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Midwife and Natural Birth
updated: Sep 06, 2012, 3:31 PM

Referral request- I am currently due in May with our first child. I want to do an all natural birth (no inducing, epidural, c-section, etc). Can anyone recommend a midwife that does deliveries at Cottage? Has anyone had experience with Cottage's new birth center (I'm hoping on using their birthing tub)? Are there any recommended OBs that will stick to an all natural underwater birth (unless there is an emergency of course)? Any useful suggestions/experience are greatly appreciated.

(I know about the SB Birth Center but can't afford the upfront out of pocket exspence.)

Places People Are Talking About:

The Santa Barbara Birthing Center

The World Health Organization

What People Are Saying:

COMMENT 316972	2012-09-06 03:40 PM
Cottage will push you into a c-section, it's where the money is.
COMMENT 316975	2012-09-06 03:43 PM
Try the lovely folks at birthing from within
COMMENT 316976	2012-09-06 03:44 PM
That is not true at all. We just had our son in May and they are very promoting of natural child birth. C-Section is the last thing on their minds. Wonderful supportive staff and my wife had a very long labor. We were part of the Sansum medical group and every OB we talked to was on board for our natural plan unless of course there was an emergency.
COMMENT 316979P	2012-09-06 03:51 PM
Talk to Heidi Albert - 967-3443. She is an NP who is in with two Drs., but she has her own patients. She is very easy to talk to. If she cannot do it, she can probably recommend someone who can.
COMMENT 316980	2012-09-06 03:51 PM
yeah and it's amazing how often there's an emergency at the last minute at Cottage $$$$ Got to pay for that new wing somehow.
COMMENT 316981	2012-09-06 03:51 PM
Most births at Cottage are natural, they only use inducing, or an epidermal if you can't handle the pain of if your life or the child's life is at risk. You have to request epidurals, I don't know if they allow underwater births anymore, usually Dr.s deem it too risky and will not put their license to practice medicine on the line. I am not telling you what to do, but suggest you just go with the Dr's advice when it is your fist child and don't know how you will respond to giving birth. Some women have higher pain thresholds than others hence the need for inducing and epidurals. Do what is safest for the baby, Cottage has a great staff and will guide you through it. Once you have given birth and have an idea of what it puts your body through, then made a educated decision on having a more "natural" birth. It is better to have the best in the business around if and when you need them, than hire someone without all the safety mechanisms. Good luck
COMMENT 316983	2012-09-06 03:53 PM
Ouw-ee. Good luck. =S
COMMENT 316985	2012-09-06 03:56 PM
I agree with 976 - they actually would rather not do c-sections. As a person who has to have c-sections they aren't too thrilled about it (the drs at Sansum). To answer the OP I would check with some of the private practice (ie not Sansum) obgyns who might have a midwife working in their office or know who in town does.
COMMENT 317004	2012-09-06 04:14 PM
Cottage will not allow you give birth in the tub. It is only there to ease labor pains.
COMMENT 317006P	2012-09-06 04:17 PM
As someone who has given birth three times I think the push for "natural" child birth is overrated. Childbirth is a horribly painful experience when you go through it without an epidural. My first was natural, The pain was beyond imagination and I was so exhausted from the experience I did not get to enjoy the first few hours with my daughter. From then on I had epiduals and I was able to have a pleasant birth experience with no screaming or agonizing pain. I held my children as soon as they were delivered and the experience was amazing. If I were the op I would watch a woman go through "natural" child birth before you decide to put yourself through it, then perhaps watch one using an epidural see what you want to do then.
COMMENT 317008	2012-09-06 04:23 PM
my wife had our first child at cottage naturally and the labor and pain was intense. With our second child she decided to get the epideral and it was much much better. The staff at cottage was great. No one tried talking us into a C section, but thanks for the useless comments from the peanut gallery.
COMMENT 317016	2012-09-06 04:40 PM
I think only obs do deliveries at cottage. Check out the Santa Barbara Birth Center - they are located very close to Cottage in case of complications that would require transfer to the hospital.
COMMENT 317018	2012-09-06 04:47 PM
It's threads like this that make me happy I'm a man....and can run out to the pub for a pint while m'lady is screaming in pain for the twelfth straight hour. "Hang in there honey. Daddy will be right back."
COMMENT 317019	2012-09-06 04:50 PM
wanda westerman is the only midwife who is allowed to do births at cottage! google her!
