Balboa Naval Hospital and NT Screen and delivery???

swrlygrl

ok so they basically forced me to come to Balboa, This is my 3rd pregnancy in 12 months so I wanted to stay with my civilian OB for continuance of care but no matter how many calls and avenues I pursued I lost.

I am 37 now and so obviously screening tests are pretty important to us. A year ago we wanted to do CVS but this time we decided to go a less extreme route with the blood test and NT scan. But I don't think I understood what the doctor was saying to me (I was still in tears after seeing a heartbeat) and told me he would see me in 7 weeks which will put me out of the window for an NT scan, I noticed in the book they do a different screening at 16 weeks but if (heaven forbid) something is wrong I would prefer not to find out that far along.

I have a call into the doctor now to try and set up an NT scan (what is this 12-72 hours to call me back? three days seriously???) but the nurse I spoke to didn't even know what that test was so now I have concerns that they don't do them at Balboa and I will have to deal with getting a referral. Has anyone had a NT screening done at Balboa?

Also is it true that there isn't a 24-hours nurse line that we can call for silly questions, for example how many Tylenol can I take in a day for tension headaches. I find it so odd that they don't have a service like that and actually recommended that I do to the ER for such minor issues.

I had heard allot of positive things about delivering at balboa but A friend just delivered there over the weekend and apparently had all kinds of students working on her, she had to have her epidural redone by an actual doctor and had a whole audience watching her Vajaja while delivering. I thought you could refuse trainees, is that not true?? I am not ok with hospitals or needles or any of that so having student work on me would seriously raise my anxiety levels.

I know this was allot of mixed questions but any information you guys can offer would be really appreciated.

beth0930

I delivered at NMCSD and found out when I arrived to deliver that it was a teaching hospital! That wasn't something they told us on our tour of the hospital. Turns out that I had a very good experience for my delivery - although everyone under the sun was in there checking me out, but the girl that did my epidural was great - as was the last nurse that helped DH coach me through delivery. I was 35 when I delivered but elected not to do any testing during my pregnancy, so I'm sorry I can't be of help there. I do know that it's frustrating that you have to leave a message and the nurses can get back to you within a certain amount of time, but they were generally pretty quick to call me back if I had major issues. I would suggest asking your provider if they can give you a direct number for them or someone else that you could call with questions if you're having trouble getting the nurses to call you back. I don't know what dr. you're seeing, but my dr's were on the Teal team and they were GREAT! You can always ask to switch teams and see if that helps! Also, if you're really that dissatisfied, you can try talking to a supervisor at TriCare and see if they'll let you switch. (Although I tried the same thing and lost myself - I think because the hospital there is so big and there are so many providers that they try not to farm us out to civilian dr's because of the cost.) GL and I hope this pregnancy goes well for you!

NSL

I'm at WBAMC and only have experience with Army MTF's, but I do know that the NT screening isn't done at our hospital.  They do a quint screen (yes, quint, and no I hadn't heard about it elsewhere before) at 16 weeks if you elect to do testing. 

We do have a 24-hour nurse line, but not a dedicated OB 24-hour line.  If you go to your hospital's website there should be a link to the 24-hour line available if they have one.  The OB's office also has a sick call from 7:30-9:30 every morning if you have questions the nurse line can't answer or are having problems.  

MeanMommyLady

If you are unhappy with your care you can always choose to go with Tricare Standard instead of Tricare Prime and pick your OB and deliver where you want to.  There are no maternity co-pays or deductibles with Tricare Standard and you pay only a nominal fee (less than $20/day) for the time you are in the hospital for delivery.  It is very easy to switch to Tricare Standard, the only drawback is that you will then be locked out of Tricare Prime for a year and if you have issues after you have the baby prior to being eligible for the switch back to Prime there WILL be co-pays and deductibles to be met (although they are not horrible, some people do not have the means to  meet them).

DuckLover

My best friend had her baby and hated it! I was there with her and i hated it too.  The nurses were rude and inconsiderate and they all had attitudes.  Urgh.

Anyways...I just had DS on standard and LOVED it!  I only have to pay $115 total (after my deductible) for my entire pregnancy.  It would be lower but I got induced and spent 2 days there so there was the admin fee and the 2 day stay.

I would highly reccomend it.  they cover everything up until your 6 week PP visit.  I think. 

proudarmywife08

I don't know anything about that hospital in particular but I wanted to agree with the ladies that said if you are super unhappy to switch to Tricare Standard. I did that with my last pregnancy and had DS at an amazing civilian hospital and I had to pay a total of $25 for everything (all prenatal care, u/s, delivery, etc). Of course when I got the IUD put in afterward I had to pay a copay for that (about $110 I think).

skinnursemandee

Most likely you need a referral to Maternal/Fetal specialists aka perinatology. They are usually the ones who do the NTscan.

swrlygrl

WOW thank you so much guys your impute was amazing. Ya it kinda sucks since I was with civilan for the other two MCs and all that but I guess they must feel I have cost them to much already.

Switching to prime might be the way for us to go, I am still waiting for them to call me back about the NT screening, tomorrow there 72 hours are up! I don't want to switch until I get that done since it would be too late to do it civilian if I switched tomorrow.

Thank you again you guys are great.

DuckLover

Another great thing with standard is if you aren't happy with your OB you see out in town you can easily change.  I saw one up untill 36 weeks because i moved when DH deployed so i saw a new one and i HATED him so i switched to another and had a GREAT experience.  I LOVE her.  She was SO cute so wore USA flag scrubs when i had my c section. 

TiffanyTheMom

I had my daughter at Balboa in '08 and it was a good experience. No students, things were professionally done.

BTW, if you DO have loads of students around you, tell them to get the CRAP out of there. You have a right, even in a mil. hospital, to be seen privately and refuse students in the room. They have to listen to you, they are not allowed to stay in there after you request they leave.