Feeling a bit lost with provider options

[Anonymous]

Looking for some suggestions for offices to call as a new patient. I currently have an ob/gyn but she is t taking new OB patients is my understanding. I just found out I am pregnant so need to get a move on fast.
Previously did midwives in a center but ended up having a C-section after two days of labor. I was not pleased with my care so iffy on midwives again. And I did not like my PP experience at AAMC. They left my baby on my chest in the post surgical room and walked away. I was still drugged and couldn't move myself into a comfortable position. My husband was there but couldn't hold our baby and help me adjust. And they literally weren't in the room. They also were awful communicators and allowed visitors when I asked to be left alone for a few hours to sleep.

So my question is two-fold
What hospitals would you suggest? I see a lot of great feedback on inova Fairfax and Georgetown. Any others to consider? Willing to drive 30-40 but should stay on east side of beltway.

Is anyone super pleased with their scheduled c section and OB, specifically scar. My first scar is barely visible and although I'd like to attempt a vbac I was told by a provider not to as related to perineum length. I was out of it for my first - up for 40 plus hours, pushed for 4+, had shakes the entire time I was on the table. I want to be able to use a clear drape and have skin to skin. I didn't get skin to skin with my baby until the PP room.

[Anonymous]

I don’t think hospitals allow skin to skin during c-sections. I asked for it at WHC and Sibley. Both were scheduled c-sections with no complications, and they wouldn’t allow it. The shaking is also common, although I didn’t have it as bad at Sibley. I definitely did not want a clear drape, so it’s not something I asked for. But at Sibley there’s a mirror over the operating table, and they told me to avoid looking at it if I didn’t want an eyeful.

[Anonymous]

Dr Jackson at Reiter Hill did my second C section and the scar has disappeared four years later.

[Anonymous]

Disappointing to hear about your experience at AAMC. I am also in AAco and considering going to a DC-based practice

[Anonymous]

I had the best experience at Inova Fairfax. Would highly recommend.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Disappointing to hear about your experience at AAMC. I am also in AAco and considering going to a DC-based practice

Some people have great experiences and others I know have selected to look outside AAMC for their subsequent births. I really think it is a mixed bag. I also think your delivery plays a part as well- if it is super stressful or long, you just have less bandwidth versus a scheduled csection. I also want to assume time played a part as well. My csection was at 11pm so this was overnight shift. No lactation consultant. I had a great nurse my last day but otherwise, the nurses I had seemed overworked and annoyed. There was no food until breakfast, so I had been without food for 58 hours by the time breakfast arrived. Will know better next time as far as snacks! I dont have a lot of experience being a patient in the hospital in general so that may also play a role with expectations.

I figure I will have more monitoring since I am AMA this time around so an office an hour away doesnt seem great since I dont get paid maternity leave and need to save my leave. Are there specific practices that you are looking at? I hear great things about Inova Fairfax but its a haul.

[Anonymous]

Feedback also sought for Inova Alexandria!

[Anonymous]

Your current ob/gyn won't keep you on now that you are pregnant?? That is terrible. I know they limit new pregnant patients at small practices but I assumed existing patients could stay.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Disappointing to hear about your experience at AAMC. I am also in AAco and considering going to a DC-based practice

Some people have great experiences and others I know have selected to look outside AAMC for their subsequent births. I really think it is a mixed bag. I also think your delivery plays a part as well- if it is super stressful or long, you just have less bandwidth versus a scheduled csection. I also want to assume time played a part as well. My csection was at 11pm so this was overnight shift. No lactation consultant. I had a great nurse my last day but otherwise, the nurses I had seemed overworked and annoyed. There was no food until breakfast, so I had been without food for 58 hours by the time breakfast arrived. Will know better next time as far as snacks! I dont have a lot of experience being a patient in the hospital in general so that may also play a role with expectations.

I figure I will have more monitoring since I am AMA this time around so an office an hour away doesnt seem great since I dont get paid maternity leave and need to save my leave. Are there specific practices that you are looking at? I hear great things about Inova Fairfax but its a haul.

