[Rosario]

So i will be a first time mother and I dont like "medical care" in general. Maybe that sounds weird but I have never been seriously injured or ill and have never been to a hospital since I was born, and I am really into alternative/natural medicine. I really have no idea about this-- what routine exams, checkups, etc, will i go through over the course of my pregnancy with my midwife?

[journeybirth]

It really depends on your midwife I think. Some midwives are very hands off and others aren't. My midwife was pretty hands off, and at every prenatal visit she'd check my blood pressure, test my urine with those dipsticks, and palpate the baby and listen to baby's heartbeat. I did routine bloodwork at one of my first visits, but other than that I declined all the tests - ultrasound, gestational diabetes, the afp test. She offered them, and I know some people take her up on them, but they weren't required kwim?

[altbirthservices]

I agree with Amy - all midwives are different - some definitely more medically minded and some more naturally inclined. That is why interviewing all of your options is so important. Not only to see if you click on a personal level, but also on your birth philosophies.

Good luck with your search!

[Rosario]

Thanks for all the info. I guess I was specifically wondering, what will they have to do "down there?" Like at hospitals they check your dilation, right? Is there anything else they do? Does it again depend on the midwife?

[journeybirth]

Originally Posted by Rosario

Thanks for all the info. I guess I was specifically wondering, what will they have to do "down there?" Like at hospitals they check your dilation, right? Is there anything else they do? Does it again depend on the midwife?

It depends on the midwife and the pregnancy. With Henry I was checked once, during labor, when the midwife arrived because I was packing up to go get an epidural. I was 8cm lol. With Caroline I requested my membranes stripped a few times and requested AROM (I was 42w3d) so she was messing around a lot more lol. But, that was all because *I* wanted it - I don't even think she offered other than the AROM. I was done lol. I could have had her with no checks whatsoever I bet, b/c I didn't have any checks once I was in labor. I know my mw checks first time moms when they say they want to push to make sure they're complete, but that might just be her kwim?

[altbirthservices]

Originally Posted by Rosario

Thanks for all the info. I guess I was specifically wondering, what will they have to do "down there?" Like at hospitals they check your dilation, right? Is there anything else they do? Does it again depend on the midwife?

It sure does depend on the midwife.
I don't do internal exams prior to labor, except in rare cases. When mom is in labor, it is really up to her how often we do a internal exam. Some of my favorite births are when I never perform one.

[Nicolexx]

Originally Posted by journeybirth

It really depends on your midwife I think. Some midwives are very hands off and others aren't. My midwife was pretty hands off, and at every prenatal visit she'd check my blood pressure, test my urine with those dipsticks, and palpate the baby and listen to baby's heartbeat. I did routine bloodwork at one of my first visits, but other than that I declined all the tests - ultrasound, gestational diabetes, the afp test. She offered them, and I know some people take her up on them, but they weren't required kwim?

I agreed with this answer.... Thank you so much for sharing your experience with us.