NoVa OBs and hospitals?

BunniKakes

I'm at the very beginning stages of TTC. I live in northern Virginia and don't have a local OB. I'm looking for recommendations/reviews/perspectives on OBs and hospitals for the northern VA area.

 Like all prospective moms, of course I want a great doctor/hospital. :-) Things that are important to me include the willingness to take questions, consistency with respect to who you see at appointments, and a hospital/delivery staff that doesn't default to drugs and C-sections. (Both have their time/place, obviously.) Who would you recommend to a friend?

Thanks in advance!

LindseyJW

where are you located and how far are you willing to drive? keep in mind that as you progress in your pregnancy, your prenatal appointments become more frequent. you'll be seen monthly until 28 weeks, then every two weeks until 36 weeks and then weekly until you give birth. you'll also want to consider how far of a drive would be acceptable when you are in labor.

most women get an epidural, and therefore, most OBs "default" to medicated birth. would you consider a midwife? an out of hospital birth? there are women on this board who have birthed in a hospital without pain meds, but it can be a more difficult challenge since the cards are stacked against you. Dr. Tchabo at Virginia Hospital Center is one of the few area OBs who don't just pay lip service to moms who want a low intervention birth. however, he is retiring soon and the doctors who work with him are not as low-intervention friendly - and waits for scheduled appointments at his office are some times exorbitant. lately, i've heard good things about Dr. Crowther who also attends births at VHC. 

often, OBs who were educated/trained/practiced in other countries are more sensitive to moms who want low-intervention births. there is a link in my siggie to an FAQ with a post on how to select/screen your care provider. there are a lot of other resources there too!  

BunniKakes

Thanks, Lindsey. I live in Alexandria, but work in Tysons Corner. I've made my peace with DC traffic. I'd rather do more driving - she said with the innocence of the not-knocked-up - to the right place than settle for the closest place, as long as it's not Quantico-level far. 

I would consider working with a midwife, and am disappointed my insurance doesn't cover doulas. I think my more traditional husband would have issue with a non-hospital birth and my own research hasn't produced an option I'm excited about. (For example, we will be circumcising a boy and a lot of non-hospital places have been a bit... judgey about that.)

I don't want to rule in or out an epidural, etc. at this point. I could say 'Oh, I have a high pain tolerance' or 'My mom didn't have one!' (both true) or whatever... but I just can't pretend to know at this point. What I don't want is what you describe: the default of medical birth.

I am going to check out Tchabo and Crowther. What I really want to avoid is feeling like I'm not heard and am not the one making decisions about my body and my pregnancy.

BirdGirl01

LindseyJW:

lately, i've heard good things about Dr. Crowther who also attends births at VHC. 

Love Dr. Crowther!  She delivered DD and I thought she was wonderful. Really truly.  I don't know anything about the practice though because I go to another practice and Dr. Crowther just happened to be on-call when I delivered.  

Hey Jellisy

My OB, Dr. Homer Knudson is in Tysons.  He's really nice, is in solo practice, so you only see him, and he attends virtually all the births in his practice.  There are no nurses, he's very hands on, and runs his office really well.  I rarely had to wait more than a few minutes for my appointments.  He's always been respectful of me and my wishes.  He is pretty laid back (in my no complications pregnancy experience) so if you are a high needs individual, he might not be the right doctor for you.  He's delivered both of my babies and I love the relationship we've developed over the years.  He always budgets adequate time to meet with you and answer questions.  There are drawbacks to solo practice, but for me the perks - developing a relationship with the doctor, vastly outweighed them in my experience.     

LindseyJW

BunnyBites:

Thanks, Lindsey. I live in Alexandria, but work in Tysons Corner. I've made my peace with DC traffic. I'd rather do more driving - she said with the innocence of the not-knocked-up - to the right place than settle for the closest place, as long as it's not Quantico-level far. 

