Switching OB in the 3rd tri? Red flags?

lovemyzeppelinWed117837 · October 2012

Please, I am looking for an honest opinion here as I am torn! My husband and I are 30 weeks. I am very "iffy' about my current doctor. First, I have only met her once. Every time we go in we see her nurse practicioner. There have been a lot of red flags that they are not "pro-natural." She told me they will want to induce me if I go 1 day over my due date. She told me to be open to epidural since I will probably want to do that anyways. and, our baby is measuring in the 90th percentile (yikes!) and she told me they may want to schedule a c-section because of size or induce me at 38 weeks so that he isn't too big. Am I being crazy here are these some serious red flags??? I have called another doctor office that I have heard are more pro-natural and hopefully I can get in to meet with them this week sometime. Is it too late to switch? I feel like a # rather than a patient and every conversation turns to induction or c-section. HELP! Please

abell77 · October 2012

It is not too late to switch! And I agree with you, these are serious red flags for me too. I have a friend who switched at 35 weeks, so it's not too late. Are you just looking for a different ob, or a different hospital. Keep in mind that in many ways having a natural birth friendly hospital is just as important if not more so than just having a natural birth friendly doctor because your doctor may not end up actually being there for your delivery. So do your research on the hospitals in your area as well. Check with your insurance as well to make sure you're covered with different providers/ hospitals. Do not let anyone make you feel guilty for following your gut. This is just the first step in a lifetime of advocating for your child, and yourself too. Good Luck!

sschwege · October 2012

These are some serious, serious red flags! I think part of the problem is the trust in your caregiver has been compromised, so from here on out regardless of what your OB's opinion is you are going to be questioning it, and that is not a good place to be in.

It is not too late to switch!

jeggomyeggo · October 2012

I switched at 26 weeks and could not have made a better choice. In my very first appt with my new care provider, I felt comfortable and listened to. With my previous provider, I made excuse after excuse for her -- thinking that I was expecting too much and that the red flags were because of my own issues. I wasn't, they weren't and I'm so much more excited about my upcoming labor knowing I have someone I can trust to catch the baby.

Just do it. But interview first before you make a choice!!

alanap · October 2012

Total red flags for me! It should never be too late to switch. You are in control of you birth, no one else and it is important for you to feel comfortable. Follow your instincts.

principessa81 · October 2012

Run, don't walk, but RUN away from this provider and her practice. Those are some serious red flags and I would be very concerned as well if I were in your position. I would absolutely meet up with another doctor and see if he/she is more open to the type of birth you're looking for. There was a poster on here a few weeks ago who wrote a long post about how she wishes she would have trusted her instincts and switched providers, even though she was very late in her pregnancy (I'm blanking on the poster's name....help me out ladies if you remember). As soon as she got to the hospital, her doctor put her through a ton of interventions that eventually led to a c-section, and completely blew her and her husband off when they mentioned their fears.

At least talk to this other provider, and if you think this doctor is willing to help you achieve the natural birth you want, I would most definitely make the switch. Remember, there are women who switch at the very very end of their pregnancies, and changing doctors at 30 weeks isn't unheard of. Good luck and keep us updated!

robyn2201 · October 2012

Those are some red flags for sure. Like Principessa said, Run, don't walk away from this provider!

I am 30 weeks and my first appointment with my new OB is tomorrow. It's definitely not too late to switch!

annabelle.27 · October 2012

Serious red flags.

oliversmommy32912 · October 2012

Run away. Run.

grace1404 · October 2012

I switched at 30 weeks... it was because I moved but after meeting my new dr. i am so happy, and realized how unhappy i would have been at the other practice

Celyn · October 2012

I would agree that those are all red flags. If your goal is an unmedicated labor, they are more than red flags. They're black. They induce at 40w1d, there's nothing unmedicated about that if you aren't in labor before your due date. They'd rather section or induce for a large baby than have a trial of labor. There's nothing unmedicated about that either.

