Mothers-to-be in the Cape Fear region are asking where their midwives are.
Women who used the two certified nurse midwives at Carolina OB/GYN were surprised to recently find out the midwife service there is no longer available.
Many of these women are due any day, and say they were relying on the personal relationship they've established with the midwives, and were looking forward to them being part of the births.
They say they were told they'll be seen by any of the eight doctors at the practice, but that's not what some want. "When I first got the news, I was just kind of angry,” said mother-to-be Jody Berry. “I felt betrayed. I established a really wonderful relationship with both of the midwives I was using."
WWAY received a statement from Wilmington Health Associates, the parent company of Carolina OB/GYN. It said the decision to get rid of the midwife services was based solely on operational requirements, not financial or quality issues.
When asked, nobody would elaborate on what exactly operational requirements means.
home birth or midwives at obg/yn practices in general
Try a home birth. Home birth with a midwife is extremely safe. Arguably, it is safer than birth in either a hospital or a birthing center. Check the stats; it's true! I had two children at home with midwives, one a CNM and one a CPM. Both were fully trained, experienced, personable, and professional. Anyone who thinks home birth is risky has not truly compared the stats. Anyway, whatever the risk, it is my right to assess it and to accept it, and it is my right to give birth the way I choose. MY RIGHT AND MY CHOICE: MIDWIVES and HOME BIRTH. A doctor can be attending your hospital birth who is inexperienced, or untrained in obstetrics. It may be a nurse who assists if the doctor is "too busy!" Hospital and MD does not equal safety or professional expertise!
I was a patient of the midwives
I was a patient of the midwives and luckily had my baby in May. I was very upset (in tears) to find out that the midwife service is no longer available, especially since I had just seen my primary midwife last week and had scheduled my next appointment to see her again. I had the BEST birth experience with my midwife. I was so excited to see her after she delievered my baby and to bring him along to my postnatal appointments so she could see him. She was very involved in my labor and delivery and I was very thankful for all of her support, encouragement, and for delivering my baby. I am truly going to miss her.
I was a patient of Carolina
I was a patient of Carolina Ob-Gyn until today when I found this out. Shame on Carolina Ob-Gyn and Wilmington Health Associates for firing two of the best midwives in the state. I hate big practices, but I love midwives, so I was willing to sacrifice a small practice for the chance to be treated by midwives.
I am extremely disappointed that Suzanne and Pamela are no longer practicing there, but I guess I shouldn't be surprised. Patients who deliver with midwives are 1/5 as likely to end up with a c-section. C-sections equal big dollars for doctors. I guess I know what the priority is at Carolina Ob-Gyn-- and it's not patient choice, health, and safety. I will be taking my healthcare and my money elsewhere.
Since there are no other midwives in this area, I may be going to Pender County to have my next baby. Hope it's a long labor. Ladies, our choices in healthcare practitioners are being limited-- I urge you to let Carolina Ob-Gyn/ Wilmington Health Associates know your displeasure at their decision.
Does Pender have a CNM practice?
Does Pender county have a CNM practice? I didn't think Pender Memorial had a maternity departmemt.
It is such a shame that women are losing choices in healthcare. To me this is proof that the midwife movement is gaining steam and the AMA is scared. The midwife model of care is head and shoulders above standard maternity care. These women deserve to birth with the midwives with which they have established relationships. That is the primary reason they chose this particular practice!
My first birth was in hospital w/ a CNM. My second in hospital w/ an OB. I used a CPM and doula at home for my last birth. Beautiful experience - I wish I'd made the same choice with the first two. My recovery time was days instead of weeks. My midwife developed a relationship with my whole family and was better able to care for me because of that. Our visits were a minimum of 45 minutes each. With an OB you are lucky to get 5 minutes of individual time per visit.
Carolina OBGYN needs to step up and give their existing patients the care that they deserve and expect. I don't think they realized the backlash this was going to cause - Take a lesson from nature, don't mess with a mama and her babies!
33% of the births in Onslow
33% of the births in Onslow county (just an hour away) are with midwives.
Operational Requirements?????
Yes what does that mean? A midwife does not fit into the AMA protocol for pregnancy. Look at the infant mortality rate of medical care vs. midwife! I think the patient should be the center of the practice. C sections are done at an alarming rate these days and shame on them for scaring women for life.
Please look closely with all this healthcare reform happening! A midwife is MUCH cheaper than a medical delivery! Your insurance should not have to pay for you to have a child. Therefore I guarntee if people had to pay for the delivery they would question in a second if a C section is really needed, and no doubt a shift to a more natural child birth would be happening all over the state. Child birth is a natural process NOT a medical emergency. Yes child birth may be painful and uncomfortable, so if you cant deal with it think twice before having sex. So please question the traditions medical delivery systems.
"Yes child birth may be
"Yes child birth may be painful and uncomfortable, so if you cant deal with it think twice before having sex."
Seriously?
This does not help your cause AT ALL. I'm actually on the side of women that want CNMs in a birth center or hospital, or a traditional midwife for a home birth, or an OB/Gyn in a hospital. But this is the kind of comment that just makes others think we're nuts.
Seriously.......nuts
point trying to be made was that health insurance SHOULD NOT pay for a child birth under normal circumstances. So instead of the not having sex, it was meant to say, not to have kids if you can not even afford to birth a child under normal circumstances. Yes a C section is not normal and more expensive. If people have to pay out of pocket they will go for a safer, cheaper, complimentary procedure.
This is important because when the insurance dollar is driven by procedures that are not in the patients best interest but cost the patient nothing then that is a system that CAN NOT be sustained over time. One reason drugs cost so much is because of insurance coverage in the early 80s. Yes, that is the system we have, any reform that is happenening now will only make things soooo much worse. We need to re-evaluate our insurance industry, pharmaceutical industry, and hospital industry. The reason for even commenting is because this story shows clearly that the patients interest does not come before the insurance dollar, but if the dollar is coming from the patient. Then the patient has better control have their care.
Sorry but that don't sound nuts to me.
Midwife
I really hate to hear that, I went to a normal doctor with my first child and went to a midwife last year with my daughter and there was no comparission with the service that I got with a midwife. I enjoyed the midwifes from carolina ogbyn they really gave you the care that you wanted and really took the time to listen to what you had to say. I dont know what the reason for there not being there but I sure do hope that it is fixed where they can return so others can recieve the quality of care that my daughter and I did!
missing midwives
How awfu for the woman to suddenly have their midwives gone with a irresponsible, "no answer" response as to what happened. Make no mistake wherever there are Certified Nurse Midwives the C- Section rate is much lower. C-sections bring in more revenue to the practice than a normal birth. How very irresponsible of the practice to not honor their patients with some honesty at the sudden disappearance of their "doctor" Shame on this practice and rest assured I would not go to them and urge others to not.
Boy this place is really
Boy this place is really going down hill fast. I had the best midwife in the world from Carolina OBGYN. She is no longer there but I would suggest that they still use the midwife services. Bring Mariann back she's the BEST EVER!!!!!!