Dr/Midwife/Hospital Recomendations

[Anonymous]

I will be moving to Alexandria in a few weeks, and will be about 30 weeks pregnant with my first baby at age 37. I know there are many posts about specific Dr's and I have searched through them, but was wondering if anybody had anything to add to my specific questions. I would ideally like to have a natural childbirth in a hospital with as few interventions as possible. My insurance (PHCS)doesn't include Midwifery Care Assoc. or Physicians and Midwifes as preferred providers, so we cannot afford those. If I absolutely find I can't take the pain, I am somewhat open to having an epidural, but I prefer to do the birth as naturally as possible, with only interventions that are truly medically necessary. I think what is very important to me, is that I feel respected as a person/patient by both the hospital and Dr/Midwife. I have not been able to take any classes due to my situation and the fact that I will be moving, but I am reading the Bradley Method book. I am open to Drs and Hospitals within a "reasonable" distance of Alexandria, but I don't really know what is "reasonable" or too far away since this is my first baby and I am not so familiar with the area hospitals. Right now, from internet searches, I am considering Dr Piness at Care for you Obgyn, Arlington Womens center w/Drs ROssi and Crowther (I like the fact that they ave a midwife on staff-if I go with them is there some way to guarantee that she will be at the delivery?) and Dr Tchabo. The all deliver at Virginia Hosp Center. I have also heard that Shady Grove, Inova Alexandria and Inova Fair Oaks are good for what I am looking for, and that DC Developing Families Center is good and they deliver at WHC, but I'm not sure if that is too far away for me. Any other Dr/midwife and hospital recommendations would be much appreciated, as well as any suggestions in general!

[Anonymous]

I have been seeing Dr. Crowther and Dr. Rossi (since you rotate through their small practice). I love them both - have not yet met Dr. Masel, who is the younger doctor in their practice.

Karen King, their midwife, will be at your delivery if you go the midwife route, but again, I would call the practice and start these discussions a.s.a.p. since you are close to 30 weeks. I am meeting with her soon, so can't speak about her personally, but she has a great reputation in the doula community. (And, of course, the doctor on call backs her up.)

I have also spoken with Dr. Piness who is not in their practice but is in their delivery "on-call" group, and she seems fantastic.

All of these options are great, and VHC is a beatiful new hospital with private rooms. On the other hand, I bet there are hospitals closer to you in Alexandria. VHC isn't far, but just not sure how close you want to be to the hospital and practice, when you are getting to the time that you'll have appointments weekly. Good luck with the move and the delivery!

[Anonymous]

Thanks for the info!

[Anonymous]

See if Dr. Tchabo takes your insurance. He delivers at Virginia Hospital Center and is very supportive of natural birth.

Also, if you can't find a practice that has midwives, you may want to hire a doula for additional labor support.

Good luck with your search!

[Anonymous]

Another practice to check with in Alexandria is Physicians for Women.

[Anonymous]

OP, Unless something has changed in the past couple of weeks, Dr. Tchabo isn't seeing new patients.

I'm using the midwives at the Family Health and Birth Center (what you reference as DC Developing Families Center) and think they're fantastic. An acquaintance who lives in Arlington used them and had a great birth experience. As you may know, they deliver either at their freestanding birth center or WHC.

Depending on where you are in Alexandria, getting to WHC or the birth center would only be about 20 minutes.

[Anonymous]

Don't know if you picked a doctor yet, but just wanted to recommend Jane Piness. I have delivered with her twice. The first time when she was still in practice with Drs. Crowther and Rossi. I had to have a c-section because of a breech presentation. I really wanted to have a VBAC with my second and she was very supportive. I did have a successful VBAC earlier this year. I had considered going natural but did end up having an epidural. I do know 2 other people who have delivered naturally with her.

Since Dr. Piness is on her own and you see her for all your appointments you really develop a relationship with her. She really wants to deliver all her patients and tries to. I can't speak highly enough about her.

[Anonymous]

If you want to go to Fair Oaks, check out Fair Oaks OBGYN. They have midwives on staff...

Also, check out the Tepeyac Family Center...very natural friendly OBs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Another practice to check with in Alexandria is Physicians for Women.

I wouldn't reco them. HIGHLY interventional.

[Anonymous]

I bet if you called a Bradley instructor, they would work something out to help you get some classes even if not the whole series. They could also recommend doctors. I just interpreted (sign language) the Bradley teacher training class over the weekend for my wife and they are a great group of people. You could also call Birthcare in Alexandria. They do homebirth and have a birth center but could also recommend other doctors if you are still looking.

Good luck!