VBAC Friendly Provider for Drug-free Hospital Birth in Chicago

I don't know much information, but my friend had a VBAC through UIC midwives and was very happy with the practice.

S.,
University of Chicago used to have a strong midwife practice. I believe that they still do. Illinois Masonic also has a midwife practice. I don't know any details about VBAC and only have had friends go there (vs. had a personal experience). But these might be two places to look into.

Good luck!

S.
Mom of a 6yo and 3yo

Hi,

I am also looking for VBAC providers in Chicago...is UIC the same as University of Illinois...do they have a website? I ccant seem to find their midwives group online. ANy help will be appreciated?

Thanks,

K.

Try 'A Woman's Place'

http://www.awomansplacechicago.com/

Not sure if they support VBAC but it's worth a shot. We interviewed Jewel and Jennifer (midwives) when I was pregnant with our first-they're really great.

Also check out Homefirst

http://www.homefirst.com/

They do home births. We used them for the delivery of our Son. They're great!

Best of luck with your delivery...

D.

HI,
16 and 18 years ago I had two VBAC's at Northwestern Hospital through their midwife group. Carol Hirschfield is still there with the new group at 680 Lake Shore Drive.. She is wonderful and I still see her for yearly paps. It was an awesome experience, drug free, and no complications. I delivered at Prentiss Women's Hopsital at Northwestern.
Also, Illinois Masonic had a midwife group that delivered many of my friend's babies.
Best of Luck!
M.

S.? How did your search go? I'm actually searching oppositely (in the North Suburbs). If anyone has information on VBAC supportive OBs or Midwives in the North please let me know.

Hi S.,
I just had a fabulous completely drug-free VBAC at UIC Medical Center 2 weeks ago! I had also been going to West Sub, but had to transfer at 30 weeks. I interviewed several providers and decided to use either the midwives at UIC (Specifically either Lin Schaye or Charity Cooper) or the Family Medicine docs at UIC. I ended up with Family Medicine because I already knew them from taking my son there. I used Evelyn Figueroa but she was out of town for my delivery and Mark Potter delivered my girl - he was fabulous! They followed my birth plan TO THE LETTER and I was able to catch my own baby as soon as her shoulders were out.

UIC is very supportive of VBAC and has the lowest c-section rate of any hospital in the city. Honestly, I thought the care there was excellent and far more patient-centered than when I had my son at Prentice 2 years ago. I would go back to UIC any day.

GOOD LUCK with your VBAC! Mine was such a great experience for me. If you haven't had a chance, I suggest trying to attend at least one of the local ICAN meetings before your birth - it really helps to meet a handful of women who have been there and done that. They take place the second Sunday of every month (so next weekend). Feel free to email me if I can help you at all.
-K.

Congrats on your decision to push the VBAC issue. It is not as scary as the U.S. medical industry would lead everyone to believe, and from my own research, the decision not to support it seems to be driven by insurance and fear of lawsuits.

I used West Suburban Midwives - Gayle Reidman is fantastic and one of the top midwives in the state. I had my daughter 2 years ago - an unsuccessful VBAC - although I got to 8cm the cord prolapsed. I know you said they don't support a VBAC, but 2 years ago they did, backed by either Dr. Gomez or Chorzempa (I believe). I think Dr. Chorzempa has a practice on Lake St. in Forest Park that supports VBAC with their own midwife group, so you could try them. Chorzempa was a great OB but her bedside manner was a little lacking in my experience.

I had a good experience with an emergency C-section at West Suburban, the facility and staff were good for that purpose, I have no complaints about them related to this.

Good luck!

www.oakparkmidwife.com midwife group offering VBAC and waterbirth

there is also a Woman's Place and HomeFirst.

Hi Sylvia and all,

I'm glad you found someone who works for you. I have heard good things about the midwife group at UIC from an independently practicing midwife. Also, they have a pretty darn good vaginal birth rate (86% for all births!). I wanted to let you know that if you were going to West Suburban because it was close to you there is another midwifery practice in that area that does do VBACs and does all of their deliveries at West Suburban with hospital privileges. The practice is called PCC Wellness Center. They have multiple sites where they do prenatal care in the Austin/Oak Park/Berwyn area and even beyond there. To see the midwives and not the other doctors you most likely want to go to the "South" location near Roosevelt and Austin. Also I have heard good things about Teresa Hubka, she is a pro-VBAC DO in private practice as "Comprehensive Wellness Care" seeing patients in Lincoln Park and doing births at Resurrection Hospital. Sarah Simmons is a pro-VBAC homebirth midwife. Her business is called "New Life Midwifery."

Please try the wonderful doctors at Northwestern Memorial. I had a VBAC there in 2004. I had had 2 previous c-sections and delivered my last child there with no problem. They have wonderful doctors and midwives there. Carol Hirschfield was the one name I remember. She is a Nurse-Practitioner there I believe. I think you would be very pleased with their level of care and understanding.

I highly recommend the Northwestern Physicians Group:

http://www.nmpg.com/default.aspx?page=article&article...

