Anyone fire their doc late in the game?

[Calleiah]

Im 36 weeks as of yesterday. My doc blew our gender surprise last week, informed me she was doing another sono in a few weeks over an issue I've already seen a specialist about (and he said it was so minor as to NOT even be an issue and no further sono's were waranted), and wanted to start cervical exams this week. I declined the CE's today because a) Im GBS+ and would prefer to not have her messing around down there, b) because I know my cervix is long and very very posterior, c) I question the need to even do it at this point and d) it doesnt really tell us anything about my readiness to go into labor. She laughed at me, called me a "silly goose" like I was a small child and then informed me that next week she WOULD be doing a cervical exam and that she cant tell if baby is head down without one, or that I could be very dilated and close to delivery and I might just get home and Ooops, out comes baby! She also claimed that she HAD to do one, it was important because she NEEDED that info.
I pretty much just sat there shocked at the load she was trying to feed me. I mean seriously? She cant tell if baby is head down? My baby might FALL OUT? head:

So yeah, there was no discussion (partially cause I was totally flabbergasted that she would claim such stuff and talk to me the way she did) she just informed me of what she WOULD be doing next week.

So anyone been in the position of changing docs at 36 weeks? WWYD in my shoes?

[MaerynPearl]

Obviously she doesn't understand that YOU are the boss, not her. She is working for YOU.

I say go for it, find someone else and hurry! If she treats you like this now Id hate to see what happens during labor!

[MissMorgan]

Yup I've done it. She is not someone you want at your birth. Start calling up other doctors tomorrow. Good luck! (btw I have an awesome OB that I switched to late in the game so do know that they do exist!)

[nova22]

I switched at 36 or 37 weeks with my first pregnancy. Best decision I could have made.

[COgirl19]

absolutely change, NOW...RUN! There is no way I would let that woman be near me at birth. The things she said are absolutely ridiculous. My CNM's can tell perfectly well that baby is head down without CE's and it is up to me if they want to do a CE anyway. Calling you a "silly goose"? I can't imagine what she would do in labor if you refused an unnecessary intervention. Switch now!

[crayfishgirl]

Yes, in the delivery room when my water had broken but I was not yet in labor, and he indicated the the baby needed to be delivered within the next 6-8 hours or it would risk her life and mine. I was so fortunate that the other doctor (my hero) had a similar philosophy about unnecessary interventions and I was encouraged to labor on my own at home and without restriction and delivered 41 hours later.

Switch now.

[vulnerable]

Originally Posted by crayfishgirl

Yes, in the delivery room

40 hours into labor I also fired mine! Should have switched earlier but where I live it was impossible to find a Dr who would take you after 20 weeks

[EllyMayMomma]

I fired mine on Monday, baby was born on Thursday. I drove 6 hrs 2 days before my due date to just drop into my old OB's office. He was no longer delivering but got me in with someone else the same day. The doc I fired had been condescending, much the same as yours and it got so much worse the last week, saying he was the doctor and he was the one that knew what was going on, not me, that I could not tell anything because I did not have the medical training, actually yelling at me when I did not agree with him (I was an RN and in law school and he still treated me like a complete imbecile.)

Your body, your right to not allow anyone to poke around down there until you are good and ready. Informing you that you would consent next week is not acceptable. And if she can't tell if the baby is head down without one, perhaps she is in the wrong business.

[Calleiah]

I have an appointment with a new OB next week, recommended by my kids very low intervention, non-vax friendly, intact friendly Ped. This is the ONLY OB she recommends, the rest are birth centers (which I'd love but my insurance is being difficult). Here's to hoping she and I hit it off well! I havent really found any info online about her other than basic info. Im so excited to move on, I've wanted to for a while now but I just kept lying to myself. Yesterday was the final straw!

[Ellen Griswold]

Originally Posted by Calleiah

I have an appointment with a new OB next week, recommended by my kids very low intervention, non-vax friendly, intact friendly Ped. This is the ONLY OB she recommends, the rest are birth centers (which I'd love but my insurance is being difficult). Here's to hoping she and I hit it off well! I havent really found any info online about her other than basic info. Im so excited to move on, I've wanted to for a while now but I just kept lying to myself. Yesterday was the final straw!

Good for you! Let us know how it goes.

[nia82]

Good for you! Tell us how it goes! I wish I had done that when I ran into issues with my obgyn at 35 weeks with DS! I'm glad you could switch.

[Magali]

Well, just yesterday at 32 weeks, I decided I will not be going back to see the Dr. for the duration of my pregnancy...unless I have some sort of problem, and in that case I will go to the ER and not the Dr. I have been seeing. Dr.s are in short supply here, and midwives are non-existent, and I do not have the mental/emotional stamina to go through prenatal visits with someone who doesn't see eye to eye with me about childbirth. I have got all the testing out of the way that I want and can't do at home.

[crpsmnwife]

Originally Posted by MaerynPearl

Obviously she doesn't understand that YOU are the boss, not her. She is working for YOU.

I say go for it, find someone else and hurry! If she treats you like this now Id hate to see what happens during labor!

I've had this same problem during both of my pregnancies. First pregnancy: I fired my OB/GYN at 34 weeks, and found an awesome family practitioner to take me on.

This pregnancy: my OB (not the cool family practitioner) threatened to fire ME at 39 weeks b/c I stood my ground. He was also trying to tell me that some things were "required" (not true) or that "we'll just do it at your next visit". No, actually, you won't.

But no sweat. My doc doesn't realize he's my shadow care, so my husband and I weren't even worried about it this time around. He did call me last week though, to apologize for getting upset and said that he would continue to provide care and would respect our wishes...

[JudiAU]

I switched very late with my first. After the birth my midwife (large practice- never met her) confirmed that I would have had an csection with any OB, including every ob in the hospital in their shared group. But especially "that one" who practiced in a different hospital.

[Calleiah]

Just wanted to update. I had left a message with the new doctor 2 weeks ago, she was out of town so her staff told me to go ahead and have my files transferred since she was taking transfer patients. So I waited all last week for the doc to call me back. I called twice to see what was taking so long and was told she was getting caught up from being out of town and they'd remind her. I called again on Monday (because hey! Im now 38 freaking weeks here!) and they said they'd call me back within 5 minutes. They did... to inform me she doesnt take anyone after 34 weeks! I admit it, I kind of lost it on the receptionist. Here I've transferred my files, called repeatedly and they are just NOW figuring out she's got a policy of not taking transfers after 34 weeks? Insane! Thanks for wasting my time and leaving me without care since I've already moved my files!
Oh well, I've absolutely LOVED not having to go to the doctor the last two weeks! It's over 100 degrees here and the less I have to drag my kids out in the heat and sit around in a hot waiting room the better.

[Baby~Braatens~Mama]

Oh, dear!

At least you have a positive outlook! Are you going to keep looking for a new OB?