Is it normal to do more than 1 first prenatal visit to compare docs?
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Anonymous
1. great reviews and low c-section and episiotomy but has gotten short/frustrated with me when I ask questions (he calls with a lab and I have a question about it or a procedure), but then is friendly when I see him in person. He was my first choice but those are my concerns. 2. great reviews but has high c-section rate and that concerns me. 3. Yeah they overall seem to be popular, there is one doc in the practice that has badder reviews. I may be focusing too much on reviews but that is all I have to go by for the ones I haven't met. I would like low intervention, not against medication for pain haven't really decided, I do not want to be induced or have a c-section unless I really I need it, so the high c-section rates of a few doctors make me worry about them. I would prefer to know the doc who delivers me so doc 1 is a good choice for that but as long as I get a great doctor the day of the main event then I would be happy. I eliminated the ones that are too far, I eliminated some that had really bad reviews for one or more docs in the practice, and just graduated a few years ago. I know I am overthinking this but I can't seem to just be able to pick one I tend to do too much research and then I get stuck with more problem when trying to decide. *sigh* |
Anonymous
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OP here - I know I have anxiety issues I have quit smoking and that was my outlet but I can't do that anymore so I am using exercise to help me, there are underlying issues there so I am going to seek a counselor for this.
However I have to pick an OB before then so I am dealing the best way I know how and that is looking at options and dealing. I used to trust that people in the medical field would do the right thing but I had a lot of issues when I switched providers (not OB but something else) so that made me more careful in my selections. Also my first pregnancy was a disaster I was sent by my family doctor to the ER 3 times in a week, and long story short there was no more baby. So that is why I am probably neurotic about this one. I do not plan to visit all 6 I have narrowed down my search from 11 to 6 and was thinking of seeing 2 to compare but don't have the time or $ to do all 6, plus that's just ridiculous. I was just trying to figure out if seeing 2 to compare was normal or totally weird. |
Anonymous
FYI OP, I'm pretty sure your insurance will only pay for 1 visit. If you really care enough to do multiple visits you will have to pay out of pocket, which I frankly think is fair. |
Anonymous
Makes sense to me. That is why i would limit it to two but ideally I can pick in just one visit and switch if I really don't like it later. I'd rather just start in the right place (of course) |
Anonymous
You are being neurotic, although I have anxiety issues and understand. The main thing to focus on is that your choice will not really have a bearing on whether you have a successful first trimester as long as the normal bloodwork is done and any hormone supplements needed are added. This part is SOP, so it should happen anywhere. What if you picked one that you have the best feeling about and schedule with them? If you click, then all is well. If you don't, perhaps you could go back to your regular OB down the line, where at least you know what you're going to get. |
Anonymous
Yeah though wouldn't that be awkard.. hey I came back! Though he should be ok with it I suppose. I will look at options and start ruling them out. |
Anonymous
On the contrary. The more you know about what's going to happen, what your body is going through, etc, the more in control you'll feel. |
Anonymous
I took Bradley and this what it did for me. But OP should prioritize a doula who can help with anxiety. She would be in a better position to judge whether birth classes would help than we are. |
Anonymous
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In a typical case with information presented in a neutral manner, that's true. But that's not what happens in a Bradley class (and I say this with firsthand knowledge). She will be given information in a highly slanted way that demonizes medical interventions, and will work up the OP even more that she'll be forced into unwarranted and unwanted interventions that will harm her baby. And then during delivery, if interventions do become necessary, she will completely freak out about it because things are going outside of her control.
There are plenty of birth class options that will give the OP the information she needs without such a heavy agenda. |
Anonymous
| What about Lamaze (sp?) |
Anonymous
| I've been to two pretty well-regarded practices and in my opinion you always kind of leave the appointments disappointed. Unless you are high risk or have complications, prenatal care is pretty routine (not a bad thing necessarily, you're lucky if it's I eventful)! Don't put too much pressure on yourself, as long as the practice gets good reviews and falls in line with your values and goals, you'll be fine. A doula is a great suggestion and will likely be more important than picking a practice. |
Anonymous
OP--in light of this and everything else you've said, I am going to change my tune here. Go with your regular doctor. I've known almost no docs who like getting into anything on the phone, so that doesn't seem like a strike against your current doc as if he were that way in appointments. But the real reason I say that is you are a maximizer, who only feels comfortable making decisions with full information. That is a tough way to be in pregnancy and parenthood, and now is a good time to start developing your ability to make confident decisions more quickly and without full information. There are a LOT of decisions in front of you, and they feel really important and there is a lot of info, and if you wrap yourself around the axle like this for every one you'll never get through. I am a maximizer too but have trained my "satisficer" side as a parent--the key is to decide on criteria and then, once you find something that fits it, STOP SEARCHING and be content. (thinking about the time and angst you've saved yourself by being decisive helps.) Your doc has good stats, delivers at your hospital I assume, he fits your criteria--done. On to the next decision. good luck! |
Anonymous
 Oh hi bradley hating pp. How ya doing? Other people here have taken bradley classes too you know. And so once again we say to you, IT DEPENDS ON THE INSTRUCTOR. Yes the curriculum is judgmental, but not all instructors are as you describe.
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Anonymous
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I have narrowed it down to two: I don't really have a hospital preference they all seem good.
1. Current GYN (also OB), seems to be low intervention and solo practice lots of experience misses a couple delivers a year delivers at Fair Oaks. - sometimes annoyed when I ask too many questions on the phone, but always calls with lab results. Is a bit further away but not bad. Delivers at Fair Oaks. 5. Two docs - same group as doctor #2 for on call, but has lower c sections, seem to deliver more Deliver at Fairfax Ruling these out: 2. Doctor #2 - solo but may end up doing on call for delivery if after hours or weekend, has high C-section rate like 45% I would prefer V delivery, Delivers Fairfax Only delivers 8-4.00 M-F and then it's the on call unless i schedule a c-section per the nurse on the phone.. seems a bit early to talk about scheduling c-sections. 3. Group of 4 women docs, seems like a well liked but also busy practice tons of reviews mixed - Fairfax hospital close to my job, - Andersen group - don't like some of the reviews for some of the docs. 4. Group of 6 docs close to my job mixed reviews deliver Fairfax - some docs are better than others, kinda a gamble who you get. cwc 6. 3 docs well rated but further away VHC hospital - |
Anonymous
| OP here. Thanks to all who gave me helpful advice. Merry Christmas! |