I’m looking at GW and Georgetown which is also far. I do not mind academic hospitals though if that was one of your considerations. I have had some complications in the past so I want a trusted team and Luminis has left me feeling a bit to be desired. I’m less picky on specific OBGYN but I don’t want to be brushed off.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don’t think hospitals allow skin to skin during c-sections. I asked for it at WHC and Sibley. Both were scheduled c-sections with no complications, and they wouldn’t allow it. The shaking is also common, although I didn’t have it as bad at Sibley. I definitely did not want a clear drape, so it’s not something I asked for. But at Sibley there’s a mirror over the operating table, and they told me to avoid looking at it if I didn’t want an eyeful.

I asked for a gentle C section at Sibley too and the doctor said no.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Feedback also sought for Inova Alexandria!

Inova Fairfax is like 20 extra minutes. They’re not even remotely in the same maternity ward league.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Your current ob/gyn won't keep you on now that you are pregnant?? That is terrible. I know they limit new pregnant patients at small practices but I assumed existing patients could stay.

I called and they said they would see me since Ive been there for almost 4 years- it isnt like I started as a gyn patient and got pregnant 6 mos in! I misinterpreted the info since I knew she was starting to wind down her OB side of her practice. They told me when I first started as a patient there and I had no intention to have another kid at that point so I didnt clarify.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Looking for some suggestions for offices to call as a new patient. I currently have an ob/gyn but she is t taking new OB patients is my understanding. I just found out I am pregnant so need to get a move on fast.
Previously did midwives in a center but ended up having a C-section after two days of labor. I was not pleased with my care so iffy on midwives again. And I did not like my PP experience at AAMC. They left my baby on my chest in the post surgical room and walked away. I was still drugged and couldn't move myself into a comfortable position. My husband was there but couldn't hold our baby and help me adjust. And they literally weren't in the room. They also were awful communicators and allowed visitors when I asked to be left alone for a few hours to sleep.

So my question is two-fold
What hospitals would you suggest? I see a lot of great feedback on inova Fairfax and Georgetown. Any others to consider? Willing to drive 30-40 but should stay on east side of beltway.

Is anyone super pleased with their scheduled c section and OB, specifically scar. My first scar is barely visible and although I'd like to attempt a vbac I was told by a provider not to as related to perineum length. I was out of it for my first - up for 40 plus hours, pushed for 4+, had shakes the entire time I was on the table. I want to be able to use a clear drape and have skin to skin. I didn't get skin to skin with my baby until the PP room.

1) "Midwives" are not all the same any more than "obstetricians" are all the same. You could look for midwives based at different hospitals. I've heard good things about the midwifery practice at WHC, for example.

2) I think it matters whether you are attempting a VBAC or scheduling a c section. If you are scheduling a c section, going to just about any hospital in the DMV is possible. If you are attempting a VBAC, that is a lot less the case. I couldn't tell from your post where you are located - you are willing to travel 30-40 minutes from where?

[Anonymous]

I may be an outlier, but I would run the other direction from INOVA Fairfax. My OB team was wonderful, but the L&D nurses were dismissive and neglectful toward me in what became a high risk situation. The anesthesiologist also missed my epidural, but then dismissed my concerns that I could still feel one side when I needed a c-section. You can imagine how that turned out.

Had a VBAC at GW and was overall pleased with my care there. I was happy to drive 40 minutes to avoid Fairfax.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don’t think hospitals allow skin to skin during c-sections. I asked for it at WHC and Sibley. Both were scheduled c-sections with no complications, and they wouldn’t allow it. The shaking is also common, although I didn’t have it as bad at Sibley. I definitely did not want a clear drape, so it’s not something I asked for. But at Sibley there’s a mirror over the operating table, and they told me to avoid looking at it if I didn’t want an eyeful.

The skin to skin thing is so weird. My baby was shoved on me with no warning while my blood pressure cuff was going off, I kept saying "I'm worried she'll fall. Is she going to fall?". I was crying because it was an unexpected C-section due to failed induction, which is supposedly only a 2% chance after a vaginal birth, which I'd had. For the next baby I flat out said I don't want to hold the baby until recovery.

My first baby was plopped on me with an APGAR score of 3, totally blue, limp, not breathing.

All midwives, BTW. Im glad other people had good midwives but mine were morons.