Midwife/Doc question

[rbeaufoy]

Hi mamas....

I'm having a hard time making the dr. vs. midwife decision....actually the only thing that is making the decision hard is the $$$$ factor! If $$ weren't a factor, we'd go with a midwife hands down. The midwife I'm thinking of using charges $3000 plus the cost of any additional tests (ultrasounds etc) she may request. I know that if we were to use my ob/gyn it would cost us nothing (great insurance, except it won't cover a midwife...grrr.....) SO....my question is this...has anyone every used BOTH a doc and a midwife? If we were to see both of them during my pregnancy then all tests ect. would be paid for by insurance...and we'd just have to come with the $3000. Do you think a doc would work with me knowing that ultimately I didn't want her to deliver my baby? Am I making this more complicated than I need to??

Help me sort this out mamas!!

Robyn

[nfbmom]

I am working with both. I can't say I'm an expert because it's the first time. I'm high risk so the midwife will do all prenatals and the dr will cover if I start to have trouble. He knows I'm having a homebirth and is fine with that.

[rbeaufoy]

So let's see if I understand....you're seeing your midwife for prenatal appointments, and then will only see the doc if things get complicated? And they're both okay with this? (I guess I just have a hard time imagining that everyone can "play nice and get along"!!) ANyone else doing something like this...or heard of anyone who is/has?

[rebeccalizzie]

I'm seeing a nurse-midwife who works "under" a doctor (which is the only way it's legal in my state, I think). I will see the midwife, she will give me all my prenatal care and deliver my baby. But the billing is under the doctor's name, and so are any tests that the midwife may order. So my insurance is paying for everything the same as they would be otherwise. However, this doesn't count for a homebirth--homebirths are completely and totally not covered. So i'd have to pay the midwife out of pocket for that, but I'm doing a hospital birth anyway.

[eleven]

Honestly, I would ask the midwife what she thinks. It definitely makes sense to use a doctor for testing since it is free to you and would get costly out of pocket. Your midwife may be able to recommend a homebirth-friendly doctor who would be willing to act as back up.

Good luck! I'm starting my search for care providers and it is definitely overwhelming!

[rbeaufoy]

Seriously overwhelming! With ds #1 the choice was simple because I loved my ob/gyn...I had been her patient for 8 years at that point and was very familiar with her thoughts on labour and delivery, etc. BUT....we moved recently so I'm not familiar with any of the docs in our new town........who needs this kind of anxiety when they're newly pregnant?? :

[My Three Boys]

I'm crashing your due date club, but I had to respond because I'm doing this. I started out my pregnancy with a midwife in a group backed up by obs. But, I'd have to deliver in the hospital. I knew we'd be searching for someone else to deliver this baby at home, but I waited until 20 weeks because that's when most of the testing is done. At 22 weeks, I found my homebirth midwife. She gave me a discount because I wasn't seeing her for the entire pregnancy. And I told the midwife at the hospital birth center what my plan was and she offered to continue to see me as back-up!! So, any tests that need to be run I just get through my more medical midwife and they're covered by insurance. This way if an emergency occurs (pre-term labor, etc) I will go to the more medical midwife to have care from a provider I know rather than a stranger. I still see both of them for prenatal care, which is a bit of a pain, to be honest. But, they have a wonderful relationship and are allowing me to space out my visits. I'm 33 weeks and seeing both midwives every three weeks. Not bad so far!

[nfbmom]

Robyn,

Yes, you are reading that right. My PCP is seeing me for any problems and any tests, will put the stitch in and take it out and the midwife is doing the rest.

I just got lucky, I guess. The first time I talked to him about doing dual care he just said "Under most circumstances homebirths are very safe". He even knows most of the homebirth midwives in the area by name. He has also been great about me doing alternative care. The only beef I have with him is that he is very pro vac.

[leurMaman]

I'd say that it depends on the doctor. You can find doctors who are just as supportive of your birth process and choice as midwives. In fact, I recently posed this question on another board because I had two "meet-and-greet" visits with one doctor and one midwife. The midwife was kind of casual and nonchalant, while the doctor was very excited about the natural birth and seemed enthusiastic to have my business. One of the responses I got was from a woman who said she had three births: one with a doctor, one with a midwife, and one with a doctor. She said that the midwife was the wrong personality for her, and was not listening to her needs when she was in labor. THe doctor she chose for her last baby was wonderfully supportive and informed. So it depends. I have only had birth with a midwife, so far. She was great - but I didn't like the post-partum care. This time I found another midwife after a third "meet and greet" visit and decided to go with her. However, it had nothing to do with her title, but more to do with her spirit. Do a few "meet and greet" visits with doctors covered by your insurance. If one of them suits you and her spirit seems in harmony with yours, you might save some money and go that way. If not, then talk to the midwife, and if her spirit is overwhelmingly the one you want, then you have your answer. Good luck!

[Sailmom]

I birthed my first child with midwives that work in a freestanding birth center. They weren't covered by my insurance, but after a lot of pushing I was able to get special coverage by my insurance company for my birth. Just make sure that they give you the assurance they will cover it IN WRITING! Some insurance companies will do this because it is so much cheaper than a hospital birth. The insurance I have now will cover all of it so we are all set this time.