I had a great experience at Puget Sound Birth Center.
I had Heika and Traci as my midwives. Andrea was a practicing student. They were wonderful.
I originally went to see an OB. I started reading about natural birth and decided I wanted to go more natural, and requested a midwife at the hospital. Each time I went in for an appt, I'd see a different midwife, and it was frustrating not seeing the same person. I calculated, that by the time I'd be almost due, I'd see each of their midwives 2-3 times... Whenever I had questions about certain procedures, I was treated like I was a problem patient... I then realized they didn't want me to ask questions. Just go along with whatever they say. That's what a good patient does. After asking a question or two, they would remark that we spent all our time talking and no longer had time for the standard check up they do for that appt... as if I used up my 15 minutes... and it really way 15 minutes... and they hurried out...
They seemed very cold and uncaring...
We switched to the birth center. Heika and Traci were wonderful. My appointments lasted up to an hour. I never felt hurried out. They answered my questions, and were so kind and helpful. Andrea was a student midwife, and she was wonderful also. Traci and Andrea were there when I gave birth to my little girl in 2003. Traci then came to visit me at home a few days later. They helped me to get my baby to latch on. It was an amazing experience. And my husband was the first to hold her. He was a bit squemish, and nervous at first, but when the moment came... he was there and caught her. My birth experience was so amazing, so wonderful!! I recommend the birth center to anyone & everyone, especially if you're nervous about having a home birth, but still want to go natural. Oh, and The bedrooms are lovely... with large bath tubs for water births. It was my first pregnancy, and first child.
(I also recommend you read the book, Natural birth the Bradley Way. I did the exercises in the book... and I believe that also helped me.)
Pros: Great Midwives, safe &natural birth, not rushed out of appt.
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