GW midwives, Bethesda office

[Anonymous]

I know the GW midwives are controversial in this forum, but I’ll give this a shot anyways.

Has anyone switched from the downtown office (22nd and I/Pennsylvania Ave) to the Bethesda office and likes it better? With the pandemic we’ve always met with different midwives, most of them fellows and we don’t feel they’ve been on top of our chart, would the Bethesda office be better in this sense?

We live more or less the same distance from both offices but my workplace is closer to the downtown office, but since I’ve been working from home and will continue to do so it doesn’t matter now.

Thanks in advance!

[Anonymous]

You can schedule at any of the offices. Schedule your next visit at Bethesda and see how you like it. The midwives rotate so there's nobody you'd see in Bethesda you wouldn't see downtown.

[Anonymous]

The Obs are superior to the midwives. Give them a shot, I promise you will want to switch.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The Obs are superior to the midwives. Give them a shot, I promise you will want to switch.

With the new covid protocols you end up seeing a different OB in every visit, so not sure how much I'll gain then. But yeah, so far they haven't lived up to our expectations after the "meet the midwives" event and everything we've read so far regarding the midwifery model of care.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The Obs are superior to the midwives. Give them a shot, I promise you will want to switch.

With the new covid protocols you end up seeing a different OB in every visit, so not sure how much I'll gain then. But yeah, so far they haven't lived up to our expectations after the "meet the midwives" event and everything we've read so far regarding the midwifery model of care.

Can you be more specific about how they aren't meeting your expectations?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The Obs are superior to the midwives. Give them a shot, I promise you will want to switch.

With the new covid protocols you end up seeing a different OB in every visit, so not sure how much I'll gain then. But yeah, so far they haven't lived up to our expectations after the "meet the midwives" event and everything we've read so far regarding the midwifery model of care.

Can you be more specific about how they aren't meeting your expectations?

Visits tend to be short, most of the times the midwife we see hasn’t even read our chart before we start, some of the questions we have aren’t answered and we have to ask again in our next visit, we tend to be prepared and our questions might not be the most common ones but still some of them answer random things instead of saying “I don’t know, I’ll look it up and get back to you”. We need some extra monitoring and every time we have to be on top of our situation and report precisely the results from ultrasounds, otherwise they don’t seem like they would know. This pattern has been more common with the midwives that are fellows so far, and we understand they are continuing their training and GW is a teaching hospital, but that’s no excuse for not knowing your clients.

Maybe this is usual or maybe we were expecting more care and continuity from their part (as is advertised as the key in the midwifery model of care), maybe this is just a consequence of the pandemic and how it has affected the way they work.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The Obs are superior to the midwives. Give them a shot, I promise you will want to switch.

With the new covid protocols you end up seeing a different OB in every visit, so not sure how much I'll gain then. But yeah, so far they haven't lived up to our expectations after the "meet the midwives" event and everything we've read so far regarding the midwifery model of care.

Can you be more specific about how they aren't meeting your expectations?

Visits tend to be short, most of the times the midwife we see hasn’t even read our chart before we start, some of the questions we have aren’t answered and we have to ask again in our next visit, we tend to be prepared and our questions might not be the most common ones but still some of them answer random things instead of saying “I don’t know, I’ll look it up and get back to you”. We need some extra monitoring and every time we have to be on top of our situation and report precisely the results from ultrasounds, otherwise they don’t seem like they would know. This pattern has been more common with the midwives that are fellows so far, and we understand they are continuing their training and GW is a teaching hospital, but that’s no excuse for not knowing your clients.

Maybe this is usual or maybe we were expecting more care and continuity from their part (as is advertised as the key in the midwifery model of care), maybe this is just a consequence of the pandemic and how it has affected the way they work.

I did GW midwives for my first. Crazy delivery but was vaginal with no meds. Would have definitely been a c without them and there was an in in the room fighting with them to do a c but they advocated for me and my baby was born a ok and I was hiking 2 days later. Baby 2 was with midwifery care associates because I felt the same you are feeling. That GW didn't give me the compassionate care I was looking for. These ladies were much worse and had an incompetent front office to boot. Had baby two vaginally with no major complications and again with no drugs.

After these experiences I was jaded with midwives and did baby three with OBs. Oh my God. It was so much worse. This was an all female practice that was supposed to support a women's birth plan. They havew no attention of care and didn't know me from Adam. They started aggressively pushing c in second trimester and we had arguments constantly about it. It was so stressful and ultimately I ended up having a c. I 100% attribute that to being with the obs. It was a terrible recovery and the reason I won't be having a fourth.

All that to say, I don't care what a woman wants to do. Everyone's birth plan should be what is best for them and their situation. But if you are with GW, my guess is that you want less intervention rather than more.

They may not be perfect but they are one of your best shots in the area of having the delivery you want. I didn't realize how good they were until I saw how bad others are. The bar is so low and in my experience maternal care is a joke in the DMV.

[Anonymous]

Saw one of the obs in Bethesda. She knows the name of my children and treats me like I am a real human. She delivered by first baby with forceps after the midwife had me push for 5 hours. I followed up with her and never looked back. During COVID-19, I have emailed her and she let me know what days she is in the office. So continuity has not been an issue.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Saw one of the obs in Bethesda. She knows the name of my children and treats me like I am a real human. She delivered by first baby with forceps after the midwife had me push for 5 hours. I followed up with her and never looked back. During COVID-19, I have emailed her and she let me know what days she is in the office. So continuity has not been an issue.

