I did a midwife group that had some sort of agreement with a hospital. All my checkups were at their small clinic while the actual l&d was in the hospital with one of the midwives. Midwife and nurses were all about helping me through an unmedicated birth while some of the best ob's in the state were just down the hall if shit hit the fan. I hope if kid #2 ever happens, I can find a similar set up.