Surprise! my OB will be on vacay when I’m 38 weeks ? - July 2024 Babies | Forums

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Kayemcee

So my OB told me today, at 35 w 5 d, that she will be gone my entire 38th week of pregnancy. My last baby came at 38 weeks. I have not even met or seen another doctor in the practice and this OB has delivered my last 2 children. This is my first high risk pregnancy and it’s been a literal *** show since the second I got the positive test. ANY OTHER of my pregnancies I probably wouldn’t have cared as much, but this one I’d REALLY prefer someone who knows my circ*mstances, health and anxiety front and back.

So she gave me the option to induce at 37 w 5 d so she can deliver, or wait and hope I make it to 39 w 2 d when she gets back. I really don’t want to force my body into something it’s not ready for (even though I’m mentally ready for this baby to GTFO now), but I’m also really not wanting some stranger who doesn’t know me to deliver this baby!

Has anyone been through this? What did you decide and why? How did things go? This is my last baby and I just really didn’t want this to be my birth experience.

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kayyy5121

I haven’t been through this but my doctor will be gone the whole week when I’m 38 weeks too ��

It’s been a nightmare just trying to get a regular OB appointment for that week cause it’s the 4th of July!

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Kayemcee

@kayyy5121,

yes! Exactly! The holiday doesn’t help because they are closed extra days and short staffed so it’s not like they have a lot of options for appts with my own doctor, much less time for me to meet other doctors. I’m honestly just annoyed they wouldn’t have told me this sooner than 2 weeks before.

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verdana

What a hard decision! This sounds really stressful and I feel like your OB shouldn't have put you in this situation. If it were me, I would not choose an induction - is there any way your doctor could arrange a meeting with the doctor who'd be on call when you're 38 weeks, so that you can meet them? Maybe that could make you a bit more comfortable. But also, the fact that your first arrived at 38 weeks really doesn't mean that your next will arrive then too. Every pregnancy is different!

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Kayemcee

@verdana,

thank you for saying and acknowledging that! I was also very upset she put me in this situation so close to my due date. There are 5 doctors in the practice and they all take turns every few days being on call. The best they had open on the schedule with such short notice is one appt with one doctor. I literally got like an 8 business day notice this was happening, naturally during summer break when I have my 2 and 7 year old with me full time so it’s not like I’ve got great availability and free time. So all parts of this is stressing me out.

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verdana

@Kayemcee,

Ugh I can imagine! And having a provider you know and trust is SO important as you approach labor. There's no positive way to slice this... Do you know anything at all about the other doctors in the practice? Are there any reviews you can read about them, or any local mom groups where you could ask about anyone who's had experience with them? I'd say the fact that there are only 5 doctors in the rotation is pretty good because there are less options for whom you could get. Most of these large practices have like 30 doctors on rotation and it's really luck of the draw ��

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uyuyui

My OB is gone that week, too!! With my first, I went into labor on her 1 night off fully in a 16 day stretch lol

I was really worried about it, but it went just fine (a quick and uncomplicated labor) so I only saw the dr that delivered very briefly.

I’m going to just ignore it again this time because I am not interested in inductions. I figure having to boss around a new Dr is better than forcing it early lol

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Kayemcee

@uyuyui,

this is a really good point. I feel like I’d have a better chance at an uncomplicated and quicker delivery if I don’t force it early so maybe I just take my chances and hope the new doctor is good and kind and maybe not there very long anyway ��

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Slili2

My OB was on vacation my 39/40 week of pregnancy for my first and the dr that I ended up having deliver my baby was wonderful!

It’s not ideal and I’m sure so scary but you got this! Maybe start seeing the other drs the last few weeks so you can get a read on who will be on call and what they are like!

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Kayemcee

@Slili2,

I would love to but I was told most of them don’t have availability with such short notice. There is one doctor there who I strongly dislike (had a bad experience with her at a previous practice prior to pregnancies) and all the other ones are new-ish to the practice and I haven’t met them. Honestly I think I can come to terms with 4/5 doctors delivering my baby but if it’s the one doctor I don’t like, I’m just hoping I don’t have a panic attack or any added trauma and can be in the right mind to advocate for myself ��

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justtryingtosurvive

Was the your doctor in with you during majority of your last 2 labors? It’s honestly pretty abnormal to have the doctor present for a lot of the labor and they mostly come in just to catch the baby. I know they check in here or there but I’m more concerned about who my nurse is going to be than the doctor delivering my baby since my nurse will be with me majority of the time and is supposed to to be one of my support people and advocates. I loved my last OB and she did deliver my baby but she checked in twice and was present only when I pushed and that was it. I personally wouldn’t choose an induction unless medically necessary but if it’s going to cause more anxiety then go for it!

