@klcarr19 Well take what I said with a grain of salt because I am a FTM and I have no clue what I'm doing. But shortly after my MW told me to start looking for a pediatrician I read an article on TB that said pick a pediatrician because if you don't the hospital will pick one to look at the baby. It implied that that the pediatrician came there. Then I asked a friend who just had a baby if the pediatrician comes in right after you deliver and she said yes. But maybe only in certain situations? I'm honestly clueless...
@klcarr19 I think it depends on the hospital and doctor. We also already have a pediatrician because of my stepson and intend to use the same one for baby. Our pediatrician is located/associated with one hospital in town but we're delivering at the other. If we we were delivering at the the other hospital she'd come see him in the hospital. Or, if we picked a pediatrician associated with the other hospital they would come visit him where we're delivering. Almost all the doctors in my town are associated with one or the other. Because we have a cross over we'll have an on call pediatrician in the hospital but then see our pediatrician for all after care. @Swazzle I asked my stepson's pediatrician's office about it...in my case she said just to list her as the pediatrician of record when I'm in the hospital and she'd automatically get the info she needed. The office said I didn't need to tell them ahead of time. I would personally not feel comfortable doing that if I hadn't already met her though.
@wineren that makes sense! Maybe my friend has picked a pediatrician that was associated and maybe even in that hospital. I don't know. Just when I think I understand something about this pregnancy/baby stuff I get confused again.
@JNR6510 that is exactly what it feels like. It is unpleasant, but not particularly painful and it's super random.
@MrsJessS coconut oil is cheap and it should help as long as you aren't allergic, of course.
@Swazzle the hospital I go to requires you list a pediatrician when you pre-register or you get the on call hospital pediatrician for check ups. I am definitely using a pediatrician this time who has hospital privileges. When you use the hospital ped, you often get a different doctor for every check up and they sometimes have differing opinions on the well being of your child and in our experience, it was stressful.
@Cats*in*space I can help with this! As long as it's an in-network covered service all expenses are paid 100% for the remainder of the plan period (usually calendar year but employer coverage can be at any time) once your out-of-pocket max has been reached.
@Cats*in*space I can help with this! As long as it's an in-network covered service all expenses are paid 100% for the remainder of the plan period (usually calendar year but employer coverage can be at any time) once your out-of-pocket max has been reached.
My hospital is in network and I still have to pay 10% co-insurance.
@cmar1006 Yes, you will pay a coinsurance once your deductible has been met. Both the coinsurance and deductible will be credited toward your out-of-pocket max. Your deductible is usually much lower than your out-of-pocket. Feel free to PM me if you have any questions!
@Cats*in*space Exactly what @cmar1006 said. It can be tricky depending on your policy and how it is written, and where/what your future services are. I also agree with calling the insurance company. You should have a benefit line and they can explain to you how it will work for your individual policy.
@cmar1006 Yes, you will pay a coinsurance once your deductible has been met. Both the coinsurance and deductible will be credited toward your out-of-pocket max. Your deductible is usually much lower than your out-of-pocket. Feel free to PM me if you have any questions!
I see what you're saying. Thanks! I am pretty sure I won't meet my out of pocket max which is why I have 10% co-insurance on the brain.
@cats*in*space you'd have to call to make sure you don't have a weird grandfather clause in your plan. Max OOP *should be the maximum amount of money you pay for your individual medical bills during your year provided everything is in network. You'll likely be hit with another bill for the baby unless you've reached your family max OOP too.
^^^ OOP max is usually an astronomical numbers.. several thousand. Your deductible is usually anywhere from 300-a couple thousand. You pay every bill in full until you meet your deductible. After you meet your deductible, your co-insursance applies, so you only have to pay 10 or 20% of the bill if you have a good program. When you end up selling out enough money a d reach your OOP max, your insurance will pay 100% of everything. This happened to me last year. A hospital stay and surgery at the end of the year ended up being free for me since I met my OOP max. It's a beautiful thing.
ETA: Always clarify your policy with your insurance company because I'm sure our lovely private insurance companies can find ways to be different and F us over.
Me: 27 years old DH: 27 years old Type 1 Diabetes since 2001, MTHFR hetero A1298T Dogs: Raider 4 yrs, Dex 4 yrs
Married in July 2014
TTC #1 since late Feb 2016
BFP #1 3/29/16 MMC: 5/5/16 BFP #2 7/6/16 SCH, D&C 8/4/16 BFP #3 12/26/16 EDD: 9/6/17 My Chart / My Diabetes/Pregnancy Blog My Type 1/TTC/Pregnancy Podcast: Juicebox Podcast Episode 118 A1Cs: 1/12/16 6.7% 5/25/16 6.0% 11/2/16 6.1% 3/22/16 5.8% 4/27/17 5.4% 6/13/17 5.3% "Sugar Fancy Tutu"
Thanks for all your responses. I have ~$700 more until I hit my Out of Pocket max. I was "comparing costs" through my insurance website yesterday b/c my ultrasound today is apparently ~$190 out of pocket and at a hospital in our neighboring city it would be like, $30. So i was getting all uppity about how hospitals seem to make up what they charge As long as it eventually hits a max, I feel much better about it all.
