All about Babies!

[elle13 15]

Sorry guys I know this ain't babycenter.com or mumsnet but I need a forum on VJ to talk about BABIES with other cross-border couples! Besides, I browsed those forums a little and the smugness of other moms-to-be really get me down.

I'm a non-USC wife who's been in the US for slightly more than a year. We're trying to have a baby in the last couple of months but I'm totally overwhelmed by the entire US healthcare system. I moved from the UK, we have the National Health Service so everything's quite straightforward, start with your GP and they refer you. You get assigned a hospital (and hope you get the nice one!) and the NHS takes care of all your pre and post baby medical requirements too, like getting visits in your home from midwives and health visitors. Total Cost = $0

Any advice from other parents or parents-to-be on navigating the US healthcare system? We have insurance through my job. We live in LA. Should I start looking for an OB-GYN? Should I even see one before I get pregnant? Any recommendations? The babycenter forum is super overwhelming - water birth, baby spa, pregnant yoga, doulas, private hospitals...

If anyone's in the Los Angeles country region and really loves their family doctor, please let me know! I've been to see the doctor once so far and wasn't happy with the service (run down office, long wait times, consultation only lasted 4 minutes because the Dr was so busy)...

Thank you!

[Ontarkie 14,224]

I had 2 little ones here in the US, my older 4 were born in Canada. Start straight off with an OBGYN the nice thing I like about where we are is I have a lot of choices for doctors, the first OB I saw I didn't like so I asked my nurses at my family doctors if they could recommend one. They gave me their OBGYN's name and I absolutely love that doctor and the staff (minus billing )

Depending on your age the wait time before you need to look at fertility specialist varies. Start taking prenatals if you haven't yet, and look at www.fertilityfriend.com to track you can use their free version after 30 days. It is very helpful to track cycles.

I have a huge age gap between my first 4 and last 2 so a lot of the differences in the care is also due to technology changes and such. When looking for an OB find one that will be close as possible to how you want to deliver. I know it's overwhelming but a lot of doctors here in the US are not the best for all natural, med free an low intervention that is why you are seeing so much on the baby forums. I would of gone the way of a mid wife and home birth but my husband is a very nervous dad so I did the OB hospital birth but still kept my all natural birth.

Edited June 20, 2014 by Ontarkie

[Husakovic 31]

You have to see you Doctor before trying to conceive. They are going to do a PAPS smear test to confirm that everything is fine.. They will give you prenatals , you have to take them at least 3 months before TTC. She will explain to you how to "check" for ovulation days.. Have you heard of Clearblue ovaulation predictor test? I am not pregnant yet, but I heard that the Dr. doesn't need to see you before you are around 12 weeks pregnant and that's when they do you blood work, urine sample, first ultrasound....if you don't like your Gynecologist , you can look for one yourself, just make sure your insurance covers them. Good luck on getting pregnant,, can't wait 'till my husband comes so we can start working on it LOL
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[N-o-l-a 7,167]

Obgyns are pretty useless when it comes to getting pregnant, despite their best intentions. You should start taking a prenatal vitamin or folic acid while you are trying as pp mentioned. If you are having irregular cycles, are trying for more than 6 months over the age of 35, or are trying for more than a year if younger, then you book yourself an appointment with a reproductive endocronologist. Really, don't waste time with the obgyn.

If you do get pregnant, call the obgyn right away and they will tell you when they usually do a first scan, some do 6/8/12 weeks. You can interview Obgyns too, don't feel like you have to stick to one you don't like.

Edited June 23, 2014 by N-o-l-a

[elle13 15]

Thanks for all the helpful advice here! We've been trying for a few months, no success yet but I haven't been tracking anything, so it's all a bit random. I bought these Wondfo LH testing strips from Amazon. Hopefully it helps.

I did get prenatal vits but always forget to take them...Need to start getting serious about babymaking!