Hello! My friend is 8 months pregnant and refuses to see a doctor because she doesn't want to make a "new bill". Her husband makes really good money and won't qualify for any government help. Will she get in trouble for not seeing the doctor especially when she knew she was pregnant all along? She is overweight and takes her prenatal vitamins at least 2-5 times a month only. What will happen is she continues to neglect her pregnancy?

All of the what if's, what if there is something wrong with the child, that could have been helped early on.

At a min she needs to go to the local health department

And to be blunt a d seroius, if she is this cheap, and has no concern for her child, she has no right to be a mother

I was a VERY complicated pregnancy, she HAS to go. Talk to her about it. Tell her to look at it from another perspective. What if there is something wrong with the baby? She may lose it due to a trivial issue

I don't think she really cares about having a baby so that's why she won't go. Several people have tried to talk to my friend but her Mom and her get upset and tell people it's non of their business. I don't understand what their problem is. I wish something could be done because it's so unfair for the baby. She is also telling everyone she is having a "BABY GIRL" which is pretty crazy. They (mother and daughter) is saying that GOD will take care o her delivery. Don't get me wrong, I believe in God as well but to neglect your pregnancy and say it is in God's hand is something else. I really think she should get in trouble for it.

If there is something wrong w/ the baby, how are they going to paid for those bills? That is going to be a whole lot of "new bills" that shouldn't have happened. It sounds a little like child abuse.

Is she planning on giving birth to the baby at home too?

I think she's just being cheap and is probably a person who doesn't like to be told what to do. She doesn't seem like she's going to change her mind. If something bad happens to the baby it's her fault because she could have reduced her chance of something going wrong by going to a doctor. I'm sure she will probably learn her lesson too if something does go wrong.

What does the husband say?

Yes, it is critical that she sees the doctor.

If there was something wrong with the baby that could have been prevented by prenatal care, she could be charged with child endangerment.

There are risks to her as well. You say she is overweight, well that puts her in the risk category for gestational diabetes as well as pregnancy induced hypertension, just to name 2. These are very serious risks to not only mother, but baby as well.

Pregnancy Induced Hypertension (PIH) can cause seizures in the mother and another complication called placenta abruption that can KILL both mother and child.

I've seen it all too often. As a matter of fact, I had to deal with this last night at work. The bill for the baby's helicopter ride to a high level NICU is well over $200,000. That's just a short 15 minute flight!

So, if she's looking to save money, she needs to seek medical attention.