FINDING A HEALTH CARE PROVIDER

For anyone planning to continue their pregnancy, it is important to begin prenatal care with a qualified health care provider to ensure a healthy pregnancy.

There are many options in choosing a health care provider. Options include obstetricians/gynecologists, midwives, and family practice doctors. Each of these providers is affiliated with a hospital, clinic, or birthing center. Home births are also available through some providers.

You may want to interview a few providers to ensure he or she meets your birthing needs, research a hospital’s facilities and philosophy, take a tour of their labor and delivery department, or ask staff about their approach to the childbirth experience.

You can look up any complaints against specific physicians at the New York State Department of Health’s Office of Professions under “Professional Misconduct and Physician Discipline” by clicking here or by calling 1-800-663-6114.

If you live in New York City, the NYC Department of Health’s Women’s Healthline offers free information and referrals to women on a whole range of pregnancy related issues. To reach the NYC Women’s Healthline call 800-698-0411 or 311. The Healthline’s hours of operation are weekdays, from 9 am to 9 pm, and Saturdays, from 9 am to 5 pm.

To find out more information about the different types of birth experiences and choices available to you, download our resource guide here.

Paying for your care
If you are concerned that the medical care associated with a pregnancy may be too expensive for you to afford, you should know that you may be eligible for Medicaid coverage through your pregnancy and beyond.

In New York, financial help is available for low-income women through the Prenatal Care Assistance Program (PCAP). For more information about PCAP and to find a healthcare provider in your area who accepts PCAP, call the Growing Up Healthy Hotline at 1-800-522-5006 (toll-free). This hotline also provides information about related pregnancy and prenatal care services. For more information on paying for your care, click here.