breaking up with OB

[labortrials]

I had my 20w ultrasound this past week and everything looks great.  I was relieved that my placenta isn't growing near/on my cesarean scar.  So, I'm ready to cut the cord and stop seeing my OB.

However, I would prefer to do this in a manner that would allow me to possibly go back under his (or someone else he recommends) care should something come up later on in the pregnancy that risks me out of homebirth.

Anyone have suggestions?  I'm nervous to do this, but I know I'll feel more ready and accepting of my plan to HBA2C once I've done this.  TIA!

[sharita]

I left 3 different OB practices (3 different pregnancies) and never even told them, just didn't show back up or make a next appointment and would you believe not one of them called to check on me, lol.

I left the first as my insurance changed and I could go see the OB I really wanted which was closer to me.  The other two I left for a midwife after the ultrasound or shortly after.  I just failed to make my next monthly appointment and they never called or asked why.  I have even been back to one of them after leaving them twice (I saw this particular one with 2 of my pregnancies) and they never asked but when going over my old charts (I went back to get repeat pap after one came back abnormal) They noticed that they saw me during my pregnancy but not for the birth so I told them I lost my insurance and had to pay out of pocket for a midwife.  They just said, "Oh, Okay" and was more curious how my homebirth experience was and thought it was cool.  Yep, the OB loved that I had a homebirth, haha.

[MegBoz]

I wanted to try to somehow "maintain" the relationship with my hospital-based CNMs to potentially ease a transfer. Thankfully, 2 in the practice are not only very friendly to HB, they know my MW personally & 1 says she's considered doing HBs with her! :)

That CNM just told me to come in a few times throughout the 2nd half of my pregnancy. I absolutely did NOT want to do full-on "shadow care" & go there for ALL the apts! She hasn't put in my chart that I'm planning an HB since some of the OBs in the practice might give her a hard time.

I went at 20W, then didn't go again until 32. They actually DID call me! It was around 30W - left a VM, "Its' important for your health & your baby that you come back." Wow! I went at 32 and again today (36W6D). I have an apt scheduled for next week, but I plan to call & cancel, reschedule for the next week (cancel again) & hope I don't get back on the radar...

In the event I make it to 41 or even 42W and then have to transfer in labor, I asked what would happen if I hadn't been there at all between 37W and labor at 42W. One CNM shrugged and said, "So we say you're a non-compliant patient." Like, "So what, who cares?" So both the 2 CNMs are cool with this plan. So my "transfer" birth plan doesn't admit I'm a "transfer".

My HB MW (a CPM, which is illegal here in Maryland - so stupid!) wants me to keep the relationship this way too so I can go in for any testing later in PG if the need arises. So far so good. (I think she has 1 backup OB I could go to, but he's far away from me.)

Any chance you could swing it like that? Even if you don't TELL the OB your plans, just come in rarely. The only hassle might be GD testing - but I told the CNMs -- for the record-- that I borrowed a glucose meter "from a diabetic friend" & did the food-based test & I gave them my numbers. (To be honest, if I HAD been planning a hospital birth, I would have done that anyway if I could actually have gotten my hands on a glucose meter!)

GBS lab test isn't included in my HB MWs global fee, so it was all the same to have it done by the CNMs anyway so it's on the record there as being done. So, again, I'm pretty good as far as the records with the CNMs are concerned (just missed a few apts here and there.)

Best of luck!

[mdnaturalmama]

I actually see the same MW as MegBoz and I'm using Drs that are close to her as back-ups for any testing later in preg that my MW can't write orders for. I asked my long time OBs if they would be my back-ups(since my MW's back-ups aren't anywhere CLOSE to the hosp I would transfer to) and they declined. So, like you, after my u/s at 20w I didn't go back anymore. I now have seen my MW's back-ups once(today actually), they are very cool with what she does and they told me to come in again if anything at all is needed. They also said they'd by my back-ups if hosp transfer was needed but I explained how far they are from me and that that wasn't an option. Which stinks. It blows my mind that these two drs can somehow work being back-ups for my MW but mine won't do it. I'd say either do what Meg said or see if your MW has one that backs her up. Good luck!  =)

[labortrials]

Thanks!  No, our local OBs wouldn't DARE back up a HB MW.  We have a CNM (used to have hospital priviledges; she worked for an OB who died; his birth center "died" with him) who is running an independent birth center, and no one will back HER up either.  Such BS.

Good idea for me to ask my mw about GD testing.  I don't know how some of that would work with my insurance under her care since HB isn't covered.