GW MFA OBs or midwives
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Anonymous
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I delivered my baby last year with one of the OBs at GW. She is one of the doctors who moved to Bethesda, and we live in Old Town. I work on the Hill and Bethesda is not at all convenient for my exams and my DH and I plan on trying to have another child when our son is 2.
I'm 35 and thinking of switching OBs as well as considering the midwife practice. I had a very healthy pregnancy, but when I was 30, I had major surgery for fibroids with Dr. Robinson. Would you recommend your OB at GW? I was thinking Bathgate since I will be an older mom the second time around. Also, am I eligible to consider the midwife practice? I had an unmedicated vaginal delivery with my son. What is the difference between the two practices? Thanks in advance! |
Anonymous
| Fwiw, they wouldn't consider you an older mom at GW. |
Anonymous
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There's a lot to unpack here. First of all, you won't be considered "old" by any means at GW, so I would not worry about that.
Both the GW OBs and MWs are fantastic, so I think you need to ask yourself some hard questions about why you want to move to the MW model. There are many excellent reasons to choose a MW for pregnancy, but I am not sure that it would be *that* different for you from the regular GW experience since the GW OBs are so natural-birth friendly these days. Tell me a little bit more about what's on your mind so I can speak to the specific experience at GW. |
Anonymous
| I think you're fine for the midwives-- I joined the practice after a successful unmedicated delivery with RHJN. If you want to avoid the waiting list, go in for a pap and annual exam, then you will be an existing patient in their system and there would likely not be a waiting list. So far, I'm liking the midwives a lot. |
Anonymous
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Like I said, I'm 35 and don't plan on having a second child until my son is 2, so around 36-37. I have gone to the OBs at GW MFA for years and they delivered my son last year. however, my doctor, Dr. Kotak, is now in Bethesda and I'd prefer a doctor's office in Foggy Bottom. I work on the Hill and live in Old Town. The trek to Bethesda for appointments, especially working full-time and with an infant is a challenge. It's easy for me to pop on over to Foggy Bottom and back. I was thinking I'd stick with Kotak and I really love the Bethesda practice. It's clean, professional, well organized, easy to get a morning appointment.
I'm also interested in the midwives' practice as it sounds like it might be a good fit for me and my husband. Happy to hear feedback |
Anonymous
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I'm sure people will chime in but in the meantime, try doing a search for GW midwives. They are a frequent topic so you should get a lot of good information.
I delivered my first with them and had a very positive experience. But I've never seen any of the OBs so I can't compare them. |
Anonymous
| It doesn't seem like you just moved to the area based on your OP but I think what people are saying is that 37 around here is 100% "normal" and not old. |
Anonymous
| Agree with PPs that say this is going to come down to style preference. As a FTM I'm hoping for unmedicated but open to other routes - I am going with OBs because, as PP mentioned, they are really the most progressive practice in the city and are very friendly to working with whatever plan you want. It is easy to get appointments with different providers if yours is overbooked or on holiday, and everyone is great, friendly, reliable. I have full trust in them (and this is at the I st. foggy bottom location right near the hospital). Personally, I did all the thread-reading others have suggested re: the midwives, thoroughly familiarized myself with their website, etc. and simply found them too hard core for my tastes. I don't like the judgment that "natural" is always best for everyone. |
Anonymous
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FWIW, I'm with Dr Bathgate at GW -- expecting my first and hoping, though not committed, to the birth being as "unmedicated" as possible -- and I think she's wonderful. Very thoughtful and careful. Only downside with her is that she's often running late because she sees so many high-risk patients.
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Anonymous
| I am a high risk patient with Dr. Bathgate, excellent doctor, nothing but amazing and thoughtful so far. She's not sweet and coating things, but proper, down to earth care, which is what I need. The whole practice is ok. |
Anonymous
| I went with dr. Sheetal at the Bethesda practice and loved her. Visits were actually fun! |
Anonymous
| I also love Dr. Sheetal Sheth, but OP specifically didn't want the Bethesda office. |
Anonymous
| Dr. Larsen is mostly downtown - he's awesome, practical and non-interventionist...and, because he's been delivering babies forEVER, he's really seen it all. at 37 (my first pregnancy ) and 40 (now pregnant, delivering any day) - he is surprised by nothing..which gives me comfort as an older mom. |
b_bright_eyes
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Also a FTM who opted for the OB practice at GW rather than the MW. And I've been working in maternal health and supporting midwives around the world for a decade. But I had an aversion to that specific practice and their approach, like PP, found it too judg-y and hard core. I actually know one or two of the midwives there as acquaintances and think they are probably all lovely people and primarily competent providers, but the philosophy of their practice didn't gel with me. Also, a very dear friend had a really terrible experience with them, which pretty much sealed the deal for me. If I had had the energy in my 1st trimester, I probably would have done more looking around for midwifery options and birthing centers, but I was just too tired and overwhelmed and already felt like I was in good hands with the GW OB's. I'd been getting my regular GYN care at the Foggy Bottom practice and just really liked, trusted and felt respected and heard by any of the OBs and nurses I interacted with. Dr. Keller, my regular OB (although I've seen many of them, because I'd just schedule appointments based on my schedule not any specific doc's availability), is on maternity leave, so I've been seeing Dr. Martinez and feel really good about it. I find the practice to be very progressive and really feel good about my choice. |
Anonymous
| Dr. Macri is recommended often for good reason. He's wonderful. |