Once we got Ethan settled into daycare, it was time for me to go for a long overdue checkup for my “bun in the oven”. My last checkup back in Penang was at the end of September, and I was longing to see my little bub there on the ultrasound screen. I never knew how hard it was to secure an appointment with an OB/GYN here in the Bay Area till last week. Those 5 letters have been rolling off my tongue so many times when I tried making an appointment, that I have really lost count.
After surveying and talking to several friends and weighing the pros and cons, and taking into consideration their recommendations, we decided to have our baby in El Camino Hospital. My main priority was to deliver the baby in a hospital that is fully supportive of breastfeeding, and I was extremely happy to note that in a recent review of breastfeeding practices, new mothers at El Camino Hospital achieved the highest breastfeeding rate of any hospital in the state, with 97 percent nursing their babies in the hospital, and 93 percent breastfeeding exclusively when they leave the hospital. According to Vien though, all hospitals in the States are pro-breastfeeding.
So once we decided on a hospital and hubbs had our health and medical insurance cards ready, I searched the insurance company website for a list of doctors affiliated with our health plan with the hospital of our choice. Here in the US, doctors would only accept patients who were with a health plan they were affiliated with. Some of the doctors weren’t even accepting new patients, though.
Now, the doctors’ had their appointments in their own clinics, NOT in the hospital, so we only had to go to the hospital during the actual delivery. Our initial agenda was to schedule a brief interview with a few doctors to see if he/she would be a good fit, however when I called up several doctors’ offices, the receptionist informed me that the doctors do not provide interviews, and besides most of the doctors I had shortlisted only had an available appointment date in December!
Now that was WAY too far away for me. I could already feel the little one kicking me every day now, begging to be seen on the ultrasound. So hubbs and I decided on ONE doctor, who is recommended by two friends. I called his office up and the receptionist told me the earliest appointment was December 1st. Well, I then went into a “sorta pleading mode” and asked if there was any way at all she could fit me in earlier. I gave her the facts that I was already about 20 weeks along, and my last checkup was over a month ago. Well, that was last Friday, and she told me she would pass the message on the receptionist who was in charge of the doc’s schedule, and that receptionist would try to work something out for me.
On Monday morning, I received a call from the doc’s office to let me know that they could fit me in for an appointment next Friday, November 7th. Yippeee! I was in jubilation! That was great news indeed! So I am eagerly waiting for that day now.
Meanwhile, I can only immerse myself in pregnancy literature…
Little Miracles
Our Journey of Love
It took me 2 weeks to get an appointment with an OB/GYN, and this is a small town with 40k people!
This health insurance thingy is so complicated, don’t quite understand how this copay and deductible work, and my husband is not much of a help because he doesn’t understand either.
I saw the OB/GYN at his office and then go to the lab for ultra sound, and that’s consider two visits! And every visit costs $20 out of pocket, even with health insurance !
The Giddy Tigress says: 2 weeks is not too bad a wait. Yes, I agree… medical costs are really high here in the US.
Take care of yourself & HIS blessed gift.
*HUGS*
The Giddy Tigress says: Oh I will 🙂
I DIDN’T KNOW YOU HAD A NEW BABY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!!!!!! OMG OMG!! 😀
I think most hospitals, in developed countries are pro-breast feeding, unless there are circumstances associated with it of course e.g. immune system problems, health risks, etc. 🙂 And it does take a long time to get appointment in developed countries too..
The Giddy Tigress says: I’m EXPECTING a new baby laa….I’d already announced it a few weeks back…you din pay attention meh? hehehe.
wow ur baby gonna be american
RYN:
yes the food v easy to make… and yes very yummy… i was trying to make the egg fried rice like the hongkong tvb drama OKTUCK egg fried rice… erm… yummy… haha
The Giddy Tigress says: Looks really good, your fried rice. Baby will have dual citizenship, I believe, till he/she turns 18, then he/she will need to decide.
I have that book too!!! Anyway even here in Malaysia it’s difficult to get an appointment with a OB. Like our doctor, we had to make appointments two weeks in advance!
The Giddy Tigress says: Oh that Dr Miriam Stoppard book, you mean? That was recommended by Mei Lee la!
you’re very adaptable, giddy tigress. *admires*
wish you good days ahead. *hugs*
The Giddy Tigress says: Thanks! You have a great day too!
Any pics of the yummy mommy to see? *grin*
The Giddy Tigress says: None for now…. hehe. Will try to get some soon, okay?
Got go swimming or not? I heard that swimming while preggie is good for babies….
The Giddy Tigress says: Planning to, soon, I promise… 🙂 I did hit the gym though 🙂
Hey when you going to tell us whether the baby is a he or she? Anyway have fun with your checkup. I didn’t know the docs in the states are that busy!
The Giddy Tigress says: I myself do not know the gender of the baby yet, how to tell wor?
your ob/gyn experience resonates with mine two years ago.
i was in a worse state. I was 7 mths when we flew over… and it took me another 1 mth to secure an ob/gyn appointment
in short, don’t worry… you’re doing jst fine!
The Giddy Tigress says: Really? Well, I am glad everything worked out fine on your end too! 🙂
wow, then your No.2 will be born in US lo..
i was excited as i read all your posts one by one just now..so glad to know your family is doing fine there..
Happy Belated Halloween 🙂
The Giddy Tigress says: Yes, my no.2 will be born in the US. You take care too, Huisia.