Midwives vs. Doctors

[blueskye20]

My first 7 months I was seeing a midwife as my medical provider and I was very happy with her.  I would come in for my appointments, she was never more than 5 minutes late to see me, never left me just sitting in the exam room waiting and waiting and waiting to be seen, she would have me sit in a chair and talk to me before having me hop onto the exam table, she cared what my name was and even what my baby’s name was.  I know that most women think that midwives are too hippie like but I loved seeing my midwife.  Then, a few weeks ago, I found out that the hospital where the midwives perform births at refused to resign the contract with them and any patient due after August 31st would have to find another Doctor.  I am due October 7th, therefore I had to find a new doctor.  

Now I had to switch to a doctor rather than a midwife because she was the only practicing midwife within an hours drive.  I know that a little bit of my unhappiness is based off of prejudice because it’s a doctor and not a midwife. However, I don’t like that way I have been treated there.  When I went to my first appointed I got a bad vibe to begin with.  I am not married to the father of my baby (though we plan on being married in 2010) and I’m 21 years old… I am also a college student.  I felt like I was being treated like a child, like I was not being given any respect.

Now I had my second appointment with them today.  I got to my appointment ten minutes early (my apt was at 10:45am).  The nurse didn’t call me in for my weight and blood pressure check until 11:10am.  Then, when she was done she said “the doctor will be right with you.”  Okay, so I waited.  Then waited, and waited some more.  It wasn’t until 11:36am that the doctor finally came in.  That’s 51 minutes after my original appointment had been scheduled.  The doctor was polite and all but I feel like that was pretty rude.  If I were more than 15 minutes late for my appointment I would have been charged and made to reschedule.  How come its okay for them to be that late?  If there were an emergency or something I would be very understanding about it, but if there was someone should have let me know.  I feel like doctor’s think that their time is the only time that is valuable, and ours doesn’t matter at all.

Anyway, I had traveled between five different practices from the beginning of my pregnancy and now that I am almost to the end I guess I’ll just stay with them.  I’m at a 70% satisfaction with them at the moment.  They are polite and I can deal with their attitudes, Its just instead of the midwives practices where everyone was a woman, at the doctor’s practice they are the doctor and I am the patient.  I would prefer to be on the same level as my care provider… A woman.

[blueskye20]

Thanks, I actually only have six weeks left to deal with them, I'm 34 weeks today!  

[chantal21]

I completely understand where you are coming from as well! I see a midwife and absolutely LOVE her. She is like a friend to me and really cares. I e-mail her and text her several times a week with questions or concerns and she always gets back to me with no problems. I also see an OB from time to time since I was having some pre-term labor, and I can't believe the difference. While I love my OB (a woman, who has several nice nurses and a couple of midwives who work there from time to time) I cannot stand the waiting! Like you, I had to wait forever and always had to remind my OB of who I was. It's completely different. As long as I get to sept. 1st, I don't have to go back there for anything and my midwife will take over 100%. But your situation is a bit different and you kinda don't have a choice. Like Lance said, you didn't have to deal with them through your whole pregnancy, just a couple of more months. hang in there!!

[Lance06]

I completely understand. At the practive I go to, we have both MD's and midwives...and I prefer the midwives. They are WAY more compassionate and understanding. I LOVE LOVE LOVE one of them...and she is th eone who assisted the doctor with my c--section and delivered my daughter! So, I understand. I guess you cant be picky bc of the situation, but I understand your frustration.
Hang in there! Alteast you dont have to deal with that type of doc office through your whole pregnancy since you are already 7 months along.