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Agonizing over picking an OBGYN
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Anonymous
| Help! I'm looking for some advice on how to select a new OBGYN for my first pregnancy. I'm a current patient at the Reiter Hill Johnson office in DC and I scheduled my first appt with them next week (I'll be 9 weeks by then). But I'm not crazy about their policy of not having an "assigned" doctor and just seeing someone different for each visit. A friend of a friend mentioned Dr. Picco, but after reading some of the comments on this forum, I'm a little wary of that practice as well. I live in Alexandria, so Physicians & Midwives or Physicians for Women are fairly convenient. But is there a way to get more information about them? None of my local friends have had kids yet, so I don't have any personal references. This seems like such a huge decision to make, as far as picking an OBGYN (&, by default, delivery hospital), but I'm at a loss about how to get started and feel confident about my decision. Any advice would be MUCH appreciated!! Thanks in advance! |
Anonymous
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I think unless you're going to go to a solo practice, most practices are going to want you to see all of the doctors in the practice at least once because you don't know who will be on call when you go into labor. That said, there are much smaller practices than RHJ and you want one you'll be comfortable with.
One thing to consider is the hospital where the office delivers. RHJ delivers at Sibley, so you'd have to drive there in labor (something that scared my husband and me a bit since we live in Arlington-- going over chain bridge in rush hour?) but it worked out because I went into labor on a Sunday. See if you can get a rec for an ob at an alexandria hospital if you can, or at least know what hospital the ob uses. I had RHJ in Falls Church for my first baby, but for a number of reasons already discussed on this forum (practice size, feeling like a number, Sibley and distance from my house) I switched for my 2nd baby. I'm now with Arlington Women's Center at VHC in Arlington, and there are only 4-5 docs which I love, as opposed to the 12 or so at RHJ. This forum has had other great recommendations for docs, so I would look through the archives a bit. I've heard Patricia Bannon and Dr. Tchabo are great, but don't know much about Alexandria docs. Maybe also look at washingtonian's top doctor's section? Lastly, I wouldn't agonize too much, and I would just go with your gut once you have an appt. I would also see if you can switch before your first appt, it might make you feel more comfortable to start our where you might end up. That said, you'd be in fine hands with RHJ, I just found them a bit rushed/chaotic because of their size and stuff. Good luck and congrats! |
Anonymous
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I did 2 obgyns over my pregnancy so far. My first OB was from practice where you see the same OB all the time, and get to know others only by making one appointment with ALL of them at the ame time to get to meet them, but it is unlikely that they would remember you and it is also only about 20% chance that you will start deliering when your OB is in the hospital ( unless you plan on something planned like induction on c-section). Also I was not very comfrtable with the hospital.
At my 12 weeks my ob changed practice and her new pracice does not take my ins. So i had to find new ob. I only was looking for OBs in specific hospital (Fairfax), also used some feedback from here. I ended up having the practice of dr Andersen where they rotate you through all OBs there (4-5 i think). Initially i did not like that as it gave me perception that none of the doctors will actually remember me. But now (due to some complications and actually due to the time in pregnancy when i go to see doctors every 2 weeks) it feels they know me, remember my situation and i feel more comfortable with this way of rotation. i am planning on vaginal delivery which means I will end up with any of the doctors. So maybe you need to consider hospiatl first to be comfortable with which will limit your search pool of OB. Then decide which practice (rotation or single doctor) appeals for you. that will limit the Obs further. Maybe somebody here could give some advice on good OBs in your area. |
Anonymous
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Hi,
I'm having the same dilemma. I'm preg with my second and I don't have time to make the trip down to Alexandria to visit my OB. My son is in preschool, so I have limited time for appts...and living near Ashburn it just doesn't make sense, although I love my doctor (Dr. Rothman from Phys for Women). BTW -- Phys for Women is a good practice of doctors. The staff is ok...but are you delivering with the staff or with the doctors? They added two docs, so they're less busy than they were. You do rotate thru them, but with all the appts you have, you do get to know them. Dr. Rothman delivered my son and actually gives me hugs whenever I have an appt with him... I'm having a hard time picking a new doc now...where I want to go (Loudoun Hosp) doesn't have any docs that are on all the Best Doc lists, but is highly recommended from friends and all. I am also considering Fair Oaks hospital, but it also would be a trek for me. What I've done, at least for now, is book an appt with three different docs...and if I feel comfy with one...I'll go ahead with that one. GL in your decision!!! |
Anonymous
| Can you talk to your primary doctor about recommendations? Also, you can check out the Top Docs section on DCUM or send a note via the listserve. I think you'll get a lot more responses that way... |
Anonymous
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FWIW, I am a patient at RHJ and made a decision early on not to rotate through the doctors, but rather try to get to know one or two. I figured it would be better to find someone I was comfortable with and develop a relationship with them rather than have just a single or at most two interactions with each doctor. The receptionist/scheduler was totally fine with this and never pushed me to meet the other doctors, nor have the doctors I've seen complained or even mentioned that I should be seeing more of the doctors. Just make your appointments early so that you can get in with the doctor you want to see at a time that is convenient for you.
As an aside, while I think my strategy has some merit, I sort of wish now that I'm almost "done" that I had expanded my universe to see another doctor or two. The benefit of that would have been being able to get a second opinion on various aches/pains or concerns without repeating myself to the same doctor. |
Anonymous
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Have you thought yet about what kind of birth experience you want to have? This can make a difference in what practice will be best for you.
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Anonymous
| I delivered with RHJ and live near Mt. Vernon and had not problem commuting to Sibley (went into labor at 2:00AM, so no problem with traffic). With respect to the rotation, if you choose to see only one doctor and are not having a sceduled c-section or scheduled induction, you get whoever is on call that day. RHJ , I think, have one doc on call for a day and that's who delivers you. If you don't want ot see the male docs, that is your choice. There is a on-going post about that topic. However, RH, both males, have delivered literally thousands of babies and having had Dr. Reiter deliver both my children, I highly recommend him. I have a firned who delivered with a solo practice and just so happened that her doc was on vacation when she went into labor and she had someone who she never met deliver her child. There are drawbacks to each type of practice, you need to choose for yourself. |
LRP
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I went to Dr. Picco for my first appointment and was completely underwhelmed with her and the support staff. Then I had issues getting someone on the phone and with scheduling an ultrasound (which you have to schedule separately b/c they are not done in the office). I switched to GW and Dr. Monthy. I'm only 19 weeks, but have been happy so far. Dr. Monthy made clear that is is up to me whether I want to see her the whole time or see others in the practice and I can make my decision when I am further along. Of course, if I don't have a scheduled birth, it is possible that any of the doctors could deliver my son. I picked GW because of the location and the private rooms and when I called the practice I just requested a younger female doctor. Try and think about what factors are important to you (office location, hospital, sex/age of OB, # of docs in practice, etc.) and you should be able to narrow down your options.
I would just say go with your gut. And remember you can always switch until you are happy. Good luck! |