Nooooo! WWYD?

[Throkmorton]

So I just talked to my OB/GYN. He is taking some time off due to family issues, and cutting down his practice to the bare minimum until the issue is over. Obviously, as a 5 week pregnant, fairly low-risk woman, I am an easy patient to transfer. The main reason I was seeing him, infertility, is now over and done with.

So, because of that I get to go back to my GP and get a referral to an obstetrics clinic. The main one in town is awful. *edited colourful languge*

The other one might be ok, but the only person I know under their care is my SIL, and I want to see how her delivery goes first. She is due next month

My other option is to take the greyhound for every appointment at the nearest midwife, almost 2 hours away. That will cost $45 per trip. Thanks to the joys of Greyhound, I would have to leave at 7am, and get back home to town at 5:00 PM, and I would have to take my DS with me. Driving, this would take 1.5 hours if I went into labor.

Slightly farther down the road, and a 2.5 hour bus ride away is the town that most of my family lives in. My Grandma lives 4 blocks from the hospital and I could stay with her indefinitely close to my due date. The bus would cost me $55 for each visit and I would have to leave and get home at the exact same times. I would get to hang out with the delightful Tomtemama if she wants, though. Driving is 2 hours in good traffic.
I wonder if any of the midwives do Saturday appointments? That would really help out.

So what do I do? I am sort of freaking out because if I choose to go the MW route, they fill up by around 8 weeks here so i have to decide really really soon.

[earthmama369]

Does it have to be an OB or a midwife? We used a GP group (our doctor was a DO, specifically) and had a wonderful experience. She was very non-interventionist, worked well with our doula, and made us feel confident and comfortable in our choices.

Just another option for consideration....

Good luck!

[Throkmorton]

The OB clinics are run by the only GPs in town who do obstetrics. They switch off, each handling one day per week. I have a particular hate-on for a couple of the doctors.
Actual OB/GYNs only really handle problem cases here in Canada.

[earthmama369]

Sorry, mama, wish I could be of more help.

[Throkmorton]

That's ok. I appreciate any suggestions. Thanks for trying.

[mamacatsbaby]

I'm sorry Mama, I have no idea what I would do but I am wishing you the best of luck in figuring this out.

[Irishmommy]

Can you register with both midwives initially, until you make a decision?

[tomtemama]

As far as I'm concerned the choice is clear.... Come here!!!

You would of course have to promise not to go into labour the same day as me 'cause I think my midwife is the only one with Saturday office hours. I can find out and get back to you if you'd like.

I am of course *a little* biased in this regard as I would love to see you guys again.

[Naughty Dingo]

Oh man, as much as I would hate to work with someone I think is a butthead, I would go with the MD route over the midwives. That is a lot of travel time, and a hassle to get there. What if stuff comes up and you need to pop in for some reason?

I guess I would go meet the MW and see what she is like. I would also go into the MD experience in an empowered way, trying for as much control of the process as I can manage. It sucks to have to do all the krappy negotiations and arguing, but on the other hand, time is valuable and it makes a lot of sense to have things easy.

I guess it depends on the vibe you get, and how much you feel like having to advocate for yourself over and over. for the birth, are there good doulas there that you can have as a labor assistant? A good doula can give you some pregnancy emotional support as well so that is an idea you can look into.

Good luck, let us know what you decide to do for now OK?

ND

[~*max*~]

Naughty Dingo, my thoughts exactly! That is a lot of travel (and money) for a pregnant mama w/a tot in tow. Try out the clinic, especially if you can have a doula too, and if you aren't comfortable then explore other options.

[Throkmorton]

Well, I talked to my SIL, and the clinic she goes to has rotating rounds. That place is out! There are 8 doctors, and whoever is on at the hospital is who you get, even if you have never met them before. I am not ok with that.
Saturday hours change everything. I can make DH drive me. DS can go to my parents if he wants. Really, I should be going down more often to see my kind of lonely grandma anyways.

Tomtemama, I'm PMing you

I forgot to tell you that the repeat c-section rate is 85% here, didn't I? I am determined to have a VBAC and there is just not a friendly environment here for that.

[Sydnee]

Originally Posted by Throkmorton

Well, I talked to my SIL, and the clinic she goes to has rotating rounds. That place is out! There are 8 doctors, and whoever is on at the hospital is who you get, even if you have never met them before. I am not ok with that.
Saturday hours change everything. I can make DH drive me. DS can go to my parents if he wants. Really, I should be going down more often to see my kind of lonely grandma anyways.

Tomtemama, I'm PMing you

I forgot to tell you that the repeat c-section rate is 85% here, didn't I? I am determined to have a VBAC and there is just not a friendly environment here for that.

That's how my clinic does it too, but with BOTH my girls, my OB came in on his day off to deliver them!! I agree ND though, I just couldn't do all the traveling with a little one already. Good luck girl!!!!

[susannella]

It sounds like there's some hope if Saturday hours work out? Maybe evenings? You could just make all your appts. months in advance...
Nice how you could visit family at the same time!

Wishing this works out for you...

[Naughty Dingo]

The saturday hours sound great. That changes everything. Appointments aren't that frequent so it shouldn't be that much of a bother. And would the midwife come to you for the birth or is she at a birth center you would have to travel to in labor. Would that affect your decision?

The midwife group that I am seeing now has 7 midwives who operate on call too. I hope I end up liking them all. Though with a good doula, the role of the birth attendant isn't as critical to your labor (If it ever was, sometimes they do more to inhibit than facilitate....)

Good luck, it sounds like in your heart your mind is made. I hope hope hope you get your Vbac Mama!

[Throkmorton]

I am really hoping this saturday thing works out. Yay! I will talk to my doctor next week, just in case he has any magical solutions but as it stands, it looks like I am in for a long drive to appointments. No biggie.
I would have to travel there, but my Grandma lives 4 blocks from the hospital and would be more than happy to let me stay at her place arund my due date, even with DS. DH would just have to drive like a madman the second I went into labor to make it on time. Ok, totally kidding, I had over 24 hours of labor before my c-section last time.
This actually works out well. My poor aunt is approaching burnout trying to help my grandma with errands and such. Grandma had a stroke last winter and while she is doing great, she still needs some help with groceries and a little company. I had already been discussing with my family that maybe us grandkids should go down every couple weeks and spend time with grandma so that she and my aunt can have a bit of a change of pace.

[Naughty Dingo]

That is so cool about your Grandma being there. HAve you told her about this pregnancy? I bet she is going to be thrilled to have you there!

And you know what? That 24 hours of labor you went through did do a lot to your body that will facilitate your labor this time.

I hear excitement in your voice and I am happy for you. No woman should feel dread about her pregnancy care and birth options And I am stoked for your Grandma too, can you imagine how exciting that will be for her?

ND

[Throkmorton]

I am really excited, as I am sure most women around here are.
We were concerned about how to arrange visits with grandma without her feeling like we were trading her off all the time. This might be a great solution to that.