Why did you chose a midwife? Brittany's Story

MSMC: Why did you choose a midwife for your obstetrical care?
Brittany: My older sister had three children and I was there for all three and with each one she had a different doctor show up. I had a friend who had used midwives and heard that they are the one at the birth not, someone you have never met!
 
MSMC: What is the best part about being in the care of midwives?
Brittany: They were loving and caring women, most who had children of their own and had been at many births. I felt heard and cared for.  With my first, I had a hospital birth, but with my second it was my amazing midwife who gave me the confidence to have a home birth (something I wanted with my first but thought I couldn't because I was positive for group B strep). She informed me that they could bring the IV to my house if needed and I was so excited. (I never had it with the second but it was good to know).  I'm now 17 weeks pregnant with my third and I'm so happy every time I go to see my midwives, they are like family!
 
MSMC: From a client’s perspective, is there anything that you would like midwifery students to know? ​
Brittany: My only bad experience was with my first when I was around 20 weeks. After having my ultrasound, I had one of my midwives from my clinic who I had never met, call me at work and tell me over the phone that my baby had issues on the ultrasound and that I would need to call McMaster to go see a specialist. It was my first baby I didn't know what these issues were... I thought my baby was dying. The midwife had told me on the phone at work and I broke down!  We went to McMaster and had lots of tests done and by 22 weeks the baby was cleared of all complications. I had also asked to not have that midwife look after me anymore, they were good with that and I never did see her.  Sorry, that's a long answer but just to save the heartache of any other expecting mothers out there the one thing I ask is that you not give sensitive information over the phone, even if you think it's nothing chances are the mother is going to be scared and will need support!

Thank you, Brittany, for telling us your stories! Next week we are going to share more stories about being in midwifery care.