x-posted in BF-ing, because I want to hear about it from a vaccine and BFing point of view.
I'm a few days shy of 40 weeks pregnant and we have spent the past few months interviewing every ped and family doctor in our area. We live in a very, very liberal and natural-minded area, but it's still hard to find doctors who both take insurance and are open-minded about AP and selective/delayed vaccinations, etc.
So here's what we narrowed things down to. Vaccinations and BFing support are my 2 biggest concerns when choosing a doctor (plus I've automatically ruled out the practices that give sleep training seminars). I have been going to an amazing family doctor for the past few years. She is alone in her practice, she has no nurses/receptionists, she is available so easily by phone or email (and often will use lengthy email correspondence instead of going in), she does newborn home visits (amazing after having a HB!), she sees you for either half hour or hour long appointments... but best of all she is a working AP mom who questions the vaccine lobby and has such wonderful advice in which to wait for and which to start with, etc. I love the idea of actually having a doctor who will help me with this difficult choice. I really respect her medical philosophies. She considers us the expert on our baby and is not pushy in the slightest.
Our other option is a group practice. I really like one of the doctors, but not the whole group. This one doctor is a ped AND an IBCLC! Problem: she's on maternity leave the first 2 months of our baby's life. We would have to see another doctor in the practice during the hardest BFing months and when I'm returning to work and building my freezer stash. This office is open to sel/delayed vaccinating but it would probably be a negotiation/debate/argument at every appointment. And of course, appointments would be quick 10 minute normal doctor ones.
So I so clearly want to go with my family doctor. The catch is she doesn't take insurance and the other doctors do. Visits would be between $150-$250 EACH (most 1/2 hour appointments would be $150). We would get a small back from our insurance after meeting our deductible, but not much. She also charges a yearly administration fee of $250 per family.
Part of our problem is we don't know if my DP has a job right now. If his company signs a contract we've been waiting for, he will and we would probably have the money to go to the doctor we love. If he doesn't get this contract, we won't have any choice in the matter.
What do you think? Is it worth the money to really have someone you can trust and learn from about these really hard questions???
I'm a few days shy of 40 weeks pregnant and we have spent the past few months interviewing every ped and family doctor in our area. We live in a very, very liberal and natural-minded area, but it's still hard to find doctors who both take insurance and are open-minded about AP and selective/delayed vaccinations, etc.
So here's what we narrowed things down to. Vaccinations and BFing support are my 2 biggest concerns when choosing a doctor (plus I've automatically ruled out the practices that give sleep training seminars). I have been going to an amazing family doctor for the past few years. She is alone in her practice, she has no nurses/receptionists, she is available so easily by phone or email (and often will use lengthy email correspondence instead of going in), she does newborn home visits (amazing after having a HB!), she sees you for either half hour or hour long appointments... but best of all she is a working AP mom who questions the vaccine lobby and has such wonderful advice in which to wait for and which to start with, etc. I love the idea of actually having a doctor who will help me with this difficult choice. I really respect her medical philosophies. She considers us the expert on our baby and is not pushy in the slightest.
Our other option is a group practice. I really like one of the doctors, but not the whole group. This one doctor is a ped AND an IBCLC! Problem: she's on maternity leave the first 2 months of our baby's life. We would have to see another doctor in the practice during the hardest BFing months and when I'm returning to work and building my freezer stash. This office is open to sel/delayed vaccinating but it would probably be a negotiation/debate/argument at every appointment. And of course, appointments would be quick 10 minute normal doctor ones.
So I so clearly want to go with my family doctor. The catch is she doesn't take insurance and the other doctors do. Visits would be between $150-$250 EACH (most 1/2 hour appointments would be $150). We would get a small back from our insurance after meeting our deductible, but not much. She also charges a yearly administration fee of $250 per family.
Part of our problem is we don't know if my DP has a job right now. If his company signs a contract we've been waiting for, he will and we would probably have the money to go to the doctor we love. If he doesn't get this contract, we won't have any choice in the matter.
What do you think? Is it worth the money to really have someone you can trust and learn from about these really hard questions???
