All things prenatal in NYC

July 29, 2009 9:54 AM

We're expecting our first baby in January 2010, and I'm looking for recommendations for all things prenatal in NYC. Anything you can recommend from midwives and doulas to shopping and yoga would be greatly appreciated!

We're happy with our obstetrician for now, and if we decide to deliver with an ob, we'll definitely want a doula there and ideally it would be someone who is a midwife/doula. There are so many of them in the city that I have no idea how to wade through all the names.

I've been looking for groups of expectant moms to meet in the city but it seems like most of the groups are geared toward new parents with babies. I have found some group exercise classes, but I'm only 15 weeks and not showing at all and I wonder if it would be weird for me to attend.

I'm sure I'm not asking all the right questions, so I would love advice from anyone who has gone through this.

posted by defreckled to health & fitness (5 comments total)

There's a prenatal yoga place a few doors down from our apartment. I've never been there, but there are tons of expectant moms walking in there all the time, and it seems pretty popular.
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 10:04 AM on July 29

Seconding Prenatal Yoga Center. Not weird at all -- everyone from totally flat stomached just-found-out people to 42-weeks-please-God-induce-me is there.
posted by chesty_a_arthur at 10:06 AM on July 29

My friend, Wendy C. Ledesma, is a doula. I haven't had a baby, so I can't speak to her doula abilities, but I know what an intelligent, pleasant person she is, and were I to need a doula, she is exactly the kind of person I'd want.
posted by ThePinkSuperhero at 10:19 AM on July 29 [1 favorite]

The birthing center at Roosevelt/St. Luke is terrific — my sister had two there. You get a quiet private room with a hot tub to labor in and can have your OB, midwife, or doula deliver the child and then turn down the lights and pass out in the bed with your coparent as if you were at home — but if you need an epidural, or a doctor, or a whole maternity ward, it's just a floor away. Here are some raves on the Park Slope Parents forums.
posted by nicwolff at 11:51 AM on July 29

Several people told me not to ask my doctor about doulas. I'm glad I didn't heed their advice and did ask my doctor. He gave me the brochures of several that work well with the staff at my hospital.

Congratulations! Good luck with your search.
posted by freezer cake at 3:48 PM on July 29