the witch doctor

Anonymous wrote:During my pregnancy I found Dr Tchabo to be very supportive of a low-intervention, natural birth. He supported my Bradley classes and use of a doula. He has one of the lowest C-section rates in the area.

HOWEVER, he is in a call group with other OBs. The night I delivered there was an OB that I had never met, and she was crazy-ready to perform a C-section. My advice is don't just find *a* doctor, find a practice and meet all the OBs or midwives.

Dr. Tchabo is also my OB and I agree that he is very supportive of a low-intervention, natural birth. He is also very supportive of a VBAC, which is what I had. He was not on call the night I went into labor, but the Dr. who was (Dr. Martinez) also seemed supportive of a low-intervention birth.

My doula recommended GW MFA and Shady Grove. I ended up at GW after two appointments and poor experiences with the Shady Grove OBs.

Anonymous wrote:Midwives at Arlington Women's Center. They deliver at VHC in Arlington.

+1. They are a great group. The OBs in the practice are obviously receptive to low or no intervention birth since they work with the midwives. Had a good delivery with Melissa this summer.

Midwives at Arlington Women's Center. They deliver at VHC in Arlington.

OP here, any OBs or midwives in VA?

Medstar midwives at WHC

During my pregnancy I found Dr Tchabo to be very supportive of a low-intervention, natural birth. He supported my Bradley classes and use of a doula. He has one of the lowest C-section rates in the area.

HOWEVER, he is in a call group with other OBs. The night I delivered there was an OB that I had never met, and she was crazy-ready to perform a C-section. My advice is don't just find *a* doctor, find a practice and meet all the OBs or midwives.

Anonymous wrote:I'm currently a patient at GWU because they're known to be low-intervention. While I'm in the midwife practice, if I were to get transferred out for a complication, I feel very confident that my OB (Dr. Martinez) or any of the othe OBs would support my low-intervention birth plan.

PP here - editing for clarity. You are either an OB or a midwife patient at GWU, but prior to entering the midwife practice I had an awesome OB who supported my low-intervention plan, and I would just go back to her if a complication were to arise and the midwives felt I wasnt a good candidate for their practice anymore. I already have moderate asthma, so I'm more likely than most to be transferred out for a medical reason.

But be aware that at GWU, anyone of the OBs can deliver you - they're reported to be very supportive of low-intervention birth plans in large part because of the midwife practice, but I can't say that for sure.

I'm currently a patient at GWU because they're known to be low-intervention. While I'm in the midwife practice, if I were to get transferred out for a complication, I feel very confident that my OB (Dr. Martinez) or any of the othe OBs would support my low-intervention birth plan.

GW Midwives - if you're open to working with a midwife that, is.

I started at Georgetown then transferred to GW soon as I found out that it could be any one of a number of doctors who actually attended the birth. And, a couple of the doctors I met were total douche-bags. No thanks.

At GW, I met with Whitney regularly and alternated visits with {I can't believe I forgot her name!!} once I was closer to giving birth; I knew that one of them would be with me during delivery.

Anonymous wrote:I heard that Malcolm Desouza was supportive of no / low intervention births from a number of my friends. I interviewed him and ultimately picked a different Dr. (his practice was hard for me to get to) but he might be a candidate.

He delivered me as back up for dr Robert Footer. I delivered vaginally but did require vacuum. I really liked him and his calm approach. Keep in mind that Footer is his back up though, and many remark that he does a lot of c-sections. I have never felt pressure from Footer to have a c-section though.

I heard that Malcolm Desouza was supportive of no / low intervention births from a number of my friends. I interviewed him and ultimately picked a different Dr. (his practice was hard for me to get to) but he might be a candidate.

Both GW MFA and the midwives. Also Georgetown.

Any area, I'll travel. I can only find 2008 data, so looking for actual patients experiences