So I had an early morning appointment today and had a last minute issue with our babysitter. I decided I'd just bring DD with me, explain the situation and go from there. I knew it was their policy to not allow children in the office, but surely I'm not the only one who's ever had a sitter cancel, right?
When I got there, the receptionist acted like I walked in there with a dangerous wild animal in my stroller, "Um, can I help you? We don't allow children in here." I told her I knew their policy, but I had a problem with the sitter and didn't want to cancel last minute. If she wanted me to reschedule that was fine. She said, "I'll have to check. You'll need to wait in the pediatrician's waiting room across the hall. We don't allow children in here." yeah, you said that already. We sat in there for OVER AN HOUR and I finally gave up and went home. I was too annoyed to even go back to the desk and ask her what was going on.
I totally get the no-kids policy and even thought having us wait in the pediatric waiting room was a completely logical thing to do. But why in the world was this woman so thrown off that I walked in there with a child? And why was she so rude about it?? Unfortunately, the waiting for an hour thing is nothing new. I'm so fed up with it and really want to switch practices, but can't find another one I feel comfortable with. UGH I'm just gonna let DH deliver her at home.
Re: I really don't like my OB practice...*vent*
Not too late to consider a home birth with a midwife! I totally want to do this, but don't think I could get my DH to go along with it. Perhaps if this birth goes as well as my first, then he'll be more open to it for #3?
Anyway, back to you... how do you feel about your actual OB? Is the waiting/receptionist problem the only thing you're upset with? Or the whole place in general? I'd definitely keep looking and hope to find something I was more comfortable with! Good luck, hope it works out well for you!
Is it normal for OB's to have a no kids policy??? It seems ironic since they are helping children be born.
I never really thought about it,at my OB I just brought her with my husband when we went to see the ultrasounds and when she was a newborn I brought her to my 6 week post check up.
I would be very put off by what happened to you, along with the fact they had you waiting for over an hour for an appointment you were on time for. There isn't a good reason for that at all. Except that they forgot about you...rude. If you love your OB enough to put up with this stay but if not I would fine another office that's more family friendly.
I feel you pain! My OB is a small practice with 1 OB 1 PA 2 nurses 2 techs and 3 receptionist. The head receptionist is super rude, if I call to ask a medical question she always tells me that she is qualified to answer my medical question, which she is not. I am a nurse and the front desk staff errk the **** out of me!! I decided not to switch offices because I heard from nurses that work at the hospital that my OB is AMAZING!! My husband says that dealing w the ignorace is a small price to pay for a great OB. So my advice to you would be, if its just the ignorance and lack of customer service of the front staff, but your OB is great you should stick it out.
This. My OB is really happy when a patient comes in with her baby. And having a child come is no bother to anyone because they have their office visits set up so each OB in the practice sees all patients on one day (Thurs for mine) so except for the patient leaving when I get there, I'm the only patient in the waiting room. I would complain to your Dr. about the reception staff and see what his/her reaction is.
That does sound like a very strange rule at an OB office and then to enforce it when a sitter cancels sounds crazy to me. Your other choice would have been to cancel last minute this morning and then get charged for a no-show/late cancellation, anyways?
I usually try to make my appts when my mom, husband or a friend can watch the kids for me. I actually have an appt tomorrow and it's the first time this pregnancy where I will have to bring any kids with me...and I will have to bring ALL THREE. It's going to be loud and crazy, but ya gotta do what ya gotta do sometimes!
Personally, I'd look for another office. Sometimes it's just unavoidable.
It's a big, busy practice so I guess it makes sense to make the official policy no kids allowed (after the 6 week visit; they do ask you to bring the baby for that one). I just thought they'd be a little more lenient about it! The way the lady reacted it was like no one has EVER done that before!
What's crazy to me is we live in a suburb of Atlanta. It's NOT a tiny little rural area and yet there are 3 practices that deliver at our hospital. Three! That's not many options. One has no midwives, which I prefer, another has a 39-week induction policy. I know I could tell them I dont want to be induced, but as someone who wants very little medical intervention I don't think it would be a good fit for me.
It's just so frustrating because the midwives are great, but the office staff not so much. I hate feeling like I'm stuck there. I have a friend who's an L&D nurse at another hospital. I'm thinking I'll call her and ask if she can recommend a mw she loves working with.
Do you have to deliver at that exact hospital? Is there another in reasonable driving distance? I wasn't happy with our local hospital or the practice I was in, so I switched to one that delivers at a hospital an hour from our house. I have to drive down there for some of my appointments, as well, but it's SO worth it to be in the care of a doctor I like and trust, and to know I'll go into my c/s feeling secure.
That policy is absolutely ridiculous, imo. I didn't make a habit of bringing DS to my OB appointments when I was pregnant with DD, but at least once I didn't have any other options.
(read it. you know you want to.)
anderson . september 2008
vivian . february 2010
mabel . august 2012
I would think because you were told that children were not allowed. It's not their problem that your sitter cancelled, it's your problem but you made it theirs by bringing your child regardless of the rules.
Chase Matthew born at 35 weeks on July 31st
It is their problem if they are charging late fees/no show fees when SAHM's have to cancel their appointments last minute. I doubt she's the first person EVER to have to bring their children along. It happens, it's life as much as you plan things happen you can't control. So either don't charge her a late fee or let the freaking child in the appointment.
Actually, this rule has never been mentioned to me and is not posted anywhere in the office. The only reason I had any clue it was their policy is I have been to another one of their locations where the policy is posted. There was even another patient there with her 3-year-old who didn't know about the policy until they arrived and were also sent to the pediatric office to wait. And I did not make it their problem. I told them I was fine with rescheduling and was more than willing to do whatever they needed to not inconvenience them, like waiting in the pediatric office. Policy or no policy, the rudeness was not necessary.
There is another hospital nearby but it's much older and not as nice. I hate that I have to decide between being treated well during pregnancy but delivering somewhere second rate, or getting crappy prenatal service but delivering somewhere nice with a mw I like. Maybe I can convince my mw to switch practices