14:46 - try the North Bethesda office on Fernwood?

Anonymous wrote:It really depends on what you want and need. I switched from CWC on Lockwood Drive to the midwives because I wanted more support for a natural childbirth and I wanted to deliver at Shady Grove because they have tubs. However, the CWC doctors were excellent at returning calls and careful screening for pregnancy complications. I think CWC is best for a higher-risk pregnancy or for someone who is not focused on natural childbirth. My main complaint with CWC is that I felt rushed during some of the office visits.

Which midwives? (if this PP is still around, or if anyone else has a recommendation)

I've been to 2 different CWC offices since we moved here a few years ago, and haven't liked either of them. I'm in MD and actually trying to find a non-CWC practice.

I'm surprised by all the great posts above. I must be doing something wrong!

The last OB I saw at the Silver Spring office never called with my results, even after I called the office twice. I finally got the nurse who was quite curt.

The tech who did my sonogram at that office was nice, and the front desk was okay.

The other SS office on Georgia Ave wasn't much better. Loooong wait times and rude nurses.

Is this really the best I can expect for OB care in MD??

CWC in Silver Spring. Dr. Travers delivered my DD. I had a VBAC and they all have been/were wonderful & supportive when I told them I wanted to attempt it.

I go to Drs. Gurdian and Spector (have not seen Dr. Jude yet), and I've been pretty happy.

Full disclosure: I haven't seen them for OB care (my children were all born before we came to the area). However, I did have some weird GYN problems and I felt that I was treated well through that whole saga.

i'm at cwc in silver spring in hc hospital, and i don't have anything horrible to say... it's just that if i were having a natural vaginal birth, i would go somewhere else. i'm having a c-section, so i decided to just stick with them. they're just very much into interventions, and sometimes the appointments are a little rushed. i feel like it's just another baby factory. the only doc that i avoid is dr. norman. he just comes across as very dismissive and very rushed. otherwise, everybody else is nice enough.

I am a current patient of CWC and will be promptly leaving even though I am 25 weeks into my pregnancy. I have seen four doctors at the Alexandria practice and I have not been impressed with any of them. They were rushed, finished my sentences for me, and were quite critical of requests I have for when my son will be born. They billed me improperly twice. It's also quite inconvenient that they do not have a lab within the practice. All blood work and other tests involved scheduling a whole other appointment and waiting at a different office which is a waste of my work leave. I missed one of my monthly appointments because they were "switching to EMR and are really busy." But, they said, "it's okay because you're pregnancy is normal so far."

I go to CWC in Silver Spring (Georgia Ave.) and have had nothing but positive experiences. Dr. Sine is my primary OB/GYN, and so far, I've also seen Dr. Tyau. A friend of mine also goes there, and had Dr. Lazardo deliver both of her children at HC--she had nothing but good things to say. I find the front desk staff and nurses very friendly and knowledgeable as well.

I just tried to see Kleinerman and they were scheduling in to late October,

PP here 15:28 - I should add that I find them both very kind and knowledgeable!

I see Gschwend & Kleinerman in Bethesda - I like them both very much, though some have problems with their no-nonsense styles.

I switched from Reiter and Hill to CWC in Bethesda about a year and a half ago. I had gone through two pregnancies with R & H and I liked the Dr but the practice got too big for me and the location at CWC was better for me. I also thought the front desk at R & H were awful. (And I would call myself fairly laid back and not at all demanding.)
Anyway, I have been very impressed with CWC thus far. My first experience with them was a 12 wk missed m/c and they handled it very well (Dr Margolis and also the staff). I then had a healthy pregnancy with them and saw Dr Margolis, Dr Alter and also Dr Wolfgram and liked all of them. It ended up being the one Dr that I had not seen, Dr King, that delivered me and she was lovely also. During my pregnancy, I had to travel suddenly to Europe twice for a family illness and then a death in the family and they were SO GOOD at rescheduling me and being very sensitive to my emotional state. Without hesitation I would say the nursing staff went above and beyond to help me out - swap appts to get seen quickly before sudden travel etc. I also find the front desk very good compared to other Dr's offices. My waits have never been bad at all also.
Good luck with your decision.

I am surprised to hear about the front desk service at Gurdian, et al. I had my son 2 years ago and am 18 weeks pregnant with my 2nd child and never had any problems with the front desk. Yes, the doctors could be sensitive at times and seem like they "rush" you along; but when I have questions and need extra time, they always take the time to answer my questions and address my concerns. I really like Dr. Jude (which is good b/c I was really sad to hear that Dr Ryan left b/c she was my favorite and delivered my son). When I call to follow up on blood work/tests etc (they don't call unless there's a prob, but I call just to make sure).. the front desk always take the time to tell me what I need. I think b/c they are so busy and see so many patients, you have to take the initiative to be heard, otherwise they just assume you are fine and move you along.

Went to K Street office for years, and loved seeing Dr. Safran. Unfortunately, he doesn't deliver babies, and I was less than impressed with Picco (very rushed) and Newman (ok, but seemed comfortable only with a completely normal healthy pregnancy).

Front desk staff is routinely AWFUL especially the billing guy. He gave me a hard time for a bill that my insurance had sent back to their office that very same day -- it wasn't late and it was so new I didn't know about it. Another time he loudly announced to the whole waiting room a charge related to multiple abortions -- which were actually m'cs. I'm pro-choice and all, but thought it was really insensitive. I routinely waited 30 mins for appts; sometimes more than an hour. I see that as simply poor office management.

Another awful experience with Gurdian and Spector here. They were insensitive and actually untruthful. Front desk was also poorly run. I would have avoided a lot of heartache and pain if I had trusted my gut when it told me o switch providers very late in my pregnancy.