"I would say it was an oops anyway..."

[Tumble Bumbles]

I've read many threads in the UC board where the mama will say that if she had to transfer to the hospital, she would claim she was heading there anyway, the uc was an oops, she intended to go to the hospital but it went too fast and other variations. I am wondering how the hospital staff would believe that if one was UP'ing. I can see if one was seeing an OB or midwife their entire pregnancy and it really did appear to be an 'oops' (even if it was intentional) -- but for those of us who are UP'ing, wouldn't the staff ask, okay who's your OB or midwife? Then what?

I'm genuinely curious because I've briefly tossed around the 'oh, we were on our way' line when considering the unlikely (and most likely emergency, should it arise) transfer situation -- but that part has me stumped. Surely they would ask who your provider was? Or no? I don't anticipate a transfer at all, but I like to have a 'plan'.

BTDT of anyone who's had to transfer during a UC -- specifically related to UP'ing and how you navigated the staff  are welcome too!

[ElizabethE]

That's an interesting question!!!

I would just have to assume that they at worst would think you were being irresponsible in not seeking prenatal care without suspecting that you actually intended to go the way of UCing. I know that lots of women "neglect" prenatal care, whether it be for financial or insurance reasons, or just not feeling it's very important... etc. While prenatal care is typically considered very important, I don't think it would receive the same kind of villainous reception that UC would... do you? Maybe that's just my perspective. I guess I'm saying that a UP without an intended UC is more easily sympathized with?

Good question. Interested in the other responses...

[Tumble Bumbles]

 I do wonder if a confident approach would be more effective. Such as, we planned a partner-assisted home birth, we sought medical attention when we felt it was indicated, here's our prenatal information (I'm modeling my prenatals on my midwife's).

To me it would seem more likely to raise red flags if one said, "Oh I was heading here anyway but baby came too fast". Then they're like, okay, let's just call your midwife/OB for your prenatal records and you say "Oh I never saw anyone".

Again, this is for people who are UP'ing. If one is seeing an OB or midwife and planning an oops anyway, one could easily claim an 'oops'. Then say, my midwife is so and so...

[dayiscoming2006]

I don't think your confident approach would help you any. They'd just think you are a nut and consider calling CPS probably.

[Tumble Bumbles]

Okay so then what? Say, I was planning to come to the hospital anyway -- and they say, okay well give us the name of your OB/midwife and reply....how? I don't have one? I can't remember? I don't want to tell you? I never got prenatal care? I mean what would the answer be if one claimed they were planning the hospital all along (who was UPing, not someone who did an intentional oops -- they would then have the name of "their" OB or midwife).

I mean, I think that would be likely to get psych called down personally.

I'm not scared of cps to the level some seem to be. Sure, I have general fears but I honestly don't believe they are vindictive natural family witch hunters eager to tear apart stable, happy families. Especially ones who are within the law (UC is legal).

I was honestly curious as to what UPers who planned on saying it was an 'oops' would say in the event of a transfer when asked about prenatal care/OB/midwife.

[stik]

I spoke to a couple midwives and L&D nurses about this during my pregnancies. Depending on where you live, hospitals see a lot of women who show up in labor without ever having received prenatal care - hospitals have to accept patients in labor under EMTALA but pre-natal care doesn't meet any definition of an emergency.

The general assumption is that these families are in need and have very little information about social services.  Hospital staff would probably make a referral to the hospital social worker to meet with the family before discharge and make sure they know about how to get WIC, food stamps, medicaid or CHIP, and any other services they need, and to make sure that they have a safe place to live.  

Because there is no official record of care or testing, some hospital staff may also be pushier about precautionary treatments like placing a hep lock (they don't know if you're anemic or not), doing an ultrasound in labor (they don't want to be surprised by any serious problems), or administering eye goop and HepB vaccine after birth (they don't have any STD testing on you, and since you haven't gotten care earlier in your pregnancy, your child seems likely to be lost to medical follow-up). 

I think too much talk about why you chose not to seek prenatal care will really not serve you well.  Answer questions honestly, since if you choose to go to the hospital, you have a reason to believe you need care, and hospital staff need honest information to help you.  But they need to know about your condition, not your personal philosophy on birth and the western medical-industrial complex.  If they ask about your plans, keep your answers short and snappy - "I haven't been seeing anyone for prenatal care."  "I planned to have my baby at home."  "I felt fine until . . . " 

[Tumble Bumbles]

Thanks so much for your reply stik -- I totally agree that it's not the time to get on a philosophical soapbox  about birthing options. I also agree with you about claiming to be planning the hospital the entire time but denying any prenatal care. I would think they would assume you were uneducated, "at-risk" due to socio-economic status, and also that you'd accept all kinds of interventions/tests because you've had none. Great points.

