Do you pick the hospital, or doctor first?

MrsHolbrook · January 2009

Sorry if this seems like a silly question - but do you pick the hospital that you want to deliver at, and then find a doctor in your insurance who's affiliated there, or pick the doctor first and hope they are at a hospital that you like? I live in a big city (2+ million) and so we have a lot of hospitals to pick from. When I am pregnant, I will want one that's close to the house. So, which comes first??

AmyfromMI · January 2009

I chose my Dr. and then I got to pick between 2 hospitals that he delivers at.

Danielle43043 · January 2009

The hospital. I didn't have an OB... I just used the gyno at my local doctors office for yearly exams (but not once dr. specifically). I knew where I wanted to deliver and picked the OB from there.

Lopo · January 2009

I've been with my OBGYN since I was 16. So of course I love my clinic and my Doc....and my clinic is only affliated with the hospital right across the street from it. Which is fine by me! I think the Doc is more important than the hospital...so I would pic Doc first. GL!

vagirl1 · January 2009

I would try to do both concurrently. I would find hospitals you like and then doctors that practice there. They usually practice at multiple hospitals in your area. I think your chance of finding a good doctor might be easier than a hospital you like just because there are so few hospitals...but I could be wrong.

velina · January 2009

I picked my doctor first- in my case he only delivers at 1 hospital.

LoveEeyore · January 2009

I chose the hospital first (it's minutes away) and went on their website and searched the providers who had privilages there.

TheNewMrsCfont · January 2009

I picked the hospital I wanted to deliver at, and then found a practice that accepts my insurance that is affiliated with it.

tiggernorton04 · January 2009

Well I researched two different hospitals and found midwives that delivered at either one. I liked what I was hearing about one of the hospitals and the midwives that delivered there so that's how I made my decision.

JimsBride08 · January 2009

My old OB left the area so I had to choose a new one. There are only 2 hospitals in the area that delivery and I did NOT want one, so I chose an OB who used the other.

MyHusbandsBabiesMomma · January 2009

i guess it depends on you. If you already have a specific hospital in mind go with that and then find a dr. or choose the top 3 hospitals near you and then narrow it down by what dr. We had a family friend who works at the hospital we wanted look up the top dr.'s there and the rest of OC and thats what we decided on

AshNicole331 · January 2009

For me, I already knew what hospital that I wanted to deliver at. I ultimately took a recommendation from a friend who had a great experience with her doc -- It worked out because he happened to deliver at my hospital anyway.

johnsoar · January 2009

The clinic I go to is attached to the hospital so I really didn't have a choice (well other than find another clinic/hospital). So, I guess I chose the hospital and then the dr.

MrsHolbrook · January 2009

Thanks ladies

sauma790 · January 2009

Hospital first then dr.

rrotem · January 2009

I live in Hoboken, NJ but had been seeing a dr. in Manhattan. ?I wanted to switch ob-gyns to one closer to home but I asked a doctor friend and he recommended staying with my current doctor because the hospital was better. ?Speaking to my cousin who just gave birth, it really seems like you are with the nurses and techs from the hospital for most of the delivery - rather than the OB/GYN, so I guess that is why the hospital is important also. ?So I am happy I stayed with my doctor in NY and I guess I just hope I don't go into labor during rush hour

ShawMich · January 2009

It depends on what you know about the hospitals and doctors in your area. If you know that you want a particular hospital, then you should find a doctor that delivers there.

MrsH_2008 · January 2009

I chose my doctor first. ?I already knew what hospital she was affiliated with, and I'm happy with it.

MrsV092207 · January 2009

It's really up to you. Personally, I picked the doctor first, because the office is practically in walking distance from where I live. Considering I'll be at the doctor's office countless times during pregnancy, and at the hospital just once - the doctor was more important to me.

berry25 · January 2009

Totally depends on your area and how strong a preference you have for the hospital you would be delivering at.

kristin329 · January 2009

I decided what Hospital I wanted and then looked for dr's that deliver there.

techsan1298 · January 2009

With my first, I picked the doctor before the hospital. With #2, I picked the hospital before the Dr.

blairsgirl · January 2009

Since we are having twins, the hospital needed to play a factor as there is a possibility of them spending some time in the nicu. Fortunately, there are two good hospitals by us both with excellent nicu facilities. I was see one dr that was affiliated with one of the two. Didn't really care for him. I have an appt with a dr that is affiliated with the other hospital this fri. For us, the hospital definitely was a factor.

MRSNESK · January 2009

I really wanted to go to Rose and turns out my OBGYN only delivers there

I'd try to get an OB who lives near you and delivers where you want to go. Oh..and what a lovely surprise, seeing you here this morning

Looking forward to seeing you tonight!

amh76 · January 2009

doctor, but i live in a small town with only one hospital. ?as i'm typing this, i realize it's not a helpful response. ?:)

kchoi · January 2009

the hositals out where i live suck so i chose to pick the hospital first (i chose the hospital that's 40 mins away vs 5 mins) ?most of the good docs are at the better one anyway.

knelli · January 2009

I chose the hospital first. It is really important to me that there is an NICU (just in case) and that they specialize in OB meaning they offer classes and they have a lactation specialist that will meet you everyday while you are in there to make sure you are doing OK bf'ing. Then my Dr. came highly recommended through the hosp.

alicatnj · January 2009

I chose the hospital first because I know I want to deliver at a more modern place, with a birthing center, private rooms, etc. Then I downloaded the list of affiliated OBs from the hospital website and started doing a ton of research on each of them! I finally found one that got really good patient reviews on a number of different sites. Had my first visit this morning! I think I made a good choice with him. Good luck in your search :-)

Jimsgirl5821 · January 2009

I picked the hospital first. I actually had to switch to a new OBGyn because the one I had been using for years was affiliated with the hospital I didnt like.

jenn0717 · January 2009

I personally chose the hospital with a great reputation. I live in LA so to say that there are a number of hospitals to choose from is an understatement. I recently moved to CA from out-of-state so I did not have an OB/GYN here that I liked or felt comfortable with. I picked the hospital and then an OB in my network. It has worked out because I really like her.

tboneangel87 · January 2009

I wish I had a choice. But I don't. One thing that sucks being Navy. The doctor that sees you is the one thats there that day. I think I have had at least 5 different doctors since I got married a year ago. Not to mention 3 this pregnancy. And then of course, they have to train the corpsmen and stuff so then you'll get like the doctor and one or two others looking up your (as my DH puts it) "Hoo-hah" and it sucks. I would suggest picking the hospital first if that's what you are more worried about, though.

DaisyAdair · January 2009

Originally, I had the doctor picked and then had 2 hospitals to choose. He had been my GYN for over 10yrs and was the obvious choice to be my OB.

He died the night I saw him for my 1st appt.

So, I shopped around hospitals - toured 3 of them. Fell in love with 1. Then, I met one practice and didn't like it. I met another one and knew this was THE one. This is baby #3 they'e delivering for me and I've been thrilled since my very first visit.

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