UP/UC New Yorkers what do you do for proof of pregnancy, etc?

[OrangeMoon]

I am having the hardest time getting information from vital statistics (can't even reach them), I've talked to the call center people twice who know NOTHING.

What do you need to do for proof of pregnancy to get a birth certificate and social security number and stuff?

Thank you!!!

[OrangeMoon]

No on has any advice? :-( I don't even know who to call other than the vital statistics call center. They said an actual vital statistics person would call me back and they haven't. All of this is kind of starting to stress me out.

[ashleypLC]

Did you get an u/s done during the pregnancy?  Bloodwork?  Can anyone other than family verify you were pregnant?  I don't know about the rules in NY but in NC I had my husband and a friend sign for proof plus I had an ultrasound which really made no sense because it's not like she verified that it was my uterus!  The only other thing we needed was proof of residency.  Why not just go down to vital records?

[OrangeMoon]

You're right, I should just go down there to get answers, that's a good idea. The tricky part is I'm doing zero prenatal care with a doctor. My husband is actually a doctor so I think he could technically fill out whatever proof of pregnancy stuff but no one can tell me what those things are. Good idea, we'll just go down there and hope CPS isn't called on us.
 

Originally Posted by ashleypLC 

Did you get an u/s done during the pregnancy?  Bloodwork?  Can anyone other than family verify you were pregnant?  I don't know about the rules in NY but in NC I had my husband and a friend sign for proof plus I had an ultrasound which really made no sense because it's not like she verified that it was my uterus!  The only other thing we needed was proof of residency.  Why not just go down to vital records?

[AtYourCervices]

With my first UP/UC in NY, her father just went in and got a birth certificate without a problem. 

With my second UP/UC, I don't think we really needed to provide proof of pregnancy, but just in case I had a positive pregnancy test from Planned Parenthood, and I took my son in to the pediatrician's office the day after her was born. I could tell the nurses & doctor were observing/studying me to make sure I was the bio mom and not someone that just cut the baby out of a mama's belly. 

These births were in 2001 & 2002, btw, and in two different cities in NY. I don't know if the laws have changed since then. Hasn't really applied to me. 

My friend was able to take a hpt at the WIC office, and they used that as proof of pregnancy for her to get services. 

[OrangeMoon]

Thanks for the response! I'd be fine with peeing on a stick at planned parenthood. It was just really nice not having to go to vital statistics with a newborn last time around. My midwife then filled out whatever paperwork and sent it in. We don't do pediatrician's visits unless something is up so unless absolutely necessary I'd prefer not to do that.
 

Originally Posted by AtYourCervices 

With my first UP/UC in NY, her father just went in and got a birth certificate without a problem. 

With my second UP/UC, I don't think we really needed to provide proof of pregnancy, but just in case I had a positive pregnancy test from Planned Parenthood, and I took my son in to the pediatrician's office the day after her was born. I could tell the nurses & doctor were observing/studying me to make sure I was the bio mom and not someone that just cut the baby out of a mama's belly. 

These births were in 2001 & 2002, btw, and in two different cities in NY. I don't know if the laws have changed since then. Hasn't really applied to me. 

My friend was able to take a hpt at the WIC office, and they used that as proof of pregnancy for her to get services. 

[Mamatoabunch]

I do not live in NY, but I refuse to go get a proof of pregnancy note from anyone. I have used my own prenatal records as "proof" or a pregnancy confirmation I filled out myself. 

[OrangeMoon]

Rock on! I would love to do this. What do you use for your prenatal records? And do you just send that in with whatever other forms to get the birth certificate and social?
 

Originally Posted by Mamatoabunch 

I do not live in NY, but I refuse to go get a proof of pregnancy note from anyone. I have used my own prenatal records as "proof" or a pregnancy confirmation I filled out myself. 

[Mamatoabunch]

Originally Posted by OrangeMoon 

Rock on! I would love to do this. What do you use for your prenatal records? And do you just send that in with whatever other forms to get the birth certificate and social?
 

Originally Posted by Mamatoabunch 

I do not live in NY, but I refuse to go get a proof of pregnancy note from anyone. I have used my own prenatal records as "proof" or a pregnancy confirmation I filled out myself. 

