Choosing an OB-GYN Doctor

vinerie · September 2015

What is the process for choosing an OBGYN? Is "shopping" around and "interviewing" doctors a real thing, or just something in the movies? When should one have their doctor in place? Backstory: I chose my gynecologist (who is an OB) randomly when I moved here. He had an appointment available, which is why I chose him. It's a short annual visit as you all know--5 minutes in and out, no big deal. We don't talk about anything b.c. I haven't had anything to discuss (until my last visit when I informed him I would be ttc. He was helpful.) This person is now my OB doctor and who I am seeing on my first appointment. The practice is well respected and I can't think of a reason to change, but I also don't know anything about this person. I read people saying things like "I LOVE my doctor." Is having that kind of relationship ideal? How does one schedule an "interview?" I feel so lost about this part. Any input is welcome! Also, I think I will do a doctor and not a midwife only because I am AMA and there is a higher risk for complications.

kmalls · September 2015

Ok so this is ridiculous, but I chose my OB based on Yelp reviews. I'm mildly embarrassed to admit that. However, reading about the experiences of actual patients was super helpful and I'm one of those people who LOVES their OB. I actually look forward to going to their office and seeing the staff, they're all so awesome.

I'm also a member of a local Facebook group for my (relatively small) town. People have asked for OB recs in the past and have received tons of great feedback. So if you don't want to take the oh-so-professional approach of Yelp, try to source the opinions of women in your community.

laurenmdrn16 · September 2015

I agree with @kmalls. Read patient reviews, ask local moms, and feel free to walk if something doesn't feel right. This person/practice will be caring for you and your unborn nugget and it is worth it to make sure you are 100% comfortable.

I speak from experience that if something feels off, listen to your gut! I did not and as a result had a really horrendous birth experience. Please don't make the same mistake I did of keeping quiet while knowing something was wrong. I know that had I been a better advocate for myself, things would have turned out much differently.

bambee786 · September 2015

I check out reviews online too! Healthgrades , zocdoc, and vitals all have reviews on doctors. It's what helped me land my last obgyn and he was awesome! This year I did the same thing and found a practice of 3 drs all with amazing reviews. I'll let you know how they are! I think some doctors do consultations- doesn't hurt to ask! I know (in a few months when the time comes) pediatricians def do consultations!

vinerie · September 2015

laurenmdrn16 Curious: How would a different doctor have made a difference in your birth experience?

**edited for grammar.

finnybooboo · September 2015

Like you I just went to one doctor for my yearly visits, never had any issues, so never really "connected" with them. My old practice had several docs and you had to go to all of them at least once in case they were on call when you gave birth. Because of scheduling, I actually only saw "my" doctor once or twice throughout the whole 9 months.

It wasn't until the very end that I started feeling connected to one of the other doctors and started scheduling all my apps with him. He was the one who delivered my daughter, and I actually followed him to a new practice.

I guess my point was that until I really got into my pregnancy did I start feeling that connection. Are there multiple doctors at the practice that you could "try out" to see which you feel most comfortable with?

LittleBit3042 · September 2015

With my first pregnancy, the military assigned me a OB. He was AWFUL, no wonder he had open appointments. At 18 weeks, I switched to a midwife. It was 100% better.

This time, I kept the same OB I had been using for my GYN appointments. My only requirement when I was looking for a practice was that you have ONE doctor. I do not like being forced to see multiple doctors throughout the pregnancy.

laurenmdrn16 · September 2015

vinerie said:

laurenmdrn16 Curious: How would a different doctor have made a difference in your birth experience?

**edited for grammar.

Warning: this is a pretty rough story so I will put the Tldr here:They didn't catch my high BP and shit hit the fan.

