Switching OB's mid-pregnancy?

lovemichelleleah · August 2015

Does anyone else have any experience with switching OB's/midwives mid-pregnancy?
How did you go about finding a new doctor? Were you able to meet the new doctor and ask questions prior to scheduling an appointment or did you just go ahead and schedule an appointment and see if you liked them then? Did you let your current OB know you were leaving or tell them why or just not schedule your next appointment there? Any advice would be appreciated!

I had been planning to switch once I'm done with the appointments I already have scheduled and at my last appointment the nurse who drew my blood was coughing the entire time in the room with me and putti,g cough drops in her mouth and didn't even wash her hands or anything before putting on gloves! I've worked in the food industry before and know that's a requirement after sneezing/coughing or eating/drinking so I'm SURE it is in the healthcare field too, bleghh!

VesperLove · August 2015

I don't have experience switching OBs mid-pregnancy but I do have experience switching doctors because I'm not happy with their care. You don't technically have to tell them you are leaving. When you start with a new doctor you will fill out a document to get all of your records transferred over (giving permission for your current doctor to release them) which they can fax over to your old doctor. That can basically be used as their notification that you are leaving. It's important to do this so that all of your records from the first half of your pregnancy are available for your new doctor to give you the best care possible.

As for starting with a new doctor, I would find one (or a few) you are interested and call them and explain your situation - that you're mid-pregnancy and want to move to a new doctor. Is there a way to meet with the doctor or schedule a first appointment. Personally, I would do my research and pick one and make an appointment rather than trying to meet with a few different doctors to pick one (I just don't have the time to meet with multiple). But whatever you're most comfortable with.

If you don't notify your doctor directly that you're leaving then I would at least either call or send a letter (can be anonymous) letting them know of the care concerns you have so they can try and rectify them for other patients in the future.

GodIsFaithful93 · August 2015

I switched OB's a little over half way through last year with my DD. I heard wonderful things about my now-OB and the OB I had previously, I had only seen twice in 20+ weeks. I also always had to wait over an hour in the waiting room. I just called the new OB office & asked if he was accepting any new patients- which he was, and scheduled an appointment. They actually called my former OB to get all of my paperwork faxed over after I had previously called them twice & they kept putting it off. At the new OB they went ahead and did another ultrasound so they could just double check accuracy on everything & he asked what I wanted as far labor and went on with normal appointments from there. Switching was one of the best decisions ever for us. I can't say enough good things about my doctor. He's been there through a completely normal pregnancy & delivery to a ruptured tubal pregnancy and has handled everything with the utmost care & compassion.

Cbradyfriedt · August 2015

Iv only seen one ob this pregnancy in Maryland but I have scheduled with another Dr once we moved to Kansas but we were only there for 22 days so I didn't get to see that Dr and we are now in California( husbands job is crazy!) I just look online at the reviews and the Dr VBAC rates since that is what is important to me. Then I schedule the appointment it hasn't been hard to find Drs in the area just keeping the appointments! Good luck!

Edit to add

I also got my records before I left!

LMJL · August 2015

There was another post about this a while back, or one where this came up I think. I'm a FTM myself, but I was interested b/c I'm not thrilled with the practice I'm at. Or maybe there was an article about it here on the bump, maybe both...I blame pregnancy brain. But I do remember two things. First, you should check with insurance first & make sure it's doable, apparently a pregnancy is a lump sum thing & your insurance company may have already made payments for the whole or most of the cost. Second- if you can switch, then you should tell your Dr (find a new one first!) but they will have to send all your records, etc. I really feel like there was an article here on the bump...

Aha- https://www.thebump.com/a/is-it-too-late-to-change-my-ob

I decided just to stick it out with my practice, I like one OB, the others are, meh. But, if I have another, I'll probably switch.

Good luck!

Gingermom15 · August 2015

I switched at 17 weeks due to insurance purposes. The previous office had to fax my medical records and the OB I am now seeing reviewed my file before accepting me as a new patient.
I knew the OB I was switching to, so hat wasn't an issue for me. It was a simple transition.

kksquared · August 2015

LMJL said:
There was another post about this a while back, or one where this came up I think. I'm a FTM myself, but I was interested b/c I'm not thrilled with the practice I'm at. Or maybe there was an article about it here on the bump, maybe both...I blame pregnancy brain. But I do remember two things. First, you should check with insurance first & make sure it's doable, apparently a pregnancy is a lump sum thing & your insurance company may have already made payments for the whole or most of the cost. Second- if you can switch, then you should tell your Dr (find a new one first!) but they will have to send all your records, etc. I really feel like there was an article here on the bump...

Aha- https://www.thebump.com/a/is-it-too-late-to-change-my-ob

I decided just to stick it out with my practice, I like one OB, the others are, meh. But, if I have another, I'll probably switch.

Good luck!

Agreed to check with your insurance first. My insurance does a lump sum and you can only bill it to one OB. I switched at 12 weeks due to moving and lucked out that my first place didn't bill that.

LeggoxMyxPreggo · August 2015

Due to my age (just turned 26), I actually lost my health insurance and had to stop going to the obgyn around week 13. It took a while to get new insurance -- depending on what insurance you have, makes the process easier or more difficult to be honest. I got stuck with Medicaid/community plan right now and it's been playing hell with all the different processes. Currently 22 weeks, and I just got to schedule my first appointment since losing coverage this week.

Most doctors won't see you without a transfer of medical records, and it can be a delayed process (with all these weird little fees). Especially if you're in NY.

Very few people take the insurance I managed to get (and I definitely can't afford something better right now) so I didn't have much choice in who I'm going to. But I'd imagine after the one visit, if you really don't like the obgyn, it would be the same process to just skip to the next one. Your comfort is really the most important, even if it requires a little bit of stress running from one doctor to the next.

AlejandraN2 · August 2015

I switched OBs at my last pregnancy at 24 weeks because I needed to transfer hospitals and my current OB did not deliver at the hospital I needed to be at (for NICU reasons). I talked to a few OBs before making a decisions and looked for recos from my other specialists. I agree about checking with your insurance first. I like my current OB but I always wish I could've stayed with my original one who saw me for years. But oh well. I did end being delivered by an OB in the practice that I had never met but it was totally fine.

Taylovesbrad · August 2015

I switched. Got recs from people I know. I am SO glad I did!

ChiccoBeanz · August 2015

I was switched to a different OB at the practice I go to at week like 10. So now the OB I have now is also my mom's OB. He's good, but due to some issues that came up, I see an MFM sometimes also. So, luckily, my insurance works with both offices and both of the doctors deliver at the hospital I was born at. That hospital is also where I go for any ER visits, and I keep it all in the same "family". In the event I continue to have the issues I have or more, then I will switch to the MFM for this baby. But I agree with pps. Check with your insurance. look up docs around you, read their reviews or talk to friends and family for suggestions, and then select a doc and go. I hope it helps.