COMMENT 317022	2012-09-06 04:53 PM
Just get a doula since a midwife will not be able to do any actual work at Cottage anyway. We had a completely natural birth at Cottage 2 months ago and our doula and their staff were wonderful. It'll cost about $900-1200 for the doula, but the peace of mind was well worth it. Sansum does has a midwife on staff but you can't choose who delivers in their system. Natural birth takes a lot of preparation and is never guaranteed. We recommend Tracy Schmidt's classes and she's a great source for doulas and midwives.
COMMENT 317029	2012-09-06 05:00 PM
Yeeaahhhh....I would run screaming from a doula if I were you. There is absolutely NO official certification for doulas...in fact I could call myself a doula tomorrow and I'd be breaking no laws. Stick with a midwife.
COMMENT 317036	2012-09-06 05:08 PM
I've had 2 natural (intervention-free) childbirths at Santa Barbara Cottage. The second one was in the new "birthing center". Both were with Sansum doctors. We took a birthing class and brought a doula with us for the first birth. We just went by ourselves the 2nd birth. Will do it again, should we decide to have another. Our L&D nurses were wonderful and there was no pressure for epidural or anything else by dr or nurse. They brought out bouncy balls and accommodated me walking the halls to get things moving. I brought a simple birth plan with me.
COMMENT 317043	2012-09-06 05:20 PM
I think to really research this and get correct answers to your question you may want to call Cottage. Won't your OBGYN do a natural delivery? Mine was willing to, so maybe you don't need a midwife. Good luck, hope you have a beautiful childbirth experience!
COMMENT 317047	2012-09-06 05:36 PM
I did it natural out of some idea that it was the best thing for the baby and with my naturally high pain tolerance I thought I would be okay. It was horrific, although I was lucky to have only a few hours of hard labor. My son is all grown up now and I did not have another, in large part because childbirth was an agonizing experience. The Dr. and nurses I used were great though. I think the person who suggested viewing a person give natural birth & another giving epidural laced birth is a GREAT idea! If it's too traumatic for you it will harm how you feel about the birthing process!
COMMENT 317048	2012-09-06 05:40 PM
The more you get checked out just before the birth, the more the staff will become alarmed at your blood pressure, which is high cause you're pregnant and huge. Then they will talk about pre-eclampsia and then more people you don't know will walk in and talk about inducing labor. Pitocin = C section, you can't rush the body's preparation for birth. The epidural is up to you, but if you do it, you'll be paralyzed with the only birth position possible being flat on your back...and here comes the C-section! Caesareans are now 33% of all births. Medical staff other than your MD knows nearly nothing about the natural birth process of humans, all they know is the freak show of modern hospital care. Our first child's birth was a circus. Of course the second was a breeze, since it had to be a scheduled C. You are absolutely right to want to take your own path.
COMMENT 317053	2012-09-06 05:50 PM
I use alternative medicine for everything health-related but I had my child at Cottage in late 2007 totally naturally. The nurses checked from time to time to make sure everything was fine. They all came in to the room and literally cheered when I delivered naturally. I have never felt so much love and support for any endeavor of mine! The nurses were stellar. I hope you have a similar experience wherever you are when you give birth. Best of luck.
COMMENT 317058	2012-09-06 06:12 PM
OP here- thanks everyone, after checking out some of the recommendations I'm thinking we'll probably go with our OBGYN but supplement with a Doula. That being said anyone have recommendations for local Doulas (or who to avoid)?
COMMENT 317059	2012-09-06 06:15 PM
My story might scare some would be mothers, but it is my story. And all my babes were delivered naturally. I was not a good carrier, so was pregnant 11 times, a spontaneous aborter, but did end up with three living babes, and one other who did die the day after delivery. Because of my known history and having preemies, I could not use anything to adjust the pain. But, you know, it was not unbearable, uncomfortable yes. My last was born at home, delivered by myself alone, breach with cord around the neck. I was too busy to notice any pain. (Doctor's receptionist did not believe me when I said I was ready. Hmm) Doc did show up pretty quick, as did ambulance and firemen, and we whizzed to the ER. That was 46 years ago.
COMMENT 317061	2012-09-06 06:19 PM
And FYI: you cannot birth in the tubs at Cottage. They will not let you, period. Also there is way more to natural birth than epidurals and c-sections - silver nitrate, postpartum progesterone, vitamin K, saline. You have a lot of work to do. Call Tracy Schmidt.
COMMENT 317063	2012-09-06 06:25 PM
This from my midwife friend: "There are none. If she wants a midwife and a natural birth she should check out the SB birth center"
KIDS	2012-09-06 06:38 PM
Laura Phillips for a wonderful Doula.