We always planned on saying it was a planned home birth (both home birth and UC are legal here but home birth is more accepted) if the need arose and simply being honest that we felt the situation indicated medical care that couldn't be provided at home. I would only transfer in an emergency situation anyway (God forbid) so I don't know as a lot of time for "discussion" would be had until after the fact. At the same time, should an emergency be the case (and it likely would if I even chose to seek a hospital) I would want them to see the prenatal care I have already had, along with the US report and so on (I did have prenatal care until 24 weeks).  It may help me if time was an at essence.

I just spoke to my husband about it and he agrees that we would be honest -- but short and sweet without any details about our personal/political/religious stance. He made a very good point that being caught in a lie is not the best first impression to make on hospital staff if you are intending for them to be amiable and willing to work with you. I do tend to think claiming no prenatal care at all would make them more likely to think you needed "help" in the way of a social worker or cps involvement. I just don't feel one can play the "uneducated and uninformed" card and simulatneously play the "educated and informed" card at the same time. I would rather play the latter and at least have a chance of someone thinking I am halfway intelligent and made well-researched/thought out decisions.

[dayiscoming2006]

I UP'ed last pregnancy but, I was in Romania when I gave birth at the hospital and they don't really care what prenatal care you did or did not have. I wanted an UC but was stuck living with the in-laws and concerned how I'd get a birth certificate.

So, I can't tell you what I'd do. I kinda like your idea of saying you planned a home birth but felt the need to transfer or something, but I think that could still cause issues. Hopefully, there will be no need to transfer as I imagine no matter what, it may lead to dealing with dirty looks and potentially poorer treatment by hospital staff. I think the safest bet is to have some prenatal care off and on to make it more realistic that you intended to show up to the hospital, but I don't know for sure.

I'm about to end my short-lived prenatal care as I never want to see one of the midwives ever again. And they have a rule in their group that a patient cannot specifically choose a midwife to see regularly. So, oh well, no more prenatal care for me. I wasn't terribly impressed by the level of care anyway. I think I could do better other than the few lab tests they did at first. They haven't even done urine screenings to make sure there's no infections etc. Oh well. 

Anywho, do whatever you feel is best. I just hope to avoid the hospital all together. I think I would claim that I intended to go to the hospital, especially now that I can say I had some prenatal care. Sorry, I don't have a better answer for you though. 
 

Originally Posted by Tumble Bumbles 

Okay so then what? Say, I was planning to come to the hospital anyway -- and they say, okay well give us the name of your OB/midwife and reply....how? I don't have one? I can't remember? I don't want to tell you? I never got prenatal care? I mean what would the answer be if one claimed they were planning the hospital all along (who was UPing, not someone who did an intentional oops -- they would then have the name of "their" OB or midwife).

I mean, I think that would be likely to get psych called down personally.

I'm not scared of cps to the level some seem to be. Sure, I have general fears but I honestly don't believe they are vindictive natural family witch hunters eager to tear apart stable, happy families. Especially ones who are within the law (UC is legal).

I was honestly curious as to what UPers who planned on saying it was an 'oops' would say in the event of a transfer when asked about prenatal care/OB/midwife.

[tracymom1]

Tumble Bumbles, I can't see you trying to fumble your way through a lie in order to say what you think the hospital personnel want to hear.  I just don't think it's in your narture. If you are in that situation (and I KNOW you won't be) just say you were planning a homebirth and felt uncomfortable at the last minute so decided to come to the hospital.  Whatever happens from there is what happens, and you did what you thought was right and God will provide. 

[Tumble Bumbles]

Thanks for the input ladies. I'm at peace now after some praying and discussing it with my husband. I truly don't believe we will need the hospital at all but being in my nature to 'plan' and have an idea of what I would do 'in case of...' it helps me to work through these issues.

[ashleypLC]

I didn't have a UC with my last baby BUT I did have a midwife attend me in a state where it is illegal to do so. We had to go to the hospital 36 hours later for my newborn and they did ask where I delivered and with whom. I replied at home with a midwife. Period. I think another nurse tried to get a name out of me when we were admitted but I always responded "my midwife." They never called social services because we were clearly educated and acted polite. I can't say if the same would hold true for hospitals in other states but that was my experience. If we have to transfer with this babe I plan on saying the same, "we had a midwife for prenatal care and I labored/delivered at home too quickly." Plus I'll have all my own records much like I did when we did see a midwfie for prenatals.

