Houston Babies
SandyEggo5
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Dr. Gogola
SandyEggo5
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I'm interested in switching OBs and I've heard great things about Dr. Gogola. I was wondering if anyone has experienced his take on natural child birth. I'd like to try to go natural and am interested in a dr that supports this. Does the hospital he delivers at offer the ability to labor in a tub? Can you ask for a delay in cutting the cord right away? Any info would be appreciated!
After 2+ years TTC, 1 miscarriage, & 3 failed IUI's... IVF#1 worked! DD born 2012
2013 FET#1: BFP, but we lost the baby at 12 weeks
2013 FET#2: BFN
2014 FET#3: BFP, but our sweet baby was born sleeping at 33 weeks
IVF#2: BFP! DD born 2015
2017 IVF#3: BFN
2017 IVF#4: BFN
1st Dx = Unexplained IF, 2017 Dx = DOR
2013 FET#1: BFP, but we lost the baby at 12 weeks
2013 FET#2: BFN
2014 FET#3: BFP, but our sweet baby was born sleeping at 33 weeks
IVF#2: BFP! DD born 2015
2017 IVF#3: BFN
2017 IVF#4: BFN
1st Dx = Unexplained IF, 2017 Dx = DOR
This discussion has been closed.
Re: Dr. Gogola
I can't speak to Dr. Gogola, but I had the experience you are describing by delivering with the Womens' Specialists of Houston midwives. I delivered at St. Luke's so it was a hospital birth, but they are very supportive of natural birth (although you can still get an epidural if you would like) and she did not cut the cord until it stopped pulsing as requested by me. Since the delivery had no real complications, my husband even got to "catch" the baby himself. It was amazing. I love the midwives because of their fantastic bedside manner and consideration for their patients' birth plans. You see all of them during your appointments and then the one on call delivers you. They will stay with you the entire birth and there is no chance of having someone you don't know/that doesn't know your wishes deliver your baby. There are some fantastic OBs in their practice who would assist with your birth if there are any complications. If you are just not comfortable with a midwife, my friend highly recommends Dr. Zepeda in that practice. He is also very natural birth friendly and delivered both of her children med-free.
ETA: ALmost forgot-I was able to labor in a tub at St. Luke's, but not deliver. HTH!
I think Dr Gogola delivers at Memorial City Hermann... if so, there are no tubs there, only showers....
I delivered at Memorial City a few weeks ago, by an unexpected c section. I was really impressed with the hospital and staff. My DS spent a week in NICU, and while I hope you never have to deal with that I can say that the NICU there was excellent. So all in all I was happy with the hospital.
I don't know anything about Dr Gogola though... hopefully someone else can step in and give you info on him!
I asked him for the epidural when I pulled in the parking lot, so I don't know about the natural birth part. However, he and his staff are fabulous and brought me through some rough pregnancies. His phone nurse is awesome, you could call and ask to talk to Kathy. She'll give you the low down.
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I see a different doctor at the same practice as Dr.Gogola. My friend used to be a nurse at the hospital where they deliver and she said that a lot of patients (mostly hispanics) delivered naturally. The hospital is not as natural birth friendly as St. Lukes (No tubs of birthing balls/stools) but they will not force induction or epidurals on you. You many need to get authorization for intermittent monitoring or labor at home for as long as possible because once you get admitted, they will monitor you and you will have to labor from the bed.
She did advise me that you spend more time with the nurses and should be more concerned about how supportive they are. The doctor is usually called in to catch the baby. Their biggest pet peeve was mothers that came in with crazy birth plans. If you are firm and polite with your decisions, the nurses will be more inclined to go out of their way to help you achieve a delivery as close to your desire as possible.
Dr. G was in my labor room a lot. He was there way more than just to catch. The nurses were fantastic. I actually requested my nurse from my first delivery to be my nurse for my second.
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I can't say what Dr. Gogola is like in the delivery room yet, but I just started seeing him after meeting with a few other OBs, and I love Dr. G and his staff so far. I had such a great feeling when I left his office. Kathy, the phone nurse, is the sweetest person. And I really love his nurse..I think her name is Katrina? I go back for my second appointment with him next week and plan on discussing natural birth with him then.
I think her name is Corina. She is so incredibly sweet too. I have seen him for about 8 years.
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