My OB is on vacation 5 days after my DD. ADVICE!

[quiero a mi bebe]

So, I have to drive to the next town to have my baby in the hospital there, because they don't deliver in my small town.  I just went for my 1st visit with her and she said she is leaving for vacation on April 2nd (my due date is March 28th).  She is so awesome, open to what I am comfortable with, and really experienced. Everyone who has had her at their birth from here in my town said she was amazing fat their births.  My dd is 5 and the OB was also gone when she was born, and the experience I had wasn't great. I know the experience doesn't all depend on my OB but I really want her to be there. She said we could make it happen before she leaves and at first I said I wanted to let baby come when baby is ready, but now I'm thinking maybe we could try sweeping the membranes or something a couple of days after my DD if I go over.  Any thoughts or advice? I would really prefer her to be there and not someone I barely know! Plus I know she will let me do what I want if it isn't dangerous to baby or myself, and she has a great energy and personality! 

[AAK]

Who will be handling her patients when she is on vacation?  Is it possible to meet that person as well.  That way, you could make a better choice as to whether it is willing to risk not having your own dr at the birth.  Also, does your ob otherwise actually attend all births--or is she part of a rotation.  If she is part of a rotation, it is just as likely that she wouldn't be at your birth anyways.  

If it were me, I wouldn't try to start labor based on this.  (I know I wouldn't -- same situation with my first born.  Turns out, I keep babies cooking for a while and dr was back from vacation before she was born).  Anyhow, many obs don't come until the end anyways, so I wouldn't alter the birth of my child based on who was catching.  If I were having a hospital birth again, I think it would be better to find out about the nursing staff and if there was a way to request a specific nurse.  That would have been more useful to me that time.

Amy

[FarrenSquare]

I second what the above poster said. My doctor went on vacation during the week of my due date - and I didn't find out until I was a good 8 months in! I was pretty ticked when I found out she "forgot" to tell me, but ultimately I realized that depending on the situation, day, or even just time of day - there was a chance that she wouldn't deliver my baby anyway. As it turned out I was over a week past dates and she was back by then - but it really didn't make a difference, as the previous poster said, the doctor is such a small sliver of the experience, after 24 hrs of labour and almost 2 hours of pushing it didn't matter if an elephant was delivering my baby as long as it was OUT.

The best thing that happened during my hospital birth was shift exchange and being given the "natural-birth friendly nurse" who encouraged me instead of rolled her eyes at me.

[Climbergirl]

Meet her backups.  I wish I had after finding out at 39 weeks that my OB was going out of town on my due date.  Which, I went into labor on.  So I got her backup, which happened to be my doula's OB, but the experience made my doula stop seeing her. It got nasty (the OB berated my doula for not convincing me to do a c/s earlier).

Also, have your birth plan signed by your OB and have that in your hands with a copy in your file.  My records from the OB never made it to the hospital.

[Twinklefae]

I really disagree with the pps.  The doctor is not physically present, but is in phone contact with the nursing staff giving direction throughout your birth (at least here).  Also, if you have specific requests for the third stage, getting a back up who is unfamiliar with you is not a good idea.

Meet the backups.  Discuss your birth plan with them.  Make sure they understand that you have the full backing of 'your' OB.

[soso-lynn]

Honestly, a doctor who trusts her patients to make good decisions unless they are endangering themselves or the baby would never suggest inducing just because they were going on vacation. That, to me, sounds like a doctor who seems very nice and agreeable until they disagree with you and start telling you you're going to kill your baby if you don't comply.

The only 2 people required for your birth are your baby and you.

[MegBoz]

Originally Posted by soso-lynn 

Honestly, a doctor who trusts her patients to make good decisions unless they are endangering themselves or the baby would never suggest inducing just because they were going on vacation.

I agree. That's a red flag to me.
 

I wouldn't try membrane sweeps to induce either. Besides, I have the impression more 'sorta natural' induction methods like that really only work when you're ready to go into labor anyway. (Research on efficacy of membrane sweeps is pretty mixed.)

Agree with others - get birth plan signed off by OB, bring extra copies, meet the backup OBs, request the best nurse when you arrive. Nurses really ARE a crucial component of the experience.

[quiero a mi bebe]

Thanks everyone.  It's true, the nurses are a  major part of it. I know that the nurses were the reason my experience was so bad, because they were telling me I wasn't in labor when I was.  My OB is the one there when you go in, always, unless she's out of town.  I met with the doc who replaced with dd1 two times before she was born, but I only saw her when I 1st went in to be induced and when she had to rush over when I was suddenly ready to push (guess I was in labor those 10 hours).  I guess I'll wait it out then, and get her to sign the birth plan.

[XanaduMama]

No chance of considering a switch to a HB midwife?!