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Kayemcee

@justtryingtosurvive,

she was not with me the majority of the time but she was in there way more than I expected - like nearly every hour of labor she’d check in. There were two times I passed out during my last labor (for under five min each time) and when I woke she was in the room again. I remember wondering how tf she got there so fast. And when a nurse gave me push back about asking for pain meds like ten minutes after I delivered a freaking baby, my OB waltzed into the room and shut it down so fast. She immediately said “do not question my patients pain levels. She just gave birth and she has xyz medical condition, so give her the medication”. When the anesthesiologist lectured me about “moving too much” when he was putting a needle in my spine, she said “you’re directly stabbing her nerves and she’s in active labor, she’s staying as still as she can.”

Shes just really good at reading her patients, noticing if they are uncomfortable and immediately fixing it. She’s amazing because she’s very involved, very aware of the subpar (and often condescending) care pregnant and postpartum women receive, and adamant about advocating for me. I’ve had several obgyns before her and none of them cared even a fraction of the amount she does.

I agree the nurses are more present but in my experience they did not really help or advocate for me. They just made sure I was safe and then continued their work.

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Ilikepretzelday

My OB is gone my entire 38th week too, but I carried until 42 last time.. ��

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Kayemcee

@Ilikepretzelday,

I carried until 42 with my first! But now there’s too many risks going past my due date so he’s definitely getting evicted before then, but probably not at 37 weeks because I’m just too nervous to force my body that early if it’s not ready.

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Ashton1496

Mine will be out my 37th week. my repeat csection just got bumped from 38 to 37 weeks so I'll be opting to have another Dr do mine since I'm over fighting my blood pressure.

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Kayemcee

@Ashton1496,

yes! Always do what’s best for you and your growing family ❤️❤️

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FN2021

This happened my first pregnancy. My doctor was gone from 39.5 to 40.5 weeks, so right during my due date. He gave me the option to induce at 39 weeks, but I just didn’t feel like my body was ready, so I decided to wait and she came at 41 weeks anyway. We go to a small practice with only two doctors. I hadn’t met the other, but in our small town he delivered several family and friends babies so I felt comfortable with either. That definitely played into my decision.

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Kayemcee

@FN2021,

since my kids have a track record of not giving a single f about what’s convenient for me, I’m pretty sure this kid will stay in until my OB gets back anyway. If anything, just to spite me.

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FN2021

@Kayemcee,

I also tempted fate. �� Turns out she was super comfortable

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krystaljohnson18

my doctors is having a whole baby 3 weeks or more before me soooooooo….. I’ve selected to be handed off to the cluster of midwives that just joined the practice and have to see one OB July 1st that’s not mine otherwise I would’ve gotten whoever was on call at the hospital at the time anyways and wasn’t promised it would have been my OB.

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abershers

my OB and I had a plan where she would be there for my induction and then deliver my son. unfortunately, my body decided it could not make it to the date we planned and I had to be induced early. my OB was there for the induction but wasn't for the delivery. I did need an emergency C-section and I couldn't tell you who the heck delivered my son. she was a sweet doctor and she sure as hell did an amazing job on my C-section cause the scar is basically invisible. but in that moment, all I cared about was that both my son and I were healthy.

this time, I'm at a different practice because I moved states. the office I go to doesn't assign you a specific doctor so you meet pretty much everyone by the end of your pregnancy. I'm scheduled for my C-section on the 24th with a doctor I know but again, anything could happen with her or me so I could end up with a doctor I haven't met or another doctor that I have.

I know it's scary but these doctors won't go into your induction or delivery blind. they will get info from your chart which I know is just a base knowledge but you can always advocate for yourself and make sure they know the things you are worried about or things they might not see in your chart. you could even get them to write it in your chart so that whoever ends up delivering will see.

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Surprise! my OB will be on vacay when I’m 38 weeks ? - July 2024 Babies | Forums | What to Expect (2024)

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