Dr. Elliott or Dr. Lashgari for C-Section at VHC?

[robynindc]

I have just learned that I will need a scheduled c-section at 39.5 weeks. I am being seen by Elliott/Lashgari, and although I had considered Elliott "my" doctor, I've now seen them both quite a bit. Does anyone have a recommendation on with whom I should schedule my c-section? I'm nervous about major surgery, so I want to make the best choices I can! Thanks in advance for any advice.

[Anonymous]

I had a scheduled c-section at VHC and both Drs Elliott and Lashgari did the surgery. Dr. Elliott is my primary OB in the practice. I believe he took the lead on the surgery with Dr. Lashgari assisting (if I remember correctly that's what he explained). They were both really great at keeping me at ease. The anesthesiologist and nurses were all very kind. My recovery was normal and I didn't have any complications. It's almost two years later and there's barely any scar (unfortunately I can't say the same about my stretch marks!) I had a good experience at VHC. You will be in very good hands with either Dr. Elliott or Lashgari.

[Anonymous]

My sense is that they're both good surgeons. My concern--and the reason I opted not to go with their practice--is that they have a reputation for being a little c-section trigger happy. OP, are you sure you actually need a c-section? I have two friends who used to be in that practice but both found that Dr. Lashgari was super aggressive about pushing a c-section, even for the slightest problems that other OBs would try to resolve through traditional labor.

[Anonymous]

I had a c/s with Lashgari that I believe was unnecessary. Unfortunately, I had never seen her before, as I was going to a partner practice she rotated with. Maybe it is different when you are her patient, but I didn't find her bedside manner at all appealing and never saw her again after she cut me.

[Anonymous]

I LOVE Dr. Lashgari! She performed my c-section in April and did an excellent job. My recovery was a breeze and the scar is barely visible just 4 months pp.

Also, I originally wanted an elective c-section (crtazy, I know) and she talked me out of it so I do think she has changed some as she has become more seasoned. Ended up with a c-section anyway because baby wasn't descending and his heart rate kept dropping so I asked them to go ahead with the c-section because it was freaking me out. Dr. Lashgari said we could give it more time and was quite the opposite of trigger happy with me.

[Anonymous]

They delivered my second child via csection in May and I thought they were great. As a PP said, they actually do the csections together, so you cannot "pick" one. This was my second csection and the recovery was super fast and my scar pretty much invisible at just 14 weeks.

[Anonymous]

I'm another disgruntled recipient of a Lashgari c-section thanks to being at the hospital when she was covering for my practice (AWC). As others have noted here and in other threads, she'll leap to perform that surgery before letting things play out. And I'm not a militant anti-csection sort of person. But I also don't see any thrill in having the procedure pushed on me. It actually seemed odd and didn't inspire confidence. The fact that she had zero bedside manner certainly didn't help either.

[Anonymous]

I ask this only half-joking: Has anyone been delivered by Lashgari and NOT received a c-section. I'm sure there must be a handful of women out there who successfully labored with Lashgari, but yikes. I'd love to know what her c-section rate is.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm another disgruntled recipient of a Lashgari c-section thanks to being at the hospital when she was covering for my practice (AWC). As others have noted here and in other threads, she'll leap to perform that surgery before letting things play out. And I'm not a militant anti-csection sort of person. But I also don't see any thrill in having the procedure pushed on me. It actually seemed odd and didn't inspire confidence. The fact that she had zero bedside manner certainly didn't help either.

PP - I'm the 8:10 poster above. I could have written exactly this post.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm another disgruntled recipient of a Lashgari c-section thanks to being at the hospital when she was covering for my practice (AWC). As others have noted here and in other threads, she'll leap to perform that surgery before letting things play out. And I'm not a militant anti-csection sort of person. But I also don't see any thrill in having the procedure pushed on me. It actually seemed odd and didn't inspire confidence. The fact that she had zero bedside manner certainly didn't help either.

PP - I'm the 8:10 poster above. I could have written exactly this post.

Me again (8:10)... oh, and 4 years later - my scar is far from invisible - if that is something that is important to others. I could care less (how often do you bare your self that far down, even in a bikini anyway?)... but again - maybe she treats her own patients better than the AWC patients... who knows.

[Anonymous]

18:32 here--big Lashgari fan. So, at least one PP's bad experience is from 4 years ago. Not sure about the others but I would posit that at her age, 4 years makes a big difference. I think she's 36 so 4 years ago, she was only a couple years out of residency. In my experience, it would seem she has stopped pushing c-sections and improved her bedside manner. Oh, and again, my scar is barely visible after just 4 months so her skills in that regard have improved, too. When I was in the hospital, all the med students, nurses, and residents who came to look at me kept saying, "Wow! Gorgeous incision!" No kidding!

[Anonymous]

6:44 here. My experience with Lashgari was just last year, so at least in my case I don't think age is an excuse. That's not to say she hasn't matured as a physician--I'm sure she has--but I was still disappointed in her brusque manner and aggressive push for a c-section. Perhaps one of the PPs had it right when she suggested that Lashgari may take a different approach with her own patients (who pay her) than with patients from other practices for whom she's just covering. Still not sure that's a ringing endorsement, but it may explain the different takes some people have on her.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I ask this only half-joking: Has anyone been delivered by Lashgari and NOT received a c-section. I'm sure there must be a handful of women out there who successfully labored with Lashgari, but yikes. I'd love to know what her c-section rate is.

i too would love to hear from someone who delivered vaginally with Lashgari, just to see if there is anyone out there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I ask this only half-joking: Has anyone been delivered by Lashgari and NOT received a c-section. I'm sure there must be a handful of women out there who successfully labored with Lashgari, but yikes. I'd love to know what her c-section rate is.

i too would love to hear from someone who delivered vaginally with Lashgari, just to see if there is anyone out there.

Then maybe you should post under a new subject that doesn't specifically ask about c-section experience with Lashgari/Elliott.

[Anonymous]

I had a c-section with Lashgari and she actually tried everything she could to see if I could go another way.

I had a good experience with them and their practice, but did find it odd that Lashgari really really dislikes doulas. We paid ours regardless so we had her come to the C-section to help my husband out and Lashgari wouldn't allow her in the room. Snickered at the idea of a doula the entire time, in fact. Very odd.

She did do a GREAT job post op of making me laugh hysterically after a lactation consultant made me cry. I'd say her bedside manner is amazing after that.