Do you think they'd let me switch OB's this late?

[lwuertz]

OK, so here's my situation... sorry this is long...

I've been seeing my "current" OB (I skipped my last appointment so not sure "current" is appropriate) since Jan. 2007 when we started TTC. I thought he was really great because I was pretty ignorant about what to look for in a good OB. There were definitely some red flags that I should have picked up on in the year we were TTC. There were even more red flags I should have picked up on when I got pregnant. Overall though he was pretty good at aggressively treating the HG and hyperthyroidism that developed around 14 weeks.

Well, about halfway through all this I started finally doing research (wasn't really in the mood for it when I was puking all the time) and started contemplating home birth and at the very least a pretty strict birth plan and doula if I did go to the hospital.

I let my OB know my decision about planning to home birth. He tried to scare me out of it at several subsequent visits. However, we just sort of had this "agree to disagree" kind of stalemate going on. I would continue to seek care with him because of all the supposedly scary health issues I'd had during the pregnancy that made me "high risk".

My midwife's backup OB is at the same practice. She and I figured that instead of switching this late I could just continue seeing my guy, because as long as they had my chart already at the practice it really didn't matter who I saw.

Well, at my last appointment (38 weeks) my OB was already hinting at induction and wanting to start doing NSTs and ultrasounds twice a week even though every indication at that point was that I was totally healthy. He basically said if the tests showed anything out of the ordinary that I needed to have my baby at the hospital and give up this dangerous idea of homebirth.

So I skipped my last appointment in which he was going to put in an authorization for all the tests. I got a barage of phone calls from their office which I ignored (thank God for caller ID!).

I honestly never imagined I'd go overdue, especially since I started having some false labor stuff last week, the Wednesday before my due date.

I had a midwife appointment last night and if I don't have the baby by Friday she wants me to go back to my OB and have a NST/ultrasound the following week. I really, really do not want to face my OB again, especially after skipping my last appointment.

So I'm starting to stress a little. Since my midwife's backup is at the same practice I was thinking about calling up and asking if I could switch to that guy this week. Go ahead and make an appointment with him so that I don't have this awkward situation and I'm not calling at the last minute next week to try and get an NST/ultrasound scheduled. Do you think they'd let me switch even though I'm already over 40 weeks at this point? Is it even worth calling up and asking about?

[flowers]

You know it doesn't really matter if they'd "let you switch". You are the consumer and you are hiring. YOu can hire and fire when you feel like it. I switched my mw at 37 weeks and she told me so many stories of 40 + weekers who left their obs and showed up on her doorstep! The maternal instinct lives! :

You need to do what feels right for you. You only birth your babe once and it is imperative that you feel comfortable and confident in the system you have created for your experience.

Good luck mama!

[boobyfeeder]

I don't see how you'd have a problem requesting a different OB, especially in the same practice. Not that you'd have any issues switching offices, it is just convenient that it's the same office. Just call and make the appt with the other OB, who probably knows nothing about your pregnancy, and go from there. It will be a weight off your shoulders and hopefully enough to stop you stressing and get that baby out before you even have to see him!

[Mamato3wild ponnie]

Do all the ob's at that office deliver on call on a rotation? Most ob offices have you see all the docs in the office at least once...cause you never know who will be on call when you deliver. If that is the case then you can request that you see this other doc and no one will ever question you about it. Have you talked to mw about natural things you can do at home to help things along a little? I hope that everything works out for you. You can have the homebirth that you want...just keep saying over and over and visualize it and feel it and it will come to you.

[MuslimMama]

It definitely does not hurt to call and ask! Like someone said above... YOU are the consumer and YOU are paying them! But it is really awful how doctors these days make us feel like we have no options! And it is so hard standing up to them!

[olliemi2005]

SWITCH if you feel the desire. It is your birth. People switch at the 11th hour all the time and will big practices they have no issue moving moms around and giving us whoever is on call!

[HinesMaMa]

Give it a try and call them...don't do something you are uncomfortable with...your gut knows best. If it is at the same practice, then they don;t need to get any records or anything like that right? I say make the switch....this situation might be stalling your labor

[lwuertz]

So I called and they said they only allow you to change once during pregnancy and that they wouldn't let me change this late in the pregnancy. :

Oh well. It was worth a shot. Maybe I can have my midwife pull some strings with her backup guy or something if it actually comes down to that.

[xochimama]

Originally Posted by lwuertz

So I called and they said they only allow you to change once during pregnancy and that they wouldn't let me change this late in the pregnancy.

If you are serious about changing OBs, then demand it. Seriously. Let the office assistant know that you are no longer compatible w/ your first doc and you must insist on changing docs. You are entitled to the care that is best for you. You are entitled to be part of the decision making regarding your prenatal care and delivery. If your doc can't support that, you NEED A NEW ONE.

When was your due date? This is first baby, right? Totally normal to go 41+ weeks for first baby! And I'm surprised they want to do NST/ultrasound so early. If you were 42 weeks, then I could see it. Is there another reason they want to start all this testing?

Hang in there, try not to stress--it's not good for your blood pressure! I agree w/ pp about talking to mw about getting labor going with other natural methods. (sex is a good place to start!!)

Above all TRUST that everything will work out just as it's supposed to. Try to make some time to meditate/relax (warm lavender bath?) and connect with your baby.

[Montse]

Originally Posted by lwuertz

So I called and they said they only allow you to change once during pregnancy and that they wouldn't let me change this late in the pregnancy. :

Oh well. It was worth a shot. Maybe I can have my midwife pull some strings with her backup guy or something if it actually comes down to that.

Geez! I'm sorry to hear that, Lisa. I'd be way irked too! Would you consider a new practice all together? Or is it better to stay with the one you are with because your midwife is part of that practice?

I'm really starting to get a taste for how the obstetrical machine operates and I can totally see why more and more people are choosing UC's. I'm secretly hoping I have a precipitous labor and birth my baby myself so I don't have to deal with all the baloney I've been getting.

[cellarstella]

sheeesh, you're only 4 days past, right? Average gestation is anywhere between 38 and 42 weeks, OBs!!! That means you have 10 more whole days to chill out and wait for labor to happen. This is a sore spot with me . I hear of way too many people induced for going over 40 weeks and no other reason, and it really saddens me.

This is a terrible time to have to fight, but fight as much as you need to!

[lwuertz]

Originally Posted by Montse

Would you consider a new practice all together? Or is it better to stay with the one you are with because your midwife is part of that practice?

It's the only practice my insurance covers.

My midwife isn't really part of the practice. Actually, her backup is only her backup because he's a good family friend. He's been asked by the practice not to backup local midwives, but he hasn't stopped backing up my midwife because of the special circumstances.