Wait, are you ready for this?!?!?! You want to talk "made up prices?"
So I had the Panorama test done, and happened to be on my insurance portal several weeks ago, and noticed the company charged my insurance $8000. Part of the test cost $3000, and my insurance company paid all but $126, and the other half of the test $5000, and they wouldn't cover ANY of it. So I freaked out, but decided to wait until the bill came to lose my mind.
Bill arrived this past weekend. The company completely waived the $5000 part, so all I owe is the $126 the insurance wouldn't cover on half the test. ..........what?? So they submitted it to the insurance trying to get all the monies, and then when they wouldn't pay, just charged me a smaller bit.
I'm SUPER happy not to get stuck with a $5126 bill, don't get me wrong. But wow.
Okay so my OB is moving next month. I now have to select between 1 of 3 mid wives or 1 of 2 OBs. What are your pro/con lists on mid wives vs OBs? I am going to ask my OB tomorrow at our appt who from the practice he recommends will be a good fit for us, but just wanted some over all thoughts on a Nurse Midwife vs OB. I am not a high risk pregnancy and I am striving for vaginal unmedicated birth.
ETA: he is moving as in he is getting stationed to Guantanamo Bay, Cuba...so I can't move practices with him.
@labby18 I am no expert because 1) I've never done this before (had a baby), and 2) generally avoid all things medical. But, from what I have read and heard, I think a MW would suit your plans just as well as an OB. MW's are not allowed to perform c-sections so I consider them more of a "pro" for vaginal births (since that is all they do). They aren't going to try to "schedule you for a c-section around their availability or convenience" and will only recommend it if it absolutely necessary. This of course is only my opinion and feelings after talking to some friends, reading articles, etc. I see a MW but she is also in an practice with 3 OB's. So I feel comfortable that if for some reason I would need a c-section someone else that she is familiar with could step-in.
Of course it all comes down to how comfortable you are with the individual. I didn't even know my "Dr" was a MW until several years into seeing her. Then when I became pregnant I already had a relationship with her and I didn't want to find someone new.
@labby18 if I could, I would see a midwife. I love midwives and feel like you get pretty personalized care from them and I just am more prone to liking non MD providers
@labby18 I've had both a CNMW and an OB. Level of care from my providers was similar and I'm moderately high risk. The best thing about a CNMW is that if she can't practice with you for whatever reason she will refer you out to an OB whether that's during delivery or early on if you become high risk and out of her scope of practice.
@labby18 I have a CNMW and OBGYN who work together. Now that I'm high risk I will likely only see the OB, but I was very impressed with the MW, and would have been just as comfortable delivering with her. She was very knowledgable, and I like that she was a NP before getting her midwife certification. Can you possibly meet with a few of your options to see who you're most comfortable with?
@dogdisnylovr As long as I pick a pediatrician with privileges at the hospital I will deliver at, that's the bed who will see my baby in the hospital, but at my second choice hospital the baby would see whoever was on call at the hospital that day. Definitely ask and research your hospital- it would definitely be on my list of things to ask at a hospital tour.
Question for STMs who had an unmedicated birth the first time around...what did you do to learn how to manage pain/prepare for birth? Natural childbirth class? Books? Videos? Anything you found particularly helpful?
Question for STMs who had an unmedicated birth the first time around...what did you do to learn how to manage pain/prepare for birth? Natural childbirth class? Books? Videos? Anything you found particularly helpful?
Can't get out of this quote box. I had an unmedicated birth with my son. I took a prenatal yoga class once a week for several months. It definitely helped mentally and physically prepare me. I also took a childbirth class through our local hospital which had quite a bit of useful information. DH was very supportive of this path which helped tremendously. I also used visual focal points, yoga mantras, and breathing techniques to help me through contractions.
Question for STMs who had an unmedicated birth the first time around...what did you do to learn how to manage pain/prepare for birth? Natural childbirth class? Books? Videos? Anything you found particularly helpful?
Bradley method is totally in right now, but I don't know anything about it. From what I hear, Lamaze is out (I don't know anything about it either). Similar to @CoastalMomma I did yoga (not prenatal, I just continued my regular daily yoga practice), and took an in depth childbirth class. I really focused my yoga practice on breath and meditation as well as hip opening and pelvis strengthening poses. I also did a lot of walking, and found that during labor walking helped me a lot with the earlier contractions. In general I would say that keeping a steady fitness routine, at whatever level is safe for your body and pregnancy, is key to preparing your body for any birth (unmedicated/medicated/cesarian - doesn't really matter).
