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September 2011 Moms
if you use a group practice
what is your procedure for labor? do you get whomever is on call that day? what is the set up like for you?
I just left the OB's office, I had to switch at 30 weeks, and I've always had a solo practitioner in the past. I loved the first OB we met at the practice, I saw him twice, and then I saw this flaming douche bag today, and I hated his guts. He was insensitive and rude, and I am horrified at the idea of him being the one who delivers me. He even made some comments that I have no idea what I'm getting myself into regarding a VBAC and how I can lose my uterus. I left crying, and I called my H, who wants to call there, but I'm afraid of that, because what if he's the one who delivers us.
Just wondering what others experience was with a group situation, and if you don't prefer one of the doctors what do you do.
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Re: if you use a group practice
I need to confirm with my doc the next time I go in, but I am under the impression that I will be delivered by whoever is on call. I know the practice I go to sometimes will partner with other practices in the area to cover on call schedules so it's also a possibility I might not even get one of my OBs.
I will say to make it VERY clear the next time you go in that you do not want doctor douche delivering you. Most practices are very respectful of that. There used to be a doc in my practice who I HATED and it was in my chart that I was not to be seen by her no matter what.
I go to a small group practice with just three doctors. They want to make sure you see all three of them during your monthly visits because when you go into labor you get whoever is on-call. I'm fine with this but the last group of docs there were like 20 and I didn't feel like I could have a personal experience so I switched to the three because it would be easier for them to know me and my pregnancy stuff.
It sucks the doc was a douche but maybe you can ask to not see him anymore? Usually when there are alot in a practice most of them are a-holes.
But yeah....both group practices that I've been seen at have that policy -- you get who's on call. My former MW and I had a great relationship, so she assured me that she would do anything in her power to be there when I delivered. Maybe you could talk to your doc and see if he could try to be there?
I assume mine is a group practice -- I have my OB, but since she's not on call 24/7 -- there is a chance one of the other 6 or 7 Drs could deliver LO. Towards your 3rd Tri - they recommend you have at least one appointment with each Dr so you can at least meet them. I've met every Dr at this point and although there is one that I dont "love", I guess I dont have much of a choice since you can't predict when you'll go into labor. Of course a scheduled c/s, or an induction is a different story...
After this baby I'm switching practices to be a little closer to home -- and I'm hoping my next practice has midwives within the group.
If I were you, I'd cross my fingers that the DB that you met today is on VACATION the week your due!
)
In mine there are 5 doctors that we are rotated through the entire pregnancy. Whomever is on call is the doctor you get. My friend goes to the same practice and ended up with the one doctor she only saw twice but I've pretty much seen the same doctors equal amounts of time and the one is my normal OB.
I'm not sure how yours does it but if you are that dissatisfied with one over the other maybe you have a special circumstance and can get a preference. I hope all works out for you!!
I go to a practice that has four doctors, however I was told early on that I will get whomever is on call at that time. There are also four other doctors (that aren't included in my practice but also work at the hospital) that I've never met that could potentially deliver me. I don't particularly LIKE this idea but I've come to accept it.
I also can't stand one of the doctors at my practice. He rushes me during each time I've seen him, even if I have questions. I've tried to avoid making my appointments with him throughout the whole pregnancy. I'm also not alone when it comes to my feelings about this man. He delivered a friend of mine and she felt the same about him and he almost just recently delivered another friend of mine, except that she ended up having the baby after he was off for the night. Apparently at one point he came in to do an internal exam, barely said anything to her, left the curtain and door wide open when he left. I'm just praying that I don't go into labor when he is on call!!
I use a group practice. They have been trying to rotate me so I can meet as many of them as possible - MW and OB. Fortunately I have yet to encounter a doctor there I didn't like, however I would still prefer my regular doctor to deliver me.
She said they try to deliver their own patients, but if she is out of town or unreachable then the oncall doctor will deliver me.
I'm sorry you had such a horrible experience. A few pieces of advice: 1- I don't think it would hurt to do as MrsMichelle said and contact their patient services. No doctor should ever scare a patient like that and make you feel less confident about your upcoming birth. 2- My mom said when I was born the one doctor she hated at her OB office was the one on call to deliver me. She wasn't happy about it, but she said once he got in there he was a completely different person in the delivery room than in the office. He was professional, listened, and she felt like she was in good hands. So if you do end up with this doctor he may just have a horrible office/bedside manner but be great when it is go time. GL!
If he truly said this to you, someone needs to call the office because that's completely unacceptable. It's one thing for him to explain the procedure and risks to you in maybe a not so rainbow and kittens way, but it's another thing to be completely unprofessional. No doctor should speak to any patient in this manner.