I delivered with Jennifer Lynch, CNM, MS, who is amazing!!

680 N. Lake Shore Drive, Suite 810
Chicago, Illinois 60611
###-###-####
Fax: ###-###-####

Services Provided
Obstetrics/Gynecology

OB/GYN Providers

Catherine Chen, M.D.
Brian Foley, M.D.
Tim Garvey, M.D.
Alexander Lin, M.D.
Robbye McNair, M.D.
Scott Moses, M.D.
Ann Starr, M.D.
Ariel Derringer, C.N.M., M.S. (midwife)
Carol Hirschfield, C.N.M., M.S. (midwife)
Jennifer Lynch, C.N.M., M.S. (midwife)
Amy Willetts, C.N.M., M.S. (midwife)
Sara Eggemeier, C.N.M., M.S. (midwife)
Julie Omar, C.N.M., M.S. (midwife)
Melissa Auger, M.D.

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I have also been given the recommendation for A Women’s Place! Here’s a link to their website: http://awomansplacechicago.com/

However, I'm not extremely familiar with this practice...

Hope this helps!

Avoid West Suburban at all costs. I just had a c-section there a couple of weeks ago, and though some of the staff are nice, the facility and rooms are run-down (many maintenance problems) and not all of the people working there are friendly and/or responsive to your needs. I had to request discharge much earlier than planned just to get out of there!

Congratulations!
Have you gone to see Gayle Reidmann? She is a midwife who actually delivered my daughter at West Sub. Although this was my first child so I am not familiar with all that determines if you can have a VBAC I know this is something she offers along with the other 2 midwives within the practice.

I was able to have a unmediated birth and it was the most amazing event in my life and I truly hope that you will also be able to experience birth in this way.
I would also recommend that you attend a Bradley Method Child Birth Class it will provide you and your husband with all the knowledge you need to be in control and confident about the whole natural birth process.
If you have any other questions don't hesitate to email ____@____.com
C.

I went through A Women's Place and Jennifer is absolutely wonderful to work with! The great thing is that you get either a half or a full hour with them per appointment, none of the quick 10-min meeting with the doctor. They will fully support VBAC birth, plus they have great tips that you would not receive in a doc's office. They deliver out of Lincoln Park Hospital, which has a bit to be desired, but if you are successful, it should not be a problem.

Other women in my Bradley Birth Classes (www.birthwithoutfear.com in case you are interested and are doing natural), two of them thought UIC was great and had positive experiences there.

Good luck to you!!

I ABSOLUTELY ADORE the midwives group at Swedish Covenant. I could go on and on and on and on about how fantastic they are and how wonderful my experience was - and the lactation consultants and other staff at the hospital were great too.

Congrats on #2! Sara Eggemeier is a super fantastic midwife!!!

Northwestern Memorial Physicians Group
680 N Lake Shore Dr Suite 810
Chicago, IL 60611
###-###-####

The entire practice is great- 5 midwives and 5 OB's- all of whom are affiliated with Northwestern Memorial Hospital (Prentice.)

Sara listens to your needs, addresses your concerns, and provides great suggestions. She has wonderful bedside manner and wonderful personality!

The midwives are very supportive of natural birth, water delivery, doula, etc. BTW, Prentice just opened a new state of the art facility this past fall '07. It's a very very nice hospital! Anyway, back to this practice... all the midwives are great! My favorites are Sara and Julie. I look forward to going back there in the future. Good luck!

I delivered all 4 of my children at west suburban hospital in oak park.
I had great experiences. My docs were dr jullian archie and dr acharya. They are fabulous.
I know you mentioned midwives. I believe these docs have added some midwives to their practice.
I also know west sub has an incredible natural birthing center. (I did not go this route, I had drugs. I'm not as brave!) but. I toured it and know some people that used it with wonderful experiences.

Hope this helps!

K.

Hi S.,

I had a VBAC at Northwestern's Prentiss Hospital. I had a very good experience. My doctor is apart of the Women's Group of Northwestern. However, if you are specifically looking for a midwife, one of my girlfriend's delivered both of her children at UIC hospital and they have a very good midwife program. I'm sure that they would be VBAC-friendly, as well. Good luck.

Univ of Illinois has a midwives group. The advantage there is that you are also in a setting that if there is any reason that you do end up needing the medical model eg. baby goes into distress etc, you are in a unit that has all the level 3 perinatal center equipment etc. I don't have their contact details immediately at hand, but if you are interested, one of the women in my knitting group is a midwife with their group and I could get the info if you email me.

S.,
Congrats on your decision to VBAC.

Almost 2 years ago I delivered (VBAC) at UIC with the midwives there. The group I went through was Charity Cooper and Kathleen Harmon, but I have heard good things about all of the midwives there. Charity used to be at University of Chicago before they dropped their midwifery program.

I was thrilled with my birth experience (and did it drug free as well).

I have not seen an OB in YEARS . . .my pregnancies and checkups have been through midwives.

If you want more info, I'd be happy to share. I would also recommend looking into a Bradley Birth.
B.