[Twilight26]

Hi Ladies

I have found out my OB will be on holidays when my bubs is due (not likely to go early) and Im not keen on his replacement. Can I request that the ob not be called until the end or when its almost over?

TIA

[T2Mum]

What's the point of paying all that money for an OB if it is not someone you want? I would discuss the issue with your current OB - it may be that they can transfer your case to one of their other colleagues. That would be a much better solution.

[lizb87]

get a different ob??? my ob only earns his keep when i am in labour - all our appts whilst pregnant last 2-4min as i have such stable pregnancies. if you are expecting to be similar then id seriously pick another ob you are happy with who should be likely to be there when he actually earns his keep :-)

[belindarama]

I went to someone different when I found out mine would be on holidays for the last part of pregnancy and possibly delivery.

I wanted continuity for all that cash!

[soontobegran]

I understand that many people are upset by this. For two of my pregnancies I was faced with this possibility and it didn't happen but I didn't think about changing Obstetricians because of this. I wasn't as fond of his colleague but I knew he was competent or my Ob wouldn't have chosen him to replace him.
I think you need to ask yourself a few questions before you decide what to do.
Is your obstetrician going to be there your entire pregnancy and how much do you like him and respect his opinion?
Do you know how long he is away for and do you know if he will definitely not be there for your delivery?
What is it about the offsider that you don't like?

I don't agree with some of the PP's comments I am afraid
There is so much more to an Obstetrician's care of you during your pregnancy than whether he is there for the delivery.
Many women deliver before their Obstetricians arrive but it is them that have ensured they be there for you 24/7 since your first visit.

There is a possibility your Obstetrician may have another colleague he could access, it is definitely worth asking this if you don't feel happy about the other one.
Good luck.

[TiredbutHappy]

I would find a new OB if I didn't like the replacement. Does he have another colleague he could refer you to. It's a lot of money to spend on someone you don't even really want at your birth.

[soontobegran]

get a different ob??? my ob only earns his keep when i am in labour - all our appts whilst pregnant last 2-4min as i have such stable pregnancies. if you are expecting to be similar then id seriously pick another ob you are happy with who should be likely to be there when he actually earns his keep :-)

Earn his keep?
How many of your service providers are on 24 hour call for about 35 weeks?

[howdo]

Hi Ladies

I have found out my OB will be on holidays when my bubs is due (not likely to go early) and Im not keen on his replacement. Can I request that the ob not be called until the end or when its almost over?

TIA

They don't call them until then anyway unless there is distress of some kind. What you are asking for is the standard model of care.

[Lokum]

Earn his keep?
How many of your service providers are on 24 hour call for about 35 weeks?

Well my OB isn't. She's in a team, and even if she's not 'on holidays' she does have some weekends and nights off when they cover each other.

OP could move to a new OB who won't be on holidays at her delivery date, but still isn't 'the one' who turns up to deliver.

I'm happy with my OB's judgment of her colleagues, and happy with what I know of the others in her team, so my arrangement doesn't bother me.

Maybe OP should explore things with her OB's backups a bit more - have a couple of appointments with him, for eg?

[Twilight26]

My Ob is wonderful and I have had him with my last 2 babies (I think I have a crush lol) but the set up is a bit different to just a private situation. The ward I go to is the Private wing of a large public hospital. I also see the middies there and do shared care. I also dont pay a management fee and all Im out is each appt to see the ob and excess from my HBF. The main reason Im doing this is the amazing rooms and quality of care at this particular wing so as much as the ob is wonderful and very supportive I also deal with the middies more just like a public arrangement

As for his replacement my opinion is all based on others opinions (yep very grown up of me) I have infact never met the replacement but even my ob wasnt really impressed to have him covering but his actual replacement starts 2 weeks after his holiday period which is useful...not.

Soontobegran - My ob starts holidays 1.8.12 for a month and I am due 8.8.12 and have never gone before my due date so Im pretty certain he will be away unfortunately.