Recent OB recommendations

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm also pregnant for the first time and receiving care at WHC. Dr. Hamilton is great and I've had an exceptional experience with the maternal fetal medicine specialist, Dr. Fries. She is excellent. That is the office where you would get your 20 week anatomy scan, genetic screenings, etc. If WHC is convenient for where you live, I would definitely go there. I had called Bloom awhile ago to compare a small practice but they were full for my delivery month (August).

Meh, I am a PP and I liked her at first but as time went on I found her to be pushy and a bit condescending. She repeatedly called me “young lady”
in one visit and told me I needed to get pregnant soon with my second because I was getting old (I’m 38). Then she nagged me about getting in the patient portal after I relayed an incident where I needed a same day appointment and couldn’t get help from any of her staff and they refused to pass on a message to her. So I did and then the only time I reached out to her she never responded to me. That was enough for me to switch. I need a partner in my health care, not a doctor nagging me like I’m a child.

[Anonymous]

People on this board give real mixed reviews but I have always had good care at Reiter Hill. Delivered all 3 of my kids with them at Sibley in the last six years, most recently this spring. I like that everything is in house (ultrasounds etc) and have found scheduling to be easy as well.

I had unexpected complications with my middle child and things were handled really well.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm also pregnant for the first time and receiving care at WHC. Dr. Hamilton is great and I've had an exceptional experience with the maternal fetal medicine specialist, Dr. Fries. She is excellent. That is the office where you would get your 20 week anatomy scan, genetic screenings, etc. If WHC is convenient for where you live, I would definitely go there. I had called Bloom awhile ago to compare a small practice but they were full for my delivery month (August).

Hi, thanks for the recommendation. WHC is the most convenient location for me (to avoid driving crosstown to GW/Georgetown area) as well. Do you know if they are allowing you to select your doctor at this time?

I think so, but bear in mind you don’t get to pick who’s on call when you deliver. I didn’t pick but they said they always try to do the first two appts the same doc so you get a relationship. Then you can decide if you want to switch to others so you get to know more.

I feel like I’ve gotten good care there but everything has been routine and it’s a big hospital - not cushy or anything. But so far efficient, easy to deal with and I like the doctors. Also it’s convenient that the perinatal center is in the same place for the level 2 scans and the NIPT. I am glad we won’t have to cross town to Sibley to deliver.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm also pregnant for the first time and receiving care at WHC. Dr. Hamilton is great and I've had an exceptional experience with the maternal fetal medicine specialist, Dr. Fries. She is excellent. That is the office where you would get your 20 week anatomy scan, genetic screenings, etc. If WHC is convenient for where you live, I would definitely go there. I had called Bloom awhile ago to compare a small practice but they were full for my delivery month (August).

Meh, I am a PP and I liked her at first but as time went on I found her to be pushy and a bit condescending. She repeatedly called me “young lady”
in one visit and told me I needed to get pregnant soon with my second because I was getting old (I’m 38). Then she nagged me about getting in the patient portal after I relayed an incident where I needed a same day appointment and couldn’t get help from any of her staff and they refused to pass on a message to her. So I did and then the only time I reached out to her she never responded to me. That was enough for me to switch. I need a partner in my health care, not a doctor nagging me like I’m a child.

Did you call the emergency line?

[Anonymous]

Can someone share experiences pro/con of going with the group of doctors vs. one who sees you the whole pregnancy? Foxhall seems to have both options. I get that one doctor would get to know you better, but then what happens at delivery if they aren’t there? Is it better to see everyone so you know them all?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Can someone share experiences pro/con of going with the group of doctors vs. one who sees you the whole pregnancy? Foxhall seems to have both options. I get that one doctor would get to know you better, but then what happens at delivery if they aren’t there? Is it better to see everyone so you know them all?

Yes I think so. I have a preferred OB so saw her for most of my first and second trimesters, and then rotated in 3rd trimester so I met most of the doctors before delivery. I did see my preferred OB on her rounds postpartum which was nice but she didn’t end up delivering any of my kids.

If you have a scheduled induction or C section you can choose your doctor to an extent, but sometimes that doesn’t go to plan.

