When I was pregnant with Evelyn, you might remember me going on and on about my love for the Birth Center, a local place staffed by midwives and affiliated with, but not technically part of, UNC Hospitals. I loved my care there. Unfortunately, I risked out of seeing them for this second pregnancy. I understand, but I still miss them.
They set aside 30 minutes per appointment. That's 30 minutes of actual face time with the midwife. Now that I'm at a large hospital-ish family practice, I'd say I see the resident for maybe 10 minutes tops per appointment. The rest of the time is spent twiddling my thumbs and reading the latest news in diabetic foot care and smoking cessation studies in the exam room.
This'll make me sound old and grumpy, but what is it with doctors and laptops these days?! The Birth Center somehow survived without everyone carrying around a laptop, plunking it down in front of you, and incessantly typing in every response you give to whatever questions the computer is prodding them to ask. Oh laptops and doctors, I do not like this combination. I know it's probably nice that all that info. is in some easily-accessible database, but when you're turning to type in your laptop for a good portion of the 10 minutes we spend together, I'm seething behind my cooperative good patient smile.
The cost structure of the Birth Center was something to be admired. We miss it now that we get big fat bills every time I have to have a blood test. We paid so little for prenatal care with Evelyn... you'd think insurance companies would just love midwife-based care and do what they can to promote it for more people!
Oh, hospitalish red tape... I get computer-generated paper appointment reminders mailed to me before every appointment. They take up 2-3 printed pages to give me this information. The Birth Center just called the day before to remind me. And getting lab results from my current practice takes some work. Like multiple calls and emails and reminders when I'm there in person that yes, I actually do want to know and record for myself my vital signs, baby's heart rate, my baseline and most current protein screen results, my glucose test results, etc. This is my body and my money and I'm not trying to be a doctor (well not that kind at least), but I want to be informed and involved in my care. Mmmm kay?
So I'm sure I'll keep comparing the types of care I've gotten for pregnancies and at least it's been a learning exercise. I'm working on being more assertive and making sure I get what I need even if it's not how this practice is used to doing things. I think I'm just a natural birth, midwife-loving person at heart so this experience has been philosophically different. But in the end I'll still have labor and delivery and you know that's my favorite part. And we'll have a doula and our favorite photographer there with us for that so I'll be surrounded not only by the world's best labor coach, Jonathan, but by two strong and supportive women. I can't help but smile thinking about that.
Only 8 weeks to go to reach the goal of 40 weeks! Keep growing strong, little Dos!
They set aside 30 minutes per appointment. That's 30 minutes of actual face time with the midwife. Now that I'm at a large hospital-ish family practice, I'd say I see the resident for maybe 10 minutes tops per appointment. The rest of the time is spent twiddling my thumbs and reading the latest news in diabetic foot care and smoking cessation studies in the exam room.
This'll make me sound old and grumpy, but what is it with doctors and laptops these days?! The Birth Center somehow survived without everyone carrying around a laptop, plunking it down in front of you, and incessantly typing in every response you give to whatever questions the computer is prodding them to ask. Oh laptops and doctors, I do not like this combination. I know it's probably nice that all that info. is in some easily-accessible database, but when you're turning to type in your laptop for a good portion of the 10 minutes we spend together, I'm seething behind my cooperative good patient smile.
The cost structure of the Birth Center was something to be admired. We miss it now that we get big fat bills every time I have to have a blood test. We paid so little for prenatal care with Evelyn... you'd think insurance companies would just love midwife-based care and do what they can to promote it for more people!
Oh, hospitalish red tape... I get computer-generated paper appointment reminders mailed to me before every appointment. They take up 2-3 printed pages to give me this information. The Birth Center just called the day before to remind me. And getting lab results from my current practice takes some work. Like multiple calls and emails and reminders when I'm there in person that yes, I actually do want to know and record for myself my vital signs, baby's heart rate, my baseline and most current protein screen results, my glucose test results, etc. This is my body and my money and I'm not trying to be a doctor (well not that kind at least), but I want to be informed and involved in my care. Mmmm kay?
So I'm sure I'll keep comparing the types of care I've gotten for pregnancies and at least it's been a learning exercise. I'm working on being more assertive and making sure I get what I need even if it's not how this practice is used to doing things. I think I'm just a natural birth, midwife-loving person at heart so this experience has been philosophically different. But in the end I'll still have labor and delivery and you know that's my favorite part. And we'll have a doula and our favorite photographer there with us for that so I'll be surrounded not only by the world's best labor coach, Jonathan, but by two strong and supportive women. I can't help but smile thinking about that.
Only 8 weeks to go to reach the goal of 40 weeks! Keep growing strong, little Dos!
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