Primal Mamas, help me find decent healthcare! page

[SarahRingo]

Hello everyone, I am new to these forums, although I've followed MDA (and a basically primal lifestyle) for a couple of years now. I love the lifestyle, 'cause it just makes me feel plain old healthy, so I'm sticking to it.

I have always preferred a more natural and less interventionist approach to healthcare, and I've never had much luck finding practitioners (other than the herbalists and acupuncturists) who are happy with that. My husband and I are about to start trying for our first child, and I'm a little bit panicked about dealing with the medical system.

Does anyone have any recommendations for good ob/gyns, birthing centers or midwives, pediatricians, etc. in the Jersey City or New York City area?

[kennelmom]

If you go with a midwife (highly recommend...I loved my midwife), make sure you have a baby-friendly hospital as a back up in case you need to transfer to one (I had to transfer from my midwife's birthing center to the hospital after about 12 hours).

[ciavyn]

Wish you were a little closer. I go to one in NEPA that is great. Call your local healthfood store -- or stop in -- and ask them for referrals. I found several really great docs that way. Also, check this out: Paleo Physicians Network There's some good stuff on there as well.

[SarahRingo]

Thanks for the tips, ladies. I just found a primary care doctor through the Paleo Physicians Network. I have an appointment next week, and am going to ask him for advice as well.

[noodletoy]

any local mommy message boards for you? was just listening to a story on npr about this.

[SarahRingo]

Hm, I think I started looking and got discouraged too quickly. Guess I'd better dive back in.

[avocadogirl]

Just wishing you good luck. I had two midwife assisted deliveries in baby-friendly hospitals. My hubby refused to do a home birth. Both were natural, no meds, intervention-free births and I nursed both my boys right away, and they stayed with me the entire time.

I used the Hypnobabies home study program and thought it was terrific. Not only is the program informative and relaxing, I really did have two comfortable births that were joyous and just as I had envisioned. I loved the program so much I'm considering becoming an instructor.

Good luck with getting pregnant and finding care.