Info on Holy Cross and any OBs that work with it?

JKM416

I'm thinking about switching my insurance and OB before hypothetical #3 enters the picture...really wasn't a fan of my prenatal and L&D experiences with DS.  I had a pretty good experience with my OB/midwife team for DD, so I know it can be better than it was with DS.

I know there's a pretty standard routine any hospital birth will follow, but the very "military" approach of my care at NNMC was totally not my style.  Holy Cross is the closest hospital, so I'm starting there and hoping to find an OB team I like...but I don't want to just start cold-calling offices.  Any info is appreciated because I want to be 100% sure before switching my insurance plan - which I'd then be locked into for a year.  Thanks!

WinesNotWhines

I had a very good experience with my OBs and Holy Cross hospital. I see the OBs at Capital Women's Care on Georgia Ave in Silver Spring (Drs. Band, Sine, Resta, Lizardo, Tyau). There are several other women on this board who see those OBs and like them as well.

FWIW, I don't know what kind of birth experience you're hoping for, but I had a drug-free birth at Holy Cross and everyone there was very supportive.

tomandcourt

I also went to Capital Women's Care, but I went to the office that's actually attached to Holy Cross. I saw Dr. DeQuattro primarily, but also Coates, Ein (did not like), Norman, and Sheila Bennett - she's a midwife. I also had a natural birth and they were somewhat supportive (even more so since I had a doula) but I did feel like they pushed some interventions that I didn't want. Then again, I had a super-fast, early labor, so things were a little crazy anyway. But all my prenatal care was great. And they have a 3D sonogram!

JKM416

Thanks...I'll check to see if those providers participate in the modified insurance plan.  Having a few names to research is helpful.

My experience with DS was dismissive, condescending, and intervention-happy.  So I'm basically just looking for something that's not that.  I saw a different nurse every appointment and had never before met any of the ?four? OBs that were in and out of my room that day.  Very impersonal and "clinical," and they told me they have about three med-free births per year (which I find impossible to believe).  I had med-free births boths times (though DD was induced), and I'd like a water birth - or at least to labor in a birth tub.   But it seems to be difficult to find providers (within a comfortable driving distance who do that.  I'd be content finding an OB team that supports non-med births and that has a good "bedside" manner throughout the pregnancy and L&D.  I don't like interventions being pushed on me, but the third time around I'd feel pretty confident in speaking up.

DCtoLowcountry

Another option is Midwifery Care Associates, but they deliver at Shady Grove. I used them for my med-free birth with DS.

mssaint

I also used CWC on Georgia Avenue and delivered at HC. My birth experience was about as far removed from my ideal as it could be -- I wanted drug-free, no interventions, and due to pPROM at 35w5d, wound up with pitocin, an epi and eventually a c-section. It was what was best for my LO - I failed to progress from the induction and LO wasn't moving. 

I thought the staff at Holy Cross and the docs at CWC were excellent. I was in labor for 42 hours, and most of it was at the hospital due to it being early. Dr Resta would even have waited longer to do the c-section but he was pretty convinced the baby wasn't going anywhere on his own, and he was right - when they took him out, he was so wedged into my pelvis that I could feel the bones moving and he had tons of bruising on his face. 

During my pregnancy I saw all the doctors, and I ended up seeing Dr. Band, Lizardo and Resta during labor and they were great. I saw Dr. Tyau and Sine during recovery. 

I will say that I felt that I got more attention from the doctors once I was high-risk - they were professional and appropriate before that, but once I got GD and PIH, they seemed more engaged in my care. But I wasn't complaining! Dr. Lizardo especially was great when I was on modified bed rest and during labor. Dr. Resta was also great, and I recovered quickly from the c-section.

WinesNotWhines

Holy Cross doesn't have jacuzzi tubs (or any sort of bathtubs for that matter) for L&D. I believe Shady Grove in Gaithersburg has tubs. If you feel very strongly about wanting to labor in a tub, you may want to consider that. Or you can labor at home in your own tub as long as you want and then go to the hospital.

My OBs were supportive of my birth plan from the beginning, and the staff at Holy Cross was also great. I had minimal interventions for a hospital setting. I wanted to be up and moving around during labor, and I was allowed to do that with no problem. I didn't have an IV, only a heplock. I only had to lay down on the bed when they checked my cervix for progress, and that was only for a minute or so. I saw each of the 5 OBs in the practice while I was pregnant, so I knew all of them pretty well. I ended up going into labor when my least favorite doctor was on call (go figure), but it was still fine.

JKM416

gtown_bride:

Holy Cross doesn't have jacuzzi tubs (or any sort of bathtubs for that matter) for L&D. I believe Shady Grove in Gaithersburg has tubs. If you feel very strongly about wanting to labor in a tub, you may want to consider that. Or you can labor at home in your own tub as long as you want and then go to the hospital.

I had heard about that and contacted the OB "customer support" woman.  She said that they required continuous fetal monitoring, and I asked how that worked if you were in a tub.  She didn't really answer the question...just reiterated how you had to have the heart monitors on at all times.  I'll give it another shot.  I don't know how comfortable I could get in my tiny tub at home with two little kids likely trying to climb in there with me 

Gaithersburg makes me a little nervous - I live on the DC border, and DH works on the opposite side of the city.  Murphy's Law says that it'd happen on a Friday afternoon.  Having two kids to make arrangements for, waiting for DH to fight traffic, and thinking a third labor could go more quickly than the first two...I could be "that lady" on the 11pm news who had her baby on the side of 270.

mek10976

We had a good experience at HC and will likely deliver there again unless this one holds out for the scheduled c-section at Shady Grove, which is closer to our house. 

I go to Capital Women's Care in Silver Spring and they mostly deliver at HC.  There are several CW Care offices, but I go to the one with doctors Butler, Dickman, Newhouse, etc.