Queenstown Midwifes Recommendation

Can anyone recommend a midwife in Queenstown?

thanks i am meeting vicki from sage femme this week

i had Sage femme for my first pregnancy, had vicki as my lmc and jan as back up but i didnt like jan, vicki was ok but i wouldnt use them again But its all down to personalitys Good luck.

I also had Vicki for my last pregnancy....wouldnt again! Check out if Mountain Mamas (who are wanaka based) do queenstown. they are VERY professional and lovely.

I'm meeting Vicki today, can you tell me what it was you didn't like? I'm thinking of switching from Mountain Mamas as although I really like my Midwife, she's not allowed to assist me in a home VBAC, and Vicki is, but don't want to end up switching if there's something off about her?

many thanks!

I thought she seemed very experienced and down-to earth, I'm hoping for a homebirth after C-section and she's confident we can, they specialise in HB so I reckon I'm in good hands. There are about 3 other ladies in the area who have used her and all think quite similarly to me, and they were all good advocates for her. I guess it depends on personalities and expectations, and maybe what kind of birth you want. Hopefully all will be well! I just don't want another intervention-laden hospital birth again, I was so distressed after the last time I think I would almost definately end up with another section if I try to VBAC in there, so I reckon home is where I'll be most comfortable and give me the best chance of success. keep your fingers crossed for me, everyone!

Eassa. I had Vicki from Sage Femme too and I thought she was lovely we really got on well unfortunately she didn't make it to the birth as we moved from Central to Dunedin she did drive down while I was in labour but my DD didn't hang around and was born in 1 hour 20 minutes Vicki arrived 20 minutes later and did all the checks if i had another i would love to use her again but we are just to far away now xxx

Eassa - im pleased you have chosen sonya.

Guest - Can i ask why you had a csection for #1? was it emergency situation? Has the other midwife given a reason as to why she will not assist in a Vbac?

Hi all, soory I'm logged in as guest, I am a member but can't seem to change my username, any ideas anyone?
Anyway, I think the reasons I would have to transfer from Alex would be the same as from home so would not make too much difference, but I'll be much more relaxed in my own environment, thereby negating the negative effects of adrenaline on labour. The only reason that Mountain Mamas will not do HBACS is their policy, not medical reason, which seems to be based on fear and risk, not reality. I'm in Wanaka now, BTW. Sage Femme run their practice respecting a woman's right to a natural birth wherever possible - they are not big on medicalisation or fear-driven interventions, so to those of us expecting routine medical interventions they may seem a bit "woolly". Each to their own, I've decided to go with Vikki, mainly due to the lack of choice with Mountain Mamas, though I have to say I really liked my MM midwife and the advice she gave me was that there was no reason for me not to acheive VBAC, so she pointed me in the right direction, it was nothing to do with personality. Sage femme are also part of the Homebirth Collective and I feel that they have much more experience in this area. My last section was for the old "failure to progress" chestnut, after every intervention known to woman. NZPiper, if I were you, I would ask some serious questions about Queen Mary's policies regarding VBAC before you go there, i.e. what timelimits you will be put under and what concessions your midwife will be able to get for you. While they are in there the MW's are under the OB's rules and they ultimately get the last say - many will insist in induction/augmentation of labour for example if you are not dilating at 1cm/hour, despite the fact that induction with Synto puts you at greater risk of Uterine rupture, along with continual monitoring, limiting your movement, etc etc - all of these things are ultimately more likely to end in another C-section. The more you know about their policy, the more you can be ready to fight for the things that are important to you. Your midwife WILL be able to fight your case for you but make sure you have a very clear birth plan and that she will be willing to stand up for you. I hope it all goes well for you (and me!), here's to nice VBACS all round....

Hi Shannon,

Thanks but I'm well aware of the distance from Wanaka to Dunedin or Invercargill!! The risk of UR with my low transverse scar is somewhere between 0.09% and 0.22% and it is not known how many of those reported cases had their labours augmented with Synto. About 75% of cases of UR occur in women with no history of previous uterine surgery. That is the only risk I have that is greater than anyone else, the risk of prolapsed cord etc are far greater, but I'm still at more risk of being in a fatal car accident than that happening, yet I still happily get in my car every day.

I personally know dozens of women in this area who have had homebirths, most more than one, all with great outcomes. I don't know of a single one having any serious problems, though I'm sure it does occur. Unexpected or previously undetected severe problems in birth are still a pretty rare occurrences in the main and I cannot make all my choices based on the fear of some tiny possibility. It has been shown by various studies that perinatal morbidity rates are actually lower for homebirths than hospital births, though I realise that may be skewed by the fact that only low-risk births generally occur in a home setting, with most high-risk ones taking place at hospital. So far I'm as low-risk as anyone else. I should add that it's been over 8 years since my c-section.

I take it your work within the "industry" (sorry but that says it all to me) is in a medical setting? If that's the case you have to remember, then that you will only see the problem or high-risk cases generally, which may skew your perception of normal birth.

Anyway, yes, Vicki has explained the possibilities for transfer and our options for getting there but I'm confident that it won't be neccessary, despite the "oh what if?!" reaction here. Childbirth is an amazing but everyday event and the 24% C-section rate here in NZ tells a tale of unneccessary medical intervention taking it's toll. I'm not due 'till December so the ski-field part won't be an issue and as far as I'm aware they have 4 MW's in the practice now. Did you have to transfer the first time?

Thank you for your concern but I really feel it's not warranted. I have made my decision based on lots and lots of research and I will go in to hospital if there is a genuine medical need, I'm not going to take any unneccessary risks, but not otherwise.

I have a full copy of my medical notes from QM and they made my blood boil - I was to be given ONE Hour after augmentation was started before a C-section was to be ordered, after that hour was up I was told my baby was in distress so of course I signed the consent form. The notes state, however - underlined - "No fetal distress" and the trace confirms this. Are you surprised I don't want to go in there? I know most other main hospitals have the same type of restrictive policies, even more so for VBAC so I'll avoid at all costs. I left there grateful that they had "saved my baby's life", but was still deeply traumatised by it and felt like a failure, now that I've seen my notes and educated myself a lot more I feel very differently - mainly very, very angry.

We could argue the point here all day, as I said before 'to each their own' - I don't and won't go around berating anyone for their choice to give birth in hospital, saying "oh you know you've a 1 in 4 chance of ending up with a section?", so I don't expect to be given that kind of treatment either.

Cheers, Nikki.