Do I need to switch OBs if I move away?

vvitchhazel

I wasn't sure if this really belonged anywhere else, but I do need some advice... My little family is moving in with my parents as of June 1st in order to save some extra money to buy a house. It's going to help us immensely and we're all really excited about it and there's only one real problem... They live over an hour away from my OB and the hospital I delivered DD at. I love my OB-Gyn and I had an amazing birth experience at this hospital. I used to work at the hospital where my parents live and I refuse to see any of the OBs there. There's another hospital about 20 minutes away and I saw an OB there for the first couple months of my first pregnancy, but switched to my current OB when we moved up there. I didn't mind her as an OB, but I hated the hospital and clinic itself. I'm kind of at a loss here and it's really beginning to stress me out. I don't have an appt until May 1st and I'm going to ask my OB what she thinks and I'm afraid she'll tell me it's too far away and I need to find someone new. Any advice or similar experiences? 

failuretofly

I think if you're okay with being that far away, it shouldn't be an issue. However, you should be open to the idea that you may be forced to deliver at the closer hospital with an OB you do not know if things should happen imminently, or an emergency arises. I know within my city, there are 4 hospitals and you must deliver at the hospital within your quadrant of the city, and there is no getting around this unless you do a homebirth. But think of it this way, if you lived somewhere rural where the nearest hospital was 1 hour away, that wouldn't make a difference, right?

rainbowdashh

The hospital I deliver at is a minimum of 45 minutes away, but closer to an hour with traffic. I have to drive there for my appointments too. Unless your ob has a problem with it, I would stay where you're happy.

GraysonsMama

I delivered both of mine at a hospital almost am hour away and had all my appointments in the adjacent building. It was worth it because I loved my ob and really trusted her. Unfortunately, she has moved 3 hours south so now I'm stuck in ob hell. I don't even know where to start. 

Tennis11785

Provided your doctor is ok with it, I'd stick there.  Childbirth is a painful process; you don't want to be questioning your doctor or hospital in the moment.  

vvitchhazel

@kvacmak @rainbowdashh @GraysonsMama @Tennis11785  Thank you so much, ladies! That's so reassuring. Initially, I figured we'd stick with the same OB and hospital and have a back up plan in place, in case of emergency. And then I started to second guess myself... Was I being selfish? Was I just being stubborn because I'm afraid of change? But I think I'm starting to realize that what's selfish is being unwilling to make the drive, when I know the care we'll receive will be excellent.

disneyfan0511

My OB is an hour away - well, should be a 25 minute drive, but you know, traffic. We lived in the city with my first and then moved to the suburbs, but I love my doctor and hospital so much I won't switch. I don't think it's selfish at all, btw, it's a huge life event and it's good to have someone you trust and are comfortable with. Plus they know your history which is a huge plus in my book.

angetralala

My OB and hospital with my first were right near my parents, about 35 minutes from my house. I love the hospital and that was far more important to me than the OB, so I stuck with them - and we stayed with my parents for the last 2.5 weeks before I gave birth so that we were close by (plus we got to leave our house spotless and ready for a newborn!).
This time, as much as I would love to deliver there again, I can't travel that far from DD - so I switched OBs and will be delivering closer to home. It just didn't make sense to have to travel so far from my daughter, because not only have I never left her for more than 3 hours, but I'll want her to come to the hospital as well.

rachswi

I live in the middle of nowhere and my husband and I had the conversation about switching OB's. We're an hour from 2 larger towns with hospitals and my husband wanted me to go to the other town since his siblings live there and we could drop off our son with one of them on our way to the hospital to have the baby. I really wanted to be okay with tha but I ultimately decided to stick with my original OB and hospital because I loved them so much. 

For us what sucked the most come time to deliver is that my labor was all back labor but it was regular and strong contractions. So we made the sucky painful hour long drive while in labor only to get to the hospital and be told I'm not progressing enough so they will be sending me home. We ended up getting a hotel room to labor in so I didn't have to make the drive back home and back to the hospital while still in labor. It was all worth it in the end and I had a good birth experience in the end.

Jellybelly119

I'd absolutely stick with my OB and hospital if I loved them and it was going to stress me out less for the rest of my pregnancy; especially with a change in living situation that may already add a bit of stress! However, I'd try to mentally prepare for the fact that if an emergency were to occur and you had to go to the closest hospital, your priority is going to be the health and safety of yourself and the baby, not necessarily the best experience. I hope I phrased that well enough that it makes sense and doesn't sound insensitive- yes, you want to have another wonderful birth experience, but safety is always priority and I think you'd just need to keep that in the back of your mind! 

Edit it to try to better explain what I meant! 

vvitchhazel

@MISnJER80 That's a good point about my history! I didn't even think about that.

@angetralala My husband did mention we could stay at his parents house when the time comes. I would rather camp out in the parking lot of the hospital, tbh. 

@rachswi I mentioned this to my husband. A hotel room wouldn't be such a bad idea! I'm sorry they sent you away though! Ugh! 

@Jellybelly119 I totally got what you were trying to say! I think maybe when it starts getting closer, I'll see if I can get a file or copies of all my info from my OB in case I have no choice but to go to a closer hospital. I might even see about touring.

tmk0325

I actually switched my Ob from one that was 25 min away to one that is an hour away because he delivered the twins and did my follow up. So it's up to you and how far you feel like driving. Most likely you won't deliver within an hour drive (my water broke and it was 18 hours later), so I'd go with who you are comfortable with.