Thinking of Switching OBs During Pregnancy? Tips for Making the Change
There comes a time when you start to realize the person you’ve been seeing on a regular basis—and entrusting your life to—isn’t “the one.” It can be a bittersweet moment, but when there are too many red flags, such as ignoring your needs or lack of communication, it’s clear that it’s time to break up.
We’re talking, of course, about your ob-gyn. Maybe they’re dismissing all your concerns about pregnancy symptoms while your intuition tells you there’s something up. Or maybe they’re not completely aligned with your birth plan.
“I’m 13 weeks pregnant, and I’m not happy with the two appointments I’ve had with my new ob-gyn,” says hana_07, The Bump community member. “I’m seriously considering switching. I had some issues at the beginning of my pregnancy, surgery and meds, and was concerned with the effects on baby. She dismissed my concerns. In addition, they don’t tell me what’s going to happen at my appointments, they don’t tell me what tests they’re running… I had to point blank ask her my due date.”
Suffice it to say, there are many reasons to switch your ob-gyn during pregnancy. But when is it too late to switch doctors during pregnancy? Ahead, read all about potential signs it’s time to move on and the best time to switch your provider. (Hint: As soon as you can!)
Of course, you can switch ob-gyns for any reason—provided you can find another doctor in time who takes your insurance and delivers at your preferred hospital. But, in general, there are a few major reasons you might want to switch ob-gyns during pregnancy.
Communication issues
If you feel that your concerns aren’t being heard or addressed, it may be time to move on, says Kecia Gaither, MD, MPH, associate professor of clinical obstetrics and gynecology at Weill Cornell Medicine and director of perinatal services at NYC Health + Hospitals/Lincoln. If you don’t feel “comfortable or respected,” that’s a genuine concern, she says. “Lack of professionalism, punctuality or organization” can also be an issue, she adds.
It’s also possible that the practice itself doesn’t match your needs—it could be too large and impersonal, for example. “Commonly today, OB groups can include many practitioners versus just one or a few, and that may not be your personal preference,” notes Skyler Jacobs, CNM, a certified nurse midwife with Modern Obstetrics and Gynecology of North Atlanta and the founder of Well & Worthy Co.. This can also affect communication and your overall prenatal appointment experience.
Gaither says that other major OB red flags that may prompt you to switch include a high turnover rate in providers or staff, negative reviews and poorly maintained facilities. Of course, open communication, a supportive environment and a holistic approach—”willing to consider your emotional, psychological and spiritual needs”—would all be considered “green flags,” she says.
Differences in philosophy
If your beliefs about pregnancy, childbirth or parenting don’t align with your healthcare provider’s, that’s a good sign you should move on, says Gaither. It could be your doctor’s views on epidurals vs. unmedicated birth, C-sections, willingness to perform a VBAC or something else. No matter what it is, it’s important to be on the same page as you’re waiting to welcome baby into the world.
Change in medical status
If you find yourself in need of a new specialist, you may have to switch practices, says Gaither. “Some people transfer because they become high-risk” due to certain complications, explains Christine Greves, MD, FACOG, an ob-gyn at the Orlando Health Women’s Institute. “It can happen late in pregnancy.” In this case, you’ll often see a maternal-fetal medicine (MFM) specialist, aka a perinatologist, who’s an ob-gyn with extra training in high-risk pregnancies.
Where you’ll deliver
Ideally, you’ll ask about your practice’s labor and delivery protocol at your first prenatal visit, and make sure your doctor delivers at the hospital where you’d like to give birth. But different scenarios can pop up: Perhaps you’ve gone to the same ob-gyn since before you got pregnant, and find out they don’t deliver at the hospital where you’d like to give birth—that’s a good reason to switch. If you change your mind about where you’d like to deliver, that could be a reason for switching as well.
After touring the only hospital my OB delivers at, I can say I don’t want to deliver there! It was way too modern and business-like. We also toured a birthing inn and loved the feeling of the whole place; it’s connected to a hospital. The staff were all really nice and personable. Now I’m thinking of changing OBs at 27 weeks.
Insurance changes
If your own insurance—or the types of insurance your doctor accepts—has changed, unfortunately, it’s likely time to part. “I changed my OB during my second trimester because my old one stopped taking my insurance,” says The Bump community member acareyf4. “I just made sure I had a copy of my records to give to the new doctor, because insurance most likely won’t pay to get things done for the second time if there’s no medical need (pap smear, ultrasound, etc.).”
Moving
Whether it’s planned or unexpected, moving can turn a lot of aspects of your life upside-down. More likely than not, you’ll have to change OBs. “I changed OBs during my second trimester,” says The Bump community member SMCbride2b. “We moved across the country, so I didn’t have a choice. I made sure to get my records from my first OB, and my current OB had no problem picking up where the first one left off.”
Typically, if you want to switch OBs during your first or second trimester for any reason, you can go for it—as long as your new provider has availability, accepts your insurance and delivers at your hospital of choice. But the third trimester is when things could potentially get trickier.
