Thoughts on Legacy Midwifery Services
Does anyone have first-hand experience with Legacy Midwifery Services? Michelle says:
I am 31 weeks pregnant and have very recently decided that I am not as comfortable with my OB as I feel that I should be (a series of small issues have eroded my trust). This is my first pregnancy - and perhaps a case of hormones gone wild - but I am seriously considering switching practices at this late stage, if I can find another provider willing to take me on. One option that I'm looking into is Legacy Midwifery Services. Do any of the mamas out there have experiences with this practice that they'd be willing to share? Thanks!
Nothing with Legacy, sorry, but I loved Providence Maternal Care Clinic.
Posted by: Caitlin | June 17, 2007 at 08:06 PM
I loved Providence Maternal care clinic as well- no idea about Legacy.
Posted by: maxiosvela | June 17, 2007 at 10:13 PM
Trust your instincts!
I LOVED my midwife from OHSU. I switched from a well-respected OB midway through pregnancy #2 because I wanted a different birth experience. (I delivered #1 at Good Sam.) I ended up having an unmedicated waterbirth that was all that I had wanted and more. All of the midwives are excellent and their new facility is unbelievably posh. (The hospital isn't new, but I had a view of Mt. Hood from my recovery room). I highly recommend Linda Glenn and Polly Malby and midwifery care in general.
Posted by: Audrey | June 18, 2007 at 07:52 AM
I had my second child 8 weeks ago with the midwives at Legacy Emanuel and I had a wonderful experience. I think the biggest concern most have is that with several midwives on staff, there is a good possibility that when you go into labor, it may be with someone you have never met. This happened to me, and it was not a big deal. I think all the midwives at legacy are on the same page, so as long as you are honest with them on how you want to be treated, that is what you are going to get. I had a 17 hour, drug-free labor and was never asked to speed things up. I found the nursing staff at legacy to be incredibly sweet as well, and the midwives worked with them harmoniously. It was a very calm birthing vibe, even though we were in the hospital. I would highly recommend the switch.
Posted by: gemma | June 18, 2007 at 11:00 AM
I switched to Legacy Midwifery during my first pregnancy(my child is 5)after realizing that my first OB was not my style. I was very happy with them and chose to meet with a different midwife for each appointment so I would have met them all by the time I was ready to deliver. I was happy with the whole situation. I did end up switching to an OB with my next pregnancy for two reasons. When I delivered I ended up in an emergency situation in which a perinatologist needed to be called in for a vacuum delivery since the midwives are not legally able to do it. It all went smoothly and he arrived quickly but the variables scared me the next time around. Also, I originally wanted an unmedicated birth which the midwives supported but the next time around that was less of a priority to me. However, the OBGYN who I now go to is equally compassionate as any of the midwives I saw and I'm sure would support anyone's birth choices. I think this is true with most of the OBGYNs in Portland, though I know there are some exceptions. Congratulations and good luck!
Posted by: Robin | June 18, 2007 at 07:41 PM
I appreciate the feedback! I did decide to switch. I know my OBGYN is a fine doctor, but this was the right decision for me at this point in time. (Robin, thanks for the perspective that what's right can change depending on the situation!)
Posted by: Michelle | June 19, 2007 at 11:13 AM
I used the Legacy Midwifery services to deliver my son three weeks ago. I've had nothing but positive experiences with them. The resident (student) midwife ended up being my primary attendant during the birth, which was fine with me. The primary midwife was supervising and available. I'd met the resident several times during visits and I knew I liked her.
I had about 11 hours of labor and the only drawback is that I wish I'd had an epidural. The whole experience was very painful for me. The midwife encouraged me to try non-medicated pain relieving strategies, per my instructions on my birth plan. If I have another baby, I know I'll get an epidural.
All in all my experiences at Legacy Emmanuel were great. I was almost sorry to leave the hospital after two days (first baby, it was great to have all of the expertise and the nursery at our fingertips). I'll definitely go back to Emmanuel and the midwives!
Posted by: Becky | June 20, 2007 at 01:48 PM
I'd like to second the comments about OHSU, with another second to singling out Polly Malby and Linda Glenn, although I'd also add Penni Harmon, whose "do the hula" suggestion got my daughter past a cervical lip in 10 minutes that had her stuck for hours!
