Though I have only skimmed the thread, it seems to me that some posters don't seem to understand that in some parts of the country (mine for one), if you tell an OB you are planning a hb, they will refuse to keep you on as a patient. If you want shadow care you have no choice but to lie. Now, to those who ask why one would want shadow care I can give several reasons. Because midwives must practice underground, they cannot order labs, u/s, etc. They cannot write scripts. They cannot refer patients. For those women who want/need any testing at all, they have to find an OB. Also, as has been mentioned above, for women who want a familiar face in the event that they go to the hospital, it is desirable to have established care with a provider. When I was pregnant with my twins, I knew that I had a greater than average chance of delivering before 36 weeks. I met with a couple of OBs and ended up having a choice. OB#1 was actually supportive of homebirth, but didn't have the best record of uninterventive twin births, and delivered at a hospital that those in our area refer to as the "baby factory." OB#2 is very laid back, and is known for letting women have pretty much any birth they want. He once waited 6 hours for a second twin to be born. He works out of the most ncb friendly hospital in town. He, however, will not see anyone who tells him they are planning a homebirth. I opted for OB#1 because I really wanted to be honest. I ended up delivering at home, but I am still not sure if choosing him was truly in my best interest. I should add that OB#1 is no longer in practice, and as far as I know that are now no OBs in my city who are willing to see homebirthers.
I am a healthcare provider. I see both sides of this issue, but for those of us forced to live in a climate where homebirth is criminalized, we make the best choices we can.
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on two levels. First, that's great. Second, I'll be working with a doctor from the local "Home Hospital" (seriously, that's the name) so I'm picturing the receptionist starting to note that down and then doing a double take. 