Many practices have policies where they won’t accept a new patient transfer after a certain cutoff, often between 32 and 36 weeks, experts say. Greves explains the typical reasoning: “As the pregnancy progresses, there are certain comorbidities that can occur, and how that’s managed varies,” she says. “Was it managed in a way that the potential new ob-gyn is okay with?”
Not all practices have these policies, but make sure to check if you’re interested in making a switch during your third trimester. Jacobs says that some practices will make exceptions for “extenuating circumstances, such as moving across the country.”
If you find yourself unable to switch, there are other steps you can take, such as talking to your current provider’s office about your concerns. “If you find yourself in a situation with a provider who shows red flags and are later in your pregnancy and can’t switch, I’d have a conversation with the provider about what has you concerned and discuss ways to remedy the concern,” says Jacobs. “Having an advocate with you can also be helpful in these sometimes difficult conversations.”
I had to change OBs at the start of my third trimester due to changing insurances. When I was calling around to find a new doctor, I was told by several that they wouldn't accept third trimester patients. So, personally, I'd start the process ASAP. It took about two weeks to get everyone coordinated.
Ready to make the switch? Here’s how to make sure switching OBs during pregnancy goes smoothly, according to experts.
Research your options
Call your potential new practice (or practices, if you’re choosing among more than one) to ask whether they accept your insurance and if they have openings, advises Greves. It’s also a good idea to schedule an initial consultation to make sure they’re the right fit for you, adds Gaither. Then, be sure all your new appointments have been scheduled.
Transfer your medical records
“It’s best to be transparent with your current office so they can gather all the appropriate medical records and images to then send and be received by your new office,” says Jacobs. Greves adds that printing out your records for your doctor is often a good idea.
Contact your insurance company
Obstetric care happens under a “global bill,” explains Jacobs, “meaning it’s typically billed out as one lump sum from a single office for the OB care, delivery and postpartum care.” So if you receive care from two separate offices, you’ll need to let your insurance company know so they can appropriately cover everything.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you switch OBs during pregnancy if you simply don’t like yours?
Yes! “If your gut is telling you that where you are doesn’t have the best possible outcome for you and baby, start looking around to transfer,” says Greves. Sometimes you might even want to switch because you got a strong recommendation for another provider from a friend or family member, says Gaither—and that’s perfectly okay. Just make sure it’s not too late in the game for the new provider; again, many practices won’t accept new patients after a certain point in the third trimester.
Can you switch OB at 34 weeks?
It’s sometimes possible, but many practices have policies that don’t allow new patients after 34 weeks of pregnancy. “It’s very hard and not common,” says Greves. “The sooner you realize you want to change ob-gyns, do it.”
Can I switch from OB to midwife?
Yes. If you have a lower-risk pregnancy and are interested in fewer interventions, a midwife could be the right choice for you. “Most commonly, OBs and midwives practice collaboratively in the same facility,” says Jacobs, so all you need to do is explain you’d like to be cared for by a midwife. “Out-of-hospital” midwives are less prevalent, and there’s very strict criteria in terms of who qualifies for an out-of-hospital birth, she says. A patient may want to switch “for a more holistic approach to care that midwives offer including preparing the mind, body and baby’s position for birth,” she adds.
It’s perfectly okay to switch OBs at any point during pregnancy, for any reason. Just do your homework and make sure all your insurance and delivery needs are met. And if it’s getting closer to your third trimester, it’s best to switch as soon as you can since many practices won’t allow a transfer as you get closer to delivery. Here’s to a smooth switch!
Please note: The Bump and the materials and information it contains are not intended to, and do not constitute, medical or other health advice or diagnosis and should not be used as such. You should always consult with a qualified physician or health professional about your specific circumstances.
Plus, more from The Bump:
Kecia Gaither, MD, MPH, MS, MBA, FACOG, is a double board-certified physician in ob-gyn and maternal-fetal medicine specialist and the director of perinatal services and maternal-fetal medicine at NYC Health + Hospitals/Lincoln. She also serves as an associate professor of clinical obstetrics and gynecology at Weill Cornell Medicine. She earned her medical degree from SUNY Health Science Center in Syracuse, New York, and holds a master’s degree in public health.
Christine Greves, MD, FACOG, is an ob-gyn at the Orlando Health Women’s Institute. She received her medical degree from the University of South Florida College of Medicine.
Skyler Jacobs, CNM, is a certified nurse midwife with Modern Obstetrics and Gynecology of North Atlanta practicing full-scope midwifery in the hospital and clinic setting. She is also the founder of Well & Worthy Co., where she passionately empowers expecting women through their pregnancy, birth and postpartum journey. Jacobs earned her master’s degree from Vanderbilt University School of Nursing in Nashville, Tennessee.
PennMedicine Lancaster General Health, Choosing an OB/GYN for Your Pregnancy: 8 Things to Consider
Real-parent perspectives:
- acareyf4, The Bump community member
- hana_07, The Bump community member
- Jetown, The Bump community member
- melissabshelton, The Bump community member
- SMCbride2b, The Bump community member
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