How did you choose an OB?

CML11 · February 2015

My U/S went so well my RE has discharged me to an OB. I'm overwhelmed by how to choose. I am nervous to choose my prior OBGYN because she wanted to do unmonitored cycles with Clomid. Thankfully due to my Bump education I ran and got a referral to an RE.
So I have issues returning to her because of that. Her expertise may just be with pregnancy vs TTC.

So here's my question, what did you look for in an OB?

gsancho · February 2015

I asked my RE for a recommendation. I really like my OB now b/c she's used to taking in several patients from my RE. She was very understanding of my worries the first several weeks of my pregnancy.

katers79 · February 2015

I also got a rec from my RE. I switched due to location of my prev OB/GYN, and wanting a hospital with a higher level nursery - just in case.

fjamil1 · February 2015

@CML11 For OB I saw who was closer and was participating at a level 2/3 nicu. Also, I wanted to try a VBAC and asked her if she was VBAC friendly. She is really nice and has really good bedside manners. I had a OB/GNY group picked out that affiliated with a hospital 20 minutes away, but I don't they would let me try VBAC with twins. The hospital my OB is with is an hour away.

JBDamonM · February 2015

I didn't pick a new OB when I got pregnant because my current one is seriously the best Dr. ever. But if I were looking - I would also ask the RE for a reccomendation. I would look to make sure he/she is affiliated with the hospital I want to deliver at. And I think the most important thing to look for is trust. You will be putting 100% trust into this person when you are in labor that they will get you through it, so I would definitely stick with someone you feel like you click with. A good question to ask is if they are backed up by a different practice on the weekends. One of my friends went into labor and since it was a weekend she got a surprise when she got to the hospital and the dr that was on for delivery was from a completely different practice, and she had obviously never met him.

Aimothy · February 2015

I needed to have a polyp removal/D&C the month before our successful cycle and I needed it done quickly (so as to not ruin our timeline for IVF). I had researched a few OBs, who had delivery rights at the hospital I wanted to deliver at, but had not made a final choice yet. When my RE asked who my RE was, I told him who I was planning on using, and it turns out he knows her/works with her a lot, so he put in a special call to get me rushed through for the surgery. She actually wasn't able to do it in her schedule, but one of her partners was able to fit me in.

Once I met my now OB as I was ready to be wheeled into OR, I just fell in love with her. So when the cycle was successful the next months, I knew that I'd be in good hands. So I really found my OB by accident.

AmCheri · February 2015

By way of a recommendation from someone I trust who had delivered two children with this OB. Unfortunately, he retired since we had our first, but we chose to stay with the same practice. This time, I went with one of the other group MFMs whom I had seen occasionally the first time around.

pblge · February 2015

(There are two convos about this on The Dark Side PAIF board. Just another plug to make the switch!

I wonder if I'm going to get banned for all this....)

I suggest thinking about the birth you want, and working backwards from that. We switched multiple times because of our failure to do this. We're now with a midwife team that practices out of a hospital, and it's LIGHT YEARS better than the three OB practices we've been to in this city.

tweetyknicks · February 2015

I may have started the conversations at the other place...

CML11 · February 2015

@pblge‌ I really like the idea and approach (or at least what I've heard) about Midwives. However, midwives don't typically have MFM...right? I'm trying to be proactive and make sure our OB/Midwife has the high risk experience since I am expecting twins.

I'll check out the dark side too! Thanks!

tweetyknicks · February 2015

@cml11 ditto on the high-risk experience. I don't think my hospital allows high-risk patients to use the midwives.

pblge · February 2015

I think with twins (sorry, I forgot!) you may be too high-risk for most midwives.

CML11 · February 2015

@pblge‌ and @tweetyknicks‌ that's what I was afraid of

I love the natural holistic approach that they have. I've heard some docs will just scare you into a C-section just to get things moving and they are impatient. That's exactly what I don't want.

tweetyknicks · February 2015

@cml11 That's where I'm relying on my husband to put up a stink and make sure it is medically necessary. The OB I made an appointment with helped a former classmate through a recent VBAC, so I took that as a good sign. We'll see how that works out.

mrs.willie · February 2015

I started with one OB who the practice selected for me when I made my first appointment with them just because he had openings. I had two m/c's that I saw him for and he started me on clomid. I didn't really care for him and thankfully he retired (without anybody even notifying me until I called during a cycle). They told me I had a choice of whoever I wanted to see at the practice. I inquired about my issues with the m/c's and was given a few OB's who had more experience with it. I checked them out on their website and chose one. I've been with him for 4 years and love him. He continued me on clomid after the other OB retired (before I knew anything about being monitored), but at least did an HSG and SA. He also referred me to my RE. He's been awesome about answering my millions of questions, having me come in early once a pregnancy was confirmed due to my history, monitoring everything very closely, telling me to call for an appt in between scheduled ones if I'm nervous, etc. and thankfully was on call and performed the surgery the day my ectopic was discovered by my RE. Coincidentally, I see one of the other OB's the practice had suggested when I can't get an appt with my OB (vacation, not in the office I want the week I need an appt, etc.) and he's been great too. Neither of these two would've been a bad choice by me, so I'm very happy with that.

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How did you choose an OB?

Re: How did you choose an OB?

Me 33, DH 37 -- TTC since Jan'12 -- Low AMH (0.78) & endo, SA w/ low motility
IUI's 1-3 = BFN, IVF converted to IUI 4/13 = BFN
IVF 1.2: 8R 6M 4F -- 2 blastocysts frozen, FET 8/15 = BFP!!
Beta #s = 445;1,098; 9,545 -- EDD 5/2 -- Team Pink!

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Want a personalized experience?

How did you choose an OB?

Re: How did you choose an OB?

Me 33, DH 37 -- TTC since Jan'12 -- Low AMH (0.78) & endo, SA w/ low motilityIUI's 1-3 = BFN, IVF converted to IUI 4/13 = BFNIVF 1.2: 8R 6M 4F -- 2 blastocysts frozen, FET 8/15 = BFP!!Beta #s = 445;1,098; 9,545 -- EDD 5/2 -- Team Pink!

Choose Another Board

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Me 33, DH 37 -- TTC since Jan'12 -- Low AMH (0.78) & endo, SA w/ low motility
IUI's 1-3 = BFN, IVF converted to IUI 4/13 = BFN
IVF 1.2: 8R 6M 4F -- 2 blastocysts frozen, FET 8/15 = BFP!!
Beta #s = 445;1,098; 9,545 -- EDD 5/2 -- Team Pink!