Midwife Ahoy

Today was my appointment with one of the UCLA Midwives. My husband and I pulled into the parking structure looking like bright eyed deers. I had a slight sting of sticker shock at the medical plaza's $11 parking fee. Doh! Fortunately the plaza's signs were very helpful in finding out where we had to go.

I get in to the office and ask the woman at the administration desk if I'm supposed to leave sample. My ritual has always been to drink a lot of water so I'm prepared to release the flood gates. She asked me to sign some paperwork and wait for the label that goes on the specimen cup. About this time I'm dancing and holding back with all my might. Meanwhile the baby enjoys punching at my bladder.

Ahh relief I got to go. Weird though, their specimen cups were just plain old dixie cups. hah.
So far my experience has been great and all the staff was so accommodating and just as nice as could be. I finally got in to see Stacey - wife #1 of 4.

She gave us a consultation and immediately asked me if I had a birthplan. Right away I was welling up inside because wow she actually wants to know what I WANT out of the birth! She gave me their standard practices spiel and I just couldn't stop being so impressed at everything that she said. In my chart she even wrote that I practice Bradley, which all the Midwives are very well versed in.

My maternal instinct may have kicked in that I needed to switch from my OB very late in the game, but now that I'm where I'm supposed to be, I'm completely unfreaked out about my baby's birth day.

Now....the only caveat is that I ended up doing a tour of the wrong UCLA hospital center so I have to find a way to get in. I'm on a waitlist for a tour on Saturday and will plead and beg to get in.