**TW**
Me & DH: 32 Married 2013 Kiddo #1: Sept 2015 BFP: 1/19, EDD: 9/30
"I'm having fruit salad for dinner. Well, it's mostly just grapes, actually. Ok all grapes. Fermented grapes. Fine, I'm having wine for dinner."
@labby18 I had a midwife group with DS and now with this LO. I feel like the midwives really sit and listen to me, and they don't mind if your appt goes longer because they're explaining something to you. Both times, the midwives worked in conjunction with an OB office (they are in the same office, just one wing is OB, one is the midwives). When things went south while I was giving birth to DS, there was an OB to step in and help with the procedures that the midwives are not allowed/ trained to do.
@Rhubarb7216 I ended up having a surprise unmedicated birth, but at my birth classes, they mentioned Bradley and Lamaze a lot. The breathing and meditation aspects really were the focus of it. Your hospital may offer classes, I recommend looking into it.
I wanted to chime in on Rhubarb's comment because, even if you are dead set on an epidural or being completely unmedicated, I'm a huge advocate of being familiar with techniques for both sides. You honestly don't know how things are going to end up until that baby is already out. I wish I'd known more about breathing/ meditation techniques. Not knowing the details of an epidural or C Section (because you don't want either one) can make the decision a lot harder to make when you're in the moment. Being informed on all aspects is going to help you be a lot better prepared.
@Lizlann I had great intentions of maintaining a good exercise routine throughout my pregnancy, but unfortunately I've been on activity restrictions since 19 weeks (I'm 23 now) due to a short cervix and risk for preterm labor. I'm not sure if yoga would be ok, but I'll ask my OB.
@ColoradoHiker I totally agree about educating yourself for different options. I'm taking the general childbirth class my hospital offers and I think it should cover the basics for the different possibilities. While I'd like to go unmedicated, I am also willing to keep an open mind about an epidural depending on how it actually feels when I'm in labor. And right now my placenta is positioned such that I'll have to have a c section if it doesn't move, so I need to be mentally prepared for that option too!
I will definitely need to read up on the Bradley method! Thanks for the input!
@rhubarb7216 If your OB does give the go ahead for yoga, focus on prenatal. It's specifically structured to be low impact and focuses more on breathing and stretching. The more intense yoga practices tend to be inappropriate for a momma on activity restrictions.
**TW**
Me & DH: 32 Married 2013 Kiddo #1: Sept 2015 BFP: 1/19, EDD: 9/30
"I'm having fruit salad for dinner. Well, it's mostly just grapes, actually. Ok all grapes. Fermented grapes. Fine, I'm having wine for dinner."
@dogdisnylovr So I am probably out of the norm here but I took both my kids out basically right away. My oldest is an October baby and my about to be middle child is a December baby. If I had errands to run or something to do I did it. I will be doing the same with this one. Every mom and situation is different though. You just need to do what YOU are comfortable with. Mentally, physically, everything. And of course the baby too.
@dogdisnylovr I was much the same as @tfrangul. I pretty much went out right away. When you have other kids, you have to do what you have to do. I will say it did take a little time for lots of errands, and that was mostly because of the way I felt. I was recovering and exhausted, so if I didn't have to go anywhere, I didn't. DD was born on palm Sunday and I think the first big trip was to church on Easter. Also I should note, that I was very into baby wearing. So I wore DD everywhere I went. That makes it much easier because baby is secure and most people don't try to touch a baby that is snuggled between your boobs. I do also agree that it depends on the mom and the baby. DD was a pretty easy baby.
Re: Stupid Questions 5/1/17
@Swazzle I asked my stepson's pediatrician's office about it...in my case she said just to list her as the pediatrician of record when I'm in the hospital and she'd automatically get the info she needed. The office said I didn't need to tell them ahead of time. I would personally not feel comfortable doing that if I hadn't already met her though.
Me: 35 | DH: 38
Met: 2007
Married: 2013
BFP #1: 06/21/16 MMC: 08/04/16
BFP #2: 01/08/17 DD: 09/23/17
BFP #3: 06/10/20 EDD: 02/11/2021
@MrsJessS coconut oil is cheap and it should help as long as you aren't allergic, of course.
@Swazzle the hospital I go to requires you list a pediatrician when you pre-register or you get the on call hospital pediatrician for check ups. I am definitely using a pediatrician this time who has hospital privileges. When you use the hospital ped, you often get a different doctor for every check up and they sometimes have differing opinions on the well being of your child and in our experience, it was stressful.
