First off, my insurance is limited to one place I can be seen at and it happens to be a medical school with supposedly the best baby doctors in the state. I'll say I am completely unsatisfied with my care there but I have no where else to go.

So this is my situation, I have had 2 c-sections in the past 6 years. 1st one was emergency and the 2nd was a repeat. I have elected for another c-section since I have been told its dangerous for my body to deliver a child naturally. My nurse practitioner is refusing to schedule my c-section and wants me to go into labor naturally, but has told me that this is extremely risky to my life and my child's life.

Not only that but I have to drive 40 minutes to their specific hospital to deliver which is through a tunnel that regularly has accidents, traffic delays and is sometimes dead stop traffic. I am terrified of going into labor and getting trapped in the tunnel and dying. I feel the nurse is being highly unethical. I feel that my life and my child's life is worthless to her and the practice. I've reported her and asked for a different doctor and they have basically told me to suck it up and be happy I have a healthy pregnancy.

I'm at a loss for what to do. Please any advice will help. How to get them to listen to my fears, how to change doctors, anything!

It appears your NP does not believe it is as life threatening as you believe and it appears does not believe a C section is needed.

You also, sorry to sound harsh, seem to have fears about many things, do you worry excessive about all things? Wrecks in the tunnel, and traffic ?

So you do have choices, why have you not asked to see the actual doctor, not just the NP. Why have you not asked them for a second opinion ?

And no, you are free to use other hospitals, you just must pay for it.

If the medical staff does not believe the C section is needed. You would have to pay for it anyway, if they do not agree it is needed.

'My nurse practitioner is refusing to schedule my c-section and wants me to go into labor naturally, but has told me that this is extremely risky to my life and my child's life.'

This just does not sound like something a medical professional would say.. when are you due? It's Christmas day and the OB/GYN nurse who is often here may not see your question for a day or two.

I know of a few big city tunnels, and they all have alternate routes. Have you checked into that, and printed them out?

It's understandable and not unusual to have all sorts of worries during pregnancy, so make a list of them and tackle them methodically, with help from the people you know, both at home and at the clinic. Lists can be soothing for many of us.

That your complaints against the best hospital and staff have gone without changes then I suspect they have followed the correct procedure for your own case. I don't think it unusual they would wait until the baby is actually ready to be born, nor think your fears are over the top. I mean do you really think a medical professional would follow your instructions against there own training and procedures? That's unrealistic, but calm logic may be beyond you at this time. You would hardly be the first pregnant female in such emotional duress as its quite common.

Husband and family should be there to support and reassure you since the doctors, or nurse practitioner cannot.

I read your post and was waiting for the "unethical thinking". I can't imagine any NP or DR who would prescribe a procedure that they admitted was risky in favor of a safer procedure. That would just open them up for a malpractice suit. I'm suspecting that she just doesn't want to preschedule a C-section, just wanting to wait until you go into labor. Not that they won't do one.

As for getting to the hospital, what about an ambulance?

As a maternity nurse, I may not agree with your NP's line of thinking, but it is in no way unethical.

It is not uncommon to let a patient with a previous CS to go into labor prior to actually doing the section. It's healthier for baby as we know that the closer you are to your due date, the healthier the lungs are.

Going into labor for a patient with a previous CS presents little danger, but to let her continue to labor increases the danger.

As for the traffic, there is always an alternate route. If not, as Scott suggested, and ambulance may be in order if necessary.

As an aside, it may not be your medical practice that does not allow scheduling of CS's, it may be policy of the delivering hospital. Just because a doctor practices at a certain hospital doesn't mean he/she can schedule services that are outside of the policies and procedures of that facility. The practitioner must abide by the rules of the facility.

I understand your fear. I deal with women who are repeat CS's virtually every day I work. It can be scary because the internet gives us so much information, but that information can be dangerous in the wrong hands.

Trust your NP, trust your doctors and your nurses. We didn't learn our profession by looking things up on the internet. We spent many years in school and practice that lead us to make the decisions that we make.

I have very few scheduled sections at my facility. Most of my patients come in laboring. If you are at a teaching hospital you are in some of the best hands out there.

She tells me every week at every appointment how dangerous it is for me to go into labor naturally, but then tells me that I need to do it anyway. I had a different insurance/doctor for my 1st 2 children and there was no problem with scheduling a c-section. I've been told by doctors that for me, having a child naturally would kill me. My fears are justified, it actually states that in my medical record. I hate this woman and the clinic refuses to listen to my concerns.

As for the tunnel, the hospital I supposedly MUST go to is 45 minutes away from me. If I go through one of the other tunnels in the area, it's an EXTRA 30-45 minutes depending on the tunnel. I can't afford to pay another clinic nor hospital for care. I'm a disabled veteran so my income isn't that great and I'm using the VA's insurance. Also an ambulance will take me to the nearest hospital which would be awesome BUT again I can't pay the money to another hospital.

As for the unethical part, I'm pretty sure the Hippo Oath states that doctors should do everything in their power to PRESERVE life, not put it in danger unnecessarily. This is a teaching hospital and I feel like a guinea pig. They constantly want to perform crazy tests for crap I don't have. My due date is today. I honestly feel like they can't be bothered with scheduling because it's the holidays. Secondly, if I have complications with this c-section (like I have in the past) I WANT my family here with me and they live 12 hours away.

I've asked for a 2nd opinion and I always get told that the doctor is in agreement. I hate these people. I've filed complaints with everyone. I asked for an actual doctor. I don't like midwives and nurse practitioners because I've had bad issues with them in the past and this is another perfect example.

Since I don't know your past medical history, I can only respond with generalities. If you had a uterine window, I can understand the concern and dangers.

Many hospitals do not schedule elective procedures during the holidays.

Have you asked the NP why she won't schedule? You left that part out.