Changing Doctors

Hi all,
I'm curious if anyone has switched OB docs partway through their pregnancies and at what point? I was sent to a high risk OB at 17 weeks because of quad screen results (which is how they found twins- they re-ran the results after this and all came out normal for that test) and I absolutely felt so instantly comfortable with her. My regular OB is okay- I don't have a relationship of any kind with her because I more or less just picked her out of the insurance list of covered doctors after I learned I was pregnant. I haven't lived in this city long so it's all new doctors for me. She called me after my appointment with the other doctor to congratulate me and to say that she does handle twin births and that I would now come every 2 weeks with monthly u/s rather than monthly appointments with just the 20 week u/s.

I have another appointment for a more thorough u/s with the high risk OB this Thursday. They did the u/s (including 3D which was just because the woman doing the u/s was having fun so hopefully I won't be billed for that- she sent us home with about 5 feet of u/s pictures) at 17 weeks but wanted to wait a few weeks until they grew a little more before doing all the measurements and stuff so that's this week. My regular OB canceled my 20 week u/s at her office because I'll be getting this one, but I still am supposed to go in to her the day it was scheduled (the 22nd) for the regular appointment stuff.

I would like to just go to one doctor- I don't care for the coordination and extra trips to different offices. I don't know that I would be sent to the high risk one anymore since the regular one handles twins as well, but I am more comfortable with her. Also, although these babies are di/di twins and thus lower risk for being twins, I do feel like I may be a slightly higher risk. My mom had a late miscarriage and a premature baby (born at 6 months, passed away in hospital after 2 months) before having me and she was put on bedrest with me. Her sister (my aunt) had 3 of her 5 children fairly early so it is something that happens in my family. Also my regular OB had been watching my platelets because they were found to be low (not significantly low but still below the normal range) at 7 and 11 weeks (I was never told my 16 week blood draw results because I haven't been back there yet).

So would you switch to the high risk OB only? Is that something that's even "allowed" by insurance or whatever? I don't know how this stuff works honestly. Is 20 weeks kind of late to switch? It's not like my regular doctor has done anything at this point besides listen to the heartbeats and measure my belly. There's been no discussion of birth or anything like that at all. I just show up each month and get weighed, poked, and pee then they send me on my way.

 

I don't know about how the insurance would work but I would think it would be ok to just go to the high risk doctor. If you feel more comfortable with that doctor, then you should stay with her. It is never too late to switch.

I had to switch doctor right after I found out about the twins because my doctor retired.

Good luck with your decision.

 

i say, go for it! my mfm was my only doctor from day 1 and insurance didn't have any problem covering it because she's still an ob/gyn. i feel i got much better care than with just a regular ob, and certainly if you click with the high risk ob, go with her. she will be delivering your babies, after all!

 

In my HMO, peris don't do deliveries, so I had to see both (OBs do csections and S was a breech lovin baby!)

 

Do check with your insurance! In my case, I mainly see my regular OB but check in with the perinatologist (high risk dr) as necessary for consultation. If I was truly high risk -- like a friend of mine who was carrying triplets, two of which were identical twins -- I would only see the peri.

If you prefer the high risk doc, and your insurance will pay, and the doc will accept you as a full-on patient... I say go for it! You deserve to feel entirely comfortable with your care.

Good luck!

 

The MFMs at my hospital will not see you exclusively even if you are high risk for medical reasons so you might want to check to see if it is an option. If it is and the MFM is willing to take you at 17 weeks and you like him/her better then go for it!

 

[quote name='Haley'sHope' date='15 March 2010 - 07:39 PM' timestamp='1268699943' post='1601231']
The MFMs at my hospital will not see you exclusively even if you are high risk for medical reasons so you might want to check to see if it is an option. If it is and the MFM is willing to take you at 17 weeks and you like him/her better then go for it!
[/quote]

That was the same for my daughter too. Her MFM did not deliver so she saw each dr every other week with mo/di twins.

 

I switched twice, so you can certainly do it (if your insurance doesn't care -- which they usually don't, and if the MFM/high risk doctor will do the delivery). I switched from a midwife to an OB at 20 weeks when I found out I was having twins. Then at 30 weeks I switched to a different OB because I really didn't like the first one. And to make things even more complicated, I saw a Perinatologist from 24 weeks until delivery too. So from 24 weeks onwards I alternated between two doctors. The OB did a regular exam and the Peri did an ultrasound. It worked out fine, but if you'd prefer to have just one doctor, see if the MFM will deliver you. If yes, call your insurance. Good luck!

 

I think it would be fine to switch, but you do need to check that the new doctor does deliver and that it is ok with your insurance. In my area some MFM/peris deliver and others do not. I only see my peri/MFM and she handles all of my appointments and u/s and will deliver. I will go back to my regular ob/gyn after I am released from the peri about 6 weeks post-delivery.