Question: What would you do?

[Amieee]

We have almost decided to have a homebirth. After much prayer and meeting an awesome midwife whom we both really like, I feel I am being led down that road. DH is still concerned about the financial aspect "Not good stewardship" he says. (Personally, I think it is more important to be a good steward of my body and baby than money!)
I am 18 weeks right now.
I had a midwife whom was forced out of the practice I used to attend. I have an appt at that practice next week. I will be 18 weeks then, too. They do a routine u/s around 20 weeks. I would like one before I leave the practice.
I do not want to tell them I am planning a homebirth. I was just going to get my records and leave.
So.....
I can go to my appt and see an OB, schedule an u/s 4 weeks later, but that would be 2 more appts we'd have to pay for that we don't need.
Or, maybe I could see if they would give me one next week. But then I'd have to explain why I wanted it then instead of waiting. What would I say?
And is there some other option I am not thinking of?
I know it is not really a necessity, but I would feel better knowing the baby is OK before I decide to have a homebirth for sure.

Another question:
If you have had a homebirth, do you still have a OB/GYN? The reason I ask is I wanted to get a copy of my record transferred to the OB I liked that left my old practice. I would do it now so I can get in before he stops taking new patients. But then I feel like I'd have to explain why I am not coming in for prenatal appts.
Am I just being nuts? Maybe I don't need a gynecologist at all. If I had one, he'd be it. He is great, I just don't want to birth at the hospital. But maybe I don't need one.
Thanks.

[miche]

Different people do things differently with homebirth. Some continue to see their OB regularly as "shadow care". Then they just never show up at the hospital. But if they need to they have a back-up that way (although many, maybe even most, homebirth midwives have back-up OB's. The most popular homebirth midwives in my area all use the same OB as back-up). Some who do this tell their OB's their plan and others don't.

Personally I did "shadow care" for a while without my OB knowing I was switching. I had to see someone on my HMO plan and the OB who subjected me to an unnecessary c-section was the only one I could see (well him and his partners). So while I waited for open enrollment to switch to another insurance plan where I could see the hospital midwife I wanted to use, I continued to see the OB. He didn't know I intended at some point to switch over. I also paid out of pocket for a few prenatal appointments with the midwife. She charged me as if it were an office visit and didn't do any labs or urine tests. She just accepted my word on how they turned out with the OB. It worked out well for us until the company my husband worked for decided to postpone open enrollment!!! At 32 weeks instead of switching from the OB I didn't like to the midwife, I ended up switching from the OB to an OB the midwife recommended who also accepted my insurance (I had to switch ALL my doctors to get in with the other medical group). I ended up LOVING my OB and I still go to her.

[Amieee]

The midwife that would do the homebirth does not have hospital priviliges, nor does she have back up OB at this time. But emergency plans are in place.
I've thought about the "shadow care" but the homebirth midwife has a flat fee and DH is already thinking it costs too much. I don't know if he would go for that since then we'd pay for the other midwife/OB. (I would see a CNM at the new OB's office I would transfer my stuff to)
I think I would feel bad seeing the CNM office and then not showing up for birth because to her, I am more than just a number. I would feel guilty not being honest with her, but I wouldn't care if it were the OB's at my old office.
I think I am thinking about this too much!