It pisses me off to read how often the GW midwives let women push for hours and hours on end. I’m a former patient of theirs who wrecked my pelvic floor under their care because they had me push for hours with no discussion of the potential consequences. I guess apparently anal and urinary incontinence, fistula, severe tears, and prolapse don’t matter to them as much as avoiding a dreaded C section. As a potential patient you should be aware that they will let you push for many more hours than any responsible provider would ever allow.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Saw one of the obs in Bethesda. She knows the name of my children and treats me like I am a real human. She delivered by first baby with forceps after the midwife had me push for 5 hours. I followed up with her and never looked back. During COVID-19, I have emailed her and she let me know what days she is in the office. So continuity has not been an issue.

I'd rather keep pushing and trying different positions than have a forcep delivery, my God.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Saw one of the obs in Bethesda. She knows the name of my children and treats me like I am a real human. She delivered by first baby with forceps after the midwife had me push for 5 hours. I followed up with her and never looked back. During COVID-19, I have emailed her and she let me know what days she is in the office. So continuity has not been an issue.

I'd rather keep pushing and trying different positions than have a forcep delivery, my God.

The midwives allow people to push for hours and hours and then put them in the position where they have to have forceps because a C is really hard at that point since the baby is so low. Responsible providers don’t do that. This is a pattern with the practice.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Saw one of the obs in Bethesda. She knows the name of my children and treats me like I am a real human. She delivered by first baby with forceps after the midwife had me push for 5 hours. I followed up with her and never looked back. During COVID-19, I have emailed her and she let me know what days she is in the office. So continuity has not been an issue.

It pisses me off to read how often the GW midwives let women push for hours and hours on end. I’m a former patient of theirs who wrecked my pelvic floor under their care because they had me push for hours with no discussion of the potential consequences. I guess apparently anal and urinary incontinence, fistula, severe tears, and prolapse don’t matter to them as much as avoiding a dreaded C section. As a potential patient you should be aware that they will let you push for many more hours than any responsible provider would ever allow.

Except I pushed for 6.5 hours with my second and have zero problems. No pelvic floor damage, I didn't even require a single stitch for tearing. Sometimes babies are malpositioned but that doesn't mean you can't deliver vaginally without consequences. I understand you want to blame someone, but perpetuating fear based maternal care isn't the way to go.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Saw one of the obs in Bethesda. She knows the name of my children and treats me like I am a real human. She delivered by first baby with forceps after the midwife had me push for 5 hours. I followed up with her and never looked back. During COVID-19, I have emailed her and she let me know what days she is in the office. So continuity has not been an issue.

It pisses me off to read how often the GW midwives let women push for hours and hours on end. I’m a former patient of theirs who wrecked my pelvic floor under their care because they had me push for hours with no discussion of the potential consequences. I guess apparently anal and urinary incontinence, fistula, severe tears, and prolapse don’t matter to them as much as avoiding a dreaded C section. As a potential patient you should be aware that they will let you push for many more hours than any responsible provider would ever allow.

Honestly, I would rather push longer than deal with a c-section recovery. It’s just so much harder.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Saw one of the obs in Bethesda. She knows the name of my children and treats me like I am a real human. She delivered by first baby with forceps after the midwife had me push for 5 hours. I followed up with her and never looked back. During COVID-19, I have emailed her and she let me know what days she is in the office. So continuity has not been an issue.

It pisses me off to read how often the GW midwives let women push for hours and hours on end. I’m a former patient of theirs who wrecked my pelvic floor under their care because they had me push for hours with no discussion of the potential consequences. I guess apparently anal and urinary incontinence, fistula, severe tears, and prolapse don’t matter to them as much as avoiding a dreaded C section. As a potential patient you should be aware that they will let you push for many more hours than any responsible provider would ever allow.

Honestly, I would rather push longer than deal with a c-section recovery. It’s just so much harder.

Have you ever had a c section?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Saw one of the obs in Bethesda. She knows the name of my children and treats me like I am a real human. She delivered by first baby with forceps after the midwife had me push for 5 hours. I followed up with her and never looked back. During COVID-19, I have emailed her and she let me know what days she is in the office. So continuity has not been an issue.

It pisses me off to read how often the GW midwives let women push for hours and hours on end. I’m a former patient of theirs who wrecked my pelvic floor under their care because they had me push for hours with no discussion of the potential consequences. I guess apparently anal and urinary incontinence, fistula, severe tears, and prolapse don’t matter to them as much as avoiding a dreaded C section. As a potential patient you should be aware that they will let you push for many more hours than any responsible provider would ever allow.

Except I pushed for 6.5 hours with my second and have zero problems. No pelvic floor damage, I didn't even require a single stitch for tearing. Sometimes babies are malpositioned but that doesn't mean you can't deliver vaginally without consequences. I understand you want to blame someone, but perpetuating fear based maternal care isn't the way to go.

Prolonged pushing is associated with a number of complications. You were the exception, not the norm.
That’s making delivery decisions based on facts, not fear.