Diagnostic u/s

[Vespertina]

How many of you are opting for one? I'm planning a homebirth and had previously been dead set on having one done to detect or rule our any problems since Ds had a lot of complications. Since moving I'm just not sure about looking for a physician just to get the scan done. I don't want to go through all of that. I'd have to keep my homebirth plans secret since most will not take you on or see you as a patient if you're planning one.

Since I'm new to the area I'm still in the process of interviewing midwives. I called an ultrasound studio that offer scans for women that opt for homebirth, but it's not a traditional level II diagnostic scan. They just check the weight, growth, and position of the baby.

What are you ladies doing?

[babymonster]

I am having it, it gives me peace of mind, but we don't have the same issues here with homebirth and OBs. That must be a real PITA.
I guess I would try not to think about all the inconvenience of finding a doctor, and just consider your feelings about the scan itself.

[ithappened]

I, like babymonster am having it done (tomorrow actually!) but we don't have the same issues here either with having to choose one way or another... Could you get an OB then just happen to 'decide on a homebirth' later?

As for the scan, I am having it done because it something was terribly wrong I would consider the termination option if I was going to have a still birth, etc. So for me, it makes a difference. I think if I was going to continue the pregnancy regardless, I wouldn't have it done.

[justmandy]

You could just schedule your scan with an OB and then not go back. I did this with my early lab work.

In my area, CPMs are illegal, some drs will work with mine and some will turn her in. She has a good contact and that's who will be my backup (in case of non-emergancy complications) I'm going there to get my U/S.

When interviewing midwives, you could ask for Homebirth friendly practitioners. She'll have the most information.

It does suck to live in an unregulated state...well, except we generally pay less for our mw's!

[evinmom]

Originally Posted by justmandy

When interviewing midwives, you could ask for Homebirth friendly practitioners. She'll have the most information.

I live in the same area as the OP. There are currently no homebirth friendly practitioners in this area unless they are hiding under a rock somewhere. I got fired from an OB practice after deciding on a homebirth and not going back to the OB practice. A few months after the birth, I received a nasty letter from the head OB. In it, he stated that from now on even if I were to be transferred during an emergency and he was the OB on call he would refuse to treat me. A friend of mine happened to be cyber-stalking him on an open MD forum at that time and showed me all the posts he made about his decision to fire me. He wanted to use me as an example for all other homebirthers. I was told to pick up my files from their office. When I opened the files, I realized that he had written across all the pages, "HOMEBIRTH" in big bold letters. I'm sure he meant it as a way to blacklist me in case I ever went to another OB practice.

To the OP, there is a ultrasound school downtown that will do diagnostic ultrasounds for free. However, the techs performing the ultrasounds are students so you will need to be prepared for them not knowing what they are doing. They are overseen by a doctor, but due to them being novices, a typical ultrasound will take 45 minutes. I chose not to do this because I didn't want the extended exposure. No other places around here that perform diagnostic ultrasounds will give you one without a doctor's script.

[nina_yyc]

Can you wait until you have a MW? If you are not considering termination I don't think it's a big deal if you wait past 20 weeks.

[justmandy]

Originally Posted by evinmom

When I opened the files, I realized that he had written across all the pages, "HOMEBIRTH" in big bold letters. I'm sure he meant it as a way to blacklist me in case I ever went to another OB practice.

:Puke I hate medi-bullies. Good for you for doing it anyway.

The only homebirth friendly practitioners are in another town, the "Baby Hospital" here is who will turn her in. They're building a Birth Center I can't figure that out at all...well I can, and it scares me.

Anyway, if you haven't already been to The Big Push site, I recommend going there if you're in an unregulated state. They have information on contacting your legisature to get this all legal.

Sorry to hijack your thread, Semper Gumby, I'll try to keep on topic from now on. :

[~Kristina~]

I used an ob til last week for the genetic testing and scans.

[ErikaG]

I live in a pretty homebirth friendly state and I'm opting for a Level II scan.

