Do you get to choose your delivery doctor?

Question

The hospital I go through has several OBs and Midwives but you don’t know who will be on call for you delivery. Does anyone else not get to choose their delivery doctor? How are you making sure that your wishes are respected even if it’s a stranger?

Answer

I worked in a doctors office that had that same dynamic. The best thing you can do is type out a birth plan and have them put it in your chart. Also keep a same copy with you when you go to the hospital. At your appointments you can even go over it with the doctor that you are seeing at the time. I hope that helps! I know not knowing the delivering doctor can be stressful, just make sure you get to know as many of the providers that you can when scheduling your appointments.

Answer

I didn't get to choose my midwife when I delivered my son. She was amazing but as soon as she came in she asked if I was getting an epidural and I was in so much pain, I said yes. She said "oh good, you don't seem like the natural type." Everything else she was great with, but I was really upset that I got zero guidance, encouragement or anything to push forward with my previous plans of a natural birth.
I'm preparing much better this time, and I am being seen by my primary physician for the pregnancy so she will be the one who delivers. She knows my wishes, so I feel confident that I will be more likely to go natural this time. 
It's important your birth partner (husband, friend, family member, etc) knows your wishes and is confident in advocating for you. My husband honestly was scared and just froze and had me take care of it... Which resulted in an epidural. My nurse was a bitch, and I just had very little support. This time my husband is better prepared and I feel confident he'll advocate when I can't. Also make and bring a birth plan and make sure you give it to them. When it came down to it, no one asked for mine and I was too scared and in too much pain to even think of it. My husband will be in charge of that this time.

Answer

We are in the same boat. This made my husband very nervous. Our baby is normal and healthy but I have severe nerve issues and complications with my lower half of my body. So we will be making a printed birth plan. Also hanging a sign on door and on the bed not to touch my legs or feet without concent. I know this is a bit much but I am hoping it makes my husband and mom relax which will in turn help me stay calm and peaceful. Best wishes!

Answer

My doctor gives his cell number to patients so they can call him when they go in rather than use the doctor on call. I’ve literally never heard of any other dr who wasn’t private practice doing it, but I seriously love it.

Answer

My clinic is the same. Definitely print a birth plan with your basic wishes, but keep an open place in your heart and mind knowing that some of them might not be able to be accommodated, or that your needs and wants could change depending on how labor goes. Discuss your birth plan with your partner to make sure he can advocate for you if you're not able to articulate your wishes fully in the delivery room. And most importantly, don't blame yourself if things don't go according to plan! Maybe you'll get an epidural, maybe not...maybe you'll need surgical intervention, maybe not, Etc. However things play out, you'll still be a mama when it's over and that's something to be proud of!! 😊

Answer

With my first I picked out my dr and he’s the one who did deliver him! My second we just moved to my husbands home town so different state and I picked a dr but they said I should meet all the dr’s there in case my dr is off that day! Have met two of them so fun and they seem really nice and wouldn’t mind having either one of them deliver our second son

Answer

Luckily my doctor is ob/gyn. She will be the one delivering my baby. I feel very confortable with her. She is great.

Answer

My hospital is the same. My OBs office is in the hospital I’ll be delivering at and there are 3 of them that work there. With my first I was scheduled to be induced and luckily for me my dr was on call that weekend. Although I am comfortable with my own dr and I hope he’s able to deliver this one as well I’m not really going to worry about it. As long as I have one of the drs from his office there to deliver I’ll be okay lol.

Answer

That’s how it was with my first (and will be for this one). You can express all your wishes in advance and ask that it stays on your chart. But when I got to the hospital the nurses asked me about all the usual stuff and wrote it down—did I want an epidural, did I want delayed cord clamp, did we want a circumcision, who was cutting the cord, etc etc. The nurse stayed by my side the entire time, I definitely trusted her with my requests.

Answer

It was like that for both pregnancies for me. Different states, (so also different hospitals/OBs) same policies. They had me get acquainted with all of the staff for that reason. I have my favorites, but at the same time it's a relief to know everyone instead of possibly having a stranger against my wishes.

Do you get to choose your delivery doctor?

Let's Glow!

The Top Baby Tracker App: Embrace New Beginnings with Tender Care

The Top Fertility Tracker App: Your Path to Achieving Pregnancy

The Top Pregnancy App: Nurturing Your Journey to Motherhood

The Top Period Tracker for Empowering Your Menstrual Health Journey