I use the forms in the back of Heart and Hands midwifery book. I call after birth to vital statistics. They say what they want me to send in; in order to send me the application, I say this is what I have as proof. Then they send the registration form to register the birth, after confirming I am legit. On the application there is a box to check to have a SS# automatically sent to you. Each state is slightly different, but they cannot deny a birth cert b/c you lack the exact info they want.

[OrangeMoon]

Originally Posted by Mamatoabunch 

Originally Posted by OrangeMoon 

Rock on! I would love to do this. What do you use for your prenatal records? And do you just send that in with whatever other forms to get the birth certificate and social?
 

Originally Posted by Mamatoabunch 

I do not live in NY, but I refuse to go get a proof of pregnancy note from anyone. I have used my own prenatal records as "proof" or a pregnancy confirmation I filled out myself. 

I use the forms in the back of Heart and Hands midwifery book. I call after birth to vital statistics. They say what they want me to send in; in order to send me the application, I say this is what I have as proof. Then they send the registration form to register the birth, after confirming I am legit. On the application there is a box to check to have a SS# automatically sent to you. Each state is slightly different, but they cannot deny a birth cert b/c you lack the exact info they want.

Genius!! lol. You're a lifesaver! I'll go and look on amazon for the book with the forms. The problem here seems to be that you can't call the actual vital statistics office, you can only talk to the call center and to say they're totally clueless is an undestatement. So after I have the babe I'll have my DH run down to the vital statistics office with these forms and maybe a few other things for proof, but if he physically goes down there will they want to see the baby before giving him the application? I guess I can go down there with the newborn but I'd prefer not to if I don't have to. So do the birth certificate and social security number go hand in hand? Like if you have the info they want for one you get both?

[ashleypLC]

We didn't have to have the baby as proof.  And the SS# and birth certificate do go hand in hand.  When you apply for the birth cert they ask you if you want a SS# and will request it for you.  Let me know how it goes!  We're in NJ and will be doing the same thing :)

[OrangeMoon]

Awesome!! Thank you for the support, and best wishes and luck to you as well neighbor! :-) I ordered the midwifery book to fill out the forms, and I'm going to have my DH write me a script to go pee in a cup to confirm the pregnancy. I'll also be getting maternity pics done this time around so I may just hold up a current newspaper in one just to cover my bases, lol. I can't imagine that between those things that wouldn't cover it. Can you believe all the snow we've gotten this year? Holy canoli! At least it's finally starting to feel a little like spring now that it's melting a bit.
 

Originally Posted by ashleypLC 

We didn't have to have the baby as proof.  And the SS# and birth certificate do go hand in hand.  When you apply for the birth cert they ask you if you want a SS# and will request it for you.  Let me know how it goes!  We're in NJ and will be doing the same thing :)

[Tumble Bumbles]

Edited.

Edited by Tumble Bumbles - 4/10/11 at 1:52pm

[Mamatoabunch]

Originally Posted by Tumble Bumbles 

Wow you guys have it so easy in your states!

In our state I need to either:

Have a county employee (nurse) come to the house to 'confirm' the birth actually happened <-- no way that's happening.

or "present" the baby at vital statistics with the parent(s) along with two statements from people stating they were aware of the instances leading up to/immediately after the birth (but they don't have to be at the birth).

Also, proof of pregnancy, which I have because I did have prenatal care initially with a midwife.

I checked my state requirements for registering live births without a doctor or midwife in attendance -- the laws and stuff are all online and fairly easily accessible with some searching. I had to do some digging around, but I found them and I will be printing out the relevent statutes to have on hand because the people at vital statistics are utterly clueless when it comes to planned UC. The person I spoke with on the phone from vital statistics alluded to the fact that it's illegal... it's not. She told me a county doctor would have to 'examine' the baby, they don't. She said someone other than my husband and myself had to attend the actual birth, they don't. So, finding information out yourself according to state laws/statutes is so beneficial.

I think my state may have stricter requirements because we have a very high population of undocumented aliens, but who knows.

My state is large, but not very populated. It would be difficult for most to visit vital statistics, w/ baby in hand, since it is only located in the capital city.