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Natural Birth
How to tell the dr?
I am switching to a midwife and not sure how to tell my OB- she's great and I love her, but we haven't had any conversations about natural birth and I just really can't see myself giving birth in a hospital comfortably, even if she was on board with the no-meds no-interventions, especially knowing that she might not be the one to deliver my baby (whoever is on call would do it). But the midwife does require a back-up doctor who knows us and has seen us; I'd like to ask her if she would do that for me (if not, the midwives have recommendations so it isn't the end of the world), but I have no idea how to even bring it up that I'm not going to deliver in a hospital or ask her to be my back-up. How did you ladies do it?
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Re: How to tell the dr?
When I switched from my OB practice to my MW practice I did so after my last pregnancy. I didn't talk to my old office at all I just filled out forms at my new office to get my records transferred.
Wanting the OB to be your back up definitely throws a wrench in things. I don't know if they will be open to being your back up or not. I know that the MW practice I'm with is hospital-based, but practice more of a traditional midwifery model of care. Because of that they often get requests to be the back-ups if there's a hospital transfer or if an OB is needed (there is one OB also affiliated with the practice) and they won't do it. It's not that they don't support homebirth, they totally do, but I think they want their patients to be their actual patients, you know? I guess it's worth bringing up though if you really want that practice to be your backup. I guess if it were me I would just be upfront and say, "I'm switching to a homebirth, but I need a backup OB JIC. Would you be willing to operate in that capacity?".
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I'm in the same boat myself. I have decided to go with a birthing center. They don't require a back-up Dr though. I really like the NP that I have been seeing through my insurance and am going to continue to see her until after 28 weeks because I need to get Rhogam (I'm Rh Neg and DH is Rh Pos). My insurance will cover the Rhogam and I would have to pay for it out of pocket if I get it from the Midwives.
Also, I would like to keep a relationship with my NP on the off chance I need another ultrasound later in pregnancy. (ie I go to 41 weeks...). I'm trying to figure out how to have a conversation with my NP at our next appointment. ugh.
The midwife practice requires a back-up doctor so that if something goes wrong and you have to transfer to the hospital there is someone there who has seen you before and isn't getting your chart and you as a patient for the very first time while you're in the middle of giving birth/having an emergency.
Thanks to those who responded so far; any other suggestions?
If you don't think the OB will be supportive I doubt she'll be your backup. That being said, I'd just explain what you want and you'd like her to be the backup b/c she's familiar with you.
Wish I could be more help but I left my OB for a midwife practice (ended up with high risk OB...) and didn't even say good-bye & they've never reached out to check on me either and I left 2 months ago...