Good ob/gyn in Silver Spring or surrounding area

[Anonymous]

When I lived in the DC area the first time I planned to use the Maternity Center in Bethesda for childbirth, and I got well-woman care there. Now I'm back in the area and have learned that the midwives only deliver at Shady Grove. So I'm in search of a great ob/gyn in Silver Spring or nearby, preferably one who thinks 40 year-old women aren't necessarily high risk. (Amazing how many doctors still do think so!) I'd love a practice with midwives but it's not a requirement. And I might prefer to avoid someone who delivers only at Sibley. Any recommendations? Thanks for your help!

[Anonymous]

Do you want one who delivers at a particular hospital? (I am interpreting your post to mean that you don't want to use the former Maternity Center midwives -- they're called Midwifery Care Associates (MCA) now -- because they deliver at Shady Grove? Is that too far or you just don't like it? Because if the latter, they've opened a new maternity wing in the last couple of years that's supposed to be fantastic.)

Anyway, if it wasn't obvious, I use MCA, so I can't be of much help! But maybe if you specify which hospitals would be acceptable, people will pipe up...

Good luck!

PS -- I seem to post this link alllll the time; I swear I don't get paid to do it or anything. But maybe it will be helpful to you. Listings of all the midwives in the DC area.
http://www.birthoptionsalliance.org/midwifery_dc_area.asp

[Anonymous]

OP here. Thanks so much. Yes, it's just a matter of distance for me. I was hoping for something a bit closer to home, such as Holy Cross. I will probably consider MCA too, though. Do they still have their space in Bethesda?

[Anonymous]

OP, what is your concern about being considered high-risk? I was 41 when I delivered, and although I was probably entitled by my insurance to more tests because of it, I never felt as if my OB practice considered me particularly at risk. I would be surprised in DC to find OBs who thought it necessarily high-risk to have a baby at 40, but I guess they are still out there. If you are concerned about unnecessary tests: I didn't feel any pressure to get tests I didn't want, e.g., we decided we would not terminate a pregnancy for any reason, so my doc readily agreed that there was no reason for me to have an amnio if I didn't want one.

Anyway, FWIW, I would certainly recommend my OB practice: Capital Women's Care on Ga. Ave.--the Band-Tyau-Sine et al. branch, which delivers at HC.

[Anonymous]

There is also a Capital's Women's Care on Lockwood Dr. next to the Trader Joe's. I know they also handle high risk pregnancies.

[Anonymous]

I recommend OB-GYN associates. I love all of the Drs in the practice, but especially love Dr. Novak. 703-681-6772. They are located in the Drs offices attached to Holy Cross. They have delivered both of my children successfully, and definitely contributed to a wonderful experience.

[Anonymous]

Hi OP, it's 23:35 again, sorry for the delay in answering your question. Yes, MCA still does their appointments at the same Bethesda office (on Bells Mill, just off Old Georgetown). They just don't do deliveries there anymore. (See http://www.midwiferycareassociates.com/ ) Hope you're having luck in your search!

[Anonymous]

I second the recommendation for OBGYN Associates located in the HC Hospital Medical Building. All the docs (and nurses and in-house sono and lab techs) are wonderful. I had two babies with the practice -- ditto for two of my sisters and many of our friends and coworkers. While all the docs are great, I prefer Dr. Ron Jacobs. He and Dr. Brad Kleinman are the more veteran docs in the practice. Both have similar bedside manners -- very empathetic. 301/681-6772