leaving the hospital AMA w/ baby

[MommyDOK]

this came up on the vbac board......leaving the hospital after the birth....

If you left ama and took your baby, were there any repercussions?

I just thought if you left ama w/ your baby that they would call cps on you. anyone know?

[amnda527]

what is ama?

[alegna]

They're not going to automatically call CPS. They also might not release the baby (even AMA) Just depends.

-Angela

[alegna]

Originally Posted by amnda527

what is ama?

Against Medical Advice.

-Angela

[MommyDOK]

so you can't just sign out a baby? Even if it's ama?

I'm talking a healthy baby, I just don't want to wait the magical 24 hours.

[rmzbm]

Don't wait if you don't wanna. I was told I had to wait last time after I was discharged for a Ped. to discharge my DD. I said "I'm leaving. Now." They had a Ped. there in like seconds! If you DO choose to leave though, be prepared for the worst case senario. Personally, I would be. I would call 911 & the media if it came down to it. My baby. MINE. I am DONE jumping through everyone else's hoops!

[sanguine_speed]

Here, the doctor must release the baby. Once the baby is born, they are their own patient. You are the parent, but if you do leave with the baby they would definitely call CPS here. I have actually tried to do it when I was forced to stay one week after my first birth. I called their bluff and I lost.

[alegna]

Originally Posted by MommyDOK

so you can't just sign out a baby? Even if it's ama?

I'm talking a healthy baby, I just don't want to wait the magical 24 hours.

Sometimes you can, sometimes you can't. I hear around here they just need two drs. to sign off to not release. And they're fond of trumping up bogus reasons.

One of oh-so-many reasons I won't birth in a hospital short of an emergency.

I hear it's easier if you have your own ped, who will come see your baby at the hospital (and they have priv. there) who is 100% behind you.

-Angela

[rmzbm]

Originally Posted by alegna

One of oh-so-many reasons I won't birth in a hospital short of an emergency.

And that really is the point right there. If you don't wanna deal with their garbage, don't go on their turf.

I am fortunate that after 4 kids & 3 diff. hospitals I was NEVER in one where I couldn't call the shots, and I did. I know alot are worse & WILL refuse to let you walk out. I cannot imagine what I would do then. It's your baby when you leave, not before...in some places.

[Ackray]

I guess it depends on the hospital. Where I work in OB and will deliver our next baby, we let moms and babies go home after 2 hours if they want to. It has to be OK'd by the doc which isn't a problem if both mom and baby are doing well. The doc has to write an order for early discharge and the mom has to sign an early discharge form. Also, all of the identification papers and initial assessment of the newborn have to be completed before they leave.

Call your hospital and try to find out what their early discharge procedures are.

[junamoss]

Ama

From what I understand your insurance company will fight paying your bill.
In my facility it depends on your ped. They discharge baby. Maybe you can sweet talk them.

[alegna]

Originally Posted by junamoss

From what I understand your insurance company will fight paying your bill.
In my facility it depends on your ped. They discharge baby. Maybe you can sweet talk them.

No, that's a total urban legend. Insurance will pay even if you leave AMA. In THEORY they could give you a hard time if something went wrong LATER, but they will pay for what has already gone by.

-Angela

[homewithtwinsmama]

Ama

If they are not in the NICU (trust me I tried) and are healthy you can just say I am leaving at x oclock. Get me the AMA papers or lets get the tests and paperwork done or we will just walk out. I did do this with my first set of twins and they ended up getting me the paperwork about 30 minutes before I had said we would be walking out. Now the NICU was holding my fourth baby even though she could clearly come home. I threatened to transfer to another hospital, they agreed to put up on the peds ward and then I could sign out AMA because (heeheee) the law only applied to babies in the NICU. But actually the peds ward doc was awesome and he got me out of there quick. So I outfoxed them and still got home two weeks earlier than the NICU wanted!!!

[alegna]

Cool! Here they find a "reason" to send them to nicu from what I've heard...

-Angela

[MommyDOK]

I'm the original poster.....

I'm wondering bc w/ my vbac baby, they told me it was up to the pediatrician. and since my ped didn't have privileges at that hospital, I didn't really push it. I had a house doc and when I asked when I could leave, they thought I wanted to EXTEND my stay. I answered,"Oh, no....with all the germs and staph infections in this building---no way." The ped intern said, "Well, you're right."
They made me wait 24 hours bc there is some test they can't give until 24 hours.

I'll be ttc soon and I"ll probably just find a ped who will sign us out early. I'm not up for a big fight. Sigh.

[sanguine_speed]

Originally Posted by homewithtwinsmama

If they are not in the NICU (trust me I tried) and are healthy you can just say I am leaving at x oclock. Get me the AMA papers or lets get the tests and paperwork done or we will just walk out.

That was your experience in your jurisdiction. Mine was different. I think the OP needs to find out I guess how it works where *she* lives and at the hospital she plans to deliver at.

[Mamato3wild ponnie]

At the hospitals here...the baby has a security tag on his.her ankle and you can not take the baby out of the hospital with that tag on....all the doors in the hospital lock and the whole hospital goes on lock down...geez i know it's over kill...but find out about the tag system too...next baby here will be at home...

[skyblufig]

They made me wait 24 hours bc there is some test they can't give until 24 hours.

That's probably the PKU, etc screen. That can be done at the ped's later on. Here in IL (unless you're opting out of it) it can be done up until a week after. It's not supposed to be done until after the babe metabolizes some protein anyway so many hospitals do it too early. Check on your state website.

[ericswifey27]

Originally Posted by Mamato3wild ponnie

At the hospitals here...the baby has a security tag on his.her ankle and you can not take the baby out of the hospital with that tag on....all the doors in the hospital lock and the whole hospital goes on lock down...geez i know it's over kill...but find out about the tag system too...next baby here will be at home...

Yes that's how it was with the hospital I delivered my son at too. Not gonna happen this time There was just something in the news about a father leaving a hospital AMA getting tasered with his baby in his arms. Moronic security...

OP, make sure you find out hospital policy for leaving AMA or early now, so you can figure out ways to outsmart them now, not when you've just had a baby. Good luck.

[mwherbs]

if you have a vaginal delivery here after the birth they have you sign the baby in- if you don't admit the baby-- then the baby doesn't have to be signed out AMA or other wise... look over your paperwork- and don't sign anything you haven't read through --- if they know ahead of time you plan to leave and get someone to agree to this then it would be easier--