and we don't do vaginal exams. So all I will do while there is weigh myself, pee on a stick, and hear the heartbeat (I had an ultrasound on friday so I already know the heartbeat is strong).

I just feel bad because at my midwife's office the mommies do their own weight and urine tests for protein/glucose. So she will lose an hour and a half slot just to listen to the heartbeat, which is fun but not really necessary since it was just heard.

Quoting sissychristi:

She doesn't need to take blood and we don't do vaginal exams. So all I will do while there is weigh myself, pee on a stick, and hear the heartbeat (I had an ultrasound on friday so I already know the heartbeat is strong).

I just feel bad because at my midwife's office the mommies do their own weight and urine tests for protein/glucose. So she will lose an hour and a half slot just to listen to the heartbeat, which is fun but not really necessary since it was just heard.

wow! really?  i think thats awesome, that they let u weigh yourself and all.  i really doesnt take a genius to weigh one's self lol  and write it down.  i bet that saves ur midwife alot of time and money not having to hire someone else to do it. 

i never used a midwife before. i kinda wanted to for my 1st, but i was scared to death that something would go wrong in labor and i would die casue i wasnt in a hopsital to be treated quickly.    then i had a c-sec with my 2nd so now its out of the question.

All you do is pee in a cup and dip the test strip in your pee. Weigh yourself while you wait the 30 seconds for the stick. Funny that it takes a nurse 20 minutes to do this at a doctor's office.

Also keep in mind that midwives are highly trained and licensed. They have equipment and supplies for nearly every medical emergency including excessive bleeding or getting baby to breathe. Most birth centers are located within minutes of hospitals in case transfer needs to happen. Midwives also spot any potential problem early and will transfer you as soon as they spot any risk they can't handle. If you read up on their stats, midwives have fewer c-sections, fewer infant and mother deaths, less tearing, less hemoraging, less interventions, and MUCH FEWER emergencies than all hospital births. Honestly, I am 100% confident that delivering with a midwife is safer than using a doctor.

OB's are great in the event of an emergency, but emergencies should happen to such a small percentage of women that we don't need all these OB's in deliveries.

Plus, a midwife will stay with you and coach you through your entire labor and birth. No going from room to room attending several laboring moms at once. No nurses popping in and out every 5 minutes...it is just a more calming experience.

Quoting jehosoba84:

Quoting sissychristi:

She doesn't need to take blood and we don't do vaginal exams. So all I will do while there is weigh myself, pee on a stick, and hear the heartbeat (I had an ultrasound on friday so I already know the heartbeat is strong).

I just feel bad because at my midwife's office the mommies do their own weight and urine tests for protein/glucose. So she will lose an hour and a half slot just to listen to the heartbeat, which is fun but not really necessary since it was just heard.

wow! really?  i think thats awesome, that they let u weigh yourself and all.  i really doesnt take a genius to weigh one's self lol  and write it down.  i bet that saves ur midwife alot of time and money not having to hire someone else to do it. 

i never used a midwife before. i kinda wanted to for my 1st, but i was scared to death that something would go wrong in labor and i would die casue i wasnt in a hopsital to be treated quickly.    then i had a c-sec with my 2nd so now its out of the question.

Quoting jehosoba84:

Quoting sissychristi:

She doesn't need to take blood and we don't do vaginal exams. So all I will do while there is weigh myself, pee on a stick, and hear the heartbeat (I had an ultrasound on friday so I already know the heartbeat is strong).

I just feel bad because at my midwife's office the mommies do their own weight and urine tests for protein/glucose. So she will lose an hour and a half slot just to listen to the heartbeat, which is fun but not really necessary since it was just heard.

wow! really?  i think thats awesome, that they let u weigh yourself and all.  i really doesnt take a genius to weigh one's self lol  and write it down.  i bet that saves ur midwife alot of time and money not having to hire someone else to do it. 

i never used a midwife before. i kinda wanted to for my 1st, but i was scared to death that something would go wrong in labor and i would die casue i wasnt in a hopsital to be treated quickly.    then i had a c-sec with my 2nd so now its out of the question.

Actually many midwives will do VBACs.  So it's not out of the question.  If you' re not comfortable with a homebirth a birthing center is a good middle ground.  Comforts of home and normally very close to a hospital. 

I used my appointment time to get to know my midwife.  We talked alot about birth but also everyday stuff.  It was important to both of us that we were comfortable with each other.  Birth is a very intimate time and the relationships you have with the people in the room can either help or hinder.  So maybe ask her about some of her experiences, inspiring births, prefered techniques, positions, etc.  And let the conversation go from there. 

NAK

Prenatal appointments were a highlight for me!    I loved them!    ;-D

I would sip tea and homemade goodies, sitting on the 4-poster bed with lots of comfy pillows, chatting it up with women who were becoming very good friends for an hour or two.

It was so nice to spend all that time in the room I would birth in, getting comfortable with it and with the people who would be there.   Birth classes were also there, in the waiting room area, I went there weekly for classes for about 7 months.   So I spent plenty of time becoming comfortable and happy with my birthplace and support people, haha!

The appointments also including some standards like checking my own urine and getting my blood pressure & pulse checked, as well as the baby's with the fetoscope.   They didn't care about weight numbers, sometimes I would weigh myself out of curiosity, though.    I was asked about how well I was eating & drinking, how I was feeling (physically and emotionally), how I was handling complaints, etc.  I would learn about many options & ideas to better my health & happiness.

After all that intimacy, no wonder I felt so trusting of my new "sisters"!    lol!
I love midwifery!!   The care is so empowering and educational.   Moms practically get trained how to be apprentice midwives by the time they get to labor, haha!

Sissychristy, I think you can probably find more ways to use the appointments.  
Are you curious about how they tend to handle certain things? 
Do you want to know how they feel about you declining suggestions, IF that should occur?
Do you have any questions for them?
Are you completely comfortable with them?

 It's about time you start asking about specific policied regarding labor and delivery,  That is what I am going to be doing at my appointment on monday

hi.

my midwives office (Birth Center) was the EXACT same way.  Maybe we go to the same people! 

Anyways.... I can't think of anything to ask....Maybe about Vitamins, preperation for labor....   i'm no help.  sorry