Anyone had a baby in the US

[ChiTownLady]

Just found out I am very slightly pregnant! bit of a shock as have only just moved to Chicago with DS and DH - only been here a month so have not egistered with a doctor - get the impression I need to register not with a GP as such but a more specific OB/Gyn type

Any guidance anyone can give on how its handled over here - apt frequency, schan dates etc would be really useful

Oh yes, that's a nice neighborhood... though perhaps doesn't cater to children. And I think that is very close to where chicagomum lived. But, summer in Chicago is lovely. However, winter is not.

I'm thinking about a trip "home" in October. Maybe our paths will cross.

Yes i'm only a block or two away from where chicagomum was - which has been very handy...
thanks for idea re craigslist which i will take alook at

How is your 3 year old liking Chicago? There's loads to do in places like Navy Pier (including Children's museum) and the Shedd Aquarium, Natural Science museum, and so on...

its taken longer than i imagined for him to settle in and he has been incredibly clingy - he's developed some very close friends at nursery at home who we also saw a lot of on my days off work so he really left his nursery which hed been to since birth really - all his friends and his home...

however llast week was a little bit of a breakthrough as he managed not to cry for his whole school session which is 1 and 1/2 hrs (!)long without me so fet more positive.

He loves all the stuf we can do - beach especially and the zoo - navy pier is also a big hit

I'm so jealous. I wish I could ditch work and go to Chicago for the summer with my kids. I also would rather have a baby in Chicago than here. Speaking of which, did you find a doctor? Have you got a GP there? He/she might be able to advise a good place to go looking for an ob/gyn.

Have an ob'gyn appt next thursday - didnt have a general doctor yet so noone to refer through to/from....
I may try one other place but most of them don't want to see me until July ....which is a bit frustrating

Is this helpful? \link{http://webapps.ama-assn.org/doctorfinder/home.html\AMA Doctor Finder}

Hi, just wanted to let you know that I had 2 very good experiences in the US with OB/GYNs and hospital births. Both were Non-intervention and the mid-wives/OB in the hospital were fantastic. My first baby was overdue and took about 12+ hours to deliver. My second was just a few days shy of due date. I never felt there was any pressure for C-sections etc. I know some people do 'elect' to have a section and thats their choice (which is carried out by OBs.) Also I felt the breast feeding support was excellent - on both occasions I was urged to have baby in room (private) with me but on my second, I kept sending him back to the nursery so I could get more rest. And depending on your health insurance you may not have to pay 1c - I didn't, even got vitamins for free. So big thumbs up from me.

Thanks Uwila - sorry for the delay in posting back - there is a good referral service from northwestern - so no shortage of ob/gyn's to choose from but thankyou for the thought - useful for our "famly" doctor searc.
Bubblesmum thanks for your comments - am quite torn - am planning on a elective section tis time round as had such a ideous time ( with emerg secton) last time I don't think i can cope with that again - but i keep having a change of heart- guess i've got a few weeks to think about it