Maternity care in the US

[londongal 17]

I'm finding it difficult navigating my way around the healthcare system, so if anybody has experience or any knowledge on maternity care I would really appreciate it.

I now have health insurance but what do I need to do now? Do I just find an OB GYN and then everything goes through them, i.e. they will advise me on a midwife for my delivery, antenatal classes, birth plan etc? Or do I need to do it all separately?

I've found a hospital I want to give birth at and an OB GYN who is linked to that hospital I just need to go and visit her, but do I need to do anything else separately?

Also - if I wanted a midwife led birth how do I go about that?

Thanks in advance.

[canadian_wife 1,822]

If you want a midwife the first thing you'll want to make sure is that your insurance covers midwife births. A lot of OBGYN practices have a midwife on staff, have you asked your OBGYN if he/she has one on staff or knows of a good one? I find doctor recommendations helpful.

5 months after I moved here I was thrust into the health care system because I broke my hand. I know it is scary, especially coming from a socialized medicine country, but you'll the fine. The clinics will generally take care of all your insurance paperwork but don't be fearful to ask questions.

Good luck

[NikLR 13,227]

Make sure you find an OBGYN who is in your plan network.

[yuna628 9,671]

Ensure the doctor and anyone you go to see is covered by your plan. You'll find midwives are not utilized as much as they might be in the UK, but some OBGYNs do have them. A study once suggested that 85% of babies are delivered with a doctor rather than a midwife. If using one above all make sure they have excellent credentials and are licensed. The ACA has allowed that midwives are a coverable service, but it is something you will need to discuss with your doctor and you'd have to figure out if the insurance would cover it.

http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/07/03/getting-insurance-to-pay-for-midwives/?_r=0

http://www.babycenter.com/0_choosing-a-certified-nurse-midwife_322.bc

[Harpa Timsah 13,258]

If you go on your health insurance's webpage, there should be a way to find a doctor that is accepted on your plan. That is generally easier then just calling doctors randomly and asking. Then that doctor will yes, do all your prenatal checks. Depending on their office structure, they may deliver your baby or they may have partners that would do it depending on the day you go to the hospital.

Not everyone uses midwives here like in the UK. You can look for a midwife if you want one, good advice on that above.

If you want to visit the doctor that you found, then call them and ask if they take your insurance. If yes, then go.

Good luck.

[belinda63 3,038]

Asking if they are in-network for your insurance is the big thing. Your deductible, out-of-pocket, and everything else is base on if the provider is in- or out- of network. This means the OB/GYN, midwife, hospital, pediatrician, laboratory, etc. My spouse had back surgery and one of the assistants was not an in-network provider so they charged out the rear for their services. Not like he even had a choice, he was already knocked out when they entered the surgery.

[Ontarkie 14,218]

I don't know about Texas but here in Arkansas Midwives are not allowed in the Hospital. Hope they aren't backwards in Texas like here.

I was not a new mom and wanted a Midwife for a home birth but my husband was way to worried about things. (first time dad) Since I knew what I was doing I just stuck with a Doctor I liked picked a hospital that was more natural birth friendly and wrote out a birth plan. Something I never did for the first 4 kids, but here I was told it's helpful if it's a simple plan.

I know around here many use Douala's. The next best thing to Midwives for here I guess.

[yuna628 9,671]

I believe that home births may not be covered (without a fight) by insurance companies. I live in a more rural area and there is a large Amish community. As a way of outreach and helping babies receive some sort of care, there are a lot of midwife clinics. But communities like these would mostly be paying out of pocket anyway. One of the biggest issues these days for a woman giving birth in a hospital setting, is having some doctors covered under insurance, and others are not as belinda describes. There's not much you can do about it.

[IcezMan_IcezLady 582]

If you need a midwife

http://www.texasmidwives.com/findamidwife.asp?search=zc&zcType=citystate&state=Texas&city=AUSTIN&scwithin=25