Everything is a little bit different...

The reality of having a baby while living in Bethel is starting to settle in. Like most things, having a baby in Bethel is different than having a baby most places. I have been trying to put together this particular puzzle, if anyone reading this knows more about having a baby here please feel free to fill in the blanks. The first thing is that we are extremely lucky to have double insurance. Finally, we did something smart financially and bought up the max insurance on both of our policies. This would be smart anywhere, but especially here, where health care costs are even higher. I have heard several horror stories about medical costs here, and while they may not all be 100% true, it is true that medical costs in the bush are higher.

There is a hospital in Bethel, and you can deliver your baby there. Lots of people do deliver there, but only if they are low risk and delivering naturally and they don't want an epidural. Hard to believe, but no elective epidurals in Bethel. They do have an anesthesiologist (not sure if it is a Dr. or nurse) but they are only available for emergencies. Now I had James without pain relief, but then again I was young and what is the the other word I am looking for-foolish?- naive? or maybe optimistic. Since I have had done it I know natural childbirth is not only possible, but sometimes preferable. However, not having an epidural available within 500 miles is a little scary.

A lot of women from Bethel choose to deliver in Anchorage. Anchorage is the big city and has two very nice hospitals with all modern amenities including epidurals and NICUs. For us it would mean a two week hotel stay before the birth during the height of tourist season, most likely an induced birth, and being separated from eachother. Anyone else want to agree with me that this doesn't sound like much fun? However, it may be reality, is reality for a lot of people out here, and if anything bumps me out of low risk it will be the only choice. I have heard that Providence Hospital has a campground attached to it, and that it may be possible to rent a R.V. and then we could stay there until I had to deliver. It would be cheaper than a hotel and just bizarre enough to be fun.

Anyway, I get to meet another one of the Dr.'s for my prenatal care next week, they have a women's clinic at the hospital (no private practices). I will write about the experience of seeing a Dr. in Bethel, which if you hadn't guessed by now, is a little bit different than seeing a Dr. other places.