Northern New Jersey Ob/midwife Recommendation Needed

For my first, I went with Marla Scott at St. Clare's. I had an awful experience, and then realized I could not go back to the hospital.For my second, I had a home birth. What a difference! I would do it again in a heartbeat. My midwife was Jessica Lawlor--contact me if you want more info. She is so knowledgeable, professional, caring, and helpful during pregnancy, even after the birth. Her back-up doctor is at Morristown, so that's where you go if you end up needing to transfer (but she has an extremely low transfer rate as you are pre-screened/given clearance for a home birth).

One more thing, you can find out c-section rates at hospitals, as well as epidural, episiotomy rates, etc. In hindsight, I believe I was treated the way I was at the hospital because they are just used to dealing with women who get the epidural. So they weren't too helpful or interested in letting me labor on my own, in my own position, and they were quick to cut me and use forceps, and I hadn't even had an epidural! So in my opinion, those rates will be helpful in making a decision as to where to birth your baby.

http://www.icanofnj.com/hospitalcsectionrates.htm

Good luck whatever you decide.

Hi!
Congratulations on your 3rd pregnancy and welcome to New Jersey!

I have so many good things to say about the Hackettstown Midwives and Hackettstown Hospital. I have supported several doula clients in their care and have been very impressed every time. I am also currently working with a client who is intending to birth with the Avalon Midwives at Morristown Memorial Hospital. She has been very happy with her experience with them.

Jessica Lawlor's email is ____@____.com. Another recommendation for a homebirth midwife is Judith Halek ____@____.com.

I am a doula serving New Jersey. Please take a look at my website www.doulanj.com, and if you are interested in talking further, feel free to reach out to me!

Warmest Regards,
C. Flynn-Vasquez

"There is a secret in our culture, and its not that birth is painful. Its that women are strong." -Laura Stavoe Harm

A couple of things... look around online for c-section rates at the hospitals around here -- Morristown was 5% lower when I gave birth 2 years ago. St. Barnabas is great if there's high risk, but otherwise their c-section rate nears 50%. If you want to be totally furious at the way birthing mothers are treated (so you can stand up for yourself and know what to watch for) see 'The Business of Being Born" dvd, which you can get from Netflix.

I used One To One Female Care. Their midwives are good, but I found that the whole practice tended to disregard my pain (on a regular basis, and several different staff members). I can recommend 2 doulas to you, one who lives in Madison -- just reply to me and I can find that info.

Blessings to you!

I have heard that Dr. Winsome Parchment in Maplewood is supportive of natural childbirth (she'll basically support whatever kind of birth you want, I've been told). I haven't used her myself, but a friend recommended her.

I used Hackettstown Midwives - their office is right across the street from Hackettstown Hospital, where there is a waterbirthing center.

The midwives were really great, both before, during, and after the birth of our daughter. Very supportive. I found them through my Bradley instructor - if you are considering a drug-free childbirth you might want to look into that.

FYI, all midwives in the state of New Jersey are required to be attached to an OB/GYN office.

Best of luck to you.

I used Marla Scott, a midwife who is based in Denville and St. Clares Hospital there. She was fabulous- and she practices out of her backup OB's office, so you have quick access to a Dr. if need be. I would highly recommend her.

Avalon Midwives in Caldwell (West Caldwell?). Google them and you'll find them. I really loved them.

Good luck!
B.