Anonymous
Post 02/15/2013 10:52     Subject: OB recommendations at GW?
Anonymous wrote:If you like the idea of it, you CAN have a natural birth! You can do it! But if you decide you don't want to later on in your pregnancy, or even while in the middle of labor, that is okay too - it is your birth, after all. Wisdom Midwifery at GW is fantastic - all the benefits of a hospital birth with a group of amazing midwives there helping you through the process. I delivered there and am so glad I did. I also saw one of the GW OBs occasionally throughout the pregnancy (you can alternate if you want to during your monthly check ups). Because of some pregnancy complications, I had frequent ultrasounds. It was convenient because I could have them right there at the MFA usually before my midwifery check ups.


Ok, this sounds interesting. I may have to get frequent ultrasounds too -- and so I'd definitely need easy access to M.D.s. Which GW doc did you see?

In related news, I just called both the GW OBs and Wisdom, and couldn't get through to either. I had visions of 9 months of unanswered messages...Anyone have any tricks on getting through to a human being?
Anonymous
Post 02/14/2013 14:21     Subject: OB recommendations at GW?
PP, do you remember your nurse's name? I'd like her.

Question for those of you with the MFA, what role did residents play in your labor and delivery and how was that experience for you?
Anonymous
Post 02/14/2013 14:17     Subject: OB recommendations at GW?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Since you're open to natural birth, consider Wisdom Midwifery at GW. They are amazing and if you seriously want a natural birth, it's a great practice to help you achieve that. They also work closely with the GW OB team, who will be right outside your room should you need OB care during labor.


I like the idea of natural birth, but honestly I just don't feel super strongly about it and would like to be able to chicken out if I felt like it. What are the pros and cons of making the decision so early in the pregnancy? How did you all decide?


I felt the same way and went with GW MFA. I ended up having an unmedicated birth. I probably should have gone with the midwivery option earlier on but like you, I wanted to have the option of pain relief. It worked out well - it wasn't my OB on call when I delivered but my nurse was incredible. She read through my birth plan and was on board with it (encouraged me to try different positions, made sure I got the wireless fetal monitor so I could move around [this was necessary in my case] etc). She tried to make it as calm as possible in the room for me (and DH).

On the rec. I really like Dr. Gaba.
Anonymous
Post 02/12/2013 14:44     Subject: Re:OB recommendations at GW?
Anonymous wrote:I really like Dr. Marfori.


Same here. Don't care that she wouldn't deliver. I trust her, can talk to her, and she took awesome care of me all through my pregnancy last time.
Anonymous
Post 02/12/2013 14:42     Subject: OB recommendations at GW?
Anonymous wrote:Keller and Larsen. If you need an emergency appt or see an RN during your visit, Amarita Dogo is amazing. Good luck!
I never saw any of the docs at GW but did see Emmerita, the nurse practitioner, for gyn issues before getting pregnant. She is wonderful... can't say enough good things.

Switched to Georgetown when I got pregnant because I could not ever get anyone to pick up a phone or return a message in a reasonable time period (if at all), even calling the emergency/nurse line during office hours, when I was seriously ill early in the first tri (ended up being HG).
Anonymous
Post 02/12/2013 09:48     Subject: OB recommendations at GW?
Keller and Larsen. If you need an emergency appt or see an RN during your visit, Amarita Dogo is amazing. Good luck!
Anonymous
Post 02/12/2013 08:47     Subject: OB recommendations at GW?
If you like the idea of it, you CAN have a natural birth! You can do it! But if you decide you don't want to later on in your pregnancy, or even while in the middle of labor, that is okay too - it is your birth, after all. Wisdom Midwifery at GW is fantastic - all the benefits of a hospital birth with a group of amazing midwives there helping you through the process. I delivered there and am so glad I did. I also saw one of the GW OBs occasionally throughout the pregnancy (you can alternate if you want to during your monthly check ups). Because of some pregnancy complications, I had frequent ultrasounds. It was convenient because I could have them right there at the MFA usually before my midwifery check ups.
Anonymous
Post 02/11/2013 13:22     Subject: OB recommendations at GW?
Anonymous wrote:Since you're open to natural birth, consider Wisdom Midwifery at GW. They are amazing and if you seriously want a natural birth, it's a great practice to help you achieve that. They also work closely with the GW OB team, who will be right outside your room should you need OB care during labor.


I like the idea of natural birth, but honestly I just don't feel super strongly about it and would like to be able to chicken out if I felt like it. What are the pros and cons of making the decision so early in the pregnancy? How did you all decide?