She tried using the scare tactics.

[athenalove46]

I had my last appointment with my OB today. Well, my OB was on vacation, but his partner subbed for him. My midwife has been trying to get my records but they have been giving her a difficult time about it. She asked me about it and I told her we have decided to have a homebirth. Then she tells me that she was going to have one too (coincidence?). The part that really got me was when she told me she *almost* had the anesthesiologist come to her house to give her the epidural. I thought the reason to have a homebirth was for less intervention. But then got right into the, "well, what are her qualifications? What if the baby can't come out? What if something happens? I would like to know that if something happened to me I'd be right there where they could help me right away." She went on and on and had me "explain" what my fears were about the hospital and why I wanted a homebirth. I'm really glad they didn't assign me with her, I probably would've switched before now.

I like to think that this labor is going to go well (granted, I know nothing is predictable) but I've had 2 very healthy pregnancies (now almost 3) and 2 very successful births (with my first one weighing in at 10 lbs). I want to do this birth on MY terms. Not the hospital's. So, she suggested I spoke about it with my reg OB at my next appointment. But, sadly, there won't be any more appointments with them.

[velveeta]

How rude! She doesn't know what she's talking about, anyway. You can't have an epidural at home -- any major anesthesia like that must be given in a hospital because of the risks. She doesn't sounds very knowledgeable at all.

I am happy for you that you are having your homebirth! Buh-bye weird midwife.

[moonglowmama]

It's so like OBs to presume they own you and your baby and are somehow responsible for your decisions, or even think that they have a say-so in your decisions, as if they're the worst mother ever!

I hope you have a rockin homebirth filled with love and joy!

[JennTheMomma]

She reminds me of Dr. Lisa from the Doctor's (which I don't watch but I watched it when Ricki was on it). If something goes wrong you can go to the Hospital, I don't know why people think that if you have a homebirth you must stay there at all costs and can't have a back up plan. Sheesh!

[Pookietooth]

Luckily you won't be seeing her again!

[gillibean]

How irritating, as if you owe her anything. What a relief that you're not going back.

[guestmama9969]

Did I read that right?

Oh My goodness- I would have aksed her if SHE realized how dangerous it would be for someone to come to your home to give an epidural that is insane. That is so reckless and dangerous (something obs love to say to home birth Moms!)
Incredible!
I saw on here on another thread that someone had a very very detailed birth plan for if a transport does take place I think that was brilliant. The way I read it it was for everyone to be on the same page- the mom, the dad, teh MDwife and everyone involved in her care- very wise. We did not do that and I wish I had. I also suggest that you inform the paramedics in your town when you are in labor in case you have to get to the hospital in a hurry. A good HB midiwfe will do that for you- that way the "chain of responsibility" is all on the same page and there will not be any delay should you need to see a doctor or your baby need to see a doc for some reason shortly after birth.
There has got to be (I hope) another doc with a more reasonable point of view in the practice!!!

[terrabella]

Originally Posted by athenalove46

So, she suggested I spoke about it with my reg OB at my next appointment. But, sadly, there won't be any more appointments with them.

[jojoboy]

That was us for birth #1. We just decided we had had enough "conversations" with our OB and left.

It reminds me of the OB in the Ricky Lake documentary who has no idea what a homebirth is like, or what a midwife brings with them. After a while, I just felt like I was speaking a different language.

Here's hoping for a safe and glorious homebirth.

[Noelle C.]

Geez, I swear so many OBs think that they are gods or something. There's a reason why hospital births with OBs have more problems. Interventions are used too frequently! Having someone come out to do an epi? Oh geez.

What if you had the baby in the hospital and they give you drugs and tell you after and the baby won't come out because of the intervetions and a c-section is needed?

Two can play at the what-if game!!

[Juniperberry]

aw, I really feel for you.

I had a similar experience with my OB. had her for my first birth... hospital, epidural, assissted birth... not great...

for my second was seeing her and then joined up here.. did lots of research and decided at the rather late time of about 36 weeks that I wanted a midwife and homebirth!
Well... you should have seen her face when I told my OB. She looked totally gutted and dissappointed and said how silly this 'hippie movement' is with people believing they can do this on their own. Didn't I realise birth is Dangerous... she followed on with a few horror stories... kept saying 'and WHAT will your midwife do if x, x and x happens? hmmm??' I felt so horrible...

to cut a long story short, I labored at home and had the babe in hospital because of gbs, but my OB arrived too late so I had my totally natural birth anyway, with my midwives, not a drop of anything in my system apart from a shot of antibiotics..so it was perfect

I will have my next baby at home, with midwives. I'm not saying my OB isn't a good doctor, I personally think that she's a great medical doctor, but that's just it isn't it.. she's purely medical... and the fact that she called midwives 'prehistorc nonsense' makes me so mad.

anyway, that turned in to a looong post! but just to let you know you're not alone. What you want really is worth fighting for. And poo to the mean OB!

[Youngfrankenstein]

Even my CNM is using the What if thing. She doesn't know I'm having a hm but while discussing my possible "big baby": "What if the head comes out and the body doesn't, that would be horrible!" DUH!!!

[BanditaMamacita]

Wow, reading these stories, I just have to say how lucky I feel! The head CNM at my OB practice actually asked me if I had been thinking about homebirth, and when I said I loved the idea, she just laughed and said, "It seems like every patient we have who has a few great birth center births makes the switch eventually."

[PrettyHippie]

I can relate. When I was about 20 weeks with my daughter we had the "talk" with the OB we had at the time about what I did not want in labor and she basically told me I couldn't have what I wanted at all. She said I had to have and IV, had to be strapped down and hooked up to fetal monitors, no food or drink, nothing. She was essentially right out of med school and considered herself low-intervention. We never saw her again. We found our homebirth midwife and never looked back. We had Willow at home after 26 hours of labor, happy and healthy. We later heard that that same OB we had been seeing apparently reported a homebirth couple to child services for some stupid "I want to try to prove something" reason. Little did she know both of the parents were lawyers. My understanding was it came back to bite her in the backside. Good luck and best wishes to all homebirthers!

[DCMama01]

Originally Posted by PrettyHippie

I can relate. When I was about 20 weeks with my daughter we had the "talk" with the OB we had at the time about what I did not want in labor and she basically told me I couldn't have what I wanted at all. She said I had to have and IV, had to be strapped down and hooked up to fetal monitors, no food or drink, nothing. She was essentially right out of med school and considered herself low-intervention. We never saw her again. We found our homebirth midwife and never looked back. We had Willow at home after 26 hours of labor, happy and healthy. We later heard that that same OB we had been seeing apparently reported a homebirth couple to child services for some stupid "I want to try to prove something" reason. Little did she know both of the parents were lawyers. My understanding was it came back to bite her in the backside. Good luck and best wishes to all homebirthers!

Good!