Natural Birth at VHC with Healthcare for Women (Dr. Porter, McVeary, etc)

[Anonymous]

I see Dr. Michelle Nuygen at Healthcare for Women and feel very comfortable with the gyn care I receive there. I am currently pregnant (13 weeks) and would like a natural birth. At my last visit I was told their c-section rate is 40% which suprised me. Has anyone else been a patient at that practice and delivered naturally (or at least without c-section)? I plan on hiring a doula and delaying going to the hospital, which I hope will help, but I'm debating changing practices to one with a lower c-section rate. I was told that they would support my desire to go naturally, but I haven't been able to ask them about montoring, IV use, etc yet. They also seem to have a shorter timeframe to induce if you are late- most practices seem to let you go 42 weeks, but they prefer 41.

Any success stories?

Also, on that note I understand that no matter who your MD is at VHC it is likely that your birth will be attended by your doctor, but actually performed by a resident. Is this true?

Thanks for any positive or negative stories!

[Anonymous]

I, personally, would change practices from one with a 40% c-section rate. Does the practice have a particularly high number of high-risk patients? If not, it may be a good idea for you to at least look at other options.

I saw Dr. Tchabo, who also practices at VHC, and was able to have a natural birth. Dr. Tchabo is very supportive of natural childbirth, and did not pressure me (41 weeks, 6 days) to have an induction. And yes, it was a resident who caught the baby.

[Anonymous]

Can't speak to HFW but both my deliveries were performed by my OBGYN, Dr. Jane Piness. A resident did assist with the first but not the second.

[Anonymous]

Dr. Williams at Women to Women delivered my baby herself - there was no resident even in the room at any point. And yes, that seems like a really high c-section rate.

[Anonymous]

I delivered naturally at VHC with Arlington Women's Center and never saw a resident, although I did see a doctor from another practice that was part of their cross-coverage for part of labor.

[Anonymous]

Hmmm that surprises me. I'm at Healthcare for Women (Dr. McVearry - although she is about to give birth any day now) and each doctor has indicated that they pretty much go along with what the patient wants, as long as it is medically sound. Had a long convo with Dr. Fernandez about that very recently actually.

Did you happen to ask her what of that 40% was selective c-section? Might just be that they have a lot of women who go in wanting one.

I think if you feel comfortable with the doctors and they are clear that you want a natural birth, then you should stay. If you have ever had a convo with them where they wavered on supporting you in that way, then you should leave.

[Anonymous]

PP here...I should add that when I spoke with Dr. Fernandez and asked him how the whole 'my doctor is going to be on maternity leave' thing was going to work, he suggested that I see Dr. McClendon and Dr. Porter next in my rotations. He said they were most similar to Dr. McVearry in style. I personally found Dr. Nuygen a bit more...ridgid? Traditional maybe? I saw Dr. Porter the other day and she was great - McClendon is up next. Perhaps wait until your next appt, see another doc and get their take?

[Anonymous]

Hi- OP here. it was actually Dr. McVeary who told me about the 40% c-section rate. She did say that they would be supportive of whatever I chose and I have no reason to doubt that- I'm just wondering if anyone has actually delivered naturally with the practice that wanted to. Dr. McVeary did say that the 40% # was a lot of people electing c-section and that the DC average is actually 40-50% (apparently c-sections are higher here than the national rate), but it still concerns me that I'll get to the end and find out that their "support" was just words. So far I've met Dr. Nuygen and Dr. McVeary- I guess I'll talk to more MDs to get their take, but I jsut don't want to decided to change later on in pregnancy and be out of luck. There are a lot of reasons that are "medically sound" to require c-section that are not absolutely necessary- so that's more what I'm concerned about.

So if anyone has delivered naturally with them I would lover to know what they did to support you! My main goal is to avoid c-section, but no epidural would be nice (assuming I can handle it)

Thanks!

[Anonymous]

I am overdue with my first baby and a patient of HCW. (I am 40w 4 d.)
Regarding induction: it took some prodding to get them to agree to let me go past 41 1/2 weeks, but Dr. Fernandez agreed to allow me to go to 42 weeks for a stop date. They encourage a sonogram at 41 weeks and again at 41 1/2 weeks, to check fluid levels, baby's activity, etc. My first will be this Friday. But it's important to remember that you have rights and don't let them pressure you into an induction before 42 wks if you don't want it.

Regarding the cesarean rates, natural delivery, etc.: since there are so many doctors in the rotation, I began explaining my view / asking questions pretty early on, to find out what their take was. With one exception, all of the doctors are fine with my requests for a natural delivery. (My experience with Dr. Nguyen is not the same as yours; I find her to be intervention happy and she has said the word, 'cesarean' one too many times!) I encourage you to ask questions, not just state your feelings, because I have learned a lot from simply asking.
For example, at a visit with Dr. Fernandez, he shared some birth tips from some of his foreign born patients are anti-drugs because it is just not common in their culture. He also had a few contacts for natural birthing methods (Bradley and others).
Dr. Paik, Dr. McClendon and Dr. Porter also seem pretty cool with natural deliveries and I believe all of them are parents. I personally appreciate having so many mothers in the rotation (not sure if Dr. Nguyen is a mother) because I know they have been there.

Having said all that, although not yet having delivered yet, I should state what I hear every mother say: the doctor comes in at the last minute for the glorious pulling out of the head, but it's really the nurses that spend the vast majority of time in labor & delivery. You'll have a doula, so you'll have some extra help there.

Best of luck to you, OP and I hope all goes well with your delivery.
I am waiting here for this overdue baby, still hoping for a spontaneous labor and not to be induced (for low fluid or something like this).

[Anonymous]

That is surprising to me, and I would change practices if I were you, with your goals. I had an unmedicated birth there (my first) a few months ago. My practice was the Arlington Women's Center at VHC (love them), and I chose to work with CNM Karen King. She delivered me (as she does any patients who want her in particular). We had OB back-up, but I don't even know who was on call that day. Can't recommend it highly enough! Good luck.

[Anonymous]

OP thanks for the additional info re: Dr. McVearry and the c-section stats. Good info to have, guess I'm not asking enough questions

Best of luck!