Thread: Well, crap :(

I called my insurance company this morning and they will not cover any expenses if I go to a freestanding birthing center. We cannot afford to pay out of pocket, so hospital it is

Now I just have to make sure my OB is okay with me having a doula. I've heard some will not work with moms who hire doulas.

That stinks! I'm sorry!

Originally Posted by kvo

I called my insurance company this morning and they will not cover any expenses if I go to a freestanding birthing center. We cannot afford to pay out of pocket, so hospital it is

Now I just have to make sure my OB is okay with me having a doula. I've heard some will not work with moms who hire doulas.

WHY? A birth support person is a deal-breaker? That's an OB I'd get far away from immediately anyway. Good grief. If he is NOT okay with you having a doula, can you at least switch OBs?

I'm sorry about your insurance, though, that really sucks. I don't think mine would cover it either, actually, but our birth center is part of a hospital, so it is covered. (Of course that means it's also got some really obnoxious rules and restrictions, but it's better than nothing!)

That stinks! Our birthing center in the area is expensive and not really covered by many insurances- otherwise I'd have a birthing center birth, not a homebirth.
That said, with a GOOD OB you can still have a great birth experience a the hospital. The key is getting a good OB. If your OB is not ok with a doula, whether in the end you want a doula or not, I'd run as far from that OB as possible. To me that's like an OB saying "this is my show and I don't want another informed person around to make decisions".

Originally Posted by jooniper

To me that's like an OB saying "this is my show and I don't want another informed person around to make decisions".

It's not the Doula's responsibility to make decisions either. It's her responsibility to help the mom with her birth plan, and help the mother make informed decisions for herself and her baby. She is mostly there for physical and emotional support during labour, not decision making of any kind, from what I was taught, that is completely out of a doula's scope of practice.

But yeah, still agree that an OB that wouldn't allow a doula is one I'd want to be far from.

I hope it works out for you there, KUP on the OB situation!

YEAH, I could have worded that better- you said what I meant. But yes, they don't want someone helping the MOM make decisions that interfere with the OBs plan.

That just stinks.
I hope that you can find a good OB at least. I could never go to one that wouldn't let me have the people I wanted at my birth. Doula or not.

I'm sorry Kristen. That sucks. I agree with everyone else, if your OB doesn't want you to have a doula or isn't ok with your birth plan I really would switch. I really think it was the best decision I've made in a long while when we switched and I KNOW switching allowed me to have the birth I wanted. Is it possible to switch to a CNM? Would probably be easier to get a CNM who is on plan with your birth plan than an OB at this point. GL!!

Leigh--I doubt my OB would object, she's pretty laid back about things and did respect my birth plan last time, however it was pretty typical of what they do at the hospital anyway. I've just heard that some do.

Kristen--Yes, I can switch to a MW, just has to be one that delivers in a hospital, so that means a CNM. Another issue will be if hospital policy requires certain procedures that interfere with the hypnobabies stuff (like how and where I can actually push the baby out). I have another option for hospital too, which is the only one in the city that allows waterbirth and has a whole midwifery clinic associated with it, they do regular VBACs, etc so they are obviously receptive to NCB.

Ah, I'm sorry you have to deal with that! I'd try and get into the group at the better hospital if I were you!