Did you tell your doctor?

[ecstaticmama24]

For those of you who were/are recieving prenatal care from a dr., did you tell him/her you were planning a homebirth? And if so, how?

I go to a dr. for some check ups because my MW is in the USA and I'm in Canada and I've got her for the birth and not much else.

Thanks!

[starlein26]

It's not really worth mentioning imo...

[RileysmamaNM]

I did tell my dr. We had gotten pretty close to the whole practice, all the doctors and nurses there were very sweet. So out of respect to them I just didnt want to stop seeing them with out telling them why. Especially since I switched to my midwife pretty late. Even after I told them they still wanted me to call when then baby way born and bring him in after too so they could all see him. If your not close to the Dr. I wouldent bother though, since even my sweet Dr. didnt have the best response or feelings towards homebirths.

[tinyshoes]

w/ pg #2, I told my CNM, and she was 100% cool. She said she wanted to see me at 30 weeks and 36 weeks, and that she'd send my chart over to the hospital. She said if I felt like coming in for any reason at any time, I would be welcomed and so would my hb mws.

w/ this pg, I met w/ a family practice MD who was highly recommended. I explained my deisres for her to be my MD and to be my "back up" and she consented. She left the exam room and consulted her collegue; she came back in the room and promptly dropped me from care. She said she could not see me while I'm pg, if I'm not getting my prenatal care from her.

HTH

[homewithtwinsmama]

I had a high risk birth last time of preemie twins one being disabled and died at birth. This time I wanted some testing done to be sure the baby was okay. I was upfront with the perinatalogist that I would be sticking around only until the 20 week ultrasound and the amnio were done and that I would then run back to my homebirth midwife. She was very good natured about it. I can see why people would lie, but its just not how I live my life.

[lilkat]

My GP was very excited for me when I went in for the official pregnancy test. She asked who was going to be doing my prenatal care, and I said I wanted a homebirth and was looking for a m/w. She was VERY supportive, and gave me some good advice: she said to interview m/ws carefully and not assume that all m/ws are anti-intervention or hands-off. Later, when I wanted to schedule my 20w u/s, she called back in person to ask after my prenatal care. She wanted to make sure that I was getting the care I wanted from my m/w, and she also wanted to make sure we had a back-up plan. After I reassured her on both counts, and she said "Great! Good luck!" She's been nothing but supportive, and I'm happy that she'll most likely be our baby's pediatrician (I still need to talk to her about vaxing and stuff, though).

[~Kristina~]

I wouldn't mention it unless you want to hear their scare tactics.

[pixiedust]

I didn't say anything.. just canceled my 16 wk. appt. when I decided to switch to a midwife and never looked back While I really did like my Dr. my midwife said he's known for not supporting homebirth so I'm glad I didn't say anything.

[courtenay_e]

For my husband's comfort in case of transport, I had parallel care. The hosptial midwives I used attend at a HOSPITAL that is NOT friendly to homebirth. SO. Frankly for their convenience, not mine, I chose not to tell them. I KNOW that their practice would have put their foot down to continue parallel care and that they would have had one HECK of a fight on their hands.

Turns out I DID transport. And because I'd been doing parallel care, it was seamless...and in the end, despite the transport, I had a beautiful birth. Not the one I planned, not even close, but with a provider I knew and trusted. However...were I to do it again, I would choose a different provider. Actually, an OB who openly supports homebirth and homebirth midwives in our area. Different hospital, too. BUT, that OB only needs to see you a couple of times, which would be a heck of a lot easier, esp with TWO little ones now! I frankly felt quite bad about not telling my hospital midwives and their practice the truth.

[rachelsmama]

I found a midwife first, and she was able to give me the names of a few doctors that are cooperative with the midwives, and supportive of homebirth. So yes, in my case the doctor knows, and since I'm seeing a mw for my primary care my doctor is okay with me seeing her less than usual, and had a copy of my labs ready to take to my mw, and wasn't even a slightly surprised when I turned down some tests and ultrasounds and stuff. So far I'm liking this arrangement.

[SaraGriffin]

I told them I had a doula and was planning on laboring at home 'as long as possible'. They said just to make sure to come in before I felt pushy and I politely agreed. Then I called them after the birth to schedule my 6wk check. Amazingly, no one gave me any trouble! (Especially odd because I was GBS positive and they had INSISTED that I NEEDED antibiotics, which I had argued about until I was blue in the face!)

[SublimeBirthGirl]

I think it just depends on the doctor.

[stelly]

I haven't even been to see my Doctor (as in Ob/Gyn). As soon as I found out I was pregnant, I called my midwife and have done whatever she tells me since.

I really don't like my family doctor practice, so never see them anyway, the only regular visits I ever had were with my Ob/Gyn, I suppose at some point I'll have to go back to him and get a post-baby diaphragm, and then he'll know what I've done, but for now I don't care.

[To-Fu]

No way! Home births are "alegal" in my state and I didn't want to get anyone in trouble.

[mom2tillie]

I am also getting dual care due to legality issues, and just incase a transport is necessary it will be much easier. I haven't had to lie about it to the doctor, it just hasn't come up... if it does come up I will protect myself and all parties that are kind and respectful enough to help me get the birth I want, so yes, I will lie like a rug.

[Beppie]

I only made up my mind to homebirth around 18 weeks pregnant, and before that I was seeing the only births doctor in our town (with a c/s rate of 50%! Ridiculous!). I really didn't like the care (or lack of care) I was receiving from him. I just went ahead with my 20-week ultrasound that was already scheduled, and then never set up another appointment with him.

However, the main reason behind not informing him that I was switching my care is because, if I have to transfer, the hospital is 4 blocks from our house. I didn't want to run the risk of him saying no, he would not be a back-up, and then having to transfer to the hospital anyway.

[All together ooky]

Yup, I told mine. Saw her a couple time during the last pregnancy just to establish a good rep with her (she was going to be DD's doctor too). She was really great. Even came to my house the day after just to check up on me and the baby.

Before I got pregnant with this one I went in for a check-up and she asked if I was planning to homebirth again and I said yes. She said just to let her know when I get pregnant. No big deal. (Hmmm...I haven't let her know yet though)

[ishereal]

Originally Posted by To-Fu

No way! Home births are "alegal" in my state and I didn't want to get anyone in trouble.

Me TOO!!!!!!!!!!!

[tammyswanson]

HECK NO... first off I rarely saw the same doctor twice for my prenatals, and even if I did have a 'regular' doc, I wouldn't tell them. Why chance it, it can come back to bite you in the butt, especially the way the laws are nowadays.

I kept my lip zipped.

[Liea]

I'm running into the same issue... I asked about prenatal care from my CNM if I wanted a homebirth and the practice WILL NOT provide prenatal care if you are doing homebirth. SO... for now I'm going to see the CNM, but I'm not sure how I want to continue. I only have my first actual pregnancy appt this coming monday.

I'm pretty sure I want to do a homebirth though, but I don't really want to mislead my CNM...