I'm having a really hard time deciding what to do. I have my first appt set up with the OB that delivered DD just to have some sort of care started, but I can't decide if I want to stay with her for my care & delivery.
I absolutely adore her, she delivered DD (lucky because there are 8 doctors in the practice and I could have had any of them) and was completely supportive of my natural delivery and no intervention pregnancy/delivery. She has helped me get pregnant both times. (I have PCOS and was unable to conceive without Clomid/HCG) As much as I like her and the other physicians in the practice I had really wanted to see a midwife with this pregnancy. I had hoped I'd get pregnant without assistance and could just get set up with a MW and my OB would never know :blush: Not only did that not work, but to add to the awkwardness I now work at this office. I know she would understand if I chose to go with a MW, not only because I now work there, but she knows my lifestyle and preferences during pregnancy.
To add to the reasons of not staying with her is that she is no longer delivering at the hospital that DD was born at. It's a smaller hospital and more laid back, I guess you could say. They offer a lot of alternative laboring techniques and are very supportive of natural, drug free births, alternative delivery positions, nonvaxing, etc. She now only delivers at the big hospital that is much more medically minded.
Normally it would be an easy decision to go with a MW because I want to deliver at the same hospital, but since I work at the office that my OB is at I would get a 30% discount on my bill through them for my prenatal care & delivery. This would be a pretty significant savings and I just feel like it should factor into my decision.
I know that I will likely have a fine experience at the bigger hospital. I plan to labor as long as possible at home as I did with DD so hopefully I won't be there long. (I was checked in 3 1/2 hours before she was born) I'm afraid though that if I don't progress as quickly as they would like that I would have to fend off interventions and such.
So, what would you do in my situation? Stay with the OB and just hope that the big hospital respects my birth wishes and be prepared to fight if needed? Or say forget the money, our birth experience is more important and go with the MW and smaller hospital? I personally would love a home birth, but DH is not on board with that so those are my options. Sorry this is so long and thank you if you got to the end of it!