I'm in a group practice and if my doctor is available/on call, she'll be delivering my baby. If she's not, another Dr. will who I've never met and I'm totally ok with that. I know that all of those Dr.s have the same qualifications and I don't have an emotional connection with my Dr. by any means. I could be jaded with the fact that my dad is an ob/gyn in a group practice and they often deliver babies for patients they didn't care for their entire pregnancy. All I care is that the baby comes out safe and sound!
I'm in a group practice, and they really haven't impressed me one bit. The only things that kept me from switching was 1.) they are 5 miles from my house (at the hospital - the next nearest one is a bit farther) and 2.) the doctors overall seem pretty good. However, I had about 2 - 3 months fighting with their office staff about EVERYTHING.
We've met all but 2 doctors so far (I think there are 6 or 7?), and really weren't crazy about one at all.
If you feel that strongly about that particular doctor (and I would - the VBAC comments were extremely unprofessional and RUDE), I'd imagine you could possibly use the on-call doctor at the hospital, rather than the one from your practice (sorry, I haven't researched this, but just a possible thought)? You may also be able to ask the office who the on-call doctor is around the time of your due date, you may get a happy surprise and find out he's on vacation for a month or something.
I'd also suggest calling (or having DH call and you sit beside him, we did this because i was so over-emotional about everything we were being put through) and talking to one of the partners of the practice. They would be the ones that have pull over that doctor, and can set him straight with how to act like an adult. And I wouldn't schedule any more appointments with him, it's not worth the stress. If you do have to have an appointment with him, take DH with you and make him stand up for you, especially if you're having a hard time doing it for yourself (I know when we were having issues, I couldn't think about it without becoming hysterical, so I knew I just looked like the crazy pregnant lady).
Good luck! I despise not liking a doctor, and knowing that he could be "the one" when you need someone the most is not a great feeling.
*Hugs*
In our practice there are 8 OB's and 8 MW's. One of each is at the hospital at all times. I've been seeing one OB and I will also be visiting with one of the MW's since I'm thinking about switching to a waterbirth (the MW's are certified, but the OB's aren't yet).
So I have a 1 in 8 chance to have the person I actually know. It sucks. I'm just hoping that I like the person that is there that day or that I'm lucky and it actually is my doctor.
I got to a group practice and when I was having DS1 I hated (still do) one of the Drs. He ended up starting my induction. Lucky for me it was a two day induction and I had a section. So it was my actual Dr. the second day.
I think all you can do is hope he isn't on when you go into labor. I don't know if it's any different with a VBAC. But with a vaginal delivery the Dr. pretty much just comes in to catch the baby. Usually you're just laboring with the nurses most of the time. So hopefully if he is on you only have to see him for the very end.
I've seen 5 OBs at my practice, I think there may be one more but not sure. Out of the 5 I honestly only like 1. There are 2 I don't like so much, one male one female and I'm putting in all bets that either one of them will be there on call to deliver my baby. They aren't douches but the one female is insensitive while the one male is awkward, I just didn't get a good vibe from him.
To answer your question, yes I get whoever is on call that day. He or she will be there at the hospital already as they seem to take shifts there when they are not at the practice.
I wish I had carefully chosen a doctor but I moved an hour away sometime in March and didn't want to go through the whole process of interviewing. As far as I'm concerned even if I did have a solo doctor that solo dr always has an on call person in the event they can't make it to the delivery room when you need them so there is a chance someone you may not know (or like) will deliver your baby.
OMG what a pr!ck!!!!! It is disgraceful that he should say that to you esp as the 1st OB approved you for VBAC. That makes me so angry. I would call up & complain about him for sure!
I am seeing m/w's in a group practice of m/ws & OBs. I had to consult with an OB for my VBAC suitability. She was great & I would be thrilled if she were on call when I give birth. There is one doc though who sounds like the a$$ you met earlier. I've been told he has had lots of complaints against him because of his manner. It would be just my luck I would end up with him
I will see whoever is on call that day. That's why they have us rotate through the three OB's throughout our pregnancy. I've seen all three, and favor two out of the three, but I've been told they all have their strong points and are great. In fact, the doctor I'm not incredibly fond of (he's just very quick and un-informative at my appts), I've been told he is AWESOME when it comes to delivery time, so I think I'd be ok with any of the three delivering our baby!
Also, my friend who goes to the same OB, and just had her baby, ended up not even having one of the three dcotors we see! She had her baby on a Sunday, and had a different doctor b/c none of ours were actually on call! She said he was great too, so I'm not TOO worried
I am using a group practice of 4 women. They told me at the beginning that they are all trained the same way and to meet all of them at least once during my pregnancy. Well, one of them is a biitch. My mom is also a patient there and she was really rude to her earlier this year, and then was with me as well. I think she has no bedside manner. I just found out yesterday that she is on call on Tuesdays, so I'm hoping not to go into labor on a Tuesday.
