Thanks for the recommendations everyone!

If you are high-risk, I think that the practice at Sibley that your primary OB will send you to is great. The nurses and physicians there are all very calming and responsive.

Anonymous wrote:It’s been a number of years (8) but I really liked Dr Russell Bridge’s practice for my first daughter. However I delivered at Sibley and it was a hot mess. (I heard later that the nurses may have been on strike when I delivered.) It’s so variable though - friends who delivered within a month or two had a much better experience and of course they have built a new maternal area since then. For my second more recently I lived in a different area and was glad because I didn’t want to return to Sibley. I was high risk and monitored often but the delivery was quite smooth. With both I used a private practice but the risk of that (which happened with my first) is the doctor who delivers your baby is someone you don’t know. For me when I was pushing I didn’t care who was catching and appreciated the smaller practices for the pregnancy.

Dr. Bridges retired.

I had a similar experience at GW with my first. 40 hour labor, almost 6 hours of pushing and ultimately a vacuum birth. I made it clear that I didn't want a c-section and they were great about dong everything they could to avoid it. I'm now 33 weeks with my second and still with GW, which has been a bit of a factory with COVID. My doctor (Keller who I really like) already told me that since I delivered vaginally the first time I should expect a smoother labor and delivery this time (as long as the baby isn't breech). I have nothing to compare the post-partum care to, I thought it was fine, some of the nurses were better than others and there were alot of people coming in and out (pediatricians, lactation consultants, medical students, doctors doing the rounds, etc). This time I may put a do not disturb sign on the door at night so we can try to rest.

Anonymous wrote:I had a complicated delivery at GW and am very happy with the delivery experience. The induction took over 2 days and they didn’t do aC-section- they closely monitored the baby and were able to get her out safely without a C section. My pediatrician who read the delivery notes said she was surprised they didn’t do aC-section and that if I was anywhere else I wouldn’t have been so lucky.

Dr. Malcolm Desouza/ Sibley- So nice to call his office and speak to a human not a voicemail after waiting on hold for 20 minutes! He delivered both of my babies and I feel so lucky to have found his practice.

Anonymous wrote:Before COVID, I had a forceps (spelling?) at GW. My baby weighed 8,10 at birth. The heart rate was going below 100 for a few minutes with each push. The doctor and chief resident came in and as cool as could be delivered my baby. I had no tears. My doula who works at all locations in dc said that GW has very very highly skilled doctors who are trained to do complicated deliveries including breech deliveries. But, post partum is lacking. I have a husband who is really helpful so we were ok. I could see this being tough if the nursery was closed or the mother does not have someone with her to help.

I hope your pelvic floor is ok and they informed you of the high risks to your body from this now and in the future.

It’s been a number of years (8) but I really liked Dr Russell Bridge’s practice for my first daughter. However I delivered at Sibley and it was a hot mess. (I heard later that the nurses may have been on strike when I delivered.) It’s so variable though - friends who delivered within a month or two had a much better experience and of course they have built a new maternal area since then. For my second more recently I lived in a different area and was glad because I didn’t want to return to Sibley. I was high risk and monitored often but the delivery was quite smooth. With both I used a private practice but the risk of that (which happened with my first) is the doctor who delivers your baby is someone you don’t know. For me when I was pushing I didn’t care who was catching and appreciated the smaller practices for the pregnancy.

Before COVID, I had a forceps (spelling?) at GW. My baby weighed 8,10 at birth. The heart rate was going below 100 for a few minutes with each push. The doctor and chief resident came in and as cool as could be delivered my baby. I had no tears. My doula who works at all locations in dc said that GW has very very highly skilled doctors who are trained to do complicated deliveries including breech deliveries. But, post partum is lacking. I have a husband who is really helpful so we were ok. I could see this being tough if the nursery was closed or the mother does not have someone with her to help.

I had a complicated delivery at GW and am very happy with the delivery experience. The induction took over 2 days and they didn’t do aC-section- they closely monitored the baby and were able to get her out safely without a C section. My pediatrician who read the delivery notes said she was surprised they didn’t do aC-section and that if I was anywhere else I wouldn’t have been so lucky.

I’ve delivered at GW and Sibley. I would recommend Sibley highly. I would never recommend GW. Awful experience.

I had a good experience with the OBs at WHC but I would definitely make this decision mostly based on location.

Anonymous wrote:Foxhall/ Sibley

I also loved Foxhall, specifically Dr. Davis. I was AMA and slightly at risk for a C-section and had a totally uneventful pregnancy and relatively easy delivery. She always took her time at my appointments explaining things and asking questions. She does practice as a group of I think 5 doctors but the only other one I saw was Dr. Bren. I also really liked her and she was especially wonderful at my 2-week check in, but I ended up delivering with Dr. Davis.

I have nothing to compare Sibley to since I’ve never had a hospital stay, but it was as nice as I expected. Very quiet, I had no idea there were like 30 other women there. The nurse who saw me through labor was a godsend. The other nurses were all great, but they are very anti formula/supplementing to the point of underfeeding our severely jaundiced baby. (They counted 20 minutes of trying to breastfeed as actually being breastfed...baby was getting nothing.)

Anonymous wrote:Foxhall/ Sibley

Sorry, forgot to add I LOVE Foxhall and Sibley was perfectly fine.

Foxhall/ Sibley

I’m due late summer. What hospital have you had a good, hopefully great experience at? Also, if you did a private OBGYN practice, how was that experience versus prenatal appts in a hospital setting? I have some high risk factors so it’s likely I’ll likely have closer monitoring like in my last pregnancy. I live in DC. Thanks for sharing!