Logistics of OB prenatal care with a planned UC-"oops!"

[MJoKirk]

I am still weighing my options as far as how/where/who this birth is happening...etc. We are, however, leaning very strongly towards a UC this time around, though I am getting prenatal care from an OB.

So tell me about the logistics of "oopsing" the doctor. I cannot tell him beforehand, but think he may know-as he is aware of my previous homebirth. I mean, I know I can just call and say labor went to fast, etc. But, do I ever have to go in? What about the baby? Can I just take the baby to the family doc to get the PKU and NB exam like I did with my planned HB, or will faking out the hospital throw a wrench in that plan? I have so many things running through my head, and want to have a clue what to expect and how to plan this.

I am, overall, not even remotely concerned and this is the perfect plan for us, but I am just worried about this one thing. I just have fears of having to go to the hospital postpartum (or even before) and them taking the baby and running all kinds of tests and doing all kinds of crazy stuff because I chose to have my baby at home, or (maybe even "worse" in their eyes) I had an unexpected homebirth.

Gah! Help settle my mind? I am sure some of you have done this.

[MittensKittens]

Why is it that you are doing an "oops" as opposed to simply having a UC? I can think of two reasons - because you really want the prenatal care, or to make paperwork (birth certificate etc) easier after the birth.

If it is just the first, then you will not have to go in PP unless you feel the need for some reason, and you can take your baby for a check up to your family doctor, or even call them over to your place if they will come. You won't need the OB for prenatals anymore, so you can just quit seeing them.

If it is for the paperwork, because you are uncomfortable admitting you wanted to UC, you probably will have to go to hospital post partum. You can have them check you over, and let them have a look at the baby in the presence of your husband to avoid having tests done that you don't want, or vaccinations given, while they check you up, and then you can go home. Unless they want to keep you in for something like "giving birth in an unsanitary environment" .

[lia_joy]

I had full prenatal care during my first pregnancy, and planned from about 20wks on having a UC. I didn't tell my OB. My thinking was I'd show up if I needed to, and it would make transfering hassle-free if I felt something wasn't right. I had a wonderful UC in the morning, and took my baby to his pediatrician that afternoon. I was honest and wasn't given a hard time about it, but they did talk me into vit K shot, which I felt was uneccessary, and it was a little much to be up and about so soon after birth for both of us, so for my subsequent births I waited few days to do the new baby check-up& PKU. I cant remember if my OBs office called before or after I scheduled my 6wk PP visit, but they called realizing he was born at home and asked if everything was ok, and if it was planned. I said yes, it was planned I just didn't feel comfortable discussing it/being judged so i had kept it to myself. They BS'd me about how I could have told and they'd have been understanding, which I know to be a lie, but the fact that they ACTED understanding still made the experience simple... I got some comments of disbelief when i went for my PP visit, but no horror stories of CPS being called or anything.... I think they were too busy to care that much about something that was done& over with.... I expect that's the usual case, but it is good IMO, to be prepared just in case there's one person in the office who gets really freaked out and feels like they need to pressure more "care' on you...
anyway, that was my experience
-Lia

[Jessie D]

I'm trying to convince DH to do the same thing. I know my Dr will want to induce if I go over 40 weeks because I have GD - but I'm hoping that I'll go into labor on my own, and just "wait too long to leave" lol

[cathicog]

Once the baby is born, as long as everything seems to be OK, there is NO need to take you or the baby to the hospital. As long as everything seems Ok. Keep an eye on your bleeding. It should stop within a few minutes of the birth. Your uterus should shrink down to 2 finger breadths below the belly button within a short time after placenta is out. If you want to have the baby checked out by a ped, I would do it within 3 days, so if you want to have a newborn screening test, it can be done then, or if you need Rhogam(I think that has to be done within 72 hrs of birth- but that might not even be an issue). I wouldn't say ANYTHING to the hospital/doctor, as long as everything is fine. No need to. Babies are born all the time outside a hospital, and there are more germs in one than in your home. I would do a lot of reading to know what is normal postpartum and what isn;t...Heart and Hands by Elisabeth Davis, and Spiritual Midwifery helped me a lot...