Obgyn Turning down Due to Late Pregnancy

Updated on February 09, 2012
A.B. asks from Smithton, PA
16 answers

I'm new at being a mother.And had some difficulites getting health insurance.I was told i must have an obgyn to keep my child.But i've reached out to a few so far.One never picks up my calls.It has been over a month now.And one rejected me.And i really don't want to loose my own flesh and blood.I've been trying to sort things out.And i'm on medical.But i was told also by law that they can't turn you down in a time of need.that it's also could be a serious charge.Even if i'm far along and need help.I'm been trying all i can do.and i'm lost and fustrated.But my dad and sister said they would help me if i lost my child temporarily.could they also get in trouble besides me?

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A.V.

answers from Washington DC on

What's the story here? People roll into hospitals with no prenatal care whatsoever and roll out with their babies. I'm assuming you have a caseworker of some sort? I'd talk to him/her and say, "Alright, so what are my options here? One won't talk to me and one turned me down." Are there other OBs in your area that take the insurance? Can you contact them? I'd make sure that whoever is threatening to remove your child knows you are trying.

8 moms found this helpful

M.P.

answers from Minneapolis on

sounds to me you have something going on besides being pregnant. You have some sort of ultimatum. You sound very young, and very inexperienced. There is Medical Assistance. If you have no one to support you, no income, no insurance, and can prove this. Sign up for MA. They pay for absolutely everything, except labs, and I think the first visit. OB's can turn you down since its preventative care, rather than needed care. Many women dont have any prenatal care and do just fine. However, my guess is that you have some sort of addictions or live in a highly abusive, or questionable life. That is why your being "told" or "made by law" to do these things. If you dad and sister can help you, then they should RIGHT NOW. Why would they get in trouble for helping you? Your question has a LOT of holes so we can not help, as far as great advice to you.

7 moms found this helpful
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M.G.

answers from Seattle on

I've never heard of someone having their child taken away because they didn't have an OBGYN. However, I've heard of children being taken away due to lack of prenatal care and born to drug addicted mothers. Have you had any prenatal care to this point? If not you do need to find a doc that will see you NOW. It is highly important that you and your little one get the right type of prenatal care.

7 moms found this helpful

M.L.

answers from Houston on

If you are on Medicaid, that could be why. A lot of Dr's are turning away Medicaid patients, because Medicaid doesn't hardly pay them anythng and they are bombarded with calls from Medicaid patients. Even if you cannot get a Dr, which seems very odd, then when you go into labor just show up at the hospital and they have to treat you and the child. Start finding a pediatrician now too. Also, you don't have to go to an obgyn, you can go to a family Dr, you can go to a birthing center, contact a midwife, you can even go to Planned Parenthood or a women's health center and get seen... there are a lot of options. It's really hard to believe that Dr's offices aren't even answering their phones. If that is the case, then find a place that takes your insurance, walk in and wait to be seen. But whatever you do, get that baby some prenatal care now. Who is threatening you with removing the child? There has to be more to the story like AV said, a case worker or something along those lines in which you have to prove you are able to care for this child in order to keep it. That doesn't happen with most women unless they are under some sort of investigation or have a history of some sort.

5 moms found this helpful
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M.P.

answers from Raleigh on

Planned Parenthood has resources and referrals to help you. This is why I donate regularly to this organization- to help women in need just like you. :)
Take care and good luck!

5 moms found this helpful
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J.C.

answers from Anchorage on

You need to find a doctor that takes your insurance. If it is a life or death situation than yes, a doctor can not turn you away, but that is in an emergency situation like in an ER.

4 moms found this helpful
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T.S.

answers from Washington DC on

Have you gone to Planned Parenthood. They're pretty good about seeing you regardless of your situation. They have doctors for pre and post natal care and many have pediatric services for your baby when it arrives.

A hospital won't turn you away when you are IN LABOR... that's the kind of "time of need" they're talking about. Doctors don't HAVE to accept new patients for general practice.

Beyond that, I don't understand your post. I can't tell you who will get in trouble because I don't understand what they would be in trouble for. Prenatal care IS VERY important, but I've never heard of a child being taken away because a mother didn't get proper prenatal care. Clearly something is going on here that you haven't explained. We can't help you if we don't know the problem.

