"A Midwife Isn't Good Enough!"

[trimestersdoula]

Yeah, that is what I was told today.

I was planning a homebirth but then my BP was higher than she wanted at 35 weeks and thought it would probably keep going up. When it didn't she offered me my homebirth back but our house is a mess with renos and I had already got used to the idea of a hospital birth.

Today I called to pre-register at the hospital and the nurse asked me who my doctor was. I told her I didn't have one and that I have been seeing a midwife from out of town. She told me that I NEED a doctor. I explained to her that I saw one, it didn't work out, looked for another one but nobody would take me on because I was so far along so I got a midwife. Then she tells me that a midwife is not good enough and that I HAVE to see a doctor!
I asked her why when I have been getting prenatal care from my midwife and that I would be bringing my prenatal records to the pre-registration so that they had everything on file (midwifes can't practice in the hospital here). I told her that I would just use the doctor on call when I came to deliver. She again told me I couldn't and that I needed to see a doctor. Lately at our hospital you just get whoever is on call anyways regardless of who your regular doctor is anyways.

I called the doctor she told me to call (said doctor was taking on new patients). She wanted me to get in to see the doctor before this coming Tuesday at 3:30 because that is when pre-registration is. Ugh hello, I was talking to the nurse at 4:30 in the afternoon on a Friday and this Monday is a holiday (Canadian Thanksgiving), but she wanted me in to see this doc by Tues afternoon? Good luck! The earliest I could get in was next Friday at 10:30 AM.

I phoned the nurse back and explained this to her and she got pissy with me because I didn't push to get in earlier. She still was thinking that I have been receiving no prenatal care. I explained AGAIN that the midwife was doing everything the doctor would do and that I have been receiving care all along....well basically LOL. Then she tells me again that midwife prenatal care isn't good enough and that they aren't recognized here. What is she thinking? The woman has NO clue. Midwifes are working in this province at HOSPITALS!!! They are licenced in this province. Our hospital is just too far behind the times to hire them on. Grrrrrrr: I can't believe she tried to tell me that crap!

So, I think I am going to cancel my pre-registration and I will just go in when I am in labor and see the on call doc like I had intended on doing anyways. I don't think it is worth it to have to deal with this same nurse on Tuesday. :

[stormborn]

WTF?: So what is she planning on doing, turning you away at the door? Sorry you had to deal with that.

[trimestersdoula]

Yeah, I asked her what would happen if this doctor wouldn't take me on. She told me that I would just get whoever was on call then. Like geez! That is what was going to happen in the first place!!! :

[ibusymomto5]

How frustrating!

[JeDeeLenae]

How frustrating, and ridiculous. My motto, hang up, and call again when someone else will be answering the phone.

[Amber Lion]

Ugh, ignorance!! Sorry you had to go through with such a hassle! I think your plan is fine, if you're probably going to get whoever is on call anyways... just go in in labor with all your info.

[mkmb129]

Is there someone you can complain to?? That's bs! If you'd be seeing whoever was on call anyway, I'd just skip the prereg and go in when you're ready to deliver. Nothing they can say then!

[carolina~mom2be]

yeah, hold off as long as possible and then go in....don't bother with the pre-registration process and dealing with these people ahead of time. They'll probably just upset you and you don't need that!!! Labor at home as long as possible...maybe baby will come there then go to the hospital!

[Turtlemum]

Man you have had to deal with so much bs this preg...so sorry about that. They probably want you to be on some docs roster so they have someone to admit you under and someone to send paperwork to afterward. She might have meant that midwifery care is not good enough because there is no context for it at that hosp (ie no by-laws, guidelines, and no midwives with privileges). The thing that bugs me (beside her giving you a hard time) is that to "get in" with a doc just to get on the roster means that the doc will bill for a new patient visit, which is going to come out of taxpayers pockets...you already have care...someone is already getting paid for it...if that hospital would just get a midwife to have privileges this would be a moot point...

Seriously you should write a letter to every politician you can think of...as soon as you get a moment as a new mother...

[BabyHaysMama]

Hey, a fellow Canadian here, what an incredibly ridiculous woman. I'm from Ontario and to practice here a midwife needs to take a 4 year university program so I'm guessing you're not from Ontario. What province are you from?

[trimestersdoula]

Hi!!! I am from Saskatchewan.

I don't know if there is anyone I can complain to. I would imagine so, but I don't know who to talk to LOL. I will definately be finding out though.

I am cancelling my pre-registration and keeping my appointment with the Dr. for Friday. I am going to go and talk to her and see if she will deliver my baby. I will tell her what went on and if she doesn't want to take me on at *almost* 39 weeks then ok, but if she will that is great. If she doesn't take me on, she may end up seeing me and catching my baby anyways if she is on call LOL.

[BabyHaysMama]

Good for you for canceling the pre-registration. At this point you're so close it would just be best to show up at the hospital when the time comes. It's so frustrating how our society has no clue when it comes to midwifery. My MIL used to be an RNA and she was surprised to find out that my midwife could take blood and send it to a lab for testing . I hope that all goes well for you and hopefully not all the nurses at the hospital you'll be delivering at will be as ignorant as the one you talked to on the phone! Good luck