Birth Certificate, PA?

[Mommal]

Hi Mamas! Anyone else having trouble with the PA Vital Statistics office? I have sent in my request for a birth certificate twice now. The first time they claim they didn't receive the paperwork. They sent me a new form to fill out, along with someone else's completed form (isn't it nice to know how well they respect people's privacy?), and I filled that out and sent it in. It's now been >6 weeks since I sent in the second set of paperwork, and I have yet to receive a birth certificate for my kid. I've e-mailed and called, and not heard back from anyone.

Am I being punished for having a homebirth?
Are they just incompetent?
Any suggestions on the next step to take?

[LauraCochran]

Usually PA Vital Stats is fast and responsive. I've never heard of someone having this kind of trouble before. However, the woman who has dealt with homebirth in that office for... ever pretty much is retiring soon and has been training a replacement. I've seen a couple things slip through the cracks recently and I think it's due to the transition.

Try having your midwife call. There are contacts available for midwives that are not available to the general public.

[Mommal]

Thank you! That does explain a lot. The day I wrote my frustrated post, I got an e-mail from the vital stats folks saying that my kid's birth certificate had been issued and mailed weeks ago. Apparently it vanished into the black hole that exists between me and Harrisburg, but I'm encouraged. At this point, hopefully all I need is a new copy!

[jenmidwife2b]

I agree with Laura, that is quite unusual. If you don't receive it soon, call Vital Statistics back again and ask to speak with Beverly. She's the one who processes the homebirth certificates.

[Rejoicing]

I've heard it can take a while if you are not going through a professional. Could your midwife help you? If you have to resend anything, just be sure you send it certified so you will have a receipt.

[Mommal]

Originally Posted by Rejoicing

I've heard it can take a while if you are not going through a professional. Could your midwife help you? If you have to resend anything, just be sure you send it certified so you will have a receipt.

My midwife did submit the first set of paperwork. Vital Stats claims they never received it. My MIL (who is a CNM) submitted the second set of paperwork for me. This time the Vital Stats claims that they received it and issued the certificate... But the certificate itself never showed up in the mail! Now I'm waiting for a response on my last e-mail- the person who is supposed to be handling this is out of the office.

I agree, it's VERY weird!

[Galatea]

My baby is 7 weeks old and I still have not got it either.  I have to call I guess?

[Mommal]

Yeah, definitely call them!  I have tried e-mailing and it's useless.  [phone] is the number- make sure you talk to a real person or you get stuck in an endless phone tree.  Nice, right?

[Mommal]

Update: birth certificate is said to be on its way, at last!  It was mailed to the wrong street address, and no-one bothered to call us when it bounced back to the vital stats office.  Moral of the story: be persistent, keep calling!!!

[Galatea]

Mine showed up today!