- Pregnancy
- Baby & Toddler
- Parents
- Getting Pregnant
- Baby Names
- Product Reviews
-
Registry
- Community
-
More
Want a personalized experience?
Download the free app
Natural Birth
mccrazy
member
Worried about sticking with my OB practice
mccrazy
member
The class DH and I went to last night had me second-guessing my decision to stick with my regular OB practice (some doctors are great and pro-natural birth, others are not). They have a shared care option with the midwifery group that also delivers at my hospital, but it's not the same as seeing the midwives exclusively. As in, you could still end up with a drug-pushing, scalpel-happy OB if that's all who's available when you deliver. Has anyone had a successful natural birth in a hospital with a large OB practice? Did you luck out and get a good doc or have to deal with one who was not as supportive of your choices? If I have amazing nurses, will the OB on call matter less?
Sorry for all the questions, but I'm afraid that it's too late to switch to the midwifery practice, and for the first time I feel like I'm stuck in a situation that will set me up for failure.
This discussion has been closed.
Re: Worried about sticking with my OB practice
It's a personal decision. If you're uncomfortable with the other OBs, or the unknowns, then consider switching. It's never too late to do what makes you feel comfortable.
I went (and currently go to) a group OB practice - there are 5 OBs. I never met the other OBs, as they didn't do rotations with appointments like I've heard many do. If I delivered in the middle of the night or when my doc was busy on weekends or on vacation, I would get whoever was on call. I ended up going into labor in the middle of the night and the OB on call was at the hospital, but never saw me. My OB calls in the morning as soon as she's up to find out if any of her patients are in labor. She went straight to the hospital to deliver my LO, and was there an hour earlier than she normally gets to her office right across the street. I think it's a good compromise - she gets to sleep 5-6 nights undisturbed per week, but will re-arrange her schedule as much as necessary to attend the births for her patients the other 16 hours a day.
I'd ask your OB what percentage of the time s/he attends their patients' births. Consider writing up a birth plan and having your OB sign it in helps of having a bargaining chip with the other OBs if you do end up with one you disagree with.
And really, I think the nurses matter more than the doc in most (but not all) cases. They are the ones that can help you manage the pain. OBs really only step in at the end to catch, or if there are complications. If they suggest an intervention, remember to ask why they want to do it and what the risks are of doing it AND not doing it before you consent to it (or fight over it).
I dont have any direct experience but I do go to a large OB practice (by large I mean 6-8 OBs). Each OB has varying degrees of interest/support for natural births, some push it more than others but all say it is up to the patient). I know several couples who have delivered naturally using this practice and the particular OB that was on call during their delivery was not necessarily the one they primarily saw at each appointment. In order to form my own opinions I ask each OB what their feelings are about induction, epidurals, vaginal checks, c-sections, delayed chord clamping ect.. This gives me a more direct idea about how each OB feels about natural birth. So far, I have not had any issues with the OBs and I have had a low risk pregnancy, so I feel confident that I can have the birth that I want using this practice.
If I were you I would talk with the OBs during your appointments. You should be able to get a feel for how "on board" they are with a natural birth based on their answers. If you get some weird answers like "we never let a women go past 40 weeks" then I would switch practices.
I switched to a MW group at 33 weeks- I will also deliver at a different hospital. I think that you should follow your gut and do what you think is right for you and your family. I was feeling iffy about my OB, who delivers about 90% of her patients, for a couple months and ultimately decided that she wasn't for me. After I made the switch, I felt so much better and am more comfortable with the midwifery group that will deliver me.
If you're in doubt or something just doesn't feel quite right, make the move.
I doubt you are too late to switch. After doing the hospital tour at my previous hospital and then talking to my OB about natural birth options, I knew I had to switch asap. I ended up switching at 31 weeks and am so glad I did. The practice I switched to doesn't accept new patients after 32 weeks so I made it just in time.
If you are second guessing your OB, SWITCH! You will be glad you did and it will be one less thing you have to worry about.
Thanks everyone. I did make my next appointment with one of the midwives who practices through my OB office. It's not a switch, but at least I can ask her all the questions I have and perhaps get some peace of mind about everything. And if I feel like I need to switch, hopefully I can. The front office staff said if you're low risk you can switch up until 30 weeks (here's hoping I pass my GD test if that's the case!).
Thanks. We have considered a doula, but not sure about it right now. I actually do work in the medical field as does my family, which is why I'd always been comfortable with the idea of seeing an OB and delivering in a hospital. I had always thought along the lines that you drew, that it's ultimately my decision about most things involving my care and DH and I just have to be firm on that. It was the doula who taught the class who described the OBs in that light. The way she was talking it was like if you get a certain doc, you'll end up with drugs and/or a c-sec, regardless of your plan. I know I should take it with a grain of salt, since some NB instructors can be a bit extreme, but it threw me for a loop.
Definitely understand. I think there is demonizing on both the OB and NB side of birthing. I will agree there are some doctors who are very pushy and controlling but I think informed consent is my favorite thing that I learned in my NB class.
I switched from an OB practice to a hospital-based midwife practice at 32 weeks. I had finally gotten through meeting all of the OBs at the practice and there were some that were very patronizing and mocking of my desire to have a med free birth and I was getting different stories from each of them about whether I had to get an IV vs. a hemlock so I wasn't comfortable that they would respect my desires in labor. I was so happy I switched. I was in labor for 36 hours and stalled for a while at 8 cm. My midwife helped me work through it. If I had been with my original OBs, they probably would have insisted on a c/s.
Being comfortable with your care provider is of the utmost importance. It's definitely not too late to switch if you decide that's what you want to do.
DS, May 2011