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

[Anonymous]

I love this place. I can not say enough good stuff about them. I am extremely high risk with a single and they have made me feel very safe.

[Anonymous]

Awful, rude, incompetent staff. The doctors are great but you have to put up with a lot of nastiness from the staff.

[Anonymous]

Thought they were great. Went to Rockville office.

[Anonymous]

Nothing but good things to say about them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Awful, rude, incompetent staff. The doctors are great but you have to put up with a lot of nastiness from the staff.

I went to one of their three offices (Silver Spring, Rockville, Fairfax - most often to Rockville) every two weeks throughout my pregnancy, and I have never encountered any rude or incompetent staff. I have nothing but good things to say about the doctors and their staff. This was in 2012.

[Anonymous]

I recently went to them for a preconception consult with Dr. Pinckert at their Silver Spring office. They were very thorough, sent me for labs, fixed my blood pressure med dosage and sent me on my way to start my first IVF cycle at Shady Grove once everything was under control I plan to stick with this practice once I do get pregnant.

[Anonymous]

I have used GWMFM in 2 pregnancies that were extremely complicated and I can't say enough about how fantastic they are!!! Before I saw them, I had experienced 6 pregnancy losses and never thought I could become a mom. I had been to the best docs before (I thought) including in New York, DC and Harvard and Brigham and Women's but still lost my babies at about 18-22 weeks. None of the many docs I saw over the years really knew why and no one had anything else they could offer. They gave up. They basically just said I needed to use a surrogate or adopt. In desperation and after speaking to a friend who went to GWMFM and researching them, I went to see Dr. Pinckert for a preconception counseling. He is trained and boarded as a high risk obstetrician and a geneticist, which only a handful of doctors throughout the country are. He spend a HUGE amount of time with me and my husband going over what had happened before and asking me what I was prepared/willing to do to have a baby even if the odds were low; he reviewed my medical history which was really extensive given all my losses. He was the FIRST doctor in ages who listened and cared and gave me some HOPE. With much trepidation, we went ahead with getting pregnant again. I was terrified. Dr. Pinckert and the other doctors developed a comprehensive plan for me and didnextensive monitoring. He did a special kind of cerclage when I was 14-15 weeks pregnant before my cervix could open again. The doctors at Harvard had tried a cerclage but they did the basic type. It didn't work. Dr. Pinckert has the skill to do a Shirodkar cerclage, which is more extensive and it worked! The cerclage, bed rest, medication and weekly monitoring and the caring support and encouragement of the doctors and staff at GWMFM allowed my husband and I to FINALLY be parents. I cannot tell you how much I appreciated their compassion and skill. What is even better is that about 2 years later, they helped us have another heathy beautiful baby. That was 3 years ago.

I can't tell you how fortunate I feel to have found this group, especially after 2 different groups in the area gave up on me and basically brushed me off. But Dr. Pinckert's group was willing to try. They were there every step of the way. People have told me that their group is the "best of the best" in high risk pregnancy and my husband enthusiastically agree. I don't know what we would have done without them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: I have used GWMFM in 2 pregnancies that were extremely complicated and I can't say enough about how fantastic they are!!! Before I saw them, I had experienced 6 pregnancy losses and never thought I could become a mom. I had been to the best docs before (I thought) including in New York, DC and Harvard and Brigham and Women's but still lost my babies at about 18-22 weeks. None of the many docs I saw over the years really knew why and no one had anything else they could offer. They gave up. They basically just said I needed to use a surrogate or adopt. In desperation and after speaking to a friend who went to GWMFM and researching them, I went to see Dr. Pinckert for a preconception counseling. He is trained and boarded as a high risk obstetrician and a geneticist, which only a handful of doctors throughout the country are. He spend a HUGE amount of time with me and my husband going over what had happened before and asking me what I was prepared/willing to do to have a baby even if the odds were low; he reviewed my medical history which was really extensive given all my losses. He was the FIRST doctor in ages who listened and cared and gave me some HOPE. With much trepidation, we went ahead with getting pregnant again. I was terrified. Dr. Pinckert and the other doctors developed a comprehensive plan for me and didnextensive monitoring. He did a special kind of cerclage when I was 14-15 weeks pregnant before my cervix could open again. The doctors at Harvard had tried a cerclage but they did the basic type. It didn't work. Dr. Pinckert has the skill to do a Shirodkar cerclage, which is more extensive and it worked! The cerclage, bed rest, medication and weekly monitoring and the caring support and encouragement of the doctors and staff at GWMFM allowed my husband and I to FINALLY be parents. I cannot tell you how much I appreciated their compassion and skill. What is even better is that about 2 years later, they helped us have another heathy beautiful baby. That was 3 years ago.

I can't tell you how fortunate I feel to have found this group, especially after 2 different groups in the area gave up on me and basically brushed me off. But Dr. Pinckert's group was willing to try. They were there every step of the way. People have told me that their group is the "best of the best" in high risk pregnancy and my husband enthusiastically agree. I don't know what we would have done without them.

Thanks for sharing your story, PP, and congratulations. I agree that Dr. Pinckert is the best doctor that I have ever met, even if my case wasn't nearly as difficult. It is hard to find someone who shows actual interest in and compassion for what you are going through, and is skilled to deal with it to boot.

[Anonymous]

I went to their Fairfax office. The staff is fine. I've had both Dr. Manley and Dr. Marzilli. Loved Dr. Marzilli. Toward the end of my pregnancy I saw her weekly to monitor a complication and she was wonderful. Dr. Manley I found very pushy and lacking bedside manners. After I had a slightly abnormal first tri screen she pushed me really hard to get cvs testing done. After I declined that she then pushed the amnio. Basically her manner was brusque and caused more anxiety than necessary.

[Anonymous]

I've used them for CVS with both of my pregnancies. With this procedure, to minimize any risk you really want someone who is very experienced with a steady hand, and does millions of these procedures. Great experience with both, hardly an pain or discomfort, great staff and VERY knowledgeable doctors. And wonderful bedside manner too.

[Anonymous]

i agree they have been wonderful. they are monitoring me through this pregnancy and they were wonderful when I had a miscarriage. that's an amazing story PP, that is so amazing that you were able to have two babies with them.

[Anonymous]

They run really late and I've had to fight them for *every* bill I've received. They routinely pull shady billing practices like sending in multiple claims for one procedure and then using the "carrier denied" excuse to get you to pay for the double-bill. It's been exhausting and just not worth it anymore. I am not going back.