Newly pregnant - OB recs during COVID?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Where in DC do you live OP? I would pick either Georgetown or GW - whichever is more convenient. I delivered in VHC and my OBGYN is dr Casadaban with healthcare for women. She is amazing as is the practice. But I’m not sure how convenient Arlington is to you. Also I’m not sure but they might be seeing patients in their Reston office only.

OP here - I live pretty much right in between - equidistant - GW and Georgetown. Hence my interest in either GW, Georgetown, or Sibley (which is still reasonably close). I ended up booking at appointment with an OB at Georgetown, so I'll see how that goes, but I think I would still rather try to get in with an OB associated with Sibley.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think based on geography, I'd prefer to deliver at Sibley, Georgetown, or GW. I've heard great things about Sibley, but it looks like the practices that admit there don't take my insurance (I'm on a BCBS EPO). Where do the WHC midwives deliver?

the maternity ward at Sibley is in a separate building, it is brand new and they have very few active Covid cases in Sibley at present. It is where i delivered my first and where I will deliver my second. there was not even a chance that I would deliver anywhere else given Covid

I think there are several OBs that take BCBS and deliver at Sibley
CWC K Street
Reiter Hill Nevin and Johnson
Dr. de Souza
Dr. Footer
There are others too.. I am at Reiter Hill and have been happy but others have not so you should check past threads. I would note that there are very practices that are without critics

I called CWC K Street, and they no longer take BCBS EPO, which is what I'm on. Bloom is all filled up, Foxhall doesn't take BCBS, and Reiter... well I tried calling them but I was only hold for 15 minutes before I gave up. I'm not sure that I want to go with a practice that I can't get through to by phone. I can certainly try looking into Dr. de Souza or Dr. Footer.

[Anonymous]

OP in your shoes I would do Georgetown. Foxhall is indeed amazing but they are not in-network for BCBS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think based on geography, I'd prefer to deliver at Sibley, Georgetown, or GW. I've heard great things about Sibley, but it looks like the practices that admit there don't take my insurance (I'm on a BCBS EPO). Where do the WHC midwives deliver?

the maternity ward at Sibley is in a separate building, it is brand new and they have very few active Covid cases in Sibley at present. It is where i delivered my first and where I will deliver my second. there was not even a chance that I would deliver anywhere else given Covid

I think there are several OBs that take BCBS and deliver at Sibley
CWC K Street
Reiter Hill Nevin and Johnson
Dr. de Souza
Dr. Footer
There are others too.. I am at Reiter Hill and have been happy but others have not so you should check past threads. I would note that there are very practices that are without critics

I called CWC K Street, and they no longer take BCBS EPO, which is what I'm on. Bloom is all filled up, Foxhall doesn't take BCBS, and Reiter... well I tried calling them but I was only hold for 15 minutes before I gave up. I'm not sure that I want to go with a practice that I can't get through to by phone. I can certainly try looking into Dr. de Souza or Dr. Footer.

For what it is worth, your best shot with Reiter is to call after 2 pm and then I make my appointments all at once when I am there in person. There is also a patient portal in which you can make appointments so in the future, that won't be an issue. As others have said. Dr. Engel is great as is Dr. Dedania

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Dr. Engle at Ritter and Hill Chevy chase
Dr. Footer in North Bethesda
Fox hall obgyn upper nw
Dr De Souza in upper nw

All deliver at Sibley

Is this Richard Footer? If so, I’d say try to avoid him. I used him as my gy doctor for over a year and feel he and his wife( front desk) are quite money driven, and the reason I sat that is He recommended unnecessary procedures And also wanted me to go into the office to get my test result which doesn’t take 1 min to explain over the ph8ne call. Also during COVID, they charge you $10 extra for each visit so they can buy cleaning products.this doesn’t make sense to me at all.

One more thing, he doesn’t take any digital payment. Only cash or checks....also, no emails, everything is conducted via mails. It’s just sooo old fashioned to a point that it’s frustrating.

I don’t know why so many people recommended him here and I went to him because of people keeping mentioning him. My own experiences says the opposite. FYI

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I had a horrible experience with Bloom. I was 28 when I gave birth to my first and during my pregnancy, I used to joke that the doctors would hear a heartbeat and throw me out of the office. Towards the end of my pregnancy, I repeatedly asked the doctors what the hard thing was at the top of my uterus. They told me “parts”. Turns out baby had been breech all along; I only found out after 9 hours of labor. My daughter needed months of physical therapy and I felt like a failure. I was so deferential to my doctors, I felt like I failed to advocate for my baby. It always felt like they weren’t listening to me or paying attention and I was right. I think it is because I was so young by DC standards. It always seemed like I was the youngest one in the waiting room by 10 years.

Now I’m due in October with my second. I cannot say enough good things about Foxhall. I love them. The first couple of times I visited, I was truly shocked at how much time the doctors spent with me. Even my husband was shocked (got pregnant in pre-COVID times). The difference has been night and day. And the administrative staff are also so much nicer.

Best of luck to you!

Also had terrible experience at Bloom. Won’t go into details but they kicked me hard while I was really down. Never encountered such callous people. My OBGYN has retired so I’m looking again but know I won’t be going there. I truly don’t understand the hype.

[Anonymous]

Foxhall doesn’t take BCBS.

[Anonymous]

The OBs at GW are great. I’ve had two children with them.

[Anonymous]

For those reading this in the future, do not go with Dr. DeSouza if you have an unconventional pregnancy (IVF, fibroids, GD, obesity)....
If your pregnancy is smooth sailing, then he’s okay but Dr. DeSouza cannot handle stress, curve balls or anything out of the ordinary. He was my doc for years till I began having m/c. He’s also only 1 person with lots of patients and outdated equipment.

[Anonymous]

I’ve found several of the OBs at GW to be wonderful. They have a lot of providers so I would search this form for specific recommendations on individual doctors at GW.

You’ll be going to a lot of appointments. I would pick the practice with the most convenient office.

[Anonymous]

What are your out of network benefits like? Despite not taking my insurance, I see Dr. Pardo at Foxhall. It's more expensive but I have a lot of health anxiety, and it was important to me that my OB would likely be the one to deliver my baby. I wanted to deliver at Sibley because I felt a teaching hospital could increase my anxiety. I'm 14 weeks and have had 3 appointments already - one to confirm and do some initial blood work, an 8 week scan, and 12 week scan + blood work and NIPT. Everyone at Foxhall has been wonderful and I've been very happy with Dr. Pardo so far.

[Anonymous]

I delivered with GW in June and recommend them highly. It was a great experience. I started with the midwives and switched to the OBs when I had some complications. Only complaint is that the postpartum facilities were awful, but the care was excellent all around.

My first appt was at 12 weeks but I had a dating ultrasound with my fertility practice. I believe partners are now allowed to come to all appointments, though of course it can change.