No/Late prenatal care? do you see it often? why do you think it happens?

Specialties Ob/Gyn

Published

This is something I think is interesting. I dont know about other areas, but here there are plenty of places for low income women to get prenatal care with no insurance. planned parenthood, and a clinic near the hospital where they not only take medicaid but help you apply for it while you are there so you dont even have to go to social services yourself.

I don't understand why people would choose not to go to a doctor while pregnant? Ignorance-they don't understand the importance? they don't think they can pay for it/don't know about medicaid? have a drug/alcohol/whatever problem they dont want a dr to know about?

do you see women coming in to deliver having had no prenatal care? or very late prenatal care?

Specializes in Operating Room.

I was 17 when my first child was born. I didn't even tell my mother I was pregnant until I was 6 months along. It was Valentine's Day, 1991. My mother and I got into an argument, a natural teenager/mom thing, nothing big, but she said a typical mom response about getting paid back when I have children. I used that opportunity to tell her. I said, "Just wait about three months, and I'll find out."

After that, she took me to the Dr. Everything was fine, and I delivered in May.

So.....another popular reason is because young girls are afraid to tell their parent(s).

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My daughter's birthmom ignored her pregnancy for 33 weeks. When she finally couldn't ignore her pregnancy anymore, she reached out for help in a crisis situation.

Fortunately once our adoption plan was arranged, she was immediately set up on Medical. She had prenatal care for 5 weeks. We were lucky, my daughter was born healthy and strong on December 12th, 2004.

I can only speak for our birthmom. I think that in her case she just couldn't cope with life. She was majorly overwhelmed with being homeless. In addition, she had the constant threat of her three other children being taken away from her. The last thing she was thinking of was going for prenantal care.

Julie

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OK I am married and have three great kids . I am pregnant and had to delay the start of my prenatal care . WHy , because I had changed jobs and was not eligible for healthcare benefits for 90 days . And when I applied for temp help I was told that I make too much ! Seems our society "helps" those that dont want to help themselves and refuses those who need a temporary solution .

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Specializes in Geriatrics/Oncology/Psych/College Health.
(This is why i don't work in Maternity or Peds. I saw way too many people with out-of-whack priorities when i was doing clinicals)

True dat.

I had a young woman came in 7 mos preggers, hadn't been to the doc since she had her pregnancy confirmed about 1 month in. Wasn't in denial about her pregnancy, just stated she didn't have time to go to the doc. Presented c/o back pain (ya think?) Baby OK. She was most put out that we didn't have the equipment to do everything she needed right there, right then and had to be referred out to an OB-GYN. Good gravy, if you're too busy for appts now, how are you going to have time for a baby (she was keeping it.)

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Specializes in Pediatrics.
OK I am married and have three great kids . I am pregnant and had to delay the start of my prenatal care . Why , because I had changed jobs and was not eligible for healthcare benefits for 90 days . And when I applied for temp help I was told that I make too much ! Seems our society "helps" those that dont want to help themselves and refuses those who need a temporary solution .

It would have cost the gov't a lot less to foot the bill for your three visits, than it does for all the other deadbeats who are mooching off the system (or aren't, apparently) and deliver with complications, and spent the first year of their life (or more) in a NICU, then go to a LTCfac.

Oh, I'm sorry. Did I sound judgemental?? :chuckle

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AMEN ! thats what I said . And to beat that one , I am trying to make an appointment with an OB provider as soon as my medical kicks in , seven I have called so far have had the nerve to tell me they won't take me because I am too far along !!! Now really , I am 14 weeks and that's too late ? I swear the U.S. healthcare system is disgusting ! I am so fed up . I feel like I am being punished because I have a job !

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I had OB care in addition to midwifery care the last two months of my last pregnancy on a "just in case" basis. I had pregnancy complications that were all resolved before the birth, so I went on to have a successful homebirth after all.

What I learned was that in order to see an OB in my town, it meant spending a minimum of 1 hour in a waiting room and at least another half hour in an examining room for a whole five minutes with the OB. And that was on a good day. There were days I was there for three hours..for a scheduled appointment. My other children had to be put in day care for my visits, so I had that expense, plus copays. If I hadn't had insurance, a second car, a dependable and cheap (at $7 per hour) sitter, and the money to cover the copays, I might have been one of those women who ignore it altogether. It's a lot to dish out for five minutes of "looks like everythings on track...."

Don't get me wrong. I understand completely how important prenatal care is. The average woman, or the uninformed and poor? Maybe not.

Sarah

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Specializes in Home care, assisted living.

My mom didn't start prenatal visits until 7 months into her pregnancy with me. She was 15 at the time, and from I understand she didn't know there was a free clinic until late in her pregnancy. (She also didn't have transportation because my dad needed the car for work.)

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I had OB care in addition to midwifery care the last two months of my last pregnancy on a "just in case" basis. I had pregnancy complications that were all resolved before the birth, so I went on to have a successful homebirth after all.

What I learned was that in order to see an OB in my town, it meant spending a minimum of 1 hour in a waiting room and at least another half hour in an examining room for a whole five minutes with the OB. And that was on a good day. There were days I was there for three hours..for a scheduled appointment. My other children had to be put in day care for my visits, so I had that expense, plus copays. If I hadn't had insurance, a second car, a dependable and cheap (at $7 per hour) sitter, and the money to cover the copays, I might have been one of those women who ignore it altogether. It's a lot to dish out for five minutes of "looks like everythings on track...."

Don't get me wrong. I understand completely how important prenatal care is. The average woman, or the uninformed and poor? Maybe not.

Sarah

Excellent point Sarah. I hate going to the doctor, OB or otherwise because it takes up a whole afternoon! The secretary makes me arrive at my appointment 15 minutes early on top of it all.

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