http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/Primavera77/ en-us <p>Actually, there are several doulas and a couple of midwifes I think, in Tehachapi. A hospital is not your only choice for childbirth. Home births are becoming increasingly popular in Kern County. Check it out!</p> http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/Primavera77//#c_191470 http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/Primavera77//#c_191470 <p>Actually, there are several doulas and a couple of midwifes I think, in Tehachapi. A hospital is not your only choice for childbirth. Home births are becoming increasingly popular in Kern County. Check it out!</p> <p> There is a midwife here in town if you want to do a home birth.  I had all 3 of my children at Mercy South West in Bakersfield, and the care there was wonderful. I know it is a little scary to think about driving an hour in labor, but just make sure you go in plenty of time.  Is this your first baby? Believe me, you'll have time!</p> http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/Primavera77//#c_191476 http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/Primavera77//#c_191476 <p> There is a midwife here in town if you want to do a home birth.  I had all 3 of my children at Mercy South West in Bakersfield, and the care there was wonderful. I know it is a little scary to think about driving an hour in labor, but just make sure you go in plenty of time.  Is this your first baby? Believe me, you'll have time!</p> <p>The drive really isn't that bad.&nbsp; If it worries you that much I'm sure your provider would discuss inducing you. I have three kids. My providers were worried about my drive because my first labor was only 7 hours. That is still 7 hours though! :) Ended up at the hospital way to early (well I was dilated to 5) with my second one. lol I don't like hospitals.&nbsp; I had a great experience at Mercy Southwest too! Well, minus fighting them for a year because they over charged me! :)</p> <p>I've been to the OBGYN here in town and was actually very pleased with everything. My longest&nbsp;wait was about 15 min. Granted I've only been in there a few times.&nbsp;They have better equipment there than some of the places in Bakersfield. They actually have a 4-D ultrasound machine!!</p> http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/Primavera77//#c_191483 http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/Primavera77//#c_191483 <p>The drive really isn't that bad.&nbsp; If it worries you that much I'm sure your provider would discuss inducing you. I have three kids. My providers were worried about my drive because my first labor was only 7 hours. That is still 7 hours though! :) Ended up at the hospital way to early (well I was dilated to 5) with my second one. lol I don't like hospitals.&nbsp; I had a great experience at Mercy Southwest too! Well, minus fighting them for a year because they over charged me! :)</p> <p>I've been to the OBGYN here in town and was actually very pleased with everything. My longest&nbsp;wait was about 15 min. Granted I've only been in there a few times.&nbsp;They have better equipment there than some of the places in Bakersfield. They actually have a 4-D ultrasound machine!!</p> <p>We have Kaiser, and we had to go all the way to Panorama City! Yes, 2 hours away. All the other Kaisers were full at the time my wife was due. That was the only one that had an opening. Look at it this way, the baby is going to come out no matter what. Women have been giving birth since the dawn of mankind (or womankind if you will).  You will be fine no matter where you are. Good luck and CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!</p> http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/Primavera77//#c_191495 http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/Primavera77//#c_191495 <p>We have Kaiser, and we had to go all the way to Panorama City! Yes, 2 hours away. All the other Kaisers were full at the time my wife was due. That was the only one that had an opening. Look at it this way, the baby is going to come out no matter what. Women have been giving birth since the dawn of mankind (or womankind if you will).  You will be fine no matter where you are. Good luck and CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!</p> <p>I had my daughter in bako at Mercy SW.  We left the house when my contractions were 5 minutes apart, it was fine.  Got there in plenty of time!  </p> http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/Primavera77//#c_191504 http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/Primavera77//#c_191504 <p>I had my daughter in bako at Mercy SW.  We left the house when my contractions were 5 minutes apart, it was fine.  Got there in plenty of time!  </p> <p>I had my son in Lancaster, and AV Hospital there was great.  My parents live in Lancaster, so we headed down there when the contractions were about 10 minutes apart (nervous about first baby, and all) and stayed at my parent's house until the contractions were about 2 minutes apart.  Drove to the hospital, baby was born 3 hours later.  It wasn't such a bad drive, partially because we were so early, and also because I was pretty distracted- didn't even notice the time passing on the way down.  The crummy part was the wait at my parent's house- I was so bored!</p> <p>I didn't go to the OBGYN here because I moved here while I was pregnant; I stayed with my OBGYN in Lancaster because he was highly recommended by people I knew from the hospital.  But I did go to the Childbirth Education class offered at the Family Life Pregnancy Center.  It didn't teach me a whole lot that I didn't already know, but it was nice for reassurance.  And Diane, the teacher, was great!  She spelled out all the labor/delivery options very well, and it was good to hear it from a highly experienced nurse.</p> http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/Primavera77//#c_191515 http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/Primavera77//#c_191515 <p>I had my son in Lancaster, and AV Hospital there was great.  