August/September 2011 mommies to be

Ankia and Justine thanks for all the info!! You girls make me feel much more relaxed about my thoughts. I think I'm a bit scared obviously because it's my first birth and I won't know what to expect! But it's great to know that I can go to a midwife from so early on. I'll go for my 12w scan at end of the month and then I think DH and I should go to Genesis to go check it out in person and meet a few midwifes maybe. I know they generally have types of open days there - I'm quite excited about it now!!

Ankia, i just found it so nice to be able to fully trust that the professional attending to me would do her best to allow me the birth i wanted. i also love the fact that Ben was born at exactly the right time for him. he chose his birthday
That said, i think next time around i may go for a bit of pain relief. Birth was quick but painful +++

no prob Hapi

Justine, I will have 10 more children with a midwife.
My midwife was great, her name is Sandi, she let me be so that me and hubby could be alone, but she was there when I needed her.
I was 5 cm just after 12 at night and he was born with 3 pushes in the water just after 02:30.

Hi Ankia,
I see there is another mid-wife convert in our midst

thanks Ankia.

OMW, im only noticing now that your name is actually not Anika ... sorry about that !

Laliek,

Just a short(ish) response about the midwife issue...

I hired a private midwife when I was pregnant with my son and i think of all the choices i made, this was the best and most important.

I could go on and on about how wonderful it was to have that level of care.... but i guess the most important bit was that they treat pregnancy and birth as a natural process rather than a medical condition to be 'treated'. If you want a natural birth this is also by far your best chance at one. most gynaes in my view claim to support your choice, but when it comes to the pointy end will talk you into a csection anyway... if you choose a gynae with a 80% csection rate- that's your chance that you're getting one (whether he/she claims to be pro-choice or not!).

I gave birth at Vincent Pallotti hospital with my midwife there from the start. I had all the medical back up i could need if required + a back up Gynae on call. Midwife told me exactly what to do/how to sit/squat/breath/push etc etc... took away all the anxiety and stress- Ben was born in 3 hours... no tearing. no stitches. First thing i did when i found out number 2 was on the way was to call her! If i have another birth experience like Ben, I will be a VERY lucky woman

Hapi, my friend was with Dr. Engelbrecht.
She liked him very much!!