Birthing Center or Hospital?

I, too, gave birth at Memorial Herman Woodlands... They have birthing tubs there, but they aren't in the rooms, but down the hall... I don't know how that would work as far as giving birth IN them. I love my OBGYN, but I don't know how they are with water births, since my first, and most likely remaining, birth(s) was/will be a c-section. If you want a personal recommendation for my doc, I've posted on her before, and I'll list her info again, 'cause I think she's great, but once again, I don't know her views on water births, but do know her office is literally attached to Memorial Herman..

Michelle Mulder, M.D.
1120 Medical Plaza Drive, Suite 150
The Woodlands, TX 77380
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Good luck! No matter what, try for the birth you want!! =)

I had my son via water birth at Nativiti in The Woodlands. Melanie delivered my son and she is a wonderful lady! It was such a wonderful experience that when I have my next one, I wouldn't go anywhere else. My insurance would not cover both Melanie as a Midwife and Nativiti as the birth center. Whatever my insurance did not cover was divided up and I made payments. It was important to me to have a natural drug free birth and I can not imagine giving birth any other way.

J.

I have 5 children, two of which were C-sections in my EARLY 20's. After that I wanted to try to deliver by Vback and was told that I could never have natural child birth because I already had two C-sections.

Well, that didn't sit well with me, because I always felt that there really was no major reason for the C-sections. Any who, so I did lots of reading and found out that I could! My last 3 children were born Vaginally with NO episiotomy(sorry about spelling) at HOME !! With no complications. Now you do have to be a low risk pregnancy in order to do that.

The experience was so wonderful. My husband was able to literally catch the babys as they were born and as soon as I was finished delivering them there was no pain and 20 min. later I was able to get in the tub and give them a bath! It hurts, but only for a short period of time. The experience was worth my extra efforts.

Natural child birth is wonderful not for everyone. Now, the few doctors that some people mentioned at the Woodlands I have heard are great. The Mid-wifes I used were Alice and Maranda Brayer-at the Baby Cottage in Humble. They are angels ment to do what they do.

Dr. Hulme in Red Oak is great too. He will does his best to give you the birth you want in the Hospital setting. No water birth from him though. Good luck. The bond you will get from a natural child birth setting you deffinatly won't get in the hospital, it's not the same.

Oh by the way Nativity I have heard is great two. I had a friend yrs. ago have all 3 or 4 of her girls there, she loved them. I might work with insurance sometimes??

I have a doctor you could try. I also had my daughter at the Woodlands Memorial. It was very nice and private. His name is Samuel B.###-###-####.

I know someone who loved Nativiti. She was home with her second baby after 4 hours. Not my kind of thing...but I do like the natural childbirth vs. not (induced, etc...). I delivered at MMH in Woodlands and they were awesome. I had a great doctor also. His office is just behind the hospital. Woodlands Women's affiliates (something like that). My doctor is Dr. Crowder...other in the practice are Reeves, Giannotti, and some others I can't remember.

They have birthing tubs there, also.

Hope this helps! Good luck!!!

I love Nativiti and the midwives there, but insurance usually doesn't cover it. Some moms I've talked to have been able to get their insurance to cover it on a one-time basis by proving that they can get a service at the birth center that they can't get in a more "conventional" setting.

If that fails, there is a group of doctors at MH Woodlands that has a midwife in the group. Don't know if she does births, but the doctors are open to the more natural things. I don't remember if it is the group with Beena Johnson or with Jane Reed. You might check into that.

A.

Hi S B, I am also a Certified Nurse Midwife and own my Birth Center, just like Melanie at Nativiti. I have many clients who wonder the same things you are. Traditional Medical management today treats every woman as a sick person. Doctors are trained to cure sick people, and OB/GYNs are surgeons.

Your questions can best be answered by yourself: do you want to be "cured of your pregnancy," or do you want to be observed and supported by a qualified provider who is trained to know the difference between a normal, healthy person and a sick person?

In my practice, well over 90% of clients who present for initial pregnancy care birth their babies in my Birth Center. I think all midwives have this same number. Some women deliver prematurly, some end up breech, and some start in the Birth Center but do not progress to birth (for me, about 1 - 2 per year).

What ever type of care you choose, read the statistice on-line, especially the current C/Section dilemma. It is very difficult to be truely supported in natural birth in any hospital.

Good luck, and speak again with Melanie about your concerns.
thanks, Kathy

Hi, I have two kids (3 and 6 mos). My first birth was a typical hospital birth with epidural. The second time around I decided to go to Nativiti. In my opinion it was awesome. Both of the midwives were great, they made me feel comfortable. Katherine delivered my little girl. They gave you many options but ultimately it was up to you how you choose to birth. I had a water birth and it was great. The water is very relaxing. If your up for the natural route, I would recommend the birth center opposed to the hospital. As far as vacs, you should check with the LLL in the Woodlands, some of the members might know more about no vaccinations.
A.

The Women's Specialist of Houston in the Medical Center have a group of midwives that are part of their practice. Your insurance is billed as using a "doctor" however you will see the midwives - if you choose. They deliver at both Methodist and St. Lukes. I had my third baby with them and it was absolutely the BEST birth by far!

My daughter had a waterbirth two years ago. It was awesome. I had heard of them but this was the first one I saw. I have a friend that had her baby at the birth center you mentioned. She loved it but it was several years ago. If you are going to spend your own money since your insurance won't cover much, I say make the investment to have the birth of your dreams. This will be a day you should never cut corners on if you can do it. You will share this experience with your child from now to eternity so make it all you want it to be.

Good luck,
C.

i gave birth at nativiti in july. i fought my insurance and got the birth center covered like a hospital would be. i can help you further if you want to drop me a line. also, lori at nativiti can tell you how to fight your insuracne if you really want to give birth there. it was well worth the fight to me!

Dear S.B,
I agree with the other midwife, Kathy, who owns a birth center like Nativiti. I am also a certified nurse-midwife who owns a birth center here in Kingwood which is opening next week ( Sept 10) I along with my midwife partner, Polly, will be offering natural birth with beautiful water birth tubs for labor and delivery. I agree that it is very hard to find the right hospital and care givers to support you in a truly natural birth.Hospitals today are just not designed that way. Many need to move mom along as quick as possible to make room for the next patient to receive care. And like Kathy said, they tend to look upon pregnant women as a problem that needs medical management and "fixing". Sometimes, unfortunately, pregnancies don't go along the "normal" path and truly need assistance from some or all of our technology and medicine. Midwives are trained to handle some of the situations that occur, however, we are highly trained to be "watchers" of the process and intervene and apply medical management when it IS needed. Natural birth is not for every one.....no woman should ever feel "less than" for choosing epidural for pain relief. Every one experiences labor pain differently....We do sometimes refer to the water tubs as "aquadurals" because they are so great for relieving tension and pain.....not to mention the great "ambience" of candles and whirling jets!!!! Dad can get in the tub with mom....he is a active participant in the process! If anyone is interested in seeing our new birth center- REUNION Women's Health & Birth Center, please don't hesitate to call us! 281-359-BABY....J.

Call Dr. Clouthier (Alternative Doc - NOT OBGYN but a natural chiropractic Applied Kinesiologist) and ask him the questions - He has the knowledge and also his wife has had several natural child-births.

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He is wonderful, personable and again - a natural doc which is so refreshing in this age of prescribing Rx all the time!

All the best -
J.