COMMENT 317073P	2012-09-06 07:12 PM
I had home births with Mary Jackson. That was 33 and 31 years ago. The whole process was absolutely beautiful, and both of my sons are thriving 33 years later. I have no idea how many more children she has helped deliver since then, but here is where you can reach her these days. I just discovered her website recently, when my own nostalgia made me search for her name: http://www.birthinconnection.com/
COMMENT 317075	2012-09-06 07:18 PM
Actually, a friend of mine gave birth in the tub at cottage about a month ago. Another friend had a VBAC at cottage about a week or two ago. There are no "nevers" when it comes to deliveries Laurel Phillips in not a doula, but a wonderful midwife with SB Midwifery and the force behind getting the Birth Center open. I had a baby at the Birth Center a few months ago, my third child. My previous 2 children were hospital/epidural/pitocin babies. I agree the fee for the Birth Center is a little high, but they will work with you financially and it is so very worth it. It was an amazing experience. I didn't think I could do it, but I did! And Tracy Schmidt will have lots of doula recommendations Good Luck to you, OP!!!
COMMENT 317077	2012-09-06 07:34 PM
Please be flexible when planning a natural birth. Allow your baby to be monitored, at least every once in a while. My second was an emergency c-section (not born here), after just the slightest change in heart rate. Cord wrapped twice around her neck and tied in a true knot. We were told she had been in distress for several days, and would not have made it another hour or two. Ended up in UCSF, 2 red blood cell reductions, 2 blood platelet transfusions, and stabilization of blood sugar. Our third pregnancy was going well. I went into the hospital (here) with contractions at 38 weeks. No heartbeat was detected. My son passed from a cord accident as well. It is very rare to have two. My fourth child was born with no problems. I wish you all the best with your pregnancy and delivery.
COMMENT 317081	2012-09-06 08:09 PM
Laurel Phillips at Santa Barbara Birthing Center. My daughter had 3 babies. First one at a hospital (in Texas) second at a birth center in the tub, and the third one, last May, at home in her own tub with midwives. That was the most amazing experience for her and us too! I had all 3 of mine in 3 different hospitals with 3 different doctor's (moved a lot) and I wish I hadn't after watching her and the caring, professional midwives.
MTNDRIVER	2012-09-06 09:11 PM
Laurel Philips (not Laura) is now a certified midwife and the major mover behind the SB Birthing Center. Also associated with Anna Bunting and Alice Levine, both certified nurse-midwives. They each have 20-30 years of experience, are very knowledgeable--and caring--professionals. They give prenatal care and attend both home births and births at the birthing center, which is a great alternative to home birth for those who feel the need for more medical support than birth at home. And if there's a need for medical intervention in your baby's birth, Cottage is close by and the team has a good relationship with the hospital. Can't recommend them too highly, all dedicated, highly skilled professionals with big hearts.
AQUAHOLIC	2012-09-06 09:52 PM
After reading all these heartwarming and heart wrenching stories of childbirth I can't help but feel a little nostalgic myself, and realize how much I miss St. Francis Hospital where our son was born. 15 years ago you were allowed to have a nurse-midwife (Judy Nichols) deliver your baby at the hospital, and in my case the nurse on duty that evening was also a nurse-midwife...I would not have been able to experience a natural childbirth without them and their incredible hard work, dedication and skill. I know many friends who opted for home birth with some of the nurse-midwives mentioned here, with great success. It's nice to know that the SB Birthing Center is an option for those wishing for a natural birth experience. Going 'natural' isn't for everyone, I found it difficult but not unbearable by any means and other than being really exhausted, it was a great experience.
COMMENT 317120P	2012-09-07 12:52 AM
I had 3 different pregnancies, 3 different babies, 3 different labors and 3 different deliveries. You'll know what is right for you.
LALALALA	2012-09-07 05:22 AM
The Santa Barbara Birthing Center, hands down. Good comment #120. You can plan all you want, but in the end, your body will be running the show. Never say never!
COMMENT 317192	2012-09-07 08:51 AM
True! Your body will dictate which way the birth will go, so do be open minded and do what's best for you and your baby. Santa Barbara Midwifery is another local resource. Also, it is important to ask about lactation consultants/counselors who are well-trained and experienced with the breastfeeding process. Kitty Maxwell, from years ago, has a good reputation in town, and not sure if she is still with Goleta Cottage Hospital as she was when they used to have the birth center over there. She is a trained nurse and very good with many types of breastfeeding challenges. I think I saw her name pop up on Yelp and she used to offer nursing classes at the YMCA.