Celyn · October 2012

principessa81:
There was a poster on here a few weeks ago who wrote a long post about how she wishes she would have trusted her instincts and switched providers, even though she was very late in her pregnancy

This one, principessa?

https://community.thebump.com/cs/ks/forums/thread/68700406.aspx

principessa81 · October 2012

Celyn:
principessa81:
There was a poster on here a few weeks ago who wrote a long post about how she wishes she would have trusted her instincts and switched providers, even though she was very late in her pregnancy

This one, principessa?
https://community.thebump.com/cs/ks/forums/thread/68700406.aspx

Yep, that's the one. I felt so badly for her. Sad Thanks for finding it!

lovemyzeppelinWed117837 · October 2012

Thank you all so much! I appreciate all the input. I think I have known they are red flags for the last 2 months but I was in denial. I like my nurse practicioner as my yearly doc so I was trying to convince myself that it was right, when I knew deep down it wasn't. I started the hunt this afternoon for a new doctor and will hopefully have a couple of appointments this week with a meet-and-greet. I don't want to distrust my doctor or feel pushed into something I don't want to do. first of all, if my doctor cared about me as a patient, then she would see me, not send her NP every time! I believe the hospital we will deliver at is pretty natural-friendly. Our natural baby course is through the same hospital and they have a good reputation for it. Thanks again so much, I will keep you updated as it goes along!! I feel relived already Smile

honkytonk_kid · October 2012

Team run away!

tbone_bride · October 2012

I switched at 35 weeks! I love my new doc and I am thrilled that I switched. One piece of advice, definitely ask if your new pro-natural doc delivers all her/his patients. Because you may have a doc who's on-call and not pro-natural.

Good luck!!! You'll make the right choice!

KrisM86 · October 2012

There are some very serious red flags here. Even ACOG does not support c sections prior to due date based solely on the estimated size of the baby. Those estimates can be up to 2 pounds off!! And wanting to induce if you go 1 day past your due date? Unless there is some medical reason to do so, that is ludicrous.

It is not too late to switch and if I were you, I would. You need a provider you feel comfortable with.

TheQuietGrrrl · October 2012

Another one for GTFO

Of all the red flags, not actually meeting your OB except the once (this is the kind of demeanor I'd expect from a surgeon, a surgical consult), induction 1 day past due date and induction at 38 weeks for anything besides an imminent emergency/medical issue.

Yeah, this one schedules in her patients to her own convenience. GTFO.

JuneBug86 · October 2012

Those are serious red flags! It's never too late to switch. I switched at 36 weeks.

RockyMtnMama · October 2012

lovemyzeppelinWed117837:

Thank you all so much! I appreciate all the input. I think I have known they are red flags for the last 2 months but I was in denial. I like my nurse practicioner as my yearly doc so I was trying to convince myself that it was right, when I knew deep down it wasn't. I started the hunt this afternoon for a new doctor and will hopefully have a couple of appointments this week with a meet-and-greet. I don't want to distrust my doctor or feel pushed into something I don't want to do. first of all, if my doctor cared about me as a patient, then she would see me, not send her NP every time! I believe the hospital we will deliver at is pretty natural-friendly. Our natural baby course is through the same hospital and they have a good reputation for it. Thanks again so much, I will keep you updated as it goes along!! I feel relived already

Good luck - and looking for practices that have certified nurse midwives who deliver the babies for uncomplicated births, but has an OB back-up is a great way to go also, so don't discount meeting with at least one OB practice with CNMs also.

laurenluor · October 2012

sschwege:
These are some serious, serious red flags! I think part of the problem is the trust in your caregiver has been compromised, so from here on out regardless of what your OB's opinion is you are going to be questioning it, and that is not a good place to be in.
It is not too late to switch!

I agree with all of this! I just barely switched this week and I'm 38 weeks! The only thing that is important is that you trust your caregiver. I got to the point I would take any random doctor at the hospital over mine. Not because she was the worst doctor, but because I did not trust her anymore.

BirthByHeart · October 2012

I concur - run!!

nosoup4u · October 2012

Find another doctor ASAP, and definitely go check out that other place. That doctor works for you - don't feel bad firing her!

lovemyzeppelinWed117837 · October 2012

I just wanted to update everyone, and thank you all for your help Smile

We did decide to switch at 31 weeks! the new doctor is great!!! so much more natural friendly and we are thrilled. She spent about 20 minutes with us answering questions and gave great answers. No induction til 42 weeks, no c-section unless medical emergency, totally great with no constant fetal monitoring, and very supportive of our childbirthing class and hypnobabies training. so relieved! THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH FOR YOUR INPUT!! I appreciate all the encouragement.

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