newly pregnant and looking for silver spring OB...have some leads but want more opinions

[Anonymous]

I delivered with Midwifery Care (and still see them for GYN care) and was very happy with them. I live in downtown Silver Spring, and the drive to their White Flint offices for appts isn't bad at all. When I delivered, their birth center was still open, so I didn't have to drive to Shady Grove, but I can say that (1) I used to commute to Shady Grove for work, so I have a good sense of how long it can take in the worst case, and (2) I would have had more (MORRRRE!) than enough time to get there during labor.

If you have other questions, check out the Birth Options Alliance: http://www.birthoptionsalliance.org/
There are directories of local care providers (midwives, birth centers, doulas, etc) and a good, chatty listserv full of lots of Q&A like this (look for the Yahoo Groups icon on that webpage).

[Anonymous]

I know that I don't exactly fit the profile for the group as I am the expectant father. We are patients at CWC and are in love with Sheila Bennett, and were devastated to find out that despite having an office IN THE HOSPITAL she cannot be there with us. Does anyone know WHY HCH does not allow midwives to attend births?

[Anonymous]

Honestly, 5 miles vs. 17 miles may sound like a big difference when you haven't gone through labor and delivery before, but for most people it really won't matter much (you'll likely get there with plenty of time to spare).

I would go with the provider that is the best match, even if the hospital is 12 miles further away. I know people that lived in Leesburg and delivered at the Birth Center in Alexandria so I think you'd be fine.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I know that I don't exactly fit the profile for the group as I am the expectant father. We are patients at CWC and are in love with Sheila Bennett, and were devastated to find out that despite having an office IN THE HOSPITAL she cannot be there with us. Does anyone know WHY HCH does not allow midwives to attend births?

Have you asked Sheila? It would be really interesting to hear what she says. (You might also ask Holy Cross... wonder what they'd say.) Often it's politics -- OB departments protecting their turf. Sometimes midwives don't want to jump through the hoops they would need to jump through to get hospital privileges at different hospitals. (There ARE many hospital-based midwives -- just not at every hospital, as you've unfortunately learned.)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Honestly, 5 miles vs. 17 miles may sound like a big difference when you haven't gone through labor and delivery before, but for most people it really won't matter much (you'll likely get there with plenty of time to spare).

I would go with the provider that is the best match, even if the hospital is 12 miles further away. I know people that lived in Leesburg and delivered at the Birth Center in Alexandria so I think you'd be fine.

Just don't assume your first labor will be long. I wound up having a very fast labor, it was during morning rush hour, and I arrived at the hospital fully dialated. Wanted to throw that out there because I hadn't even entertained that possibility since most first labors are longer.

[Anonymous]

Another vote for MCA in Rockville... and I live in NoVA! (which apparently is quite common with their practice) I would LOVE to be as close to them as you are! About 20 weeks into my pregnancy, I realized my OBs -- who were giving me great medical care -- were not as supportive of my natural childbirth plans as I thought they were (and I really didn't want to have to "fight"). Have been VERY pleased with the care that I am getting from the midwives there. Another thing to note, they are (legally) part of the Simmonds & Simmonds OBGYN practice -- so in the unlikely event something were to go "wrong," those are the docs you'd be dealing with.

[Anonymous]

The CWCare office in Silver Spring (Drs. Band, etc.) is good with a few caveats. All the doctors (especially Lizardo) are great with the exception of Tyau, who is harsh and uncaring in her bedside manner, particularly if you're in labor. Also, if you have any medical questions, you have to leave a message on an answering machine and sometimes wait hours (or even overnight) to get a response, so if you're looking for a personal touch, forget that practice.
OB/GYN Associates also has issues. They're far too big (10 doctors!) and run like a baby factory with few personal connections. I once got yelled at on the phone by Dr. Morales for asking if a drug was safe for use, and I switched out of the practice because of her behavior.
I would go with CWCare, but for natural childbirth, be prepared to encounter some resistance. Doctors love two things: epidurals and C-Sections. Makes their lives a lot easier.

[Anonymous]

Congrats on your pregnancy!

I think that when picking your birthplace and provider, location should be a consideration, but a very minor one. As a PP said, most women have plenty of time to get to birthplaces that are even some distance away, and I think if a natural birth is really important to you, picking a provider and birthplace that will maximize that chance is key. Not all hospitals are the same in terms of their protocols, and not all providers are the same in their support of natural birth. A lot of providers will "allow" a natural birth, but not all providers have the skills and belief system to truly facilitate and support it. Allowing it and helping it happen are two very different things.

In general, I think midwives are more trained in facilitating normal birth (though they also can identify complications, and treat some, or refer out when needed), whereas OBs are surgeons trained in identifying and treating complications. I know there are some doctorish midwives, and midwifey doctors, but midwives and OBs are trained really differently, and I think that does show in their care. My point in saying all of this is just to emphasize the importance of with whom and where you choose to give birth. It really matters as these choices have a huge impact on how your birth goes.

Have you considered the Family Health and Birth Center? They have a great reputation!

I know you didn't mention home birth, but if it's an option for you, our home birth midwife was amazing. She is a Certified Nurse Midwife (same type of midwife who attends hospital births) named Susan Dodge. All prenatal visits were in my home. She spent tons of time with me and provided excellent care. The birth was wonderful, safe, and healthy. She's on this list of midwives in the home birth section. And you can use this great list to look up other midwives too (and if you go to the main page, www.birthoptionsalliance.org, you can join the BOA listserv which has great info on birth options in this area).
http://www.birthoptionsalliance.org/midwife_list.pdf

I go to Midwifery Care Associates for my general gyn care and really like them. In talking to one of the midwives I learned that some of them come from the Maternity Center that closed. They really seem like birth center or home birth midwives who try to bring that spirit to the hospital setting. Shady Grove also has tubs and other things that might help facilitate a natural birth in the hospital. If I wanted a hospital birth, I'd probably go there.

Best of luck to you!!