COMMENT 317195	2012-09-07 08:55 AM
POST 1 of 2 I'm a local doula, childbirth educator, & lactation consultant. I commend you for looking at your options, thoughtfully considering how get support for a positive birth experience. The tubs at Cottage are for labor only. A water-birth must be with midwives at SB Birth Center or at home. Wanda Westerman (midwife@Cottage) is wonderful, but as part of Sansum is on-call for births 1 day a week. Dr. Ramos (private practice) is supportive of natural birth and is on-call 24/7. MOST births at Cottage are NOT natural: Cesarean rate around 32%; epidurals 60-70%; pitocin about the same. It's easier to have a natural birth outside the hospital, because the midwifery model of care holds a different set of assumptions, knowledge, & skills about birth & women's bodies. They are MUCH more family-centered, & really get to know you. SB has many skilled & professional midwives. They are safe & highly experienced.
FLICKA	2012-09-07 09:00 AM
About the horribly painful births, not everyone has the same experience. Since this is the OPs 1st, no telling. I've had 4, never in the hospital more than 2 hrs before delivery, pain no issue. The last one I had absolutely no pain, hard to recognize a contraction; 4 pushes, she was here. Good luck to our poster.
COMMENT 317204P	2012-09-07 09:17 AM
I had all three of my children at home assisted by midwives. The first labor was long and difficult - posterior birth, but with great guidance was successful and joyful. Second delivered by a different midwife years later. Wonderful, supportive experience. The most recent was with Alice Levine and Anna Bunting - the most professional and supportive of all three experiences. I highly recommend the intimacy and support of home births (knowing you are deemed eligible health-wise of course). I felt completely supported, heard and cared for in my home births. The mid-wife pregnancy/pre-birth visits and care were very thorough and professional and much more intimate than a doctor's office.
COMMENT 317207	2012-09-07 09:20 AM
POST 2 of 2 At Cottage, the nursing staff is excellent-- many are knowledgeable & supportive of natural birth. But Cottage has many routine policies that AREN'T evidence-based, incl. restriction on VBACs, separating baby from mother, routine use of IV, continuous monitoring, etc. OBs are trained surgeons; many get little training in medical school about normal birth & alternatives to technology. They have less time with each patient; many succumb to impatience or fear of lawsuits, leading to pitocin or cesarean. Having a doula conveys to the staff that you care about your birth experience & will often ensure better care. SB has a number of certified, experienced doulas. Get info at independent childbirth class such as Birthing From Within (which is what I teach), Fredda Spirka or Tracy Schmidt. Fredda teaches a FREE birth/yoga class at Adult Ed, starting next week. Reach me at motherways org, if you want more info. ~Virginia
COMMENT 317210	2012-09-07 09:36 AM
I had my baby at Cottage, delivered by Wanda Westerman, who is a midwife at Sansum. I loved her. I also had Sara Cranstoun - Jones as my doula and I highly recommend her. I intended to have a natural childbirth, but my body had its own plan and I ended up being induced. With the pitocin, the contractions were too intense and I begged for an epidural. The nurses actually told me that I was strong enough do it naturally if I wanted, and reminded me of my birth plan, but in the end I wanted meds. I definitely didn't feel like anyone tried to push me into anything that I didn't want to do. Quite the opposite. As others have said, I highly suggest having a doula. Mine acted as both a support to me and an advocate for me during the birth process. This was essential, because I was delirious, but she knew everything that was important to me. So if you feel more comfortable with a hospital birth, I think your OB and a doula is a great way to go.
COMMENT 317250P	2012-09-07 10:35 AM
OP: I didn't read all the comments, so sorry if this is redundant, but just to clarify...I don't believe the Cottage tubs are birthing tubs. They are for laboring, but I don't think they are set up for water-births. I had my daughter this May... the rooms are very nice and comfortable. The cottage staff did not push me into a c-section with either of my children. I'm with the Sansum group of doctors, and they do have a midwife as part of their group. The downside of Sansum is that there is no guarantee that you'll get your doctor/midwife at your delivery...you get whoever is on call from the group. Or, like in my case, the nurse might end up delivering your baby ;) Both my Cottage births were all natural, no induction, no pain meds, healthy vaginal births. But I know I was lucky, you never know how it's going to go. Good luck and congratulations!
