How does it work if you want a midwife?

I would absolutely get a hold of a midwife right away! I can highly recommend Angela Wakeford if you are keen on a waterbirth. She does have priviledges at Pallotti.
Otherwise I have done waterbirths with dr Jackie Searle as well. It is great that you are doing hypnobirthing - and I would also encourage you to research using a doula - interview a couple of them and see if it "feels" right for you and your partner. you can look for doulas on www.wombs.org.za or my website is www.laliludoulacare.yolasite.com
BUT GET A MIDWIFE ASAP!!!

Izzels1, I had a vbac waterbirth at Vincent Pallotti with a private midwife and a doula and I would recommend both! The nurses at the hospital were too afraid to touch me, which was a bonus! My husband also isn't too much of a birth partner and having doula there was amazing. I only started seeing a midwife after 20 weeks, because at 20 weeks I was still with my old obgyn and I remember being a bit scared of what to do next and waited till almost 30 weeks before getting a move on.

Thanks so much for the info Spiral! This is more or less what I researched. Ive always wanted a all natural waterbirth. but I'm too scared to have it at my house.. So Ive seen that Vincent Pallotti actaually does waterbirths. Unfortunately I'm already 25weeks pregnant now. but Im starting my hypnobirthing course tom night. Im very excited about that! I just wondered if for us having a birth at a hospital if a doula would be the route, to help me through the process. Obviously my husband will be with me, but shame, Im not sure if he will be geared up for it, to be my "birth partner".

Im just scared going into it "alone" I might give in to epidural and all other sorts of things. I really do wish when my second baby arrives that we might have the type of clinics that are in JHB!

Mickymuismommy,

Hope you have a happy and healthy pregnancy!! Please feel free to contact me it you need any info on birth related stuff in Pretoria. Happy to help! anina@beautifullyborn.co.za

For CTown mums - unfortunately there isn't something like genesis of femina here.
Al-nisa maternity home has turned into a typical State MOU service with institutionalized care since new management took over in April this year - and you pay around R6000 for that!. They now don't allow waterbirths, doula support and restrict labouring women to 1 birth partner.
There are very few private midwives in Ct and if you don't book before 12 weeks - you wont get in with them.
Birth venue options as follows -
1. Homebirth - with the backing of Mowbray state hospital if transfer is needed OR
back up at Constantiaberg Medi clinic - only clients of 1 of the midwives and Vincent Pallotti Hospital in Pinelands for those who can afford private care.

2. Vincent Pallotti Hospital with your own private midwife - or
Veregelegen and Constantiaberg Medi clinics - for 1 midwife each Choosing any of the medi clinics would automatically exclude a waterbirth as Medi Clinic itself has a unilateral ban on waterbirths!

3. Liesbeek Active Birth Unit - you pay them a facility fee of about R4500 plus you pay for you private midwife R5500 - R6000 and use one of their birth rooms which has a double bed and bath.

If you have your own midwife most of them are fine for you to have a doula. doula fees range from R2000 - R3000.

you can have a look at the following website for midwives in Cape Town www.capemidwives.co.za

Hope this helps.

Hi Hasie,

Thanks for the info.
I am only 6 weeks now
We have our first ultrasound in 2 weeks but already seeing our midwife this weekend!

I think Alnisa of something like that, but not sure. Hope one of the cpt ladies can help.