Dr. DeSouza delivered two of my five children. He was thoughtful, experienced, calm and caring. I highly recommend him and Sibley for outstanding care of mom and baby.

Anonymous wrote:I left Reiter Hill right before getting pregnant. I liked the downtown location for my annual check-ups, but once I started going to the Friendship Heights location, I was put off by the nurses, front desk, and billing. They also switched communication systems/portal, which was a pain, especially requiring pre-payment before checking in, without first confirming insurance deductibles/copays, resulting in overcharges that took forever to refund. I never had an issue with the RH doctors though.

I switched to Bloom for my pregnancy and have yet to deliver, but the experience had been good. I will say, that as a FTM, the doctors and nurse practitioners are not exactly brimming with intel on what to expect. If you don’t ask, they don’t offer. For example, I had no idea what OTC meds were okay, had to ask for recommendations on classes/books to prepare for labor, diet recommendations, etc. (Bloom offers a pregnancy nutrition class, but charges over $50 for it, which seems a bit ridiculous/unhelpful). I found my pre-conception appointment with Dr Johnson at Reiter Hill MUCH more informative than anything Bloom has told me regarding pregnancy rules and expectations. All that said, the office location is convenient with ample street parking, delivers at Sibley (which I wanted), and the doctors have been helpful and professional with me. They always follow up timely with emails and calls. Just as a FTM, be prepared to do your own research on pregnancy/birth and don’t be shy to ask questions.

I think this is pretty common, unfortunately.

Anonymous wrote:I'm surprised no one has recommended Foxhall yet. I delivered at Sibley with a Foxhall Dr in March and my experience was great.

Foxhall doesn’t take BCBS!

I'm surprised no one has recommended Foxhall yet. I delivered at Sibley with a Foxhall Dr in March and my experience was great.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP again. Bloom called and said they were full but I was able to make an appointment with DeSouza for Monday.

This is the PP in the same boat. Bloom told me the same and I am in with DeSouza. Good luck and see you in the waiting room

I was initially bummed about Bloom but DeSouza has amazing reviews! And their staff made sure to fit me in ASAP since I haven't seen anyone yet. See you in the waiting room

Anonymous wrote:OP again. Bloom called and said they were full but I was able to make an appointment with DeSouza for Monday.

This is the PP in the same boat. Bloom told me the same and I am in with DeSouza. Good luck and see you in the waiting room

OP again. Bloom called and said they were full but I was able to make an appointment with DeSouza for Monday.

I had a very positive experience with GW. They have a office location in Bethesda. It may feel to “baby factory” for you though. I didn’t feel that way but it is a big practice at a teaching hospital.

I left Reiter Hill right before getting pregnant. I liked the downtown location for my annual check-ups, but once I started going to the Friendship Heights location, I was put off by the nurses, front desk, and billing. They also switched communication systems/portal, which was a pain, especially requiring pre-payment before checking in, without first confirming insurance deductibles/copays, resulting in overcharges that took forever to refund. I never had an issue with the RH doctors though.

I switched to Bloom for my pregnancy and have yet to deliver, but the experience had been good. I will say, that as a FTM, the doctors and nurse practitioners are not exactly brimming with intel on what to expect. If you don’t ask, they don’t offer. For example, I had no idea what OTC meds were okay, had to ask for recommendations on classes/books to prepare for labor, diet recommendations, etc. (Bloom offers a pregnancy nutrition class, but charges over $50 for it, which seems a bit ridiculous/unhelpful). I found my pre-conception appointment with Dr Johnson at Reiter Hill MUCH more informative than anything Bloom has told me regarding pregnancy rules and expectations. All that said, the office location is convenient with ample street parking, delivers at Sibley (which I wanted), and the doctors have been helpful and professional with me. They always follow up timely with emails and calls. Just as a FTM, be prepared to do your own research on pregnancy/birth and don’t be shy to ask questions.

If you’re current a Reiter Hill patient and don’t like it, obviously you should go elsewhere. FWIW I had a difficult pregnancy and a “normal” pregnancy with them and my experiences were really good. I was able to see the same doctor most visits, and they were really supportive, both deliveries, of my wishes to deliver vaginally.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here. That’s right my current provider is Reiter Hill and I’m trying to get seen at Bloom.

I didn’t think about which hospital I wanted to give birth at so thanks for that advice, all. How did you go about picking the hospital you wanted to deliver at? My insurance is Carefirst BCBS.

I am in the same position, got a positive two weeks ago. I called Bloom and am giving them until Friday until I follow up (that is two weeks they told me to wait).

OP here. I was going to do the same! Fingers crossed for the both of us! Do you have a backup OBGYN already in mind in case Bloom falls through?

Reiter Hill was my backup but not after reading DCUM! I think I’ll give DeSouza a call. I’m also in no rush because I was being seen at a fertility clinic and they are doing the first ultrasound. Good luck!

I guessed from your original post, too!! I had my first with Reiter Hill and it all worked out in the end, but I was not about to do that all again ha. Had my second with Bloom and was very happy with everything- even with two providers leaving. Good luck!! Like everyone else has said, have heard great things about the other practices and doctors listed.

Anonymous wrote:OP here. That’s right my current provider is Reiter Hill and I’m trying to get seen at Bloom.

I didn’t think about which hospital I wanted to give birth at so thanks for that advice, all. How did you go about picking the hospital you wanted to deliver at? My insurance is Carefirst BCBS.

Ha, I guessed exactly this from your first post. I left RH as well and had two babies with Bloom. Highly recommend if it works out.

Loved Sibley but agree with PPs that it's not a high-level NICU.

Anonymous wrote:8.5 weeks PP here. Delivered at Sibley and used Reiter Hill. Seems like you're already unhappy with Reiter Hill, but just in case you need an additional push: my experience was awful. And I was fortunate enough to have a low risk pregnancy, and am more than comfortable in the medical setting and advocating for myself. I didn't shop around only because it was the middle of a pandemic and I wasn't keen on being in more medical offices and all of the recommended practices were set inside hospitals. Let me know if you want examples of just how bad it was. That said, if you can get in quickly, it might be worth an ultrasound with RH just to confirm the pregnancy. You can switch practices at any time! I live in Rosslyn and the other practice recommended to me is inside Virginia Hospital Center, so that's probably out for you.

In terms of books, I can't recommend Emily Oster's Expecting Better highly enough. Surprisingly, I also really "enjoyed" the classic What to Expect.

Thank you! I really appreciate you letting me know your experience. I was ok with doing my annual checkups there but I want something better to carry me through my pregnancy. If I get the thumbs down from Bloom, I'll take your advice and schedule an appointment at Reiter Hill just to confirm while I look for other OBGYNs (that way I won't feel "as" urgent).

And thanks for the book recs as well!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here. That’s right my current provider is Reiter Hill and I’m trying to get seen at Bloom.

I didn’t think about which hospital I wanted to give birth at so thanks for that advice, all. How did you go about picking the hospital you wanted to deliver at? My insurance is Carefirst BCBS.

I am in the same position, got a positive two weeks ago. I called Bloom and am giving them until Friday until I follow up (that is two weeks they told me to wait).

OP here. I was going to do the same! Fingers crossed for the both of us! Do you have a backup OBGYN already in mind in case Bloom falls through?