Would you switch OBs?

jayellekay · August 2014

I have an OB that I like, but don't love. She is older (close to 70), and while she is nice and has a wicked sense of humor, she also seems to forget EVERYTHING and I have to remind her of everything we talked about at the previous appointment. It's a very small practice, so it's not like I'm one of hundreds or anything.

Anyway, she is in practice with one other doctor. I'd previously heard from acquaintances that he was rude and off-putting, so I didn't choose him to begin with. Well, my doctor was on vacation a couple of weeks ago when I was having some severe swelling and headaches that they wanted to check out, so I saw this other doctor. He couldn't have been more caring and concerned, and I loved him! He made me feel very comfortable.

I could easily switch - same practice, so not a big deal at all. However, here are my hesitations:

- The female doctor that I already have takes the majority of call anyway, so even if I switched, there's still a fair to good chance I'd see her in the hospital for L&D regardless.

- With it being such a small practice, I would see my original doctor and her nurse in the hallway or the waiting room a million more times between now and delivery, and I'm afraid it would be awkward. It's not like she did anything wrong, per se, I just felt way more comfortable with the male doctor.

What would you do?

bombe4 · August 2014

That's a tough situation. I am very non confrontational, so I probably wouldn't switch to another doctor in the same practice. If I really wanted to change I would change to a different doctor all together.

soulcupcake · August 2014

If you're more comfortable with the other doctor, switch. I transferred care to a midwife last week, and I know many mamas that changed providers up to their last month.

I wouldn't stay with a provider I wasn't comfortable with simply to keep the peace or avoid hurting their feelbads.

rshamos · August 2014

Working in the medical field, I can tell you that most doctors are okay with you switching within the practice. They may ask you why you want to switch, but that is mostly for constructive criticism for the doctor. However, they don't like when you switch multiple times, so make sure this is what you want to do. I run a practice right now, and I would much rather have a patient switch doctors within my practice than leave all together. No matter what, the money still goes to the practice.

Shortstack06 · August 2014

At the practice I go to, there are 3 doctors I see because you don't know who will be on call. I have a preference, I request him and generally see him the majority of the time but they do like you to see all 3 just to get a rapport.

haleyusf · August 2014

I would just make the majority of your appts with the guy doc and then have a few checkups here and there with the lady doc. When it comes to delivery day, you honestly won't care who's in the room with you at that point so I wouldn't be concerned about that. You spend way more time with the nurses in L&D anyways. If you see her in the hall and she asks, just say that scheduling must be weird because the guy doc always seems to be open when you need appts. No confrontation, no stress. Especially with a more complex medical history, you really want your doc to remember you and/or have a good grasp of what's going on.

Cheekers2010 · August 2014

Like others have mentioned, switching OBs now is primarily about feeling comfortable with your prenatal care since you can't be sure who will be on call when you deliver. If you feel better with the prenatal care the male OB is offering then switch. Definitely! And you don't need to make a big deal of it. Just start making appts with the male doctor. If the female doc is as spacey as you think, she may not even remember that you were seeing her. Also remember that you will soon be going to bi monthly and then weekly appts so you still have the majority of your prenatal care to come.

Sarah1253 · August 2014

I Would change doctors if you are not comfortable. I changed doctors at 16 weeks because I wasn't thrilled about the care I was getting and I am so happy that I did. I know the place I go will take people up until 36 weeks.

AllTheTeaInChina · August 2014

What kinds of things is she not remembering? If these are major concerns that should be documented in your chart, then its a bigger deal. Forgetting minor conversations from 4 weeks ago, I wouldn't expect my OB to remember that.

I would stay, but make appointments with both. If either doc would be the one to deliver, you will be familiar with them.

marriedinaugust · August 2014

Honestly I wouldn't switch primary care until after delivery if there is a chance she will be on call for your delivery. At my old OB office there were 2 OBs and a CNM. We had to rotate visits so that they all saw us during pregnancy because any one of them could deliver us by chance. It didn't matter who we went to for our yearly checkups. I would ask the receptionist if you can rotate appts with them so you are comfortable with both come delivery day and then make the switch to whichever one you liked most for your postpartum visits.

jayellekay · August 2014

Thanks for the input. I have an appointment with my original doctor this Thursday, so I think I'll wait and see how I feel after seeing her then before making the decision.

Honestly, it's not that I have an issue with her, even with the forgetfulness. It's just that I liked the other doctor so much better. Just a feeling, ya know? He made me feel especially comfortable and that he was truly concerned about mine and baby's well-being.

We'll see. I'm not sure where I'll end up. If I do switch, it would only be to the second guy in the practice, not to another practice altogether.

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