My OB/GYN is not part of the birthing center I want!

[GingerPanda]

I'm still TTC, so this is REALLY very early, but I'm trying to figure out basic things I want to do before I get pregnant and have to make decisions while under the influence of hormones and my OB/GYN.

I really want to try water birthing. I definitely want to try to go all natural, and don't want to be hooked up to all these machines where I can't move or eat or drink or... anything. The only problem is that in the state of Kentucky where I live, it is illegal for midwives to do home births (without a license they haven't issued in 40 years, anyway. Which sucks, but... I didn't really want to do a home birth anyway). I want to go to a birthing center.

There is only one in KY (about 2.5 hours away), and the closest one to me is actually an hour away in Ohio. It's really nice, and actually attached to a hospital in case we need it. My OB/GYN is not partnered there, though. He refuses to talk to me about future planning and stuff because I'm not pregnant yet, which is kind of off-putting...



I guess my question is this:

Is an hour away too far away? It would be my first baby, so labor is probably gonna be long (my sisters' labors have all been long).

Any insight or information you think might be helpful would be appreciated!

 

[amjon]

The closest hospital I will go to now is about 45 minutes away with the other up the an hour and half. I'm a bit worried about making it though as I had a very quick labor with my daughter. I'd say an hour is probably fine.

 

[sunshinelds]

I'd say the 2.5 hour one is probably just as fine. Just remember that not all birth centers are created equally and to be careful in that respect.

 

[NDH]

Without knowing much at all about how it works there, is there any chance you can switch OB/GYN to one who is partnered with the Ohio based centre? An hour away is fine,especially or a first birth. I wouldn't be going to the one 2.5 hours away, not in labour.

 

[GingerPanda]

I'd say the 2.5 hour one is probably just as fine. Just remember that not all birth centers are created equally and to be careful in that respect.

I did some research into both of them, and the one in Ohio does seem a lot nicer. Plus, it's attached to a hospital, just in case something bad happens.

Without knowing much at all about how it works there, is there any chance you can switch OB/GYN to one who is partnered with the Ohio based centre? An hour away is fine,especially or a first birth. I wouldn't be going to the one 2.5 hours away, not in labour.

I would have to. And I would have to use them for all my appointments and so on, which means I'd be making this hour drive every time instead of the 15 minutes to my current OB/GYN and 10 minutes to the closest hospital. But I don't like that hospital at all. They have a huge c-section rate. Plus, my SIL went there for her baby, and told all the nurses she didn't want drugs at all. But when labor picked up and she started asking for drugs, the nurses caved immediately. No pep-talk. No resistance on behalf of her earlier wishes. Nothing.

And the doctor wanted out of there. Before she even went into full-blown labor, he was telling her "Oh, the baby's too big. You might have to have a c-section, bal blah". She was 16, first baby, and after she hit transition, she only pushed for 8 minutes with a total labor of 4 hours. She didn't need a c-section at all.

 

[jensha]

What I'd do if I were you, is that I 'd stay with your current OB at the beginning of the pregnancy to receive the prenatal cares. Then, around 30 weeks, I'd switch to an OB in Ohio. You can always switch, it's never too late. Except if your pregnacy turns out to be high risk (I'm crossing my fingers it won't happen), there is not really much to do during the appointments. 12 weeks = nuchal translucency scan if you want it, 20 weeks = gender scan, also blood tests to check your iron levels, maybe a pap smear early on to detect infections (not routine everywhere). Then, around 25 weeks, glucose test and at 36 weeks, GBS test. If everything goes well, you don't have to see your OB every week all through your pregnancy. I hope you get the birth you want. Good luck!

 

[GingerPanda]

The birthing center requires you to take a small class on natural laboring around half-way through your pregnancy. So that would be good for getting to know the place and feeling comfortable there. I think I will probably do pretty much just as you have suggested.

 

[dachsundmom]

Out of curiosity, are you referring to the birthing center at Miami Valley?

If so, I'd just ask them how they feel about your travel time, but my guess is they are quite used to dealing with situations like yours.

Though I did not use the birthing center, as I had a high risk pregnancy, I cannot rave about that hospital enough. A friend of mine used the center and she had fantastic care.

FYI, they are very specific about whom they will accept and if you should go into labor before/after their allowed gestational week, you might want to have a back-up plan for your area and also check if your insurance will cover an out-of-state birth.

Good luck!

 

[GingerPanda]

Out of curiosity, are you referring to the birthing center at Miami Valley?

If so, I'd just ask them how they feel about your travel time, but my guess is they are quite used to dealing with situations like yours.

Though I did not use the birthing center, as I had a high risk pregnancy, I cannot rave about that hospital enough. A friend of mine used the center and she had fantastic care.

FYI, they are very specific about whom they will accept and if you should go into labor before/after their allowed gestational week, you might want to have a back-up plan for your area and also check if your insurance will cover an out-of-state birth.

Good luck!

Thanks! Yeah, I'm talking about that one. I've seen great reviews for it, and your response was just what I needed to hear.

I hope my insurance would cover it. I mean, I live almost right on the river into Ohio, so if I had a major complication, they would probably have to transfer me to Cincinnati, anyway. It's a major insurance company, but you do make a good point that I should call just to make sure. I would think it would be okay as long as the hospital was in the network.

 

[dachsundmom]

They might cover it, but depending on the type of coverage you have, consider it out-of-network, therefore raising your portion of the bill.

I doubt in an emergency you'd get transferred to another hospital, but it never hurts to ask.

If you are really willing to make this drive, it does raise some red flags to me that your doctor doesn't want to answer your questions now, so maybe find a doctor who has privileges at MVH and take it from there.

 

[GingerPanda]

He doesn't want to talk to me about anything, even TTC. All he wanted to do was a pap, and then come back if I haven't conceived by the end of March. He won't talk to me about how to increase my chances of conception, or anything. So all I know is all I've researched myself. The sad part is that his practice is the highest-rated in my area, so I don't think I'll get anything better around here.

I just don't want to start making calls until I'm pregnant. I'm tired of doctors blowing me off because I'm not there yet. I'm just over-planning, I guess.

But you think it would be a better idea to go ahead and get on board with one of those doctors at MVH before conception? I already have an appointment for March 20th at my current doctor's office to start running tests if I haven't conceived. I'm afraid to switch before then because I will not have been TTC for a full year, and the doctor is doing some tests early because of my wacky history. I'm afraid if I switch, they'll make me wait.

 

[dachsundmom]

Hmmm; what do you want from a doctor? Even though yours comes highly recommended, this does not mean it's the right practice for you.

This is the person who will treat your during one of the most important aspects of your life and you need to feel comfortable enough to tell him anything that's on your mind.

With that said, it's not unusual for a doctor not to take TTC too seriously if it's been under a year, unless there are underlying health issues. Not saying it's fair, but the average healthy couple is looking at 9-12 cycles before the BFP.

None of this is easy and I wish you only the best!

 

[GingerPanda]

I know I have cycle issues, and DH hasn't had a SA. Neither of us have ever had children, so who knows. Obviously the doc thinks there's a chance something could be wrong, since he offered to start testing a few months early. Either that or he just wants me to shut up.

The practice is the highest recommended, but he's not the highest recommended doctor in it. That would be the female doctor, whose waiting list is a year long for new patients.

I think I'll wait until I get pregnant, then go check out the doctors at MVH. I just want a doctor who I feel like listens to me and doesn't just blow me off. If I'm coming to him with questions about TTC and he doesn't want to talk about it, what will he do when I have questions or concerns about my fertility or pregnancy?