COMMENT 317282	2012-09-07 11:32 AM
OP again- Thanks again everyone, especially Virginia. Dr. Ramos is my GYN (soon to be my OB) and it's nice to hear she is up for natural births (first apt is Oct). Though I'd really like to use the new birthing center (I agree with their philosophies) we can't afford the $6,800 ($700/month) with a new baby on the way when Cottage will be a few hundred after insurance. Hopefully they can work with the insurance companies upfront in the future to allow more women that experience. To those wondering why I would consider going au natural watch the documentary 'The Business of Being Born'. It definitely was an eye opener.
COMMENT 317285	2012-09-07 11:38 AM
@316972 You have confused something in your mind -- that because there's money in C-sections, it must be the case that Cottage Hospital pushes people to have them -- with the facts in the world, which are that they don't.
COMMENT 317290	2012-09-07 11:48 AM
285 20-30% of children NEED to be delivered by c section at Cottage each year?
COMMENT 317300	2012-09-07 12:19 PM
Regarding cost - This is dependent upon what insurance you have, but we just had a natural birth at Cottage with ZERO interventionsand our first bill, just for the MD (who wasn't even present for the birth) was over $1000. Yes that is after the insurance has paid their portion. Still waiting for the Cottage facilities bill. But unless you have spectacular insurance (UCSB?) then expect to be paying at least a couple of thousand for a natural birth at the hospital after your insurance has covered their portion.
COMMENT 317317P	2012-09-07 01:25 PM
"The Business of Being Born" is an interesting film, but engage your critical thinking skills when you watch it. There are absolutely relevant points, but also plenty of propaganda and fear. Much of the reasoning and data is very old, sometimes 80-90 years old. For example they reason doctors will push a section because the hospital gets more money and avoids the risk of litigation. A section has a much higher risk to the mother and child, and much more likely to end in lawsuit. The finances aren't that cut and dry either for the hospital, while the section costs more the net profit is likely only very slightly more.
COMMENT 317344P	2012-09-07 02:34 PM
290 They don't need c-sections? And you know this how? Serious question. I had a c-section at Cottage. Saved my daughter's life and probably mine too. This was after a perfectly healthy pregnancy when a complication arose 10 hours into labor. Fabulous experience, great doctor (mine was on vacation, I got the one on-call) I giggled the whole time, counted 12 different cords going into/onto me at one point, just laughed about it, held my baby on the operating table, nursed just fine, healed just fine, never been to the hospital since. Don't be telling me what I need. Outrageous. Birth is just day one. Lots, lots more happens after that. Don't put all your eggs in that basket. You have no idea what's going to happen. Please trust the people around you, because you will not have control of the situation.
COMMENT 317361	2012-09-07 03:56 PM
Serious answer 344P - Because it's statistically impossible. Of course some C sections are necessary but to suggest that 1/3 of all births need to be by C is ridiculous. 317P - I'veNever heard of the documentary mentioned but your 80-90 years old example of their data seems bogus, C sections have risen from 5% in the 60's to 35% today, not sure what use a film maker would have for 80-90 year old data regarding such a recent phenomenon.. .
COMMENT 317393	2012-09-07 05:09 PM
The World Health Organization (which has done a lot of research) recommends that cesarean rates are no higher than 10-15%, even amongst high-risk populations. Many commonly used interventions (such as continual monitoring, routine pitocin induction/augmentation, forceful pushing, episiotomy, routine epidural use, restricting movement or food, etc.) increase the likelihood of a poor outcome for mother and/or child. Yet they are the norm in our culture. This is not evidence-based practice. While reason would suggest that doing cesareans would increase the likelihood of lawsuits, in fact, the opposite has generally been true. When an OB does a cesarean for something like "fetal distress" then he/she has adopted "maximum strategy". Practitioner's definition of "distress" or "harmful" vary. Their response is based on training, (or their hospital's) legal counsel, most recent experiences, and, yes, bias, preference, or comfort level.
COMMENT 317402	2012-09-07 05:38 PM
I believe in natural childbirth. I had my first 2 babies at Goleta Valley with OB's. I had nice nurses & my docs were great 2. All natural & no, I don't have a high tolerance of pain. I educated myself in childbirth. We took the Bradley method classes. Recently, I had #3 using SBMidwifery. It was the best experience of all. The quality of care is amazing. Yes, it was expensive, worth every dollar. Each appt was a min. of 1 hr & the postpartum care was incredible. From this experience, I've learned empowerment & to believe in your body & your mothers instinct which goes beyond childbirth itself. Is natural childbirth hard? At times, yes. Is it amazing? Yes. Is it doable? Absolutely. You can do it! As far as, Doulas, log onto Central Coast Doulas. Also, I have heard great things about Tracy Schmidt & Birthing Within. Good luck, mama.