Finding a Practitioner

Once I arrived home from Minnesota and took a positive test, I knew it was time to search for a practitioner. I did not know where to begin, as my previous practitioner for annual exams was a male OB/GYN. I knew I wanted a female and I preferred a midwife. That is all of the information I had to go on. Originally, I had thought we would do a home birth. Well, Tim wasn't comfortable with that, given it is a first pregnancy and neither of us know what to expect, whether I would be "high-risk" or have a "normal", easy pregnancy. So, we started doing research. At first, I thought I would find a birthing center, as I really do not want to go to a hospital. I thought this would be the next best thing to a home birth. We know a couple, who are friends of ours who have had all of their children at home and have had good experiences. I was unable to find a birthng center, so I started to interview 3 CNM's (certified nurse midwives). Again, I had no idea where to begin, so I asked my chiropractor, Dr. Keith Jordan at the Optimal Wellness Center http://www.owcenter.com/, since he has been so integral in helping me improve my health (for several years I had a lot of unexplainable symptoms no other doctor had been able to address - now the symptoms are virtually non-existent). He suggested Colleen Brezine at Lakewood Hospital. I interviewed her and immediately loved her. I also asked around to friends who were pregnant or have had children and received some other names to look into, and made some phone calls to other hospitals that were covered under our insurance. I interviewed 2 other midwives, at Southwest Genearl and St. John Westshore. I liked them all, but preferred two and eventually decided on Colleen Brezine. She has since moved to St. John Westshore, which has a nicer facility than Lakewood, so I am thrilled with the outcome.

I was not seen until week 11, on December 15th of my pregnancy for my first pre-natal exam, but everything was well. I was able to hear the baby's heartbeat, which was amazing! Tim was able to hear it at my next appointment on January 22. He thought it was pretty cool. Our ultrasound is on February 16th.