Anybody has used Greater Washington Maternal Fetal Medicine? What's your experience?

[Anonymous]

My OB-GYN recommended that we go to see them. Has anybody used their services before? What's your experience? Thanks.

[Anonymous]

While I didn't use them for fertility issues and my experience with them is from five years ago, I will tell you that I liked the staff there very much. Based on my age (I was almost 35 when DD was born), my OB offered up some of the less invasive first trimester testing and recommended this place. It was also where I went for my 20-week sonogram, with a return appointment at 22 weeks because DD was low and they couldn't get head measurements.

The only downside I encountered was for my 13-week ultrasound and finger prick test. I had to drink quite a bit of water prior to the appointment and they kept me waiting upwards of an hour because they were running behind. Then they decided I had too much liquid in my, so asked me to relieve some of it. That's not an easy thing to do! But I suspect they're not the only place that inflicts this on PG women with full bladders in for testing. I just wish places wouldn't.

But all in all, I liked them and would recommend them.

[Anonymous]

I used them for genetic counseling and was quite pleased with their services.

[Anonymous]

I have spent a lot of time with GWMFM and I absolutely love them all. The whole staff.

First saw them with nuchal screening and amnio with my first 7 years ago, then later in that pregnancy for gestational diabetes follow up. I had the amnio because of a bad second trimester screen. When he did the amnio, the doc said he probably would have said I didn't need it because my nucal numbers were good, but since I was there ......

Saw them for genetic counseling and CVS for a pregnancy I eventually lost due to chromo abnormalities. They were remarkable.

Saw them with my recent pregnancy with my now four month old for genetic counseling, CVS and ALL sonos, then through most of the second and third trimesters for gestational diabetes follow up.

Dr. Gallagher did all my invasive stuff in all three pregnancies, and he was fantastic.

[Anonymous]

Highly recommend this practice. As I was over 35, pregnant with twins, and have Type 2 diabetes, my OB wanted to work with GWMFM during my pregnancy. Dr. Gallagher was my doc but I think all of them are good, including the nurses and most of the sono techs.

There was one sono tech in the Holy Cross office who I didn't care for very much because she criticized my endocrinologist's practice. When you are AMA, pregnant with twins for the first time through ART and managing your diabetes, you are already pretty much stressed about everything. I didn't really need the sono tech to start bashing my endocrinologist who did a wonderful job in helping me manage my glucose levels during my pregnancy (no health concerns with my babies and their weight and size were right where they should have been throughout the pregnancy).

I pretty much credit Dr. Gallagher with helping me avoid a miscarriage. Because I was being monitored by them pretty often - every 2 weeks beginning the 8th week of my pregnancy - they found that my cervix had started to open at 18 weeks. Dr. Gallagher immediately put me on bed rest and then scheduled a cerclage for 3 days later. The cerclage held and my pregnancy went 32 weeks. Now I'm a mommy to 2 wonderful toddlers.

When I first met Dr. Gallagher we talked about my background and his and I realized that he may have actually delivered me! He used to practice at the former Bethesda Naval Hospital during the year I was born. I asked my mom if she remembered her OB's name and she didn't, so I'll never know for sure. But it was nice to think that we had that connection.

[Anonymous]

Thanks all for your replies. They are helpful. In my case, I've been through 4 miscarriages in 2 years ---very physically and emotionally devastating process.... Both I and my husband are 40+ and we really need some help from a specialist who could shed some light on our case. Our doctor suggested GWMFM and SG. i am just wondering if GWMFM is the right place to go for our situation.

[Anonymous]

OP, are you pregnant now? After your last post I'm not clear. I think that patients are referred to GWMFM by their OB during pregnancy as they are maternal fetal medicine specialists. Not sure that they do pre-pregnancy planning/diagnosis/testing. SG is a fertility clinic that will do the pre-pregnancy planning/diagnosis/testing etc.

[Anonymous]

I am not ----just lost one right before Christmas. That is why I am wondering if GWMFM is right for me and if anybody else with similar experiences has worked with them and has found this practice helpful for people in similar situation.

[Anonymous]

The staff there is great.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am not ----just lost one right before Christmas. That is why I am wondering if GWMFM is right for me and if anybody else with similar experiences has worked with them and has found this practice helpful for people in similar situation.

Just to reiterate, GWMFM works with your obstetrician; it is a practice that specializes in all sorts of genetic prenatal testing, so you only start going there when you are pregnant. Shady Grove would be a place to go if you want to use IVF, get embryo testing before transfer, etc. That practice helps to GET you pregnant.

So, you start with Shady Grove. Then, if indicated, you move on to GWMFM.

I'm so sorry for your loss. I hope that 2012 brings you joy.

[Anonymous]

I saw them for my 3 high risk pregnancies and for a consult between loss #1 and successful pregnancy #1. The consult was more for me to know how my next pregnancy would be treated once we got through figuring out all of my issues. GWMFM did not do any of my testing to figure out why I kept miscarrying after our first was stillborn (we knew that was from incompetent cervix). My OB did some testing, then sent me to a hematologist and to SGF. GWMFM kept me pregnant, which is quite a task. I love Dr. Pinckert and would not have my 3 beautiful children if it wasn't for him.

[Anonymous]

I used SG for recurrent miscarriage testing. I would suggest you start with them to get more info on the causes of your losses. As one with multiple losses too I feel your pain.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I used SG for recurrent miscarriage testing. I would suggest you start with them to get more info on the causes of your losses. As one with multiple losses too I feel your pain.

What was the cause of your losses?

[Anonymous]

GWMFM - Great docs and sono technicians. Staff is hit or miss.

[Anonymous]

I was referred to GWMFM after three miscarriages in a row (had been working with Columbia Fertility). They did more testing relating to cause of miscarriage and then monitored my subsequent pregnancy. They were wonderful - wonderful - and so patient with someone as scared as I was any time I entered their office (bad experiences with discovering miscarriages at nuchal testing and sonos, etc). I worked with Gallagher as well, but they all seem good. Good luck to you!