My parents live in Lancaster, so we headed down there when the contractions were about 10 minutes apart (nervous about first baby, and all) and stayed at my parent's house until the contractions were about 2 minutes apart.  Drove to the hospital, baby was born 3 hours later.  It wasn't such a bad drive, partially because we were so early, and also because I was pretty distracted- didn't even notice the time passing on the way down.  The crummy part was the wait at my parent's house- I was so bored!</p> <p>I didn't go to the OBGYN here because I moved here while I was pregnant; I stayed with my OBGYN in Lancaster because he was highly recommended by people I knew from the hospital.  But I did go to the Childbirth Education class offered at the Family Life Pregnancy Center.  It didn't teach me a whole lot that I didn't already know, but it was nice for reassurance.  And Diane, the teacher, was great!  She spelled out all the labor/delivery options very well, and it was good to hear it from a highly experienced nurse.</p> <p>About one out of four births end up as a c-section...will the current hospital have the capability of doing a c-section or even worse scenario--a crash c section for fetal/maternal distress or cephalic/pelvic disproportion--baby's head showing but inability to deliver?&nbsp; If you are going to advertise &quot;stork services&quot; at a hospital, I would hope full services, including c sections, are offered.&nbsp; What about a baby that unexpectedly has respiratory distress or heavy meconium at birth?&nbsp; Is there going to be enough well trained nurses and Md's to stabilize the baby?&nbsp; What is going to happen when it is snowing/sleeting/windy in the land of 4 seasons and mom and babe needs to be transported down the hill for a higher level of services????&nbsp; A helicopter can't fly in that weather.&nbsp; An ambulance ride for over an hr at a stalled labor at 9 cm in 8 inches of snow is not fun either.&nbsp; Will there be a neonatal team here in Tehachapi to transport an unstable newborn down the hill when the helicopter can't fly one in?</p> <p>Yes, I realize birth is a natural event that has occurred for centuries.&nbsp; I worked for several years at a birth center as well delivered babies at home (including a set of twins) for years with a licensed professional midwife as well as a certified nurse midwife.&nbsp; We were careful to take low risk moms but had a few unexpected problems. The majority of the moms delivered with minimal or no intervention--the way it should be.&nbsp; But I have also been there when unexpected complications have occurred and have had to transport a mom or baby to the hospital. If you feel you would be safer delivering in a hospital, do so. But don't get a false sense of security -- be sure the hospital is able to handle all emergencies that may occur.&nbsp;</p> <p>Is there wing set up to deliver babies where there is enough privacy to allow a women to birth?&nbsp;&nbsp; An area to walk around, shower, relax in a chair, and take a shower? Can a mom sing the song of giving birth without the noise/groaning/moaning disturbing the long term residents or children/patients in the ER?&nbsp;&nbsp; If c sections cannot be done, then the only advantage that the hospital will have is the ability to give IV pain meds as epidurals will not be available unless the hospital contracts with an anesthesiologist.</p> <p>I'm all for hospitals births when the new hospital is finished and a full service OB dept is available.&nbsp; But until then, best to drive down the hill or consider a home birth.</p> <p>The hospital stopped delivering babies 20 years ago...why did they?</p> http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/Primavera77//#c_192568 http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/Primavera77//#c_192568 <p>About one out of four births end up as a c-section...will the current hospital have the capability of doing a c-section or even worse scenario--a crash c section for fetal/maternal distress or cephalic/pelvic disproportion--baby's head showing but inability to deliver?&nbsp; If you are going to advertise &quot;stork services&quot; at a hospital, I would hope full services, including c sections, are offered.&nbsp; What about a baby that unexpectedly has respiratory distress or heavy meconium at birth?&nbsp; Is there going to be enough well trained nurses and Md's to stabilize the baby?&nbsp; What is going to happen when it is snowing/sleeting/windy in the land of 4 seasons and mom and babe needs to be transported down the hill for a higher level of services????&nbsp; A helicopter can't fly in that weather.&nbsp; An ambulance ride for over an hr at a stalled labor at 9 cm in 8 inches of snow is not fun either.&nbsp; Will there be a neonatal team here in Tehachapi to transport an unstable newborn down the hill when the helicopter can't fly one in?</p> <p>Yes, I realize birth is a natural event that has occurred for centuries.&nbsp; I worked for several years at a birth center as well delivered babies at home (including a set of twins) for years with a licensed professional midwife as well as a certified nurse midwife.&nbsp; We were careful to take low risk moms but had a few unexpected problems. The majority of the moms delivered with minimal or no intervention--the way it should be.&nbsp; But I have also been there when unexpected complications have occurred and have had to transport a mom or baby to the hospital. If you feel you would be safer delivering in a hospital, do so. But don't get a false sense of security -- be sure the hospital is able to handle all emergencies that may occur.&nbsp;</p> <p>Is there wing set up to deliver babies where there is enough privacy to allow a women to birth?&nbsp;&nbsp; An area to walk around, shower, relax in a chair, and take a shower? Can a mom sing the song of giving birth without the noise/groaning/moaning disturbing the long term residents or children/patients in the ER?&nbsp;&nbsp; If c sections cannot be done, then the only advantage that the hospital will have is the ability to give IV pain meds as epidurals will not be available unless the hospital contracts with an anesthesiologist.