Xpost Why oh why can't I get care on MY terms

[MeganW]

DH would like me to have an OB/hospital birth I'd like a UC with a midwife for prenatal care not sure about the birth, would be nice to have the option to call someone to come to our home if we felt like we wanted to. Don't think I do but it's an option.
Well no insurance coverage for a CPM. Only CNM's. They don't do homebirths here and in my opinion are really no different than seeing an ob. In no way can I wrap my head around cashing out my ira to pay a midwife just for prenatal care. So that leaves me the option of seeing someone covered by my insurance for prenatals. I went today to interview someone and was basically told the only thing I could decline is the weekly cervical checks after 36weeks. I would have AT LEAST 3 pelvics w/cultures etc and TONS of blood work and a mandatory US.
How do I get minimal prenatal care? Measuring weighing listening to baby? urine checks etc?

[laohaire]

I paid out of pocket ($2500, the best money I ever spent) to have care on my own terms (lay midwife at home).

[skyblufig]

IMHO, I'd do a consult with every care provider your insurance will cover, find the crunchiest one, nod and smile and then decline, decline, decline just as much as you please once you're in the door. You are hiring them [something I think they lose sight of] and they get reimbursed by insurance each and every time you walk in the door. So who cares if they get PO'd because you decline VEs and tests you don't want. It's your body, your baby, your pregnancy -- they really don't have a right to tell you what to do, they can only suggest what they feel is of use and let you make the final decision. This is called informed consent and most every drs office, especially if it's connected with a hospital, will have some sort of pamphlet laying around telling you your rights as a patient. Smile, hold that pamphlet up, and just say NO thank you. GL!

[alegna]

Originally Posted by skyblufig

IMHO, I'd do a consult with every care provider your insurance will cover, find the crunchiest one, nod and smile and then decline, decline, decline just as much as you please once you're in the door. You are hiring them [something I think they lose sight of] and they get reimbursed by insurance each and every time you walk in the door. So who cares if they get PO'd because you decline VEs and tests you don't want. It's your body, your baby, your pregnancy -- they really don't have a right to tell you what to do, they can only suggest what they feel is of use and let you make the final decision. This is called informed consent and most every drs office, especially if it's connected with a hospital, will have some sort of pamphlet laying around telling you your rights as a patient. Smile, hold that pamphlet up, and just say NO thank you. GL!

The problem is, they CAN drop you.

I also sucked it up and paid for a midwife. Luckily in the end my insurance ended up covering it.

-Angela

[JanetF]

Some things in life are worth paying for and a safe gentle birth for you and your baby is one of them. As soon as dh is pregnant he can choose that ludicrously unsafe path of having a surgeon as a carer.

[alegna]

Originally Posted by JanetF

Some things in life are worth paying for and a safe gentle birth for you and your baby is one of them. As soon as dh is pregnant he can choose that ludicrously unsafe path of having a surgeon as a carer.

:

-Angela

[skyblufig]

Originally Posted by alegna

The problem is, they CAN drop you.

I also sucked it up and paid for a midwife. Luckily in the end my insurance ended up covering it.

-Angela

You have a good point. In fact, when I was pg with ds, our CNM threatened to drop us at 36 weeks! But we did a little research at the hospital she was affiliated with and they had a policy where after a certain point, they can't drop you unless you have someone else lined up to transfer care to. So maybe the OP could defer testing she didn't want up until that point (if her HCP has one) and then give a definitive "no"?

It sucks terribly to feel like you have such limited choices!

[alegna]

Originally Posted by skyblufig

You have a good point. In fact, when I was pg with ds, our CNM threatened to drop us at 36 weeks! But we did a little research at the hospital she was affiliated with and they had a policy where after a certain point, they can't drop you unless you have someone else lined up to transfer care to. So maybe the OP could defer testing she didn't want up until that point (if her HCP has one) and then give a definitive "no"?

It sucks terribly to feel like you have such limited choices!

It's pretty late- around 36 or 37 weeks I think. And they would want a lot of testing before then.

-Angela

[ericswifey27]

My midwife also talked to me about the choice of co-care with this pregnancy. I actually looked in to it, calling a few doctors. Either they didn't carry my insurance, or there is no way they would accept that I am having a homebirth vbac. It's unfortunate that my choices were limited for me, but in the end, I feel this has worked out for the best. I don't need the stress of fighting with a doctor over declining procedures.

Can you make a deal with a midwife to just get prenatal care? I think it's all prorated. If you are not being attended for the actual birth, it should be cheaper.

Poke around and see if you can find a UC friendly midwife...

Good luck!

[skyblufig]

Originally Posted by ericswifey27

Can you make a deal with a midwife to just get prenatal care? I think it's all prorated. If you are not being attended for the actual birth, it should be cheaper.

Poke around and see if you can find a UC friendly midwife...

Good luck!

[MeganW]

I totally agree that a midwife is worth the expense for a safe home birth. However after the experince we had last time I'm pretty gunshy. We struggled to pay a midwife only to end up transferring to the hospital (for no real reason imo) That topped with the fact that if I don't call her for labor I'd be paying for something I don't need. The one midwife was too high for prenatals (250 for the first and 150 after) didn't ask the second one.