So I need to find a doctor. Ugh. This is a chore for me. I rarely go to the doctor, I've been so blessed with good health that I get down right ornery when I have to deal with the whole health care process. With a baby on the way it seems that I should get on with this chore, but I have an inkling that it is not going to be a pleasant or easy process. Here's what tipped me off...
Today I decided to call one of my friend's doctors office to see if they would accept a new patient. This Dr. only deals with prenatal care and post delivery for 2 weeks. So when I called and asked if they would take on a new patient I was immediately told no. I asked if they recommended any other doctors, and was given the name of another clinic. As I was about to hang up the receptionist asked if I was pregnant. I said yes, to which she said, "oh that's different. We'll take you if you're pregnant, but you have to be referred first." I told her I didn't have a doctor to refer me and asked if I could see a Dr. at a Mediclinic to get my referral, um no they don't take Mediclinic patients. Ok, could my previous Dr. give me a referral, um no it has to be someone who will continue my care when they are done with me. Ok. So, next I called the clinic they recommended and yes I could see a doctor within the next week, but if I miss or cancel an appointment it is going to cost me $40! Yeesh, I know their time is important, but golly! My life is so unstructured that there is no way I'm going to gamble $40 every time I make a doctor's appointment. So I called the local clinic, who I had heard were not accepting new patients, and wept a little on the phone and was able to secure an appointment for a referral. I'm not sure if this will help me, because they are not taking me on as a patient, so the prenatal clinic might not accept the referral from a Dr. who will not be continuing my care. All these conversations took the better part of an hour, and was more than a little frustrating for me.
I want to be a good mom and get good care for my baby, but when is the system just not worth dealing with. I feel like I'd be better off just to drop in at a medi clinic at the normal times for check ups. I've had babies before and I know what tests I need and about when they need to be done. Do I have to have a specific Doctor to check in with? As far as delivery goes I am not guaranteed to have the services of my doctor anyway, and for the most part I will be spending my time with a nurse or nurses that I have never met before any way. Why all the rigamarole? Why all the running around? Why do I have to rearrange my life to see someone who usually tells me what I already know anyway? Will I be prevented from having an ultra sound or hearing my baby's heart beat because I don't have an allegiance with a specific doctor? I don't know, maybe, but many babies around the world are born with out any kind of prenatal care. Is it irresponsible of me to consider not seeing a specific doctor, but dropping in off the street and taking a number? Is it low brow, or hilly billyish of me? I don't know.
I do know that my blood pressure definitely climbs whenever I deal with clinics. I also know that I will be on the road of at least one of my trimesters, and there is even a small chance that I won't be any where near home when I go into labour. What is the point of jumping through all the hoops? Just wondering.
You know my feelings on the subject of whether you need a doctor in regards to pregnancy, so I'll just say this: If you're ok with dropping in to the mediclinic and possibly seeing someone different each time, then do it. Honestly, I can't say that my OB knew anything about me, unless she read my chart first. I'm quite certain that had I bumped in to her at the grocery store, she wouldn't know who I am. Maybe small-town doctors are different, but here... well, they see so many clients, what's another face?
ReplyDeleteI think that the only disadvantages to seeing a clinic doctor are that 1) Your test results might get back to you slower and 2) you will likely have to wait to see a doctor (although depending on your OB, you might have to wait to see them anyway).
As for delivery, labour is really between you, your baby and possibly your nurse. Unless something goes drastically wrong, the doctor that attends you will show up for half an hour and that's it. If you honestly don't care about who's standing between your legs when push comes to shove, there's really no reason to force yourself to find an OB/GP that delivers babies. If you walk in to the hospital, ANY hospital (whether you're in your town or the next big city), they're not going to deny you care or treat you awfully. You just won't have that squishy warm feeling of seeing your OB on the other side of the stirrups (and frankly, who cares? It's not about the OB, it's about the baby).
I also have a few different feelings in regards to all the tests we do. I mean, it's *nice* to have them done, but there are VERY FEW conditions that you are going to do anything about pre-birth. You're not going to terminate a downs syndrome baby (at least I can't imagine you doing so). Nothing in your pregnancy is really going to change if your ultrasound indicates Spina Bifida. The gestational diabetes is *really* the only test that you're going to "do" something about... and if you're worried about it, you can keep track of your sugars at home and skip the test all together (unless your sugars are out of control, then you need help from a doctor). But you know me - I'm not necessarily a huge subscriber to the medical system when it comes to pregnancy any way.
Good luck with what you decide. Don't give in to the "you need to have a doctor" pressure. I *do* recommend having some form of prenatal care, but that doesn't mean that you can't go to the clinic for your check ups. ::hugs::
My opinion, and take it as such, is that you don't know that you won't hear anything different. I pray that everything you hear from the doctors will always be just "normal" but you don't know if it will be, and I'm sure if you do find a Ob/gyn that you'll be very happy to have someone if something does go wrong.
ReplyDeleteAlso, I was not a regular patient at my doctors office when I was referred to my Ob/gyn, so if you want to go to my clinic (just for the referral appointment) and tell him your my SIL, I know he'd refer you. I know it's far to go in SP, but it's only once, and I've always enjoyed dealing with them.
This too will pass! It will not always be like this, and your hormonies will not always be raging :)
Thanks guys, two very different perspectives, both with good points. I have a lot to think about. I hate to sound flippant, and it is true that there could be surprises that I'm not prepared for. I also know how difficult it has been in the past to secure appointments when it was convenient for me. The wait is inevitable regardless of where I go. I think I know which way I'm leaning, but I'm going to try some options first.
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