[jessitron]

I scheduled all my OB appts up to the due date this week. It's a lot of appointments! Eleven total.<br>
Then, midwife visits will double that number. Two per week in the last month of pregnancy.<br><br>
It'll be a lot of missed work, but eh, they'll live. Fortunately my job is flexible that way and the sick policy is "stay home if you need to."<br><br>
Anyone else have to double up on prenatal care?

 

[stacey2061]

no doubling up here in canada unless you want to be billed for it

 

[dynamicdoula]

I'm doubling up. Insurance is paying for the OB and hypertension clinic, and we'll be paying for the midwife. I say I'm doubling up... we haven't hired her yet. <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/lol.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="lol"> I know her though, I've attended births with her, etc... just have to convince DH that I need her emotional support through the pregnancy, regardless of the outcome (there is a concern about me getting pre-e again).

 

[vivianstcloud]

I'm considering it. I've met with a midwife and been to the OB, and they both have qualities I like.<br><br>
When it comes down to the birth, I think I want to be with a midwife to ensure as natural a birth as possible. But, and maybe this is questionable, I feel a certain level of comfort with the OB, since I am over 35, on a SSRI, have had HP in the past (but now it is super low- yay!), etc etc.<br><br>
So far everything with Baby is A-OK, but the parallel care really appeals to me.

 

[tamagotchi]

I'm sort of doubling up. Almost all of my prenatal care is with my midwife, but I'm staying in touch with my OB so that I have a file at the hospital just in case. I saw her once at 8 weeks, and I'll probably see her once again a few weeks before my due date. In the interim, she's happy to order lab work or ultrasounds or whatever my midwife wants, to make it easier to bill insurance. She is very pro-homebirth.

 

[dachshundqueen]

I have dual care with a homebirth midwife and with Kaiser Permanente (which blows - especially the hospital that they require me to deliver at).<br><br>
I go every 2 months to KP to get "checked-up" and go monthly at this point with my MW.<br><br>
The MW is 45 minutes each way, so that is kind of a pain and KP is 10 minutes away which isn't so bad.<br><br>
I already have had a vaginal birth (at the hospital) so I'm pretty hopeful we'll be at home this time.<br><br>
Liz

 

[jessitron]

tamagotchi, you are lucky to have a supportive OB!<br><br>
I don't tell my OB about the midwife, since it's illegal for her to practice here. Which means there's no possibility of insurance covering it, but it's also really cheap. And she doesn't have to follow anybody's rules to keep her license or insurance or privileges, since she doesn't have any. If all goes well at the birth, I'll say "oops, we didn't make it to the hospital in time."<br><br>
Vivian, what will the OB do that the midwife won't, for prenatal care? Ultrasounds? Screening for genetic defects? My midwife checks everything the OB does at prenatals, and more. 'Course, if parallel care gives you warm fuzzies, it may be worth it just for that. Warm fuzzies are valuable for pregnancy and birth.

 

[Dena]

Yes, I am doing parallel care, since I had to have an OB for this pregnancy because of the twins, and I am in no way ready to stop seeing the woman who saved dd's life at her birth - or to birth without her there, for that matter!<br><br>
I am very lucky - I found an OB who is supportive of homebirth (when I told him dd was born at home, his only comment was a very genuine, "that's great!"), who knows my midwife and likes and respects her and is willing to share care with her.<br><br>
We plan to just bill insurance for everything, and whatever they don't pay we will pay out of pocket. I am also so very lucky to have a dh that is willing to pay for whatever I need to feel comfortable and safe during this pg and birth.

 

[gypsyfaery]

I'm in Canada too...Just not allowed under our health care system. If we need to see a doctor for some reason the widwife can refer us.

 

[vivianstcloud]

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<div>Originally Posted by <strong>jessitron</strong> <a href="/community/forum/post/7904591"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/community/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style="border:0px solid;"></a></div>
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Vivian, what will the OB do that the midwife won't, for prenatal care? Ultrasounds? Screening for genetic defects? My midwife checks everything the OB does at prenatals, and more. 'Course, if parallel care gives you warm fuzzies, it may be worth it just for that. Warm fuzzies are valuable for pregnancy and birth.</div>
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That is a very good question. I don't know that there IS anything the OB checks for that the midwife would not. In fact, there are some things the OB wants to check that I am not interested in. <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/redface.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="Embarrassment"><br><br>
I think a lot of it may be simple warm fuzzies. I had originally not planned to go to an OB at all, but ended up liking my experience there. I have a feeling that as my pregnancy progresses and I feel more and more trusting in myself and my body's abilities, I may not need the OB at all.<br><br>
btw, this is my first pregnancy at 36. That has a lot to do with my nervousness.

 

[jessitron]

Does your OB like to run extra tests, or get extra worried about going past due, because of your age?