OB issues

arizonatea

I just made my first appt with my OB, and while on the phone the receptionist informs me that I'll be rotating through Drs for the next 9 months and I'll be delivering at a certain hospital.

My problem is, I don't want to see a bunch of random docs that don't know my history. I love my OB and I'm barely gonna see her. And the hospital is where I wanted to deliver but it's still irritating to be told where I'm having MY baby.

Question is, did anyone else face this problem? I'm pretty sure my original OB is on board for natural birth, but with the way that conversation went I feel like I'm going to do everything they want.

aylafsu88

I used a large practice that had 8 OBs.  I saw one main OB and rotated a few others for a couple of appointments.  The OBs set it up that way so that someone from their practice is always on duty at the hospital which was nice because when you are in labor you just show up at the hospital .  My H and I were hesitant about using the practice because it is so large.  When I met a new OB I asked them the same questions to get a gauge on how they felt about natural birth.  Based on their answers we felt the practice as a whole was very natural birth friendly and we felt like they would respect our wishes during delivery.  When I went into labor I stayed home as long as possible and we went to the hospital when I knew LO was coming.  The OB on duty was one I had never met.  He was fantastic and read over our birth plan.  He told us that he would do everything he could to make sure we had our natural birth and he did.  He massaged my perineum to reduce the degree to which I was going to tear because LO had a nuchal hand.  He let me deliver in whatever position I wanted (I ended up in the side position) and sat on the end of the bed while I pushed.  He delayed cutting the chord.  He was amazing and very respectful of our wishes.  My biggest advice is to ask your OB how the others in the practice feel about natural birth.  If the practice as a whole is supportive then you will likely not have any issues.  If you feel like some of the OBs you meet are unsupportive then I recommend changing.  You can have a natural birth with an OB!  GL!

Tigerlilym15

A lot of practices work this way now. I see midwives and it is the same with them. You have a primary midwife but you see all of them throughout your appointments so that you have met whoever is on call when you go into labor. Also they only deliver at one hospital. It doesn't sound like they are wanting to control your birth or have you do everything the way they want, they're just  telling you the way things work for the practice.

I would do what pp said, ask  your OB if the other docs are natural friendly. If so then you shouldn't have anything to worry about. If not, or if you meet some of them and are not comfortable, then I wouldn't hesitate to switch to a different practice.

Amanda&EricB

I am a fan of rotating through the docs, because you never know who is going to be on call when you go into labor. 

tokenhoser

I see a family doctor, which means no rotation and a 95% guarantee that she will deliver my baby (if she is truly unable to be there, I'd get the hospital on-call OB).

I love her and am so glad to know who will show up for the birth. 

arizonatea

tokenhoser:

I see a family doctor, which means no rotation and a 95 guarantee that she will deliver my baby if she is truly unable to be there, I'd get the hospital oncall OB. I love her and am so glad to know who will show up for the birth.nbsp;

I didn't realize family docs would do this. My doc actually got DH and I together, maybe she'd be willing

arizonatea

tokenhoser:

I see a family doctor, which means no rotation and a 95 guarantee that she will deliver my baby if she is truly unable to be there, I'd get the hospital oncall OB. I love her and am so glad to know who will show up for the birth.nbsp;

I didn't realize family docs would do this. My doc actually got DH and I together, maybe she'd be willing

tokenhoser

arizonatea:

tokenhoser:

I see a family doctor, which means no rotation and a 95 guarantee that she will deliver my baby if she is truly unable to be there, I'd get the hospital oncall OB. I love her and am so glad to know who will show up for the birth.nbsp;

I didn't realize family docs would do this. My doc actually got DH and I together, maybe she'd be willing

It's very much a personal choice of the family doctor if they choose to offer maternity care / attend births. I think the high malpractice insurance rates in the States may make it less common there, but some do still choose to do it. It's worth asking. 

vcabbyw

It's pretty standard. It's just up to you to decide on if your comfortable with it.

I have a team of three midwives who attend all appointments with me since I was 10 weeks pregnant. Including answer my calls or texts 24 hours a day. And I also have spent time with all of my postpartum doulas who will be with me around the clock for the first 2 days. I take a lot of comfort in knowing my team very very well, and them knowing me, my husband and my issues and personality first hand. I know it's not the norm, but I know if I had a rotating team that it would create more anxiety from me. All my appointments last an hour, and I love that I can spend it talking about whatever I want instead of trying to reinterview each potential care provider.

I guess it depends on what you would do if you came across an OB you just didn't like. Would it make you change late in the game, or would it make you upset if that doctor was on call that night? It's much easier to change now if you don't like what care you are receiving! A midwifery model of care might be a better fit, and it doesn't hurt to interview some now.

Plus, most doctors aren't around much during labor and you really should pick a hospital that you feel fits your needs first. You'll be spending a lot more time dealing with nurses. Picking the right care provider now can potentially save you lots of stress later.

abell77

What you are describing is pretty typical.  If you really want to ensure that you will see the same person for all of your prenatal visits and your delivery, then perhaps you should consider a home birth with a midwife.

Having said that, I delivered in a hospital with a midwife.  I rotated through 3 or 4 different midwives for each of my prenatal visits, but the hospital I deliver at also employs a group of midwives from a local clinic, so there was still no guarantee that I would know the midwife who would help me deliver.  And both times I gave birth that is exactly what happened, a midwife I had never met before was on call.  But here's the thing: it worked out great, they were awesome, and quite honestly, in that moment I did not care at all that we had never met before.  You become so focused on the task at hand and at getting your baby out that how well you do or don't know your medical provider at that point becomes irrelevant.  The nurses will also play a big role in your delivery, yet you won't know them until you walk in the door either.  I think it is far more important to know the statistics and reputation of the hospital you plan to deliver at.  You may want to call your insurance and explore switching providers if it enables you to deliver at a different hospital you may prefer.

Good Luck. 

arizonatea

Thanks for the info everyone! This is my first child and I honestly thought I'd have the same OB and if I went into labor they would just call her lol  Now I feel dumb!

I am considering a home birth but I live in a townhouse so I don't know how that would work. Thanks again!

jess9802

Group practices usually operate in this way, but not always. My OB is in a group, but the physicians almost always deliver their own patients. I never saw any of the other doctors in the practice during my pregnancy. There are two hospitals in my area and some doctors have privileges at both and some at just one. My OB has privileges at both.

People say it doesn't matter whether your OB is there at the delivery or not, but I was very glad my OB was. I had a great rapport with him and I think he understood my concerns and quirks in a way that a stranger would not have. He checked in on me several times throughout my labor, was there the entire time I pushed, and came back the next morning to see how I was doing. 

 

 

JCWhitey

Like PP I also see a family doctor and only see her.  She's also the one who will come in for my L&D UNLESS I give birth between the 18th and 21st because she on vacation those days.  If that happens I'll see one of two other doctors at the practice, both of whom will be at my next appointment so I can meet them.  I actually am going quite far out of my way (an hour and a half which is now an hour and 45 minutes thanks to construction work) to get that, but for me it's worth it.