I was being seen by the midwives in the practice to start because I was considered very low risk due to my age, health etc. When my BP readings started to trend upwards around the middle of the 2nd tri, the midwives brushed it off just saying I was stressed out and should take it easy. I knew something was wrong, but felt silly for making a big deal because they kept insisting I had a "textbook" pregnancy and shouldn't be looking for things to be wrong, joking that as a nurse I am the worst patient, blah blah blah. Turns out, I had PIH which went undiagnosed and untreated for about a month before I collapsed at work and my BP was 202/100! I had to be rushed to the hospital and was on bedrest for the rest of my pregnancy, now in full-on pre-e. Later, at about 32 weeks, my kidneys completely shut down and I was only producing 10mL of urine in 24hrs. So, I was admitted to the hospital for a planned c-section. However, a random MD from my OB practice that I didn't know swooped into my room at midnight...MIDNIGHT...and took one look at my chart and barked "Discharge her. I am not creating a NICU baby because she doesn't want to be pregnant anymore!" So I demanded to see my chart and pointed to my most recent blood work that showed elevated liver enzymes and decreased platelets, but the MD gave me a look like "Sure, whatever lady." So, in the middle of the night, MH and I staggered out of the hospital, completely dazed and shaken. The next day, I went to a completely different MD at a different practice. He took one look at my labs, BP, NST, and US and recommended I be admitted immediately. I was so fed up at this point, I refused, went home and that night passed out from extreme right epigastric pain. My liver was shutting down due to HELLP. I had to go back to the original hospital because it was closer and the midwives/MD from my old practice were the only ones there and since I was still technically under their care, they started a mag sulfate IV and started giving me cervadil...to prep me for a vaginal delivery. By this point, I was delirious, unable to speak or move, and drifting in and out of consciousness. So, sure, I should definitely be having a vaginal delivery. Also, they had me sign consent forms for the cervadil and mag sulfate, but when I looked back at the chart, it was just scribbles. I have no memory of signing anything.

My new MD came in, completely enraged, and checked my cervix. He bellowed "She is not even a finger tip dilated and both she and the baby have been getting mag sulfate for over 4 hours!" He then leaned close and said "We are getting this baby out now". So he performed an emergency CS. The only reason my son had to be in the NICU for so long was because he had low muscle tone due to the mag sulfate. Otherwise, he was the healthiest preemie they had ever seen. I had to be resuscitated because the pre-e had progressed to full on ecclampsia and I had a seizure on the operating table which caused my heart to stop.

Long story short, if my PIH had been caught earlier, I could have been put on meds and the high BP wouldn't have shut down my kidneys and liver. Also, the midwives were so obsessed with avoiding a CS, they made some very bad calls when I was finally admitted. This time around, the OB who delivered my son will be managing my care. He and I agree that we are going to nip any BP issues as early as possible and plan for a scheduled RCS.

BuzzBee614 · September 2015

@laurenmdrn16 I am so terribly sorry you had to have that entire experience. Yes, bad things can happen during pregnancy that are no one's fault, but this seemed like your providers were incompetent and ignoring what you, the patient, wanted. This story made me so sad, but I am happy your son was okay.

I did not have a horror story like that, but did switch practices at 19 weeks my last pregnancy for a couple of reasons. First, I never really connected with any of the providers. The straw that broke the camel's back, however, was that I had recurrent UTIs throughout my pregnancy that were asymptomatic. I was on two course of antibiotics and went to an appointment to check and make sure it was gone. The provider I met with was an older man who took personal phone calls during my visit and DH was appalled at this bedside manner. He assured me he would call if I was positive for a UTI and if I didn't hear from them my lab results were fine. A month went by and I went on to my patient portal to print off ultrasound pictures and saw new test results that were posted that were positive for a UTI. I called the office and later that night the doctor called apologizing profusely and said I needed to start antibiotics right away before it became a kidney infection. I switched practices the next day.

My new practice I absolutely love. The midwives and doctors are amazing and caring and I could not have imagined a better delivery for DD (minus the week stay in the NICU because she had an infection). There was one doctor I did not care for, but by that time I had really learned to advocate for myself, so it was fine.

So I guess the moral of my story is even if you make the wrong choice, you can always switch if you get a bad gut feeling. Switching was the best thing I have ever done and cannot wait to go back to the practice I switched to for this little one.

JessicaB0627 · September 2015

I think choosing an Ob is really about what's important to you.

It was very important to me that I had one doctor throughout my pregnancy that would also deliver my baby. I did not want to see multiple doctors and end up with whomever was on call. My Ob had a track record of delivering more than 98% of his patient's babies. The only reason he didn't deliver some babies was due to him being out of town, which he rarely is. He also delivers at a hospital that has the best NICU in the state. I wasn't expecting anything bad to happen but in the event something did go wrong, that was the hospital that I wanted to be at. He really listened to all of my concerns and was helpful with all of my questions. He personally called me after hours with all of my test results and was able to answer any questions I had about my results.

