Doctor leaving practice - 3 weeks before my due date!

SLWoody · July 2014

I received a letter in the mail on Friday that my doctor is leaving the practice Aug 31st. The practice she is currently in has six doctors and one nurse practitioner. While I have been going to my doctor for 12 years, I have become very fond of the office staff, nurses, and the nurse practitioner. I actually choose the nurse practitioner to make my appointments with when I can (at 30 weeks and after I have to go to the OB though). I also have met the other doctors in the practice from my first pregnancy, and my particular doctor was not even the one who delivered my daughter. I am trying to figure out if I should move with her (she will be at the same hospital and everything) or if I should just stay with the practice she is leaving because I like everyone else there! My real hesitation is that the doctor who delivered my daughter - and I really do like him - is a male! I cant imagine going to a male OB and don't understand how people do it! But I really do like him and his personality... I still find it a bit awkward. I'm thinking of when the baby is born but after as well. Any advice??

conradraging · July 2014

All of the OBs at my practice are male...

SLWoody · July 2014

I know a lot of people go to a male OB - its not unusual at all. For me personally though its always weirded me out.

saraeric · July 2014

My dr will be out of town for my next appointment so I'll be seeing a male OB for the first time so I don't have any advice yet. My take is that they are medical professionals and this is their job. While he may not be able to sympathize with all of our womanly issues, he should still be knowledgeable and able to handle anything that comes up. We'll see how I feel after the appointment! Good luck, that is a tough situation to be in.

Bella2425 · July 2014

If it were me, I would have the baby with your current practice since they have all your history and you have been comfortable and happy there then move to your docs new practice after birth. I totally feel you on the male doc, it's a no-go for me too.

LTMama · July 2014

Personally, I've always seen female OBs only (til my MFM experience - all male), but I have friends who actually prefer male OBs. I think it all depends on your comfort level, but I'd have an appt or two with a male OB before ruling them out? It may not be as weird as you think?

mrsdanielleM2010 · July 2014

I would totally be thrown by being forced to change plans this late in the game, but if your first was delivered by the male ob who you'd be switching to, he's already seen the goods. I would think the office visits are less intimidating than delivery, no?

I'd rather stay with my current practice, for the sake of comfort.

jg1011 · July 2014

I have always seen male OB/gyn's. Not sure if I could ever see a female?

That said, I would likely give it a try at your current office and see how you feel, especially since you have only seen the nurse practitioner so far. Make your next appt with OB. If it's ok for you when you see the male OB, then stay. If it's weird then move.

bumpuser10199668 · July 2014

Is it a guarantee a female is going to deliver this LO if you switch?

ashaw512 · July 2014

Oh this happened to me. It's really a hard situation for a new dr to come in and take over a case that they know nothing about, especially so close to the due date. If your dr is going to remain at the same hospital but moving different practices and you don't really want another dr then you need to move with your dr. If you are comfortable with a new dr then stay, they already have all of your information, blood work, US, etc. it could be transferred but if it's not important for you to stay with your dr you are seeing now then don't even go through the hassle.

brittneyandadam · July 2014

Honestly, I went to a female OB for years...and then there was a scheduling mix up for one of my appts and I ended up with one of the males...and I permanently switched to him. He was so much more gentle and we got a long so much better.

Like PP said, they're professionals and they've seen it all before. I'd give it a try and see if he's a good fit for you. If the practice is as big as you say it is, it sounds like you'd have the option of not making appts with him if it is uncomfortable for you.

SLWoody · July 2014

CarmAlarm said:

Is it a guarantee a female is going to deliver this LO if you switch?

No - the weird thing is that I'm not really concerned about the delivery. I know that may sound weird but at that point I really do not care. It's more for the checkups after 36 weeks and then afterwards when I go regularly and everything.

conradraging · July 2014

Okay I'm sorry I wasn't helpful in y first post. I do have experience changing practices and frankly, I wouldn't do it again. In California I had one single male OB and I loved him. He dealt with me during my mmc, did my d&c, and then I saw him through 26 weeks this time around. Then I moved back home to nj where there are only group practices around and I now have to see each of the male doctors in the practice before delivery (if possible), so every appojntment I have is a different male doctor all up in my business. I guess I've just lost all shyness when it comes to that haha.

Anyway if I was guaranteed to just be seeing the one doctor I know, I would switch in a heartbeat. But since you don't know if that's the case, I wouldn't want to go through doing the paperwork and having to explain every detail of my pregnancy to all new doctors at the new practice.

TL;DR- I switched practices and it sucked, don't do it!

SLWoody · July 2014

Conradgallagher said:

Okay I'm sorry I wasn't helpful in y first post. I do have experience changing practices and frankly, I wouldn't do it again. In California I had one single male OB and I loved him. He dealt with me during my mmc, did my d&c, and then I saw him through 26 weeks this time around. Then I moved back home to nj where there are only group practices around and I now have to see each of the male doctors in the practice before delivery (if possible), so every appojntment I have is a different male doctor all up in my business. I guess I've just lost all shyness when it comes to that haha. Anyway if I was guaranteed to just be seeing the one doctor I know, I would switch in a heartbeat. But since you don't know if that's the case, I wouldn't want to go through doing the paperwork and having to explain every detail of my pregnancy to all new doctors at the new practice. TL;DR- I switched practices and it sucked, don't do it!

Thank you! It does seem like it would be difficult to switch practices and like I said - I do like all of the other doctors at the current practice, and especially the nurse practitioner.

SLWoody · July 2014

TheEmpireNeedsYou said:

I think I'd stay with the practice I loved. What if you change practices to follow the new OB and don't like any of the other doctors there? Since you're otherwise happy with the practice, I'd stick with it.

If it was something like your primary doctor, I'd tell you different. But with the way OB generally works you're going to get whoever you get...so I'd rather stay where I was already familiar with the doctors who might end up delivering me.

Thank you - I am going to take your advice and stay with the practice I think. Thank you to everyone for taking the time to reply! It was very helpful.

megs2011 · July 2014

I have a male OB. I saw him before I got pregnant. It wad awkward the first time but it doesn't bother me anymore. I've heard male OBs are much more gentle that females.

amom2four · July 2014

If it's primarily the 36 week appointments because they check for dilation and effacement, unless there is medical necessity to know that info, it isn't required and you could tell him you prefer to wait until whatever time frame you would like or not at all. I have hear a lot of practices don't do internal checks anymore because it really is not an indication if when labor is going to start.

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Doctor leaving practice - 3 weeks before my due date!

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