4 moms found this helpful
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L.F.

answers from San Francisco on

A.,

I am not sure about your area, but go to the nearest hospital. Tell them your situation that you need to see a doctor and obgyn and no one will take you. Call all the midwives in your area and tell them as well. One of the two will help you. Don't wait any longer--go today and get it figured out. Or go to your nearest free/health clinic and tell them you have to get established with an obgyn today--what are your options--someone will help you. Don't give up. Good luck

M

3 moms found this helpful
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C.W.

answers from Indianapolis on

I am a former nurse that worked in labor and delivery. What your saying makes no sense. We had patients come in all the time that hadn't had any care during their pregnancy, therefore leaving them with no doc and they didn't get their babies taken away. So, there's got to be more to this story than what you're telling.

I'm sure you are having a hard time finding a doc to take you if you are far enough along and you haven't had any care so far and you have no insurance. This is not uncommon. There are clinics that will take patients like you, but I have no idea what they are in your state. You need to call your regular doc and talk to them about it and they should be able to help you.

2 moms found this helpful
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K.C.

answers from Los Angeles on

I've never heard of an OB turning someone away like that. Here's what I would do:
1. Get a list from your insurance company (if you have one now) of covered providers, then call every single one on the list until one accepts you as a patient
2. If you can't get one through insurance, call every single OB in the area until one takes you
3. Consider a midwife instead, who are sometimes more flexible but just as skilled
4. Go to Planned Parenthood or a local clinic
5. Work with a primary care physician/internal medicine doc to help get you in to see an OB
6. Visit your local ER and demand to be seen by someone with OB experience

2 moms found this helpful

L._.

answers from San Diego on

Who would take your child? What did you do?

I also had issues with finding a doctor once. I moved and was unable to get care until 4 months. I just kept calling.

2 moms found this helpful
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S.B.

answers from Redding on

I'm a little confused. No offense.
If you don't have an OB/GYN, they are going to take your baby away from you?
Is there some suspicion that you are not taking care of yourself or receiving proper prenatal care?

Contact your local health department clinic. They might be able to help you. I know they do free and low cost well baby and child checkups. They should be able to help you with prenatal care.
Doctors are not obligated to take new patients, but if you go into labor, a hospital won't refuse to deliver your baby.

I think there must be more to this because I don't know the reasons you would have for worrying that your baby could be taken away.
I would definitely be documenting the doctor offices you contact. Get the name of the person you speak to.

Contact your health department clinic. They may have some other resources for you as well.

Best wishes.

1 mom found this helpful
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B..

answers from Dallas on

Something is missing here, since not having a OB doesn't get children taken away. I'm assuming you have a CPS caseworker or someone similar, who gave you guidelines...and having prenatal care was one of them. That your baby or you were at risk, and some sort of authority got involved. It's very difficult to find you help, when so much is left out.

A private physician and hospital, absolutely can deny care. It's really a myth, that it's illegal. Walk into an emergency room and get seen. Most emergency rooms will not turn you away. Or, find a low cost health clinic, contact planned parenthood. Get on the internet and call every Dr. in your city and neighboring cities. Call planned parenthood. Call your DHS department. If you have a caseworker, they should have resources for clinics. If it comes down to it, go to every emergency room, until someone will see you.

1 mom found this helpful
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R.A.

answers from Wausau on

My insurance changed and my former obgyn was now considered out of network. SO... I had to call around 8 months pregnant and was told some were not accepting new patients. I ended up choosing to go with a family Doctor (who is still my family doc now :) ) If you go into labor they cant deny you care.

I assume you don't want to get too personal here, but your questions are leaving a lot un unanwsered questions.... Is this your first child? How far along are you and if your in second or third trimester, why were you not getting care all along? You say your on medical, is that like a state funded insurance? Because in most cases major medical centers and hospitals accept that. It is not the law to have to get a Doc,and deliver in a hospital, a lot of people choose other options. So that being said I assume you must have a social worker of some sort who sees your unborn baby is at a risk of something?... Why would your dad and sister get in trouble if they help you...???? Uness your doing something illegal and they know about it, or they are doing something illegal I'm not understanding this.

Try calling family Doctors to get in. once you get in for an appoitment please ask for help for whatever is going on, so that you can be pointed in the right direction to get back on track and do the best for you and your baby or children. Best of Luck!

1 mom found this helpful

J.W.

answers from St. Louis on

You may want to look into clinics. If I understand you correctly you are trying to find a traditional OB even though you are far along in your pregnancy with no medical history, or at least no history on your pregnancy.

I think you will be hard pressed to find a doctor that is willing to take the liability risks your pregnancy comes with.

Clinics have pretty awful care from what I have been told but they must take you.

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H.M.

answers from Dallas on

I have nerver hurd of a baby being taken away if you don't have a dr. But I would defienetly keep looking don't wait for them to call you back keep calling others till you find one.

Good luck and God Bless!

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