MD/DC OBGYN and other recs for first-time pregnancy.

[Anonymous]

Took two pregnancy tests the weekend before last and both came back positive (would be my first child). I have an OBGYN I went to for annual checkups but wasn't sure I wanted to keep going there once I found out I was pregnant (its a "baby factory" and the physicians I liked kept leaving). I called a different OBGYN practice last week and they said someone would get back to me by the end of this week to see if they can take me on as a new patient.

In case they don't have room for a new patient, could folks recommend OBGYNs in either the Rockville area or anywhere along the red-line corridor through NW DC?

Looking at my last period, I think I could be as far along as 8 weeks. Should I just be scheduling an appointment with my existing OBGYN now rather than waiting until I find a new one?

Also, if anyone has any book recommendations for expecting moms, I'd appreciate it. I am trying to keep my expectations measured until I see a doctor (although I definitely have symptoms - water retention, other not-so-fun stomach issues). But I'm feeling wildly unprepared and would like a more "definitive" source to go to rather than googling a bunch of articles that, for example, give conflicting recommendations on what I can and cannot eat.

I realize I ask a couple of questions here, so thanks in advance to anyone with helpful advice/recommendations!

[Anonymous]

I would go ahead and schedule with your current provider (I’m assuming Reiter Hill?). Where are you waiting to hear back from and what insurance do you have?

[Anonymous]

Also, where do you want to deliver?

[Anonymous]

I would prioritize where you’re going to deliver and proximity to work/home.

[Anonymous]

It’ll be okay. Decide on hospital you want to have your baby at - look at a higher level nicu. Look for new OBGYN call around and try to get the first dating ultrasound and appointment (I wouldn’t start with your current one because you know you don’t like them, and if you need to switch the new provider, you can do that later on). Take prenatals with DHA. Download what to expect app and look at weeks 8, 9, 10 to get a sense of what’s coming. Just focus on the hospital and OBGYN search then worry about books and other parts of pregnancy. Goodluck!

[Anonymous]

I liked what to expect when you're expecting. Would recommend getting that book.

I agree with the above decide where you want to deliver to help narrow down OB choices. Also think about whether you want to see the same OB each time or would you care about seeing different doctors?

[Anonymous]

OP here. That’s right my current provider is Reiter Hill and I’m trying to get seen at Bloom.

I didn’t think about which hospital I wanted to give birth at so thanks for that advice, all. How did you go about picking the hospital you wanted to deliver at? My insurance is Carefirst BCBS.

[Anonymous]

Try Malcolm Desouza. I will always recommend him. He supported me through an extremely difficult pregnancy and birth (due to conditions I had—placenta Previa and gestational diabetes). My first was a long labor and foreclosure delivery and my second was c section.) I am enormously grateful and now have healthy, thriving tweens!

[Anonymous]

Forceps not foreclosure!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. That’s right my current provider is Reiter Hill and I’m trying to get seen at Bloom.

I didn’t think about which hospital I wanted to give birth at so thanks for that advice, all. How did you go about picking the hospital you wanted to deliver at? My insurance is Carefirst BCBS.

I’m one of the PPs I looked at NICUs, then honestly how they’re rated on USnews, then if they remodeled their maternal wings recently, and just a feel for if they are up to date and supportive of mothers like having a nursery.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. That’s right my current provider is Reiter Hill and I’m trying to get seen at Bloom.

I didn’t think about which hospital I wanted to give birth at so thanks for that advice, all. How did you go about picking the hospital you wanted to deliver at? My insurance is Carefirst BCBS.

I went to Bloom, delivered at Sibley. I would try Capital Women’s Care if Bloom is full.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Try Malcolm Desouza. I will always recommend him. He supported me through an extremely difficult pregnancy and birth (due to conditions I had—placenta Previa and gestational diabetes). My first was a long labor and foreclosure delivery and my second was c section.) I am enormously grateful and now have healthy, thriving tweens!

Second rec for DeSouza. I delivered with him about 2 months ago and had a wonderful experience.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. That’s right my current provider is Reiter Hill and I’m trying to get seen at Bloom.

I didn’t think about which hospital I wanted to give birth at so thanks for that advice, all. How did you go about picking the hospital you wanted to deliver at? My insurance is Carefirst BCBS.

I am in the same position, got a positive two weeks ago. I called Bloom and am giving them until Friday until I follow up (that is two weeks they told me to wait).

[Anonymous]

8.5 weeks PP here. Delivered at Sibley and used Reiter Hill. Seems like you're already unhappy with Reiter Hill, but just in case you need an additional push: my experience was awful. And I was fortunate enough to have a low risk pregnancy, and am more than comfortable in the medical setting and advocating for myself. I didn't shop around only because it was the middle of a pandemic and I wasn't keen on being in more medical offices and all of the recommended practices were set inside hospitals. Let me know if you want examples of just how bad it was. That said, if you can get in quickly, it might be worth an ultrasound with RH just to confirm the pregnancy. You can switch practices at any time! I live in Rosslyn and the other practice recommended to me is inside Virginia Hospital Center, so that's probably out for you.

In terms of books, I can't recommend Emily Oster's Expecting Better highly enough. Surprisingly, I also really "enjoyed" the classic What to Expect.

[Anonymous]

I really liked Expecting Better too.

For choosing a hospital, proximity was #1 for me. I also wanted to be sure to have a private room (think that's most area hospitals) and looked at available NICU in case things went wrong. I chose Washington Hospital Center because delivered with the Midwives there, and liked that most of the things I wanted were standard by the fact that there was a resident midwives group even if I didn't end up delivering with them for some reason (i.e. delayed cord clamping, immediate skin to skin, intermittent monitoring). Some people don't like "baby friendly" hospitals and would prefer somewhere with a nursery they can send the baby for a few hours to get some sleep. Hospitals currently also have different policies for visitors given COVID but hopefully by the time you deliver that will be gone. Oh - and food availability at the hospital! We ate a lot of Panera after the birth of DC1.