</p> <p>I'm all for hospitals births when the new hospital is finished and a full service OB dept is available.&nbsp; But until then, best to drive down the hill or consider a home birth.</p> <p>The hospital stopped delivering babies 20 years ago...why did they?</p> <p>I think homebirth is a great choice for a mom with a low risk, normal pregnancy and no familial history of complications. One of the reasons there are so many c sections is because they are convenient for the doctors and mothers are allowed to schedule them. </p> <p>If you are still pregnant, or even if you aren't, you should check out a documentary coming to Bakersfield on Wednesday, March 5th at Bakersfield College. It's called <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4DgLf8hHMgo">"The Business of Being Born"</a> and has great information. We are going down, if you are interested we can carpool.</p> <p>Personally, I have had 2 homebirths and no hospital births. I did attend my sisters birth at San Dimas in Bakersfield and now I know why I don't want to go to a hospital - she wasn't allowed to do anything but get up and go to the bathroom and they talked about her like she wasn't even in the room...like the birth was a job they were doing. With my first daughter I was seeing a doctor then had a consultation with a midwife. It took me a while to decide as I did much research because I had never considered a homebirth before. After visiting the World Health Organization and other reputable sites I did decide a homebirth was a healthy option for me and my baby. Especially since a licensed midwife does carry oxygen and resuscitation equipment. They also carry other medications for complications.</p> <p>I would never recommend inducement unless it is medically necessary. Here is a link to a some facts about homebirth and hospital births <a href="http://www.familymidwifery.com/home-birth-facts.html">http://www.familymidwifery.com/home-birth-facts.html</a></p> <p>I had Justine, the licensed midwife that lives in Tehachapi, attend the birth I had last year and I'm pregnant again and will have her attend this one is well. She is incredibly encouraging, loving and understanding. What I love most about a midwife is that they look at you as an individual with individual needs during your pregnancy and I really love the relationship that is developed...a midwife will hug you if you are open to hugging, there hands are loving and and their voices sincere.</p> <p>It never hurts to have a consultation, they are free! When you do decide to have a homebirth, just make sure you are choosing a midwife who has education and training. You can ask them where they studied or ask to see a certificate.</p> <p>I do hope you explore your options and make an educated choice instead of doing what most people think is the only choice they have.</p> <p> </p> http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/Primavera77//#c_201598 http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/Primavera77//#c_201598 <p>I think homebirth is a great choice for a mom with a low risk, normal pregnancy and no familial history of complications. One of the reasons there are so many c sections is because they are convenient for the doctors and mothers are allowed to schedule them. </p> <p>If you are still pregnant, or even if you aren't, you should check out a documentary coming to Bakersfield on Wednesday, March 5th at Bakersfield College. It's called <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4DgLf8hHMgo">"The Business of Being Born"</a> and has great information. We are going down, if you are interested we can carpool.</p> <p>Personally, I have had 2 homebirths and no hospital births. I did attend my sisters birth at San Dimas in Bakersfield and now I know why I don't want to go to a hospital - she wasn't allowed to do anything but get up and go to the bathroom and they talked about her like she wasn't even in the room...like the birth was a job they were doing. With my first daughter I was seeing a doctor then had a consultation with a midwife. It took me a while to decide as I did much research because I had never considered a homebirth before. After visiting the World Health Organization and other reputable sites I did decide a homebirth was a healthy option for me and my baby. Especially since a licensed midwife does carry oxygen and resuscitation equipment. They also carry other medications for complications.</p> <p>I would never recommend inducement unless it is medically necessary. Here is a link to a some facts about homebirth and hospital births <a href="http://www.familymidwifery.com/home-birth-facts.html">http://www.familymidwifery.com/home-birth-facts.html</a></p> <p>I had Justine, the licensed midwife that lives in Tehachapi, attend the birth I had last year and I'm pregnant again and will have her attend this one is well. She is incredibly encouraging, loving and understanding. What I love most about a midwife is that they look at you as an individual with individual needs during your pregnancy and I really love the relationship that is developed...a midwife will hug you if you are open to hugging, there hands are loving and and their voices sincere.</p> <p>It never hurts to have a consultation, they are free! When you do decide to have a homebirth, just make sure you are choosing a midwife who has education and training. You can ask them where they studied or ask to see a certificate.</p> <p>I do hope you explore your options and make an educated choice instead of doing what most people think is the only choice they have.</p> <p> </p> <p>One more thing...when using the midwife I have, you don't even have to leave you house for prenatals. She comes to you! How awesome is that?</p> http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/Primavera77//#c_201600 http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/Primavera77//#c_201600 <p>One more thing...when using the midwife I have, you don't even have to leave you house for prenatals. She comes to you! How awesome is that?</p>