I would consider working with a midwife, and am disappointed my insurance doesn't cover doulas. I think my more traditional husband would have issue with a non-hospital birth and my own research hasn't produced an option I'm excited about. (For example, we will be circumcising a boy and a lot of non-hospital places have been a bit... judgey about that.)

I don't want to rule in or out an epidural, etc. at this point. I could say 'Oh, I have a high pain tolerance' or 'My mom didn't have one!' (both true) or whatever... but I just can't pretend to know at this point. What I don't want is what you describe: the default of medical birth.

I am going to check out Tchabo and Crowther. What I really want to avoid is feeling like I'm not heard and am not the one making decisions about my body and my pregnancy.

definitely check out the FAQs...i think there was a post flagged about helping DH's understand the reasons why a woman might choose an unmedicated birth. might also help you to assess options as well! i like "the thinking woman's guide to a better birth" by henci goer for that very reason.

i really like Dr. McKenzie on Duke Street, but she attends births at Inova Alexandria, and i refuse to ever go there again. they are very unfriendly to homebirth transfers (my first birth), however, i've seen nothing but wonderful reviews from moms who started off there planning an unmedicated birth. McKenzie is the referring physician for BirthCare & Women's Health, a reputable practice of certified nurse-midwives in old town, and as such understands the need to connect with what women want out of their birth experience - whatever that might be. 

victoria1212

Personally, the hospital was not the issue for me- I had been going to the same practice for years and liked my doctor so I delivered at Sibley. Sibley was a great experience and I thought the other doctors and nurses were really respectful and informative during my stays (one for pre-term and one for the real thing).

edit: I live in Alexandria but continued with my doctor who was in Bethesda/upper NW and delivered in DC.

 

 

pixieprincss

I do not have any recommendations for an OB, but about a doula--I do not think that any insurance routinely covers them as they are not medical professionals but labor or post-partum support. That said, they run the gamut on price and if that becomes something you are interested at some point, don't discount paying OOP or using FSA money to hire one.

Mama Angelina

LindseyJW:

where are you located and how far are you willing to drive? keep in mind that as you progress in your pregnancy, your prenatal appointments become more frequent. you'll be seen monthly until 28 weeks, then every two weeks until 36 weeks and then weekly until you give birth. you'll also want to consider how far of a drive would be acceptable when you are in labor.

most women get an epidural, and therefore, most OBs "default" to medicated birth. would you consider a midwife? an out of hospital birth? there are women on this board who have birthed in a hospital without pain meds, but it can be a more difficult challenge since the cards are stacked against you. Dr. Tchabo at Virginia Hospital Center is one of the few area OBs who don't just pay lip service to moms who want a low intervention birth. however, he is retiring soon and the doctors who work with him are not as low-intervention friendly - and waits for scheduled appointments at his office are some times exorbitant. lately, i've heard good things about Dr. Crowther who also attends births at VHC. 

often, OBs who were educated/trained/practiced in other countries are more sensitive to moms who want low-intervention births. there is a link in my siggie to an FAQ with a post on how to select/screen your care provider. there are a lot of other resources there too!  

I second Dr. Tchabo!  He is wonderful!!  Didn't know he was retiring soon though.

LindseyJW

Mama Angelina:

LindseyJW:

I second Dr. Tchabo!  He is wonderful!!  Didn't know he was retiring soon though.

so sad to lose such a wonderful voice for mama/baby-friendly practices in our area. he attends vaginal breech birth, too! very few OBs in our area who do. 

Useonfire

I wish Dr. Crowther would be on-call when I deliver DD.  Unless I have another scheduled c/s and I schedule it for a Monday, it won't be her delivering.  She delivered DS (by scheduled c/s) and has been my OB/GYN for about 8 years now.  I rotated through all the doctors in the practice last time, but I've just scheduled all of my appts. with Dr. C this time around. I don't care that I have a 90% chance of delivering with someone else.  Her clinical knowledge is outstanding and her bedside manner is even better.  That said, DH swears she royally screwed up my scar (it's not centered at all) which bothers him far more than it does me apparently :P