When does a baby see the Ped after homebirth? - Page 2

[quiverfulmom]

With my first homebirth we took dd to the ped around 2 days. Second hb the doctor came to our house at 3 days. This time around with a new (and awesome!) ped she said she doesn't need to see the baby until around one month because the midwife does the initial exam.

[georgia]

Our mws came on day 3, and we went to ped on day five for PKU (close friend of mine has a ds w/a rare metabolic disorder---so I wanted to check this out). We never saw a ped again for 17 months . This time, I doubt we'll be in any rush to take baby out to the dr.!!!! What really worked for me was to interview receptionists/nurses an drs beforehand (after getting recommendations from friends and mws) to feel out how they were on homebirthed babies. It was such a relief going into an office that was welcoming rather than freaking.....Our last ped used to work w/the Amish so she was very great about hb. It made such a difference.

[2BMamaof3]

Ummm...I didn't take my DD in to a doctor until around 3 months. I mean, my midwives did a newborn exam...and she had a check up with them at 6 weeks....I thought that was good enough. Hmmm....did I miss something?

Why exactly does a doctor have to check them out?

Thanks,
Abby

[rubelin]

We have a family Dr and use peds. only as specialists. She said she'd like to see the babe within 48 hrs but that we should play it by ear and not freak about it. Our MW's do a 24 hr check and then a 2 wk check, so we'll go see the Dr when it's convenient (besides, DS needs his annual check next month so we'll probably do one visit all-together)

[rad]

Wow. I thought it was illegal for Dr's to attend homebirths? Or does that depend on the state?

Like said before there are few drs who will attend homebirths here in IL. I can only think of one group practice and then my dr who does it solo.

In IL, homebirth midwives are illegal and aggressively prosecuted.

Unfortunately, this is a big problem here. There have been several cases where midwives have been prosecuted for attending births. It's pretty pathetic that a woman can't chose where, how and with whom she wants to give birth.

[Faith]

I don't think all MWs are illegal in IL, just direct-entry ones.

I lived there until last year, and I know licenced MWs who accepted insurance and did HBs, and a few moms they attended. I also know direct-entry MWs who were 'under the radar' (and very awesome MWs).

ETA: Even when I talked to the direct entry MWs, they said they were not 'illegal' but 'alegal' which is different... Maybe things have changed that much since I moved..? Either way, I know lots of MWs and HBing moms there!

I also have been told it is legal for Dr's to attend HBs, most just do not because it makes their insurance outraegous. I know a Dr. who went to them just as a 'friend' though.

[pamamidwife]

Well, all I know is that they are actively prosecuting non-nurse midwives in Illinois. That to me says that they are illegal.

There are non-nurse midwives practicing in Illinois. Fortunately, there are midwives in every state practicing! How underground they are is another issue.

The doctors that attend hbs in the Chicago area are NOT supportive of homebirth midwifery by non-nurse midwives. I have a few things to say about that, but will not use up this thread to do so!

[cottonwood]

Well I'll say it for you Pam! Mothering ran a praise-filled article about the Chicago homebirth doctors who do not support homebirth midwifery. Grrrr....

But back to the OP -- I've had midwives do all our initial baby exams. We took my first in about a week postpartum for the PKU, but my second did not see a doctor until he was actually sick -- I think he was about 18 months old. We took my third in at about 2 months postpartum to check for congenital hip dislocation. (Which I have, and which the midwife thought we should get a second opinion on.)

[carrots]

my kids didn't see their ped until about 2 weeks after birth.

[anothermama]

Update post!

I had my MW homevisit Wednesday and asked them.........

They said that, in general, a licensed midwife who delivers at home is "ok'd" to be the one to check up on a normal newborn for 6 weeks. We get a 1 day, 3 day, 1 week, and 6 week visit, so I'm going with that. I'll probably take my baby in after a couple months simply to establish care and thats it. But it doesn't seem to be needed unless you feel uncomfortable without a visit.

[LizD]

I am about to ask my midwife this very thing. How many times and in what capacity she examines the baby after birth? I don't know what her postpartum checkup schedule is, and except for one home visit prenatal appointments are at a birth center. We don't plan to vaccinate but I have no objection to the baby being examined. They check things like hernias and dislocations and other minor things that are easier to catch and fix early on. Someone who listens to lots of babies' hearts does have a better idea than I do what is normal or not, for instance. Otherwise I do absolutely agree that I am the mama and know if the kid is ok or not. My daughter is ten and if we could find a pediatrician here who was philosophically tolerable and tolerant I would take her for checkups once a year, but it is so far impossible, so I don't know what to do about the new baby. When we lived in NYC, of course, it was no problem to find a vegan family doctor who said without vaccination our toddler should just be seen once a year for some blood work to make sure diet was ok, growth etc.