Juneau Family Health & Birth Center

I had every intention of having a natural birth at the birth center in Juneau. Unfortunately...my baby nor my body had the same plan. I did all of my prenatal work at the birth center and was so excited to work with the midwives. They were great and really listened to my concerns and took their time with me.

When it came to the birth portion, that was a different story. It was a difficult labor, complete with vomiting throughout. My poor husband was the target of most of my vomiting sessions because, no matter how many times I told the midwives I was going to throw-up, they never seemed to get that receptacle to me in time. After long hours and trying different position while pushing, I became exhausted. It was then suggested to me that I should try the "birth bar". I ponied up to that "birth bar" with everything I had left in me and started to feel weak and light-headed (could it

have been from the dehydration?). I informed the midwives that I felt as though I may pass out, but they told me to "power through it". I passed out falling backwards, head toward the birth tub.

I ended up being in labor for 24 hours & pushed for nearly 7 of those hours! From what I know now, no women should ever have to go through that. After the 24 hours of labor, one of the more experience midwives suggested it was time to go to the hospital. This meant that I had to walk out of the birth center while having back to back contractions with barely a breath in between. That's right! Their facility did not have a wheel chair. I had to walk out. I thought I was going to have my baby in the hallway on the way out of the Center. Once to the hospital, they made sure I was pushing hard enough (which was soon very obvious). I was so swollen from pushing that long that they had a very difficult time finding my ureter opening to insert my urinary catheter. They then rushed me into the OR for a C-section & out came our perfect baby. Relief!

Later on, one of the midwives suggested to me that I didn't push hard enough during my labor and that was why I had so much difficulty (even though the doctor at the hospital told me my pelvis was too narrow for the baby to pass). The blame was put on me and I was furious. To put more salt on the wound, our insurance, payment and refund was a nightmare. I paid for the birth a month before I went into labor and didn't get reimbursed until 5 MONTHS LATER. I should also add that they went through 3 different billing people while I was associated with the Center. Very frustrating. Also, one of the midwives was constantly trying to sell me products that I didn't want and I felt hassled for not wanting these things she was trying to sell.

Now I do want to add that many people I know had perfect births at the Center and loved it there. I am completely for a natural birth and it should be done whenever possible. However, sometimes you have to know when to give up (before 7 hours of pushing). It is commonly known that women feel traumatized with latent emotions after giving birth by C-section. I felt this way about my labor (not the prenatal care) at the Juneau Family Health and Birth Center. I feel they did not have me in their best interest and they pushed me to hard to have the baby at their facility. I had a wonderful doctor at the Bartlett Hospital that checked on me periodically after the C-Section and felt very well cared for.

Overall, JFH&BC needs a wheelchair, limits on labor times, stop pushing their personal products on people, to listen to the woman in labor & trust her that she's trusting her instincts & need to get their billing department in check. It IS great for advice, breastfeeding services, prenatal appointments, pregancy classes and births that actually go according to plan.