Review of Dr. Gschwend

[Anonymous]

I just wanted to inform expectant moms about my experience with Dr. Gschwend of Contemporary Women's Healthcare Associates in Bethesda (also at Sibley on Fridays), and also affiliated with Dr. Russell Bridges.

I asked Dr. Gschwend his c-section rate and he informed me that his c-section rate was 35% for low-risk patients. When I asked him his c-section rate for high-risk patients, he implied that it was 100%. When I asked him how to lower my risk, he told me that my only option was to deliver in a log cabin. I continued to see his practice (although not him) for another 2 months, and I spoke with the other doctors in his practice about my desire to avoid a c-section. I was unofficially recommended by the doctors in the practice to find another doctor since they were also concerned with Dr. Gschwend's tendancy to "section" his patients, and they could not guarantee me that he would not be on call when I went into labor.

I recommend finding a midwife through the Birth Options Alliance website at http://BirthOptionsAlliance.org. Please, please, please do not see Dr. Gschwend. If you question my experience, please ask him yourself for his c-section rate, and your c-section risk!

[Anonymous]

Wow, this is totally different from my experience with Dr. Gschwend. I had a forcep delivery with my first child, and really really was leaning towards an elective C-section the second time around. Dr. Gshwend was against it and explained that delivering a second child was usually much easier. He was willing to do whatever I wanted, but clearly though I should try a V delivery. I went ahead and scheduled a C section, but my went into labor sooner and decided to try a V delivery.

If you don't know Dr. Gschwend, his bedside manner can be a bit quirky. But as a number of people have said on this board, his the kind of Dr you want to have when things get a little crazy. His skills are incredible.

So, sorry you had this experience. Just wanted to share my experience. I can see him saying 100% for high risk patients as a joke. I don't think a 35% Csection rate is at all out of the ordinary.

[Anonymous]

PP here. Just wanted to add that the fact that I had a forceps delivery after some moderate complications with my first child also shows, I think, that Dr. Gscwend does not do unnecessary C-sections. I clearly made it know that I had NO problem with a C-section if there was even a remote risk of a problem. Dr. Gschwend went forward with a V delivery even though he had to stay beyond his shift (he did not turn me over the anothe Dr.) I am not saying that he took unnecessary risks, but I clearly gave him a green light to do a C-section and he didn't bite.

Again, just my thoughts.

[Anonymous]

I posted about Dr. Gschwend in September 2006, after my first prenatal appt with him. Even though I had seen a heartbeat and everything looked good, I left in tears because he was so aggressive and pessimistic. There is a very long thread if you search the old site's archives.

I had been unhappy with him for gyn, but his OB style put me over the edge. I switched to Reiter and Hill immediately and couldn't have been more thrilled.

[Anonymous]

How can i search the archives?

[Anonymous]

Well with all due respect as a patient you probably have no idea whether "His skills are incredible." Seriously, c-section is not that complicated and unless you were watching the incision technique or something you really would not know how good he is at all. Medical procedures are scary for patients and its hard for patients to determine what took skill, what didn't, and even what they did wrong.

Sadly, I know people in the medical practice who just shake their heads when a mom who went into "emergency c-section" thinks she had the most brilliant doctor who saved her life when it really was an unnecessary call. No point in telling the mother otherwise as she is happy but patients often do not have a clue.

[Anonymous]

This guy left me in tears on more than one occasion.He was not my doc but was making rounds at Sibley.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
Sadly, I know people in the medical practice who just shake their heads when a mom who went into "emergency c-section" thinks she had the most brilliant doctor who saved her life when it really was an unnecessary call. No point in telling the mother otherwise as she is happy but patients often do not have a clue.

I agree completely.

[Anonymous]

I think Gschwend is great. He delivered two of my kids (vaginally), and I wish he had delivered the other one, too (it was after that second delivery that I switched to him). He definitely has a dry sense of humor and is very blunt - no sugar coating anything - but I appreciate his straightforwardness and calm under pressure. I had to see him a lot - high risk pregnancies - and have nothing bad to say about him. When I lamented how very wrong my second delivery had gone and wished Gschwend had been there instead of my own OB, the Sibley nurses did mention that his delivery skills are among the best there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: When I lamented how very wrong my second delivery had gone and wished Gschwend had been there instead of my own OB, the Sibley nurses did mention that his delivery skills are among the best there.

I don't want to undermine your experience and am happy you were pleased with Dr. G. But, I will say that I have heard nurses at Sibley say this about any number of different doctors, depending on which doc the patient they are working with uses. They want you to feel good and secure about your choices, and help you feel like you are having a positive experience.

[Anonymous]

No, actually I was lamenting about a different doc. The nurse suggested that I switch to Gschwend.

[Anonymous]

I also go to Dr. Gschwend and have had mixed feelings about him as a doctor. I had a miscarriage a year ago and he was so unsympathetic that I wanted to switch right away. I am now 31 weeks with pregnancy #3 and did not switch due to the nurses and other doctors at that practice. I love the nurse/midwife there and had been seeing strictly her until I had complications ( preterm labor at 16 weeks ). I am now seeing strictly Dr. G and have been very happy with this. He does have a weird sense of humor and can be very dry but when things are getting a little hairy, I trust him 100% and feel that he has my baby's needs in mind completely. I was entirely against him for a long time, but now am confident in his care. I did not have a c section with my first baby so I don't know about his tendency to do that. He wasn't on call when I had her, but I am hoping he'll be on call when I deliver this one.

[Anonymous]

I'm surprised to see the negative reviews of Dr. Gschwend here - I suspect it's more a personality mismatch than anything else. I really enjoy his bedside manner and his dry humor - his personality is a lot like mine. I'm sure Gschwend's comment about a "log cabin" was a joke, but I'm sure at least half the moms on this forum would not find that at all funny. He is an excellent OB. I found the staff nurse-midwife to be a bit too warm and fuzzy for my taste, and Dr. Kleinerman kind of pushy and neurotic. However, these practitioners are also highly skilled, and I would have zero qualms about having them deliver my baby, even if their personalities aren't an exact fit for mine.

[Anonymous]

I don't know about the woman who has posted on every post related to Dr. Gschwend about her warning of his C-Section rate, but she surely has an axe to grind and apparently has had a different experience than some other posters including myself. If anything, I have found him to be reluctant to suggest a c-section for me even though I have had urinary problems prior to being pregnant and when asked him if a vaginal birth would complicate it further, he said it would be fine. If he was such a proponent of c-sections he would have instantly suggested that I get a c-section to avoid the possibility. And even though my baby is measuring big he has not even brought up induction (I'm 34 weeks too so he has had plenty of time to). He has a very dry sense of humor that I actually appreciate. He is very matter of fact which I also appreciate because I do not want anything sugar coated, I want to know exactly where I and this baby stand. If you want a natural birth then I agree with other people who have posted and say get a mid-wife (maybe Kim Severn in the same practice, she is great) or a doula who will be the *most* supportive of your choice. I don't think Dr. Gschwend is a butcher however and just looks to slice women open for no reason at all. Just my opinion.

[Anonymous]

Just wondering if any of you that were veered towards c-section are lawyers. I have read that docs will always section a lawyer if she 35 + esp if it's her first.