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Prenatal Advice

msmarymacmsmarymac
in Oregon Babies

I'm in a pickle:

I am 6 weeks pregnant and haven't been able to schedule a prenatal visit yet for a few reasons:

1) We don't have insurance, make too much money for OHP, and are on a very tight financial budget.

2) We just found out that my fianc?e is having very serious health issues that need immediate attention (we are paying out of pocket for this).

3) I'm adamant about NOT delivering in a hospital and would prefer a midwife experience in a birthing center (since I live in an apartment and am self-conscious about disturbing my neighbors).

 Does anyone have any advice for me in this situation? Maintaining my stress levels is key and I'm trying hard to do that despite what is going on with us. Am I being too picky considering my situation? Should I surrender to the system and go to a hospital hoping they will consider my actual expendable income rather than my gross income?  

I truly am at a loss... any advice would be greatly appreciated! 

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Re: Prenatal Advice

  • enail5enail5
    I have no advice about the insurance things, but I think if you want a birth center birth and you're not a high risk pregnancy, you should go check out a couple birth centers and see what you think.  At least then you'll have a plan and know what to expect.  We were at Alma Midwifery with Laura before we found out we were having twins.  I had a great experience there for the first trimester. 
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  • msmarymacmsmarymac
    I have Alma's information, I plan on checking them out. I suppose I just need to relax and hope for the best? I went to a naturopathic birth center today for a consult and have two upcoming appointments at two rivers midwifery and providence material care clinic. I'm just hoping one of these places can work with us financially. The center I went to today didn't sound promising in that regard. 
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  • enail5enail5
    My friend's mom runs the Emanuel midwifery clinic.  I know they work with a lot of teen moms, so it seems they might be prepared to help people without insurance and money.  You could check them out too.  Remember the naturopathic clinic in the future.  They have a great vaccination lecture once a month.
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  • Kmclark2008Kmclark2008 member

    I'm not sure I'll be a whole lot of help helping you choose where, but I have had the same issue with insurance- make too much for assistance of any kind, yet can't afford the insurance offered to me through my husband's work (outrageous) and also couldn't get a private plan because of pre-existing conditions. 

    You might look into FMIP/OMIP at least for your fiance if he is having health issues that you are having to pay out of pocket for..and possibly for yourself.  I qualified for FMIP just based on the fact that I am pregnant.  Its not rock bottom premiums ($300+/mo), but it beats paying a $15,000+ for delivery and such, especially if you can't get insurance elsewhere (IE a group plan while pregnant).  I thought that the doctor's office and hospital would give me a discount based on the fact that I was paying out of pocket, and they did.. but it was a VERY small discount, and they were pretty stingy about negotiating.  That will likely be different depending on where you choose, though :)

    I have heard good things about Andaluz Waterbirth Center although I haven't visited.  I have a friend that has chosen to give birth to her baby here and loves the midwives there.  My advice would be google, google, google, and ask questions upfront about finances!  Good luck! 

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  • PinkwomanPinkwoman
    I live in an apartment, and our next door neighbors did a home birth! Brought us a bottle of wine and a cake and told us not to worry if it sounded like someone was being murdered next door...didn't hear a peep!
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  • AngelcakeAngelcake member

    imagePinkwoman:
    I live in an apartment, and our next door neighbors did a home birth! Brought us a bottle of wine and a cake and told us not to worry if it sounded like someone was being murdered next door...didn't hear a peep!

    LMAO!!!!!

     

     Check this out.

    https://www.oregon.gov/OPHP/FHIAP/ 

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  • AngelcakeAngelcake member
    Also, I believe the birthing centers *tend* to be cheaper than birthing in a hospital... but you never know what could happen.  If you have any complications you will be taken to the hospital anyway.
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  • the5wardsthe5wards

    Hi msmarymac!

     

    Just so happens i was in almost the same situation!!! they have an insurance through the state, its called CHP (community health plan ) you can google it... they take preexisting conditions ie pregnancy ect... i got it for me as we also made too much also. its reasonable my premium is only 131 a month the only downside is there is a 3000 deductable... also im in washington but its worth looking into... they may have the same thing in oregon?

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  • msmarymacmsmarymac

    It looks like my options have diminished to one: FMIP (Federal Medical Insurance Pool). No insurance will pick me up because I have a pre-existing condition (pregnancy!) and because I declined open enrollment on my insurance at work back in July (had no idea I was going to be pregnant 4 months later and I couldn't afford it anyhow), no clinics will be able to help me financially either. 

    FMIP seems very reasonable though. It will be $360 a month, $750 deductible, and out-of-pocket cap is $1,000. I can also use it to see the one clinic that I am actually very comfortable with! I will apply next week and hope to hear back in 2-4 weeks. 

    Thanks everyone for your input! I especially enjoyed the stories of apartment births. It looks like I won't be doing a home birth though, and that's fine... I am just too self-conscious...

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