I can't decide.

[Almi]

So I'm getting regular prenatal care with an OB/GYN, but I plan to have an "oops" UC.

Should I take the babies to the hospital after birth, or should I take them to a pediatrician?

I would like to avoid the hospital panic of bringing newborn twins in, but I'm assuming my hospital/OB will be wondering where I went if I don't show up to either give birth or with babies.

Plus, I'd want to recover at home, so I wouldn't want to bring them in right away after they were born.  The hospital would be extremely skeptical if I did this.  (They'd also be skeptical if I presented to them twins that have been clamped with cord clamps.)

If I take them to the pediatrician, what do I tell the hospital/OB?

What's the easiest way to get a birth certificate and any other necessary records?  Maybe give me a list of everything I will have to get after they are born?

Please help me decide based on my situation...and tell me what you've done in the past and what the outcome was.  Thanks so much!

(I'm glad I've been planning this for the entire pregnancy...there's so much to learn and think about!)

[sunnymw]

I'm gonna jump on the bandwagon of this post because I'm thinking about the same thing.

Last time (and laws vary by state) we just needed our IDs, proof of address (utility bill), two signed and notarized witness statements saying they saw me give birth, and one proof of pregnancy (I brought a fax photocopy of an ultrasound report). The woman acted like she did it every day!

Now the reason I'm subbing to this post is because I do want prenatal care and my former MW moved to Atlanta. So I plan on doing care with my old OB/GYN but then not going for the birth. Maybe saying at the end I'm switching providers? (Which would be the truth, sorta). And then just going to the pedi--our pedi is *AWESOME* and she'd probably be like "Oh, neat!" like she was last time, LOL.

But yes I'm also pondering the "won't they call every day?" thing so I'm wondering if I should go in for my file and say that I'm moving/switching providers/whatever. That way I have proof of pregnancy too.

[TrishWSU]

All you have to do is call your ob's office after the fact and tell them you had your babies (or not, it's highly unlikely they'll call to check on you if you don't.) If you call the office you're more than likely going to talk to the receptionist anyway, who is just going to take a message and put it in your file. If you decide to go back to the same ob for a 6 week PP check up or something like that then you'll probably have to answer a few questions (play dumb, lol!)  I would just plan to take them to your ped within the first week if you feel like it's necessary.

With my UC we just went to the health department and filled out the BC paperwork ourselves. They never asked for proof of pregnancy or anything! (Although I'm pretty sure we were the only homebirth they had dealt with in a very long time because they were completely clueless at first. We called ahead to find out what the required to get a birth certificate with a HOME birth, and they kept saying "Oh, the hospital will take care of that.") Requirements for getting a birth certificate will vary from state to state and county to county, so check with your local health department on what the requirements are.

[BarefootScientist]

Subbing (or trying to).  If I don't get my HB MW, I'm going to be trying to go this route.  I'm thinking I will have a family practice doc all picked out beforehand, call the CNMs to cancel my appts and so forth the next day or two, then call and make an appt with the doctor to get the baby checked within a week or so.  If they ask any questions, I can just tell them I had a homebirth (I know they've dealt with homebirth moms before, though not approved, and I don't have to say it was unassisted) and that I have a family doc who is checking up on the baby.

Seems like this will work no?  Unless homebirth is illegal in your state, then you'd have to say it was unassisted I suppose.

Birth certificate rules vary a lot by state and sometimes even county.  In my state I am pretty sure there is just a form I fill out.  It says right at the top, not to be filled out by the mother EXCEPT in the case of a homebirth, so hey I guess that means I'd fill it out. 

[Almi]

Thank you for the replies!  If anyone else has anymore input, it would be very welcome!

[sunnymw]

Homebirth is "alegal" in my state (illegal but not prosecuted) so I just stated to my pedi that we had a homebirth with a midwife (we didn't... we had a MW but decided to UC about 24 weeks in). That pulls the "Yes I was responsible enough to have an educated provider" card and I just refused to reveal her name.

[zoebird]

our doctor (family doctor) was supportive of our unassisted birth, and we took our son to him 3-4 days after he was born. it was no problem.

we lived in PA at the time, and i had to have two friends sign a notarized letter that i had been pregnant, and then information from the doctor about the baby on his letter head. and from there, just file and that was that.

[reikimama]

We were in GA with our U/C & moved away before we filed for a birth certificate.  You have a year to file in GA.  We just used the record info that we were going to have to file from the MWs anyway & had my cousin sign as a witness.  She was there an hour or two later, anyway.  I think you should be able to find out what you need from your state's vital record's office.

When he was born, I called the ped's office and said that he was born.  They asked if everything was okay.  I said, "Yes."  They said, "See you on Monday morning."  It was Thursday night.  He did have jaundice later on, but that cleared up.  The ped knew I was planning a homebirth, but not a u/c.  All he said about the homebirth, was "Have a plan B."  My plan B was "get my butt to the hospital and do what needs to be done."

When we went back to file (on a visit to my parents' house), I went to the Vital Statistics office in ATL to take care of everything.  He was born in Fulton County, so I had no choice but to deal with downtown ATL.  It didn't take long at all.  We got the birth certificate easily. 

