Need obgyn advice please

AbbyA11 · August 2014

I'm actually still in my first trimester (10 wks), but came to this board for advice from the ladies who have been doing through this for a while. I am a teacher and live far from where I work, ranging from 45min-90min depending on traffic. Since I'm on summer break right now, I had my first prenatal appt with the obgyn through my gyn near home, but I was not impressed at all and am looking to change. As I'm researching new obs, I'm exploring the idea of whether to go to one near home or near work. The problem is that every place seems to not have late appointment times, the latest range from 3-3:45. School ends at 3, so it would be really hard for me to get to an obgyn near home, without leaving work early. I don't have a problem leaving work early from time to time, but don't want to have to for every appointment. That is why I'm looking at an ob near work, where I would be able to leave with the students and make an appointment on time. Does anyone have advice for what you think might work best, based on your experiences? Thanks for your help!

Cat&S · August 2014

I would try to find one close to where you'll be most often during the day. For me, that was work. But keep in mind that you also need to find out where the OB delivers. Are you still going to want to drive 45-90 minutes when you're in labor and trying to get to the hospital? Can you find one at a midpoint in between home and work? Also, most offices around here have one "late day" each week...I know my OB office is open til 5:30 on Thursdays, for example.

Justabean3 · August 2014

Keep in mind assuming you have a smooth pregnancy that you will have 1 appointment a month and then at 28 or 30 weeks you will start 2 a month and then at 36 weeks you go weekly.

Sonograms, NST, complications, Gestational diabetes test, lab work are often but not always separate appointments.

I have gestational diabetes and I have been going 2 times a month since 20 weeks, I now go weekly to one or the other

RedBaramid · August 2014

The only caution I'll throw into you is that because of some very minor complications and worries, I am on a 1 hour driving restriction (that started at 32 weeks)... if my OB was more than an hour away I wouldn't be able to make the drive between there and home. Also for me at this point being in the car is one of the most uncomfortable things there is.. so if I had to pony up for a weekly or biweekly appointment that far away I might would lose my mind.

conradraging · August 2014

theresat858 said:
I wouldn't think so much about where your appointments will be (though that is a factor), but more about what hospital you would prefer to deliver at, since most OBs only have 1-2 hospitals where they deliver babies (I think for most it is just one). It doesn't matter much if the hospital is closer to home or to work, because labor tends to take hours for a first time mom.

I would consider such things as what level is the NICU (particularly important if you foresee any issues with baby), baby-friendliness, do they have private rooms, do they allow intermittent monitoring (if that matters to you), do they have tubs for labor or showers (if that matters to you), etc.
If all hospitals are created equal, then I'd consider looking for a practice near where you work because it will be easier when you have appointments every one-two weeks near the end.

Another thing to consider when choosing an OB is: What is the chance of your OB delivering your baby? Is it a huge practice where you only have a 1/7 chance of your OB being on shift when you deliver, or does the OB try to deliver his/her own patients most of the time? Will you see a single doctor for most of your pregnancy, or will every appointment be with a different provider?

All of this. I would probably start by finding the hospital I want to deliver at, and then they usually have a list of obgyns that they work with. Maybe a midpoint location would be the best idea. That way you're not too far whether you're at work or at home.

mkw1013 · August 2014

I commute 45 mins into washington dc on a bus. We picked a hospital/ob a few mins from my house. I really didnt want to deliver in the city and really like the birthing inn that is attached to the hospital close to my house. My job is allowing me to work out of the office closer to my home starting at 37 weeks. I was able to save up a lot of vacation/sick leave before i got pregnant and i have taken a good bit of it for appointments. I have to take off a few hours off for each appointment to get home or get to work from my early appointments. It will work out. Also i work a block away from a hospital so even though i dont want to deliver there, i do have a placed i can go if something happens at work.

Also take into consideration where your spouse works. If he is able to go to your OB appointments close to home or work.

bohemianlc · August 2014

I'm taking this year off, but I am also a teacher. I'm assuming that you probably spend much more of your time at school than at home; that was definitely the case for me. If I had been teaching throughout my pregnancy, I would have preferred to find an office that was either closer to school, or a mid-point location between home and school. I was only at home in the late evenings and on weekends, times that I wouldn't be going to the OB anyways.

I also agree with PPs that it's vital to take into consideration where the practice has delivery rights and whether its philosophies about pregnancy generally align with your own. At the end of the day, what matters most is the level of care that you are receiving.

*Edited to fix typos :P

Dani0329 · August 2014

The practice I chose has 4 offices in different towns. I go to one closest to work some days and one closest to home on off days. You could look into that?!

Leysin97 · August 2014

My OB is closer to my home than school. It is however at the hospital I am delivering at which I like. I too have a long commute with traffic. What I like about it being closer to home is when I do have appointments I miss the evening traffic. My school doesn't let out until after 4. I try to schedule the latest appt. possible (3:30 or 4) and get coverage for my last class. Most times though I end up having to take a 1/2 day. I would suggest focusing more on the OB and where you want to deliver.

Sha&Todd · August 2014

I live out in the boonies, so I had my choice of 30mins one way or the other. What was most important to me was that I liked the obgyns at the clinic I picked and the hospital they had privileges. Just remember you have to see these people ALOT do pick who you're comfortable with. Good luck!!

megs2011 · August 2014

I'd look into the OBs earliest appt. I go at 830 in the morning to see mine but I think he actually has earlier times than that... maybe as early as 8am? Not sure, didn't ask. I like early appts bc I'm in and out fairly quickly since he hasn't fallen too far behind yet. Other than that I think I'd be more about the OB and hospital. I love my OB but I'm not guaranteed to get him for my delivery, which really sucks. A few hospitals merged their maternity wards into the new big hospital so I could have one of many OBS in the area.

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