Seeking DC OB that provides individualized care, support for possible natural birth

[Anonymous]

I'm seeking recommendations for DC OB's that provide supportive care and would be open to a possible natural birth. I've been disappointed with visits to Georgetown (Christine Colie) and GW (John Larsen). Ideally, my OB would take time to explain things to me during office visits and would return my calls. I have some time (I'm 7 weeks pregnant) but I'd like to starting making appointments to find someone new. Thanks!

[Anonymous]

I have heard good things about Dr. Tchabo at Georgetown, but I don't know anything about his practice and whether you're likely to actually get him when you go into labor.

If your pregnancy is low-risk, have you considered a midwife instead of an OB? Their whole raison d'etre is individualized care and support for natural births (if that's what the mom wants). There is a list at http://www.birthoptionsalliance.org/midwifery_dc_area.asp

[Anonymous]

Dr Tchabo is not at Gtown, I think he's somewhere in Virginia (VHC maybe?).

Agree with the PP - you may want to consider a midwife practice.

Congrats on your pregnancy and good luck.

[Anonymous]

Dr. Robert Footer is excellent. He has an office on New Mexico Avenue, near American University. I'm 8 weeks pregnant and he's been great, and was very supportive of me using alternative medicine to get pregnant instead of fertility drugs (for cystic ovaries). He delivered my friend's baby a few months ago (at Sibley). She took hypnobirthing classes and insisted on natural childbirth, and he was always supportive. His attitude is basically that as long as there is no risk to you or your baby, he'll step back and let you and your partner make your own decisions.

[Anonymous]

Dr. Tchabo delivers at Virginia Hospital Center and he is a sole practitioner....so if you use him, he'll be the one there when your baby is born.

[Anonymous]

I've recommended him before, but Dr. Malcom DeSouza is also excellent. He and Dr. Footer back each other up at Sibley. He's pretty laid-back about natural birth and just a really sweet guy.

[Anonymous]

I agree with the PPs that you may want to consider a midwife practice. I'm 20 weeks, and am in the process of switching from an OB to a midwife practice because I want all possible chances for natural, non-medicalized birth, and do not want to give birth in a hospital. If you want a hospital birth, Midwifery Care Associates are highly recommended by friends of mine. They deliver at Shady Grove hospital. A good friend of mine switched to them at 28 weeks from a large OB practice that she described as "too factory" and was thrilled with the personalized attention. http://www.midwiferycareassociates.com/ I haven't decided what midwife practice I am switching to yet - they're probably out for me b/c I live too far for comfort from Shady Grove.

[Anonymous]

I second the recommendation for Midwifery Care Associates. They definitely provide individualized care and, obviously, will support you in an unmedicated birth. Shady Grove Hospital is also pretty open as far as hospitals go; in my experience they let the midwife call the shots, and the midwives are pretty knowledgeable about what things are actual hospital policy and what is negotiable (i.e., IVs, fetal monitoring, etc.).

[Anonymous]

Like other PPs have stated, you might be most comfortable with a midwife practice. I can't speak to all of them, but I delivered my beautiful baby son with Birthcare in Old Town Alexandria, and I loved the indivualized, supportive care I received from them. I cannot say enough good things about them! Even all of the administrative assistants knew me on a first name basis, and I didn't switch into their pratice until I was 20 wks along! I'm not sure what kind of natural birth you are looking at, but Birthcare only does homebirths and birth center births, not hospital births. It's great if you want an out of hospital birth experience, but not if you want to be in a hospital (or if you are not 100% committed to a drug free birth) Good luck and congrats OP!