Should I switch providers?

jennakg

All of a sudden today I'm having lots of doubts.

Currently I see an OB.  I've talked to him about my desire for a natural, non medicated birth.  He said he'd do whatever I want to do.  He also said that the week before we talked, he delivered 2 babies where the mother's did it without drugs.  However, I haven't yet brought up the fact that I'm taking HypnoBirthing.  I do plan on creating a birth plan and going over it with him.

However, today I'm thinking maybe I should just switch to a mw?  Maybe that would be less complicated?  I guess I'm just nervous that even though I'm doing all this preparation, by having an OB I'm not going to have the kind of birth that I want.

I do have an appointment on Thursday, so I should probably bring it up with him them. 

What would you guys do? 

102007

I would definitely bring it up and gauge his reaction. When I brought up Bradley classes with my OB, she was really dismissive, and spoke very highly of the anesthesiologists. I immediately switched to a midwife group at the same hospital, and the difference in attitude was about a 180. Not only was she supportive of my Bradley plans, she immediately gushed over how great the instructor is. AND they handed ME a birth plan so I could check off what I wanted. Pretty sure my OB didn't give a d*mn what my plans were. FWIW, I switched at 20 weeks, and I'm really happy about it.

meagan.pilkington

I kind of had the same concerns with my OB, wondering if it would be easier for me to stick to my goal of natural birth with a MW. When I brought up Bradley classes, my OB had some concerns about it, but was not rude about it, so I asked her what she recommended instead and she actually mentioned Hypnobirthing to me. I was afraid she might criticize my choice of natural birth in general but she didn't, and when I told her I researched more childbirth classes and decided on Hypnobabies, she was very supportive. One thing that kind of irritated me but not too bad, was that she said "And even if those techniques only help up to a certain point, they can really help in early labor." I felt she was implying that I would end up getting the epi since it's my first baby. But she was reassuring, I think she just doesn't want me to be disappointed if things don't work out the way I envision them, you know? I think if you've had a good relationship with your OB up until now, it is worth mentioning that you are interested in hypnobirthing and ask her opinion of it, if she seems supportive then I don't see a reason to switch, but it's all about how YOU feel when you guys talk. If you have any doubts she may no truly support you, then maybe you do want to switch to a MW.  

aracelyluna

Talk to your doctor and see what the reaction is. I had told my OB all my pregnancy I wanted to do a Natural Birth at 36 weeks she started to push a C-section because she believed he would be like over 10 pounds. I ended switching providers at 37 weeks. Best decision I ever made! My new doctor was amazing and 100% pro-natural(having had natural births herself).

So my advice is to talk to your doctor first see how that goes and trust your gut.

jennakg

I think you guys are right.  I should talk to him first and present my birth plan before I dump him.    

If I do end up switching, I'd definitely rather do it sooner than later.

Thanks!!!