Making Sure Your Regular Doctor is Available During Delivery

When an expectant mother tries to find the right doctor to work with throughout their pregnancy, they often do so thinking about what they want from their OB/GYN in the delivery room. For example, if a person has something specific they want in a birthing plan, they’ll want to look for an OB/GYN who will help support that plan as much as possible. Or if you’re nearing your delivery date and your baby is in a breech position, but you’d like to avoid a C-section, you may consider switching to a doctor who has experience delivering breech babies naturally. 

But with as much effort goes into finding the right OB/GYN, there’s always the possibility that your regular doctor won’t be available to oversee the birth of your child. Babies can be very unpredictable and they very often don’t arrive perfectly on schedule. And the simple fact of the matter is that doctors do have personal lives and aren’t always available twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week. There’s also a chance that, at some point during your pregnancy, you might not be able to see your regular doctor at one of your routine appointments. 

It’s understandable that you might be disappointed to find out that a doctor you’ve built a relationship with won’t be able to handle the birth of your child. But it’s also understandable that you might be reluctant about the idea of working with a doctor you’re unfamiliar with. Especially if your pregnancy has special factors which need to be taken into consideration. So what can you do to make sure you’re working with a doctor you feel safe and comfortable with?

A good place to start is by asking an OB/GYN you’re considering working with about what their rotation schedule is like and ask how often they personally attend the births of their patients. If they don’t often personally tend to their patients’ births, or if they try to as often as possible, ask them about who would be tending to your birth if they are unavailable. You may also want to consider working with a practice where you are able to be examined by multiple different doctors over the course of your pregnancy or at least ask to meet the doctor(s) who may treat you in their absence. That way, you’ll have some degree of familiarity with more people who could potentially be involved. 

While asking questions about people who will be in the delivery room with you, don’t forget to ask questions about people like delivery nurses since they will also be actively involved with helping deliver your child. 

Contact a Michigan Birth Trauma Lawyer

When doctors and other medical professionals make mistakes during prenatal care and delivery, it can result in birth trauma that affects the child’s life for a long time. If you suspect your child sustained a birth injury, don’t hesitate to contact a birth trauma lawyer. At Goodwin & Scieszka, you’ll be able to get help from a lawyer who is experienced in helping people who have been in your shoes. Contact us today to get started. Even if your child is a few years old and are just beginning to suspect they sustained birth trauma, you may still have legal options.

Image: iStock / kieferpix