[Mamatoabunch]

Originally Posted by tracymom1 
 If you are in that situation (and I KNOW you won't be) just say you were planning a homebirth and felt uncomfortable at the last minute so decided to come to the hospital.  Whatever happens from there is what happens, and you did what you thought was right and God will provide. 

This is what I always planned to say.

[ElizabethE]

Originally Posted by dayiscoming2006 

I don't think your confident approach would help you any. They'd just think you are a nut and consider calling CPS probably.

I don't know-- I actually don't agree with that. I think that as long as you keep it confident in a respectful way and not too cocky-- just prepared, educated-- it could work out.

[vegemamato]

I'm considering seeing an ob (well, med student) for prenatal care this time around in case we need to transfer.  I had a UP last time but I was also in birth-friendly Oregon instead of 'knock em out' Texas so I was a little more confident when it comes to the politics of birth rights..  For me it depends on where I live :)

[Logan]

Im not sure how it works in the US but here when we are on the homebirth midwife program you have to do one "book-in" appointment near the end of your pregnancy with the local women's hospital. So basically you are on file there in case of a transfer. I will probably have a homebirth midwife monitoring my pregnancy next time- they are pretty hands off in the program during pregnancy and its good peace of mind if you do UC. I don't mind being seen during pregnancy, and I feel it makes it a lot easier in regards to things like birth certificates and in case I need stitching and also makes claims of an 'oops' look more reasonable. But if I was going to UP then I would still do the book-in at the hospital in case of transfer (purely to cover myself). So I'm not sure if something similar happens in the US, or maybe your OB books you in or something? But maybe if you can just get yourself on file at the hospital in some way then it looks like even though you didnt seek any other care in pregnancy it was more just laziness rather than any alternative plans. Then you can say 'I was planning to come here all along, but then the labour kicked in so fast and I didnt know what to do" or something similar 

[sharita]

I would say I have no insurance and have done my own prenatal care.  Not illegal.  Especially if you do show up with records like your blood pressure checked once a month, weight records, kick counts, etc.  Or, just claim to have these but left them at home.  Cant remember everything when you are rushing out the door in laobr, lol.

[WindyCityMom]

Originally Posted by sharita 

I would say I have no insurance and have done my own prenatal care.  Not illegal.  Especially if you do show up with records like your blood pressure checked once a month, weight records, kick counts, etc.  Or, just claim to have these but left them at home.  Cant remember everything when you are rushing out the door in laobr, lol.

I really like this idea.  In a binder or something- seems pretty easy to do and would reinforce the idea that you have your head on straight :)

I wouldn't lie about insurance though.. I don't like lying!

[MittensKittens]

Originally Posted by Tumble Bumbles 

I've read many threads in the UC board where the mama will say that if she had to transfer to the hospital, she would claim she was heading there anyway, the uc was an oops, she intended to go to the hospital but it went too fast and other variations. I am wondering how the hospital staff would believe that if one was UP'ing. I can see if one was seeing an OB or midwife their entire pregnancy and it really did appear to be an 'oops' (even if it was intentional) -- but for those of us who are UP'ing, wouldn't the staff ask, okay who's your OB or midwife? Then what?

I'm genuinely curious because I've briefly tossed around the 'oh, we were on our way' line when considering the unlikely (and most likely emergency, should it arise) transfer situation -- but that part has me stumped. Surely they would ask who your provider was? Or no? I don't anticipate a transfer at all, but I like to have a 'plan'.

BTDT of anyone who's had to transfer during a UC -- specifically related to UP'ing and how you navigated the staff  are welcome too!

My UC went perfect, so no transfer. But I did opt to be completely open about the fact I had a UC when I tried to get my son's birth certificate. Perhaps not such a good idea. I am convinced that the process would have been a lot easier if I claimed that the UC was unintentional. I will not consider this for the next baby, because I live abroad and I am sure consular staff will know I had another UC intentionally, but if I had known how hard it was going to be, I would have had an "oops" - a story about a really fast labor. I did have a really fast labor, so it would not be a total lie.

[MyBoysBlue]

With my first son I was only in the hospital for 40 minutes.  In labour for 2.5 hours.  So when it came to my UC they were completely understanding.  I didn't UP(though I did refuse a lot of tests), and saw the doc at the office about 12 hours after DS was born.  DS was born after just 25 minutes of labour.  We are 30 minutes from the nearest hospital.  The initial reason we looked into a UC was because we were worried we wouldn't make it.  So we were honest about the fact that we prepared to handle the birth ourselves and that we didn't want to treat it as an emergency if we couldn't make it.  They treated us as celebrities, everyone in the office knew about DS being born at home.  They usually don't get such new babies in their office as they are usually still in the hospital.  I even got a nice letter from the doctor so I could register the birth.