[Anonymous]

I go to CWC on K Street. It's fine. I have no complaints but also no particular praise. I have gone there for years for my gyn care but my gynecologist doesn't deliver babies so I just rotated through all the doctors. All but one were fine. It's easy to get an appointment. Office staff are great, except for one complaint. I got genetic testing which they said would be a $20 copay but it cost me $400.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm also pregnant for the first time and receiving care at WHC. Dr. Hamilton is great and I've had an exceptional experience with the maternal fetal medicine specialist, Dr. Fries. She is excellent. That is the office where you would get your 20 week anatomy scan, genetic screenings, etc. If WHC is convenient for where you live, I would definitely go there. I had called Bloom awhile ago to compare a small practice but they were full for my delivery month (August).

Hi, thanks for the recommendation. WHC is the most convenient location for me (to avoid driving crosstown to GW/Georgetown area) as well. Do you know if they are allowing you to select your doctor at this time?

I don't think you can select- another poster mentioned that too. I have also seen Dr. Scott Muagman there, who I didn't like as much as Dr. Hamilton, but he is fine. He takes the time to answer questions, etc. Of course different people have different experiences- I am also 35 so not the youngest of first time mothers, and neither Dr. Hamilton or Dr. Muagman have made anything of that in a way that seems unnecessary or inappropriate, which I think the other posted mentioned was her experience.

I know most people here seem to go to Sibley, but honestly, WHC is close, convenient, and fine. Dr. Fries in MFM was what really sold me on staying there. I'm not going to give it an absolute glowing recommendation, but it's good enough for me so far. I had also heard from good friends that they did not have good experiences at GW or CWC DC, and I wasn't able to get into Bloom, so once I had a couple appointments at WHC, I just decided to stick with it. Foxhall doesn't take insurance and I think the total cost for visits and delivery is somewhere around $5k, which would be doable for us but not ideal given other expenses and we already pay for insurance so...not worth it from my perspective but I'm sure others will differ.

[Anonymous]

I delivered at WHC last year. Dr. Muagman almost delivered my daughter (he was great btw) but my OB, Dr. Draoui (who I've seen for the last seven years), showed up just in time. Dr. Draoui is by far my favorite. She gives it straight no chaser and was willing to listen to all my concerns. I wouldn't hesitate to deliver at WHC with Dr. Draoui again.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm also pregnant for the first time and receiving care at WHC. Dr. Hamilton is great and I've had an exceptional experience with the maternal fetal medicine specialist, Dr. Fries. She is excellent. That is the office where you would get your 20 week anatomy scan, genetic screenings, etc. If WHC is convenient for where you live, I would definitely go there. I had called Bloom awhile ago to compare a small practice but they were full for my delivery month (August).

Hi, thanks for the recommendation. WHC is the most convenient location for me (to avoid driving crosstown to GW/Georgetown area) as well. Do you know if they are allowing you to select your doctor at this time?

I don't think you can select- another poster mentioned that too. I have also seen Dr. Scott Muagman there, who I didn't like as much as Dr. Hamilton, but he is fine. He takes the time to answer questions, etc. Of course different people have different experiences- I am also 35 so not the youngest of first time mothers, and neither Dr. Hamilton or Dr. Muagman have made anything of that in a way that seems unnecessary or inappropriate, which I think the other posted mentioned was her experience.

I know most people here seem to go to Sibley, but honestly, WHC is close, convenient, and fine. Dr. Fries in MFM was what really sold me on staying there. I'm not going to give it an absolute glowing recommendation, but it's good enough for me so far. I had also heard from good friends that they did not have good experiences at GW or CWC DC, and I wasn't able to get into Bloom, so once I had a couple appointments at WHC, I just decided to stick with it. Foxhall doesn't take insurance and I think the total cost for visits and delivery is somewhere around $5k, which would be doable for us but not ideal given other expenses and we already pay for insurance so...not worth it from my perspective but I'm sure others will differ.

Foxhall does take insurance but they do not accept all plans. Check their website for insurance coverage. On another note, if you have health insurance and pay for that insurance, why on earth would you go to a OB who doesnt take insurance and pay thousands out of pocket. A delivery alone is close to $10,000 as billed to insurance plans.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I delivered at WHC last year. Dr. Muagman almost delivered my daughter (he was great btw) but my OB, Dr. Draoui (who I've seen for the last seven years), showed up just in time. Dr. Draoui is by far my favorite. She gives it straight no chaser and was willing to listen to all my concerns. I wouldn't hesitate to deliver at WHC with Dr. Draoui again.

I like Dr. Draoui also.

[Anonymous]

Dr Nielson at GWU, amazing