switching docs so late! am I crazy?

[Danielle69]

we just moved in August from Maryland to No. Virginia. My Maryland doc said as long as my pregnancy does not become high risk (whichi t hasn't) I could still see him. It is about 30 minutes with no traffic. BUT-if I o into labor during rush hour, or an accident-I am so screwed! We also did the hospital tour and had ambivelant feelings about the hospital. We were sad that they didn't allow anyone under 18 in the birthing rooms-and we have a 5 1/2 year old. But I guess I was nervous and a bit lazy and way too busy to start looking so late in the game-so i just stayed.

Today, I went in for my check up and everything looked good. I asked about denying hep B-she said I should have no prob, and the vitamin K. I want to give her natural vit K orally instead of the synthetic injection. She just called me after putting in a call to the hospital and she said by law you have to get the vit K shot.

So I have an appt this wed with a new doc in no. virginia with a practice that is a collaboration of physicians and midwives-they are more open minded about these types of things. I just have a bad feeling about the other place. It seems like medical intervention hell. Do you think I am doing the right thing? I am almost 36 weeks with a very uncomplicated, healthy pregnancy.

Help.........

[transformed]

you arent screwed...Are you expecting to have a 2 hour labor?

You will be fine. If you are nervous about rush hour, the chances of you going into labor during rush hour arent that good.

Keep your doc.

Ok, I should have read the WHOLE post....If they dont let my child in, I dont birth there! Ask them if they would consider changing the policy to keep your busines. They are going to make alot of money off of your birth, and a hospital IS a business.

Mabye looking for a new doc is a good idea.

[marisa]

Yes, I think there is nothing wrong with changing providers this late in the game. Your whole birthing experience is at stake.

Good luck at the new provider!

[chrysalis]

welllllllllll my experience in a hospital is that most of the time your dr. isn't even there. its the nurses who are always changing due to shift changes, etc. that are really doing most of the stuff w/ the mamas in l & d. so for me, it wouldn't really make any difference which OB was the one i chose. sometimes the OB isn't even there for the delivery...its the nurses. i speak from experience as a doula and as a mama who had her first child in a hospital.

i'd say follow your heart...if you want to change, change.

you know me, i'm having to find a new MW as i just relocated from MN to OR. i think i'm changing my mind on my homebirth and will probably go to a birth center just minutes away...i don't think the MW i wanted can have the meds for hemmorraging should i need it. any mama should be concerned with this but also being i'm a VBAC, this is a concern for me. i just think i'd rather be in a place that has most of that stuff already there...plus close to hospital and probably with good contacts there should i need to transfer...hopefully NOT! i'm just following my gut and i think i would be better in a birth center full of women...mamas.....families looking for the most natural birthing.....then in a resort condo that is a shoebox size and worried about making too much noise and disturbing any guests nearby. i can just see the resort people knocking on the door asking me to quiet down like i'm having sex in here or being hurt. lol they don't exactly want people birthing in here i'm sure. lol

[GinaRae]

If you are not comfortable with those docs, CHANGE. Period. Don't keep a doc ever just because you've had them to a point. If you do end up staying withthe same place, you can wait in the waiting room as long as you want before being admitted and you can refuse anything you want.

The law is that the staff HAS to administer vitamin K. You can say no and it's not you breaking the law. It's them. They will push you, but you can say no. And never ever let that baby out of your site - period!! If they give a shot you said no to, you press assault charges.


Rush hour traffic is a serious thing. I don't think people realize how serious it can be if they don't live in a place with terrible traffic. I live in Cali and if you're stuck in traffic and/or behind an accident, it can be HOURS of no movement or 5-20 miles an hour in spurts and it can be very stressful as everyone else around you is stressing.

Someone mentioned something about a 2 hour labor.. that's not all you have to worry about. If your water broke in the car, stuck in traffic, you're uncomfortable for hours.

But MORE than that, if your baby was still high and the cord comes out with the water (prolapse), you ARE screwed. You would have a hard time getting into the right position to keep the cord from getting pressed, the Paramedics would have a hell of a time getting to you and getting you out of there. Most likely, the baby would die or suffer brain damage.

Sorry to be so blunt, but it kind of upsets me when I hear someone tell me traffic is no big deal.

And SO sorry Transformed, for using your post as a point for my vent!

[ComfyCozy]

Welcome to VA I do not think it at all too late to change care providers. You go with whomever you feel most comfortable and with the practice you feel best meets your needs. I don't know where you're located (I'm in Winchester) but I've doula'd three clients at the Loudoun Birthing Inn and the nurses who deal with the baby are VERY accommadating and get it clear from the get-go what you want and do not want for your baby right after the birth WRT newborn procedures. I've been told also that oral Vit K is not available, so I'm not sure how to go about getting it, and in the end it may be an all or nothing choice, but it's worth looking into.

[Isaac'sMa]

No, you're not crazy. If you feel more comfortable and like you'll get better care with another provider, you should switch! We're in MD too and vit K. is *NOT* mandatory. All you do is sign a waiver saying you decline the shot. End of story. Maybe it's hospital policy b/c it's certainly not state law....

[GearGirl]

I would definitely switch, I switched at 31 weeks, and I'm glad I did. It is such a relief to me to be at the local hospital 10 minutes away. I've seen my new midwife twice, and she doesn't deliver so I know I will be getting a DR I don't really know at the birth, but I did with the last two births as well, so no biggie to me.

[GinaRae]

You can get oral Vit K from here:
http://www.birthwithlove.com/categor...s%2DOral+Vit+K

[Da WIC Lady]

Welcome to NoVA! Fairfax Hosp is great. I was born there and my mom and aunt worked there too. My step-sister works at Prince William Hosp, and my granddaddy was an administrator there back in the day... Mom also went through their LPN school back in the 70's. Can you tell my family is medically oriented? Fauquier is ok. Warren Memorial isn't what it used to be. Not sure about the other hospitals that are closer to DC, but I think Culpepper is in the proccess to be certified as baby friendly. But by the sounds of it, you're closer to MD than that would be practical for.

Oh, and eye goop is the law here... I'm declining that intervention and bringing documentation that it's not effective, nor am I infected with those diseases... just look at my chart.

Anna

[iloveoregon]

Switching is ok! Follow your gut feeling. I switched doc's at 20 weeks because I didn't like my first OB. Then I switched at 38 weeks to a midwife at a birth center because all along I've worried about hospitals and their rules. Ok, so maybe I'm indecisive but I feel great about the birth center that I found (it wasn't open when I first was preggo). Many of my previous worries are gone now and I am really looking forward to this birth!

So just do what's best for you and your baby-- because that's what is important.