OB/GYN Practice with Midwives - Having a Baby in Jax for the First Time

Dr. Van Scriver shares an office with Fruitful Vine Midwifery Service and Birth Center, and the midwife there is Sharon Schmidt. I am a doula, and just attended a birth at the birth center. The state of Florida requires payment for prenatal and delivery, which includes midwives... Why don't you try her? If, God forbid, anything were to happen, she works with Dr. Van Scriver, who has admitting privilages (right term?) at St. Lukes, which by reputation is the most libral in regards to natural birth in Jacksonville.

PS, Sharon is also my midwife for my son. I feel completely safe with the fact that the birth center is not even 5 minutes from St. Lukes, and if some complication comes up that is not within Sharon's scope of practice, Dr. Van Scriver is very supportive of natural childbirth, and from what I understand, not quick to jump on unneccesary interventions. I live in Murray Hill (just outside Avondale), and the drive is about 15-20 minutes via 10/95 and JTB, depending on what time of day.

In case you haven't heard it enough...I would also recommend Dr. VanScriver or Fruitful Vine Midwifery. If you want to birth in the hospital, I would say that VanScriver is the most midwife-minded doc in town. She also has 2 midwives in her practice. If you are open to an out of hospital experience with a midwife...Sharon Schmidt at Fruitful Vine is the way to go. It's great that you want to work with your body and it's important that you have a care provider who you trust to support how you want to give birth. A doula ia also a wonderful idea. I recommend that you interview several and find someone who best meets your needs. Let me know if I can give you any other referrals into the Jacksonville birth scene. I teach a prenatal yoga class and specialize in prenatal massage. Congratulations on your pregnancy!

Ditto to what Erin said..and if you email me at ____@____.com I will send you a referal list for those people supportive of normal childbirth and doulas..I am also a doula and CBE please visit my website at www.fccoulas.org. I live in Murray Hill, real close to you and I had a homebirth water birth about a year ago with Sharon Schmidt...IT WAS FABULOUS!!! HTH, S.

I am a pharmaceutical rep, and I would recommend Dr. Van Scriver. She also has a new birthing center that is really nice. She is off of Salisbury Rd N. She has a Midwife. Hope this helps.