There are things that might be found between the quad screen and an ultrasound that would make me rethink birth plan-there are things that would make me feel less comfortable with a homebirth...certain heart issues, for example, where the transfer time from my home to a hospital with the appropriate level of NICU wouldn't feel comfortable to me. I'd aim for birth with a midwife or the OB we used last time in the hospital, as natural and low intervention as possible-I had a hospital birth with my daughter (high risk pregnancy) and the birth experience, while far from ideal was low intervention, and something I could cope with again-it was the hospital pediatrician who turned me off of hospital birth more than anything.

[Vespertina]

Originally Posted by evinmom

I live in the same area as the OP. There are currently no homebirth friendly practitioners in this area unless they are hiding under a rock somewhere. I got fired from an OB practice after deciding on a homebirth and not going back to the OB practice. A few months after the birth, I received a nasty letter from the head OB. In it, he stated that from now on even if I were to be transferred during an emergency and he was the OB on call he would refuse to treat me. A friend of mine happened to be cyber-stalking him on an open MD forum at that time and showed me all the posts he made about his decision to fire me. He wanted to use me as an example for all other homebirthers. I was told to pick up my files from their office. When I opened the files, I realized that he had written across all the pages, "HOMEBIRTH" in big bold letters. I'm sure he meant it as a way to blacklist me in case I ever went to another OB practice.

To the OP, there is a ultrasound school downtown that will do diagnostic ultrasounds for free. However, the techs performing the ultrasounds are students so you will need to be prepared for them not knowing what they are doing. They are overseen by a doctor, but due to them being novices, a typical ultrasound will take 45 minutes. I chose not to do this because I didn't want the extended exposure. No other places around here that perform diagnostic ultrasounds will give you one without a doctor's script.

Yikes, but I guess I don't expect anything else from most OB practices. A lot of websites will say they will not knowingly take on a patient with plans to homebirth. The midwife I spoke to today mentioned that school, but said it might not be something I'd want.

I'm thinking of just seeing an OB to get the ultrasound and then stop going after that point. That's what the midwife said her patients do if they want the scan. I'm not in a rush to get it done now, but I do want to have it done at some point. My homebirth plans would change if there was something that needed immediate medical attention (CHD).

I only know of one homebirth friendly OB in the area that is friends with a midwife in the area. I can't think of her name for the life of me.

[flapjack]

If you don't have a midwife, you're not planning a homebirth and you can book temporary care with the OB with a clear conscience. Then reconsider your priorities, re-evaluate your options and find a care provider more suited to your needs.

Oh, and yes, I'm having a full abnormalities screen because I can't get a placental position check done any other way

[toughcookie]

i'm having my 20-week scan done tomorrow, then that's it with prenatal from my OB - will transfer to midwife care if all looks fine on the scan. i don't feel bad about it, and i'm not worried about retaliation, because i'm moving across the country (from midwife-unfriendly MO to midwife-happy VT).

if i were you i'd get the scan done to ease your mind about homebirth, then go ahead with your plans.

[babymonster]

Originally Posted by evinmom

A few months after the birth, I received a nasty letter from the head OB. In it, he stated that from now on even if I were to be transferred during an emergency and he was the OB on call he would refuse to treat me. A friend of mine happened to be cyber-stalking him on an open MD forum at that time and showed me all the posts he made about his decision to fire me. He wanted to use me as an example for all other homebirthers.

Wow.

[Tattooed Hand]

I feel a bit weird now reading this thread. I don't want any genetic testing or ultra sounds unless there is a reason for me to think something's wrong. Does this mean I am a bad mama?

[babymonster]

Originally Posted by Tattooed Hand

I feel a bit weird now reading this thread. I don't want any genetic testing or ultra sounds unless there is a reason for me to think something's wrong. Does this mean I am a bad mama?

No, of course not! It's just a different way of looking at it

[Lexi_029]

Tattooed, I never did any genetic testing with my first two but we did do ultrasounds for medical reasons. I don't think that makes you a bad mama!