Where there is a place to check for a SS card, I did, but somehow that "wire got crossed" and it never happened.  In 2008 or 9 (I can't remember), I tried to file in FL.  That's where I got the run around about not vaxxing b/c the vaccination records were a proof of identity for him.  I was even told that I was wrong in not vaxxing by one rep on the phone.  She was at the local office, so I called the main number and complained.  I ended up getting a vaxx exemption from the health dept and finally got his SS number.  That was the biggest hurdle.

[jljeppson]

Almi, you're in ND right?  I don't know which hospital you would visit, but I would suggest against it.  It's not unheard of for a hospital to insist on admitting a baby for "observation" because they were born in a nonsterile environment.  If it's the Bismarck area, I definitely wouldn't take them in.  You can insist on leaving without admission, but they have every right to call Social Services on you for refusing medical care.  You can get it worked out, but why deal with the hassle?  Of course this isn't a definite "This will happen!" scenario, but it's been known to happen.  Just take the babes to see your ped and don't worry about it.  I've never had a doc call to check up on me.  I let them know I had the baby and wanted to make an appt for a postpartum and left it at that.  No one has ever cared enough to ask more questions, one way or another (in more than one state).  As for the BC, you can print the paperwork off the net and take it in or pick it up from the courthouse. 

[Almi]

Yep, I'm right next to you in Fargo.  I go to Sanford (previously Meritcare).  Thanks, I was thinking of doing just that (just seeing the pedi and scheduling a PP visit with OB), and now I feel even more confident.  I now just need a pediatrician...know of any good ones in town?

[Sijae]

Don't have info on the BC issue but the only reason I would take a newborn to the hospital is if I thought it needed emergency medical care.  I would also wait at least 2 weeks after the birth to see a pediatrician, again unless I was concerned about something that I thought medical care could fix.  

[jljeppson]

If you want straight ped, I've used Dr. Lidia at the Children's Clinic on 13th.  She's used to nonvaxing/delayed vaxing, HB'ing, homeschooling, you name it.  I don't use her anymore but that's just because I like having a family practice doc so we use Dr. Walker at Southpointe, now that she's back in town.  If you really want a checkup right away, I'd be happy to do it for you.  They don't take long and I'd be going to you, rather than you needing to take the babies somewhere.  Just depends on your due date; I'm due in April and my house is up for sale.  I don't see us selling and moving before May, but you never know.

[lachingona1]

I am in the process of getting the BC.  I needed a notarized letter from DH stating he delivered the baby, at this address and at this time. Also a notarized letter from my SIL who was present.    A notarized utility bill, a copy of my ID, and the 12 page BC application.

I also would not take my newborn to the hospital unless an emergency...I wouldn't even take my newborn to the doctor unless you thought something was wrong.   

[Almi]

Originally Posted by jljeppson 

If you want straight ped, I've used Dr. Lidia at the Children's Clinic on 13th.  She's used to nonvaxing/delayed vaxing, HB'ing, homeschooling, you name it.  I don't use her anymore but that's just because I like having a family practice doc so we use Dr. Walker at Southpointe, now that she's back in town.  If you really want a checkup right away, I'd be happy to do it for you.  They don't take long and I'd be going to you, rather than you needing to take the babies somewhere.  Just depends on your due date; I'm due in April and my house is up for sale.  I don't see us selling and moving before May, but you never know.

Thank you!  

I'm mostly wanting a checkup for them not only to make sure they're fine and everything, but also so I can have records showing that a "professional" medical person has seen my kids, and that they are receiving medical care as needed.  Maybe I missed something, but are you a doctor?  Lol, I mean nothing by that, that would be great if you could check them after they were born, but it might be useless if I can't prove that they were checked by a "professional."  Very paranoid about CPS, because A LOT of people know we're having a UC.  And though I don't think anyone would be so "evil" as to call anyone on us...still paranoid. X3

[jljeppson]

Not a doc, but a (nonpracticing at the moment) midwife.  I'd be happy to fill out a birth record form for you, if you like.

[Almi]

Oh, really??  What does the birth record form entail, and where do I get one?  I'm feeling really retarded at the moment...like totally in the clouds...you can tell I'm getting closer to delivery.  Lol.

I would appreciate any help you'd be able to offer, thanks!

[jljeppson]

Sorry to take so long to reply, for some reason I either didn't get or missed the notice saying this thread had been updated.  As for a birth record, it's just a form with babes weight, size, etc and states that the midwife performed an exam, certifies that it was a home delivery, baby was born to these specific parents, things along those lines.  There's no universal form; it just depends on the midwife what is on hers and whether she carries one.

[jshannyn519]

So, if you need a notarized letter stating that someone saw you give birth, what happens if you were alone at the birth and there was no one there that witnessed it?

I'm planning on an "accidental" home birth UC and I'll be taking baby to our current pediatrician a day or two after birth so that there is a medical record of the actual baby being seen by an actual medical professional in case anyone needs "proof" of the birth. I'm in Texas which is very homebirth friendly, but I have no clue what the steps are to get the birth certificate and SS card, etc.

[Sharlla]

I did not take DD in after birth.  the BC process does not require a Dr note or proof of pg  in mo.  basically I just had the application notarized by 2 people and sent it in and a few weeks later her BC and SS card arrived.