Waiting to see the doctor...
If there is one thing I hate, it's waiting. When I went for my last regularly scheduled prenatal visit, I had to wait. As I sat there I began to get irked about how long I'd actually get to spend with the doctor. I mean seriously, her hand would be on the door knob before I could wipe the gel off my expanding abdomen. I feel like she only spends a few minutes with me. I actually stop watched her last visit - 3 minutes and 37 seconds, including belly check, and the entire explanation of the findings of the ultrasound. Wow. I mean if I had to wait and I knew I was waiting because she was spending lots of time answering my questions, etc. I might feel differently. I've seen my fair share of OBs and most have similar issues as far as in the room time goes, though others manage the office waiting a bit better. Now my midwifery appointments are completely different and I feel that I have a lot of time to ask questions or just get to know them and vice versa. What are your thoughts?
- Doctor Debate: Female or Male
- Choosing a Practitioner
- Improving the Doctor-Patient Relationship
- Switching Doctor in Pregnancy
- Choosing a Doctor for Your Baby
- 1st Trimester Appts.
- 2nd Trimester Appts.
- 3rd Trimester Appts.
Comments
My midwife visits are around 45 min. to an hour. A friend of mine with a high risk pregnancy says her doctor never spends more than 15 minutes with her for prenatal appointments. I think that is horrifying- how can you remember all of your questions and discuss all of your concerns with your doctor spending that small of time with you (and with one hand on the doorknob)? Having compared the care that the two of us received in our last pregnancies, there is no doubt in my mind that I’m staying with my midwife! By the time I gave birth she was more than a care provider, she was a friend and I had confidence and trust in her and was totally comfortable with her.
Even if I had a high risk pregnancy I’d try to arrange dual care so that I’d have a care provider willing to spend time with me.
That’s really amazing with a high risk pregnancy, but the high risk people near us are no different.
My midwifery run birth center has a written policy that first visits are 60 minutes, all subsequent visits are 30 minutes and longer if test results need to be discussed. That was a huge factor in my choice to go there.
I have had times when they were running behind, but as you said in your post Robin, I knew it was because they were taking good care of us and I didn’t mind the wait.
They do put some of the responsibility on us though. You get your 30 minute time slot and we are also required to do our urine check and weight before the 30 minutes start, otherwise it cuts into your 30 minute time. I think that’s very fair.