During my pregnancy there were a couple instances that I ended up in the hospital. Every time I did end up in the hospital I called him first, told him what was going on, he told me to head to the hospital and he was there waiting for me every single time. It was nice to see him and not whomever was on-call. I wish all doctors could be like him! He's awesome!

countrygrl5533 · September 2015

I'm actually jealous of those of you that have a choice. I live in a rural area. Unless I want to drive an hour, I have 2 choices, one of which is a very old man with a strong accent that is hard to understand. I actually do love my OB. No where near retirement age so I'll have her for awhile. She's actually a family doctor/OB not OB/GYN so I see her for everything and she is my DD's doctor. But sometimes I think it would be nice to have more choices.

m6agua · September 2015

I just have my primary care physician right now. She does do some of the earlier prenatal visits. So I am going to see her and get her recommendations for an obgyn. I need to stay with the same provider because of insurance but they have lots of offices and my town isn't that big.

Bookhousegirl · September 2015

@JessicaB0627 oh my god, your doctor sounds incredible!

With my last pregnancy I went to my gyn who was also an OB and I loved her and felt really connected (she always made me feel like she was interested in how I was doing and was very proactive if she felt something might be off not just 1,2,3 and out kind of thing). She was in a large practice and so she didn't actually deliver my son, but I was glad to always go to the same doctor for all my appt's rather than bounce around getting to know everyone. She ended up being in the hospital when I was in labor and stopped in to say hi and give some encouragement which was nice. In reality, most of my labor was with the hospital nurse (who was amazing, thank god) and the doctor only came in for the last hour and a half of pushing.

This pregnancy I had to switch doctors because we moved, and I went to one while we were trying and I did not feel comfortable with her (one initial turn off was I heard her yelling at staff while I was in the waiting room which I found really unprofessional). I'm trying out a new one for my first appt, so I'm still waiting to see if I like them. If I don't I will definitely shop around a bit more. Don't be afraid to switch if you don't feel comfortable!

dicegrl84 · September 2015

OP, my situation is the same as yours, just found my guy randomly. I think as long as you feel comfortable with him and the communication is good, you'll be fine. I try to keep in mind that he's seen 1,000s more preganancies than I have, so I'll trust him opinion unless I feel something is really really off.

Bltbear82 · September 2015

My practice has 6 OBs and you cycle through them through out your pregnancy. I've been going there since I moved to NYC but once I was pregnant last time I did more research re: which hospital they deliver at, CS rates etc. Admittedly the hospital was a big factor and still is to me. I don't want to be sitting in traffic on my way uptown.

My doctor actually left the practice two months before I delivered but I knew all along it wouldn't necessarily be her on call when the time came. However, the doctor that delivered DS is amazing, patient and encouraging so I really lucked out.

KissOfApproval · September 2015

Im so bummed. I researched and chose an obgyn based off a couple of the things that are most important to me: c section rate, willingness to let me go to >40 weeks if necessary, and a couple other natural birth plan questions (comfortable delivering in varied positions, delayed cord clamping, etc)

Any who... I was so excited for my first appointment to meet this doctor that seemed so perfect for me....

Welp...long story short...I really did NOT like him. Although he seems like he would be onboard with about 75% of the things that matter to me i just dont feel comfortable around him. Hes older guy, and nice enough...but I felt SO uncomfortable during my exam!....I cant imagine being relaxed enough to push out a baby naturally with him around!! I cant totally put my finger on it...but deep down I know I need to keep looking!

and his zipper was down for the whole appointment! #awkward

BabyBliss2012 · September 2015

Interviewing is such a thing and not only in movies believe it or not! During my first pregnancy I hated my first dr. She gave me snippy responses and acted like I was asking stupid questions when I had no clue about being pregnant. I looked up doctors around my areA and looked up reviews on vitals and healthgrades and switch my dr at 20 weeks! Best decision ever! The interview process was even in his office with a desk! Just like the movies! It's important to feel that connection with your doctor So that when the day comes you're comfortable and know you're in good hands! Good luck! Hope you find the perfect dr to deliver your new baby!!

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