I don't really know what I'll do if she's on call when I'm in labor, though.
Lisa- Sorry he said that to you!! What a jerk
I have 6 docs in my practice and I'll have seen 4 of them by the time I deliver. I rotated through for the last 3 appts, but from week 34 on I'll only see my doc. I liked all of the others, but not as much as my doc. If she's working or on call, I'll get her, if not-it will be any of the other doctors.
The practice I go to is 2 doctors. One is the woman I've been seeing since I was 17 and absolutely love. The partner is a guy I've seen very occasionally over the years for problems/issues, and then a few times throughout pregnancy to get to know him a bit. I know he's a good doctor, there's nothing objectively wrong with him, but I just dont like him as much/feel as comfortable.
My OB is going away the entire last week in August/labor day weekend, and there is a reasonable chance I may end up with the other guy when I deliver. I'm not thrilled but am trying to mentally prepare. I think typically I'd get whoever was on call, otherwise. But I have a small suspicion (delusion? what?) that if its during normal hours and my doctor is around, she'd try to be there even if she isnt on call that day. She knows how I feel about the whole thing.
On the other hand, if someone was rude/unprofessional/disrespectful, I'd probably speak up. There may or may not bea way to avoid seeing that individual again, particularly in the delivery room.
I see a group of 4 doctor's and will have whoever is on call. I LOVE my doctor! Last week was my first time meeting another doctor. It was a totally different experience. Her nurse was much less friendly and didn't even acknowledge my husband. When the doctor came in, she was very friendly and perky. Then she proceeded to go on a total rant. It included telling me over and over that they want to give me a good baby, but it may not be great (I think she meant delivery). She also kept saying that I have little control over what happens, that a birth plan is silly, and basically that I should plan on medication. It was very negative and very clear that she didn't have confidence in my ability to have natural childbirth. I want to try for it, but am actually not opposed to medication. All it says in my birthplan is I don't want to be asked because I know it is available.
I am going to talk to my doctor about this. I am just going to be really direct. I don't want a doctor coming in and being negative like that. I will ask what advice she has or if there is something that she could add to my birth plan that would let the other dr. know to keep her mouth shut.
What a total douche, ugh!
We have 3 MW and 1 MD- I have met them all... and they all tend to be on board with the natural hospital birth that we have planned.
Thanks ladies.
Jim is calling the office today to speak to the OB that we liked. He was most disturbed by the doctor today telling me that I could lose my uterus, and he wants to discuss with the doctor we like the difference of attitude between the different doctors in the practice regarding a VBAC. He said that he doesn't feel safe knowing that the man I saw today has such a bad attitude towards my VBAC, and that he ultimately could hinder my chances of success if he were the on call doctor when I go into labor. I am not able to have this conversation now, I am simply too emotional from the other stuff, and I think Jim can have a more productive conversation with him. If we come to find out that the other doctors in the practice have the same bad attitude regarding the VBAC, we may opt to schedule with the doctor that we like, so that we don't end up with a disaster.
There are 7 doctors in my practice and I am supposed to see each one twice. There is one that I really just don't like--she's got no interpersonal skills and handles every visit with me as a business as usual situation, like I am just a number. But the rest of them are really nice. They take the time to ask how my husband is (by name) and my mom (and my little brother---she goes there too and they delivered my bro). They take the time to ask how I feel this pregnancy vs. my pregnancy with DD and assure me that everything will be fine this time around and relieve some anxieties before I even let them know I'm feeling them. I have a favorite doctor there. I ask all of my "controversial" questions and for an honest opinion on things with her. I also presented my birthplan to her first to ask how reasonable it was before I shared it with any of the other doctors...some were more supportive of others but none of them suggested there would be a problem with it.
As far as delivery goes, I get whoever is on call...I call the doctor's office first and if they're open I go there first to get checked and then sent over to the birth center (they're in the same building basically). If it's after hours the on-call doctor gets paged by the answering service and I get a call back telling me to head on in.
Lisa- Sorry that this guy was a douche.
I think everywhere you go, when it's a group practice, you will find one or two that just aren't right for you. But I do think he crossed the line, saying you could lose your uterus. (It might be true but there is no need to be rude and all that about it).
There are 4 doctors and one NP in my practice. I saw the NP for the first few prenatal visits and have met all the doctors since then. There is one that I REALLY don't like, and one that is just so-so to me. The other two are amazing. If I have to have a scheduled c-section, I will schedule it with one of those two. Otherwise, I will hope and pray that one that I can tolerate is on call when I go into labor!
ETA: My MIL is a L&D nurse and she promises me that I really won't care who is down there catching the baby when the time comes. Plus it's mostly the nurses you deal with during labor anyway. But I still want to have someone pleasant, not the one doctor I don't like.