I started with Legacy, and I really liked the midwives there, so since the questioner has switched to Legacy I'm sure she'll have a terrific experience. I switched to OHSU only because I'd heard through nurse friends (and informally confirmed by the nurses at Legacy and OHSU) that the midwives at OHSU have more autonomy and fewer restrictions on cases where they have to hand the process over to a doctor.
I'd deliberately bounced to as many midwives as possible during my appointments, so even though I had three during the labor, I'd met them all. I even had the nurse who'd taught the birthing class. Though the natural labor was hard, it was what I wanted and they respected that (and I definitely think that the fast recovery made it worth it). I've never felt so pampered in my life as they all encouraged and supported me. I can't recommend them higher!
Posted by: Heidi | June 21, 2007 at 04:03 PM
I used this thread when researching midwives, so I thought I'd pass on some thoughts for future moms. We chose the Legacy Emanuel Midwifery Clinic and we were really happy with our decision. We had the philosophy of midwives (less interventions during pregnancy and labor) and all the medical tools of a hospital. We met and got to know each of the midwives in the practice and their style during the prenatal apointments. They were all friendly and open to our birth plan (we wanted to labor at home as long as possible and then have a natural vaginal birth in the hospital). The advice nurse was also great - she always returned my calls during pregnancy (about irregular heartbeats, etc) promptly, with helpful answers.
I was two weeks overdue, so I was induced (I commented on the thread on induction with pitocin with labor details), but I felt like we were always presented with our options and the risks and benefits of each choice. Betsy Hayford was the midwife who delivered our baby, and she delivered four other babies that night at the hospital. Even with all the other births going on at the same time, she was very present when she was in the room with us. Her suggestions for pushing positions really helped, and she was a calming influence on us all. Mary was there for the first day of my induction and was a great midwife too.
One drawback to the clinic is that you don't know which midwife will deliver your baby beforehand, because it's the oncall CNM that attends labor and delivers the baby - although I guess even if you have an OBGYN throughout your pregnancy, you aren't guaranteed she/he will be there to deliver your baby. I would recommend getting a doula as well, since you may not know the delivery midwife that well, and you can build a relationship with the doula and she can help be your advocate and support person along with the midwife. We hired a doula from Mother Tree Birth Services: Peggy Sue - she was amazing.
Peggy Sue had experience assisting with all kinds of births and had a broad knowedge of the birth process and risks/benefits associated with different birth choices. When we decided to be induced, I was disapointed we weren't going to get to labor at home, but Peggy Sue helped us navigate through our options and maintain other parts of our birth plan. For ex, even though I was induced with pitocin, I was still able to labor in the shower and tub at the hospital with my husband and have a vaginal birth.
During my labor, my husband encouraged and coached me the entire time - he was incredible. Peggy Sue soothed my back with massage and cold wash cloths, and helped out so my husband could get some breaks to eat and rest. I couldn't have done it without them.
Posted by: Sara | September 25, 2009 at 11:37 PM
I am going to have a baby and am new to Sandy,Oregon. I will be delivering at mt.hood legacy hospital, I have chosen june hobbs as my Midwife.Does anyone knoe anything about her or this hospital?
Posted by: chrystal | February 26, 2010 at 11:59 AM
I am really happy to read all of you comments on the Midwifery at legacy. I left my OBgyn last month to transfer my care to Legacy. I didn't feel as though I was getting all the care I needed with an OBgyn. I have had one appointment so far with a midwife at legacy and I have to say, it was incredible. I felt such love and warmth from the entire staff. Our midwife was very in tuned to how I was feeling and how my pregnancy was going.
I am really looking forward to my birthing experience now that I have made the decision to switch. I am having an all natural water birth in April, and I have to say that I am 100% comfortable with my switch.
Posted by: Janay | January 01, 2011 at 06:18 PM
"I am going to have a baby and am new to Sandy,Oregon. I will be delivering at mt.hood legacy hospital, I have chosen june hobbs as my Midwife.Does anyone knoe anything about her or this hospital?
Posted by: chrystal | February 26, 2010 at 11:59 AM "
I too have June Hobbs, what was your review on her?
Posted by: Crystal | January 04, 2013 at 01:43 PM