My friend also bought this for me and it's helped so much: https://www.amazon.com/Earth-Mama-Angel-Baby-Natural/dp/B000JVA80C/ref=sr_1_2_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1493912639&sr=8-2&keywords=earth+mama+oil&th=1
ETA: Always clarify your policy with your insurance company because I'm sure our lovely private insurance companies can find ways to be different and F us over.
Type 1 Diabetes since 2001, MTHFR hetero A1298T
Dogs: Raider 4 yrs, Dex 4 yrs
BFP #2 7/6/16 SCH, D&C 8/4/16
BFP #3 12/26/16 EDD: 9/6/17
My Chart / My Diabetes/Pregnancy Blog
My Type 1/TTC/Pregnancy Podcast:
Juicebox Podcast Episode 118
A1Cs:
1/12/16 6.7%
5/25/16 6.0%
11/2/16 6.1%
3/22/16 5.8%
4/27/17 5.4%
6/13/17 5.3%
"Sugar Fancy Tutu"
Me: 35 | DH: 38
Met: 2007
Married: 2013
BFP #1: 06/21/16 MMC: 08/04/16
BFP #2: 01/08/17 DD: 09/23/17
BFP #3: 06/10/20 EDD: 02/11/2021
So I had the Panorama test done, and happened to be on my insurance portal several weeks ago, and noticed the company charged my insurance $8000. Part of the test cost $3000, and my insurance company paid all but $126, and the other half of the test $5000, and they wouldn't cover ANY of it. So I freaked out, but decided to wait until the bill came to lose my mind.
Bill arrived this past weekend. The company completely waived the $5000 part, so all I owe is the $126 the insurance wouldn't cover on half the test. ..........what?? So they submitted it to the insurance trying to get all the monies, and then when they wouldn't pay, just charged me a smaller bit.
I'm SUPER happy not to get stuck with a $5126 bill, don't get me wrong. But wow.
Okay so my OB is moving next month. I now have to select between 1 of 3 mid wives or 1 of 2 OBs. What are your pro/con lists on mid wives vs OBs? I am going to ask my OB tomorrow at our appt who from the practice he recommends will be a good fit for us, but just wanted some over all thoughts on a Nurse Midwife vs OB. I am not a high risk pregnancy and I am striving for vaginal unmedicated birth.
ETA: he is moving as in he is getting stationed to Guantanamo Bay, Cuba...so I can't move practices with him.
Of course it all comes down to how comfortable you are with the individual. I didn't even know my "Dr" was a MW until several years into seeing her. Then when I became pregnant I already had a relationship with her and I didn't want to find someone new.
@dogdisnylovr As long as I pick a pediatrician with privileges at the hospital I will deliver at, that's the bed who will see my baby in the hospital, but at my second choice hospital the baby would see whoever was on call at the hospital that day. Definitely ask and research your hospital- it would definitely be on my list of things to ask at a hospital tour.
Married 2013
Kiddo #1: Sept 2015
BFP: 1/19, EDD: 9/30
"I'm having fruit salad for dinner. Well, it's mostly just grapes, actually. Ok all grapes. Fermented grapes. Fine, I'm having wine for dinner."
@Rhubarb7216 I ended up having a surprise unmedicated birth, but at my birth classes, they mentioned Bradley and Lamaze a lot. The breathing and meditation aspects really were the focus of it. Your hospital may offer classes, I recommend looking into it.
I wanted to chime in on Rhubarb's comment because, even if you are dead set on an epidural or being completely unmedicated, I'm a huge advocate of being familiar with techniques for both sides. You honestly don't know how things are going to end up until that baby is already out. I wish I'd known more about breathing/ meditation techniques. Not knowing the details of an epidural or C Section (because you don't want either one) can make the decision a lot harder to make when you're in the moment. Being informed on all aspects is going to help you be a lot better prepared.
DS2: EDD- 09.08.17
@ColoradoHiker I totally agree about educating yourself for different options. I'm taking the general childbirth class my hospital offers and I think it should cover the basics for the different possibilities. While I'd like to go unmedicated, I am also willing to keep an open mind about an epidural depending on how it actually feels when I'm in labor. And right now my placenta is positioned such that I'll have to have a c section if it doesn't move, so I need to be mentally prepared for that option too!
I will definitely need to read up on the Bradley method! Thanks for the input!
Married 2013
Kiddo #1: Sept 2015
BFP: 1/19, EDD: 9/30
"I'm having fruit salad for dinner. Well, it's mostly just grapes, actually. Ok all grapes. Fermented grapes. Fine, I'm having wine for dinner."
Me: 34 | DH: 31
Married: Nov. 7, 2015
TTC Since: February, 2016
BFP: December 20, 2016
Me: 34 | DH: 31
Married: Nov. 7, 2015
TTC Since: February, 2016
BFP: December 20, 2016