Why do people think they can take advantage of you just cause you're pregnant? You know how we've been struggling with the doctor trying to get me to change hospitals at 36 weeks, after we had already paid for and attended childbirth classes and everything and registered at and become familiar with Medical City. She got all in my face and said that its no longer "convenient" for her and I "would just have to understand that", etc. I haven't budged; this other hospital she wants me to switch to (RHD) is pretty low-grade, all shared rooms, the lactation consultant is only there two days a week, so if you miss her then tough ***, any nurse can come get your baby, the security isn't all that, etc. And if your baby needs a NICU Level 2, it is transported to Medical City anyway! So we've been struggling with that, the decision has been to just blow her off every time she mentions RHD, when it's time we're just to show up at Medical City and if she delivers the baby then fine, if not, I don't even care who does.
Well, here's the latest development in this fiasco. My doctor told me at my 38 week appointment (last Tuesday) that if I hadn't made much progress by my next appointment (39 week appt tomorrow) then we would discuss a possible induction for the week following my due date (which is this coming Saturday). I'm okay with that, there's no reason to schedule an induction before my due date. I told her at the very beginning that I wanted medication for pain, but DID NOT want any intervention to start labor, unless necessary (in other words, no induction before my due date, no breaking my water for me, and absolutely no c-section unless there is mortal danger to mine and/or the baby's life). Now the baby is not too big, her heart rate is perfect, my blood pressure is perfect, etc. Well, I get a message from the doctor's office yesterday morning that says, "Hi Sara, this is Donna from Dr. Gregg's office. I'm calling because you're scheduled for an induction tomorrow morning and you're not registered at the hospital. Please call me back so we can get this taken care of. Thanks, bye."
Whaaaaaaaaaaaat?!
This nurse tells me that at some point last Friday Dr. Greggs decided (out of the blue, for no reason and without discussing anything with me) that she no longer wants me to go all the way to my due date this Saturday, and wants to induce me this week. Apparently, she decided to call RHD (the hospital I'm not registered at because I'm not considering delivering there) and tell them that she'd like to induce me on Wednesday (yes, the 5th) and do they have times available. They called her back to tell her that they were booked Wed, Thurs, and Fri and that if I were to be induced this week it would have to be Tuesday (yes, the 4th) morning at 6:30am. So she tells her nurse to call me and let me know that she has now decided that she doesn't want me to go to my due date and that that is my only option for induction. I told them to go ahead and cancel that induction, unless the doctor has a good reason to induce me before my due date, then she can call and tell me why herself. But that I would see them for my 39 week appt tomorrow at 4:30. Oh, and let me guess, was that hospital she called RHD? The nurse said yes. I said, Well, the reason I'm not registered there is because we decided months ago that I would be delivering at Medical City, and I'm not changing that. The nurse says Well sometimes insurance isn't covered at Medical City, I'd hate for you to get stuck with a bill you can't afford. I told her that I appreciated her concern but that I've already verified the coverage with the insurance and Med. City. Then I hung up.
I called my contact Kathleen in the admissions office at Med. City to verify all this, and she said that my insurance covers everything there, and that she is appalled that the doctor's office tried to counsel me on what the billing practices are at Med. City! So she double-checked and verified everything again, but it covers everything, no matter what the doctor says.
WTF?! My doctor has totally lost all my respect and confidence. She is no longer acting in my best interests. I'm just praying this little girl comes on her own in the next couple of days, so I dont' have to worry about this whole induction business.
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