I recently found out that I am pregnant and would like to have my baby naturally, but I am on Tenncare. I heard that Vanderbilt has an excellent midwifery program, but I am unsure if they accept Tenncare. Does anyone know how costly it is to have a mid wife deliver the baby in a hospital? Any advice will be very much appreciated.
To everyone who responded, thanks so much for your wonderful feedback. I made an appointment with the West End Women's Health Center. I am so excited! The mid wife group sounds amazing. This will be my first time going all natural (hopefully - if all goes well) so I wanted to be sure that I will be in good hands. Thanks again!!
N.
N.,
My daughter is just 10 weeks. She was delivered at VUMC by a midwife. We love the Vandy nurse midwifes and plan to use them again tn the future. I saw Susan Lewis the whole pregnancy and can't say enough good about her. We also participated in the centering pregnancy group. I would especially recommend this! You can google centering pregnancy and get tons of info about it!
Good luck. Congrats! You'll love the Vandy nurse midwives.
N.,
I had my baby with the vanderbilt midwives and tenncare paid for every penny. The only drawback was that the CNM(certified nurse midwife) has to adhere to more of a medical model than a CPM(certified professional midwife). I wound up having to fight an uphill battle to not induce my baby early, because they thought she had IUGR-which is when the baby stops growing in utero. All the ultrasounds and non-stress tests came back normal, and I just knew she was fine so I fought it. It was not easy, but I got them to let me hold out till a week after my due date, when my doula helped me do some natural things to get labor started. I had no epidural, but wound up on pitocin, with IV's and a continuous monitor, all things I did not want. Turned out my baby was fine all along, they just got the due date wrong and so she seemed smaller than she should have been.
All in all my experience there was better than it would have been with an OB, but next time I will save up the $3000 to have my baby at home, which is a very safe, positive option. I know a WONDERFUL midwife in the Middle Tennessee area, who acted as my doula since I went through the hospital. She did my childbirth classes at our home, educated and supported me, and stayed next to me every second of my labor. If you want more information, feel free to email me at ____@____.com
Good luck! Having my baby "naturally" was the most empowering, rewarding experience of my life, and I admire you for taking that road. Also, if you do go through the vandy midwives I would also recomend Susan Lewis. She was not my main midwife, but was on call during my labor and was there when I was laboring. She was kind, respectful and competent. I knew I was in good hands.
-K.
Hi N.,
I go to the Vanderbilt Midwives and they are great! YES! They do take Tenncare (VHP and bluecross) I am also pregnant but I went to them for my son as well. Here is their website to get some more information.
http://209.85.165.104/search?q=cache:tRAa15lulWkJ:www.van...
Hope this helps. If you have any more questions feel free to ask me.
~J.
I am almost 100% sure that Vanderbilt takes Tncare. I worked for a Tncare plan in the past and our main provider network was for Vanderbilt. It may depend on what type of Tncare you have. You can call and check with the Mid Wife department at Vanderbilt to make sure.
What you heard is true. Vanderbilt has an EXCELLENT midwifery program and they DO accept Tenncare. I had my first child 8 months ago, and two of my friends had children in the last 2 years and we all had the same midwife in the delivery room! It was without a doubt the best experience I could have asked for. There are about 8 to choose from and I think they are all wonderful. You need to contact the West End Womens Clinic-that is the office the midwives work out of. Hope this helps and congratulations!
HI N.!
I had the most wonderful experience with the vanderbilt midwifery and YES they accept tenncare! There will never be anyone else to deliver a baby of mine. I had my daughter in the hospital and if you have tenncare, you will be completely covered. Obviously you will have to have the baby at Vandy, but they are all great there. The midwives are the best! I enjoyed every check-up and while I was in labor it was the most serene, pleasant birth anyone in the room had ever seen. Everyone in the room was impressed with midwives. Of course you play a roll in the experience, but I love them! let me know if you have any other questions.
C. Williams
Hi N.!
I just had to write and let you know that my 7 month old daughter was delivered by the Vanderbilt Midwives. I wouldn't have changed a thing! I have had both my babies naturally but only the second with the midwives. What a huge difference! Wonderful ladies! Whether you go natural or need some help they will take care of you. I am very excited for you! God Bless - M.
