Ob and hospital recommendations for someone with health anxiety

[Anonymous]

My husband and I are just starting to TTC, so I've been researching ob/gyns and also trying to figure out what hospital I would prefer to deliver at. I have moderate to severe health anxiety, so I need a doctor who is very patient and will answer all of my questions thoroughly, but also be straight with me. I'd prefer to be with a small practice or solo practitioner so that they can get to know me and we can establish a good relationship, which will make it easier for the doctor to know when something might be seriously wrong vs. my brain telling me something is wrong for no reason. I will likely be low risk (no family history of complications, early 30s). I do see a therapist for anxiety, but health anxiety is one of the hardest types to treat. I'll ways just be managing it, so finding the right match for an ob is one of the ways I can help keep it in check.

In terms of hospital, I've been to Sibley for the ER and had a good experience. I've also been to Howard and literally thought I would either die alone from lack of care or they would kill me due to their carelessness and completely unsanitary conditions. If the hospital doesn't seem like it's run well, I know I'll freak out. I'd prefer an unmedicated, vaginal birth, but of course you never know what could happen and I'm open to whatever my doctor says is best.

I'm in close-in PG County but don't mind traveling for the right doctor. I see Foxhall, Bloom, and DeSouza recommended a lot here - are they worth the 30+ minute drive?

[Anonymous]

I say absolutely worth it for Foxhall. I’ve posted before about my recent experience with Dr. Davis—she spent tons of time with me each visit. In one instance she gave me her cell to update her after hours in case I needed additional urgent care over a holiday. She practices as part of a group but the office typically defaulted to scheduling me to see the same doctor I just saw so you could see her for all your appointments. I was induced and intentionally scheduled it for when she was scheduled so she also delivered my baby.

[Anonymous]

Bloom is amazing - nothing but good things to say about all their physicians (and I had an incredibly complicated first-time pregnancy in 2019). However, they are a small practice and get a ton of new patient requests, so it may be difficult to get in. I'd recommend contacting them ASAP if you're interested.

[Anonymous]

Pick a small practice that doesn't deliver at a teaching hospital so you are able to establish familiarity with all of the OBs who could potentially deliver your child.

[Anonymous]

I have really bad health anxiety and go to Capital Womens Care (Dr. Schichor, who is caring but direct). CWC has some critics but I really like them and always felt cared for, and they deliver at Sibley which is a great place to have a baby.

[Anonymous]

get a doula

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have really bad health anxiety and go to Capital Womens Care (Dr. Schichor, who is caring but direct). CWC has some critics but I really like them and always felt cared for, and they deliver at Sibley which is a great place to have a baby.

I'd too would recommend CPC. Apart from being really busy and the problems that come with that, I have found all the OBs there very caring.

[Anonymous]

I can't recommend a specific person or practice cause I'm not near you - but if you're looking for someone patient, who will take the time to answer all your questions super thoroughly, I STRONGLY recommend a midwife over an OB. Particularly one that works in a hospital and has a good rapport with the OBs incase something goes south. You'll want a CNM, as they are the most highly trained.

I found my midwives to have the absolute most soothing, empowering presence. I think they'd be fantastic with someone with health anxiety. I used the WHC midwives, FWIW, but that's a trek for you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I can't recommend a specific person or practice cause I'm not near you - but if you're looking for someone patient, who will take the time to answer all your questions super thoroughly, I STRONGLY recommend a midwife over an OB. Particularly one that works in a hospital and has a good rapport with the OBs incase something goes south. You'll want a CNM, as they are the most highly trained.

I found my midwives to have the absolute most soothing, empowering presence. I think they'd be fantastic with someone with health anxiety. I used the WHC midwives, FWIW, but that's a trek for you.

Oh, sorry, this is the PP, I misread you. You're pretty close in - I'd consider the WHC midwives. It is a practice of about 9 I believe, but they spend a lot of time discussing patients, so I always felt that they knew me whenever we met. Cannot recommend them strongly enough.

[Anonymous]

Given what you described, I would strongly recommend that you not choose a solo practitioner. Solo practitioners do not stay on-call 24/7/365, so they often cover on-call for each other. If you go into labor at a time when your doctor is away, you could end up delivering with someone you've never met before. Find a practice with multiple doctors, and schedule prenatal appointments with all of them so that the doctor who shows up in the hospital will be familiar to you.

[Anonymous]

If I had any health anxiety, I would stay far away from WHC; being there *gave* me anxiety! Full disclosure, I've had two horrible pregnancy-related (but to be clear, not delivery) experiences there.

I've had great experiences at Sibley with three different practices, none of which I would say are particularly caring or considerate, tbh (they're certainly not bad and I liked them, but not extra caring, like it sounds like you need). But as a hospital, it's such a peaceful place.

[Anonymous]

As someone with health anxiety who delivered at WHC with the midwives, I would make different choices next time. Their bedside manner is great (except for one midwife who was horrible during labor), but they missed a lot medically. I also had some postpartum complications--some of which were taken seriously, some of which were brushed off until I pushed to get an ultrasound. Spoiler alert: I ended up have retained placenta and needed a D&C. My health anxiety is significantly worse now.

[Anonymous]

As another person with health anxiety, I had reassuring and highly competent care from the WHC midwives and they responded quickly when my child had an emergency post birth. The NICU team was great too. If I ever have another kid I’ll go back there. The midwives also caught some health stuff with me during pregnancy and I was immediately slotted in to see a WHC specialist.

[Anonymous]

Hmm I wouldn’t do the midwives because WHC itself isn’t very calming. I’d pick a practice affiliated with Sibley.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have really bad health anxiety and go to Capital Womens Care (Dr. Schichor, who is caring but direct). CWC has some critics but I really like them and always felt cared for, and they deliver at Sibley which is a great place to have a baby.

I'd too would recommend CPC. Apart from being really busy and the problems that come with that, I have found all the OBs there very caring.

A third recommendation for CWC, as someone with anxiety. I saw Dr. O'Brien for my entire pregnancy and she is fantastic in that she is caring, listened to all my concerns, but is also very direct. Schichor was on call when I delivered and she was fantastic as well. I saw a few other doctor's for random prenatal appointments if my schedule didn't align and they were all good too, but I liked seeing O'Brien for majority of my care.