This week I saw my Obgyn for my 6mos prenatal visit. Long story short they basically told me that due to billing reasons I cannot continue seeing them and a midwife at the same time. I wish they would have told me this three months ago when I told them I was also seeing a midwife and would most likely use her for the delivery. It sounds like an isurance issue, but the cold stares of the office staff, the judgemental questioning of the nursing staff, "Why do you want to use a midwife?" and my doctor who won't look me in the eye, tells a deeper story.

I am blown away by how little the main stream Obgyn community knows about midwifery. There have been numerous studies done that suggest midwife care and homebirths are as safe or safer than delivering your baby in the hospital.

It just suprises me that MDs do not acknowledge the need for women to have choices when it comes to labor and delivery options. Much of my decision to homebirth is influenced by my desire not to have any unnecessary interventions including, petocin, an epidural or a c-section.

This is a very personal choice for me as for all women. I know many other women that are more comfortable having their babies in the hospital, and I fully support their choice to do so. Regardless of where you choose to have your baby, feeling safe, comfortable and confident seems to be the key to labor unfolding and progessing toward a natural vaginal birth.

Since this is my first baby I wanted to do everything I can to help myself feel more confident and safe. So I decided that I would see both my obgyn practice as well as my midwife. This way if any complications were to arise and I had to deliver at the hospital, I would be comfortable with my obgyn practice and they would know all the info they needed on my pregnancy.

It's such a shame that Obgyns and midwives can not work together to support women in their choices during pregnancy, labor and delivery. After all this is the modern era. What is CHOICE all about? Choice should include the full realm of reproduction including birth. Now if only MDs would see it this way.

Luckily, I found an Obgyn who supports homebirth and will act as a backup if needed and he practices out of the same hospital as my other obgyn practice. Now let's hope he take my insurance!

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