How did you decide?!

[julianovak]

Sooo....... My first pregnancy i was thrown from one doctor to another, I didnt have a "set" doctor..... I dont know why that was..... I didnt like how everything turned out, i hadnt really gotten comfortable with one person, and id go see someone new.Oh and my Ob/gyn doctor that saw me during my first pregnancy "popped" in to see how i was "pushing" how absolutly pathetic. I found that SO RUDE..... And i cant stand to see someone who does things like that.... Im not a "number" im NOT a "patient" whos being treated for an illness of some sort. I want to be treated with the respect and dignity i was treated with in the delivery room.....

After delivery i realized that the women (midwife) who delivered my baby was someone id never even met....... Now, as akward as this sounds, I remember this midwife so well, i remember her being so gentle and caring towards my daughter at birth and being so patient with me...... I actually now know her name, and with this baby Ive decided i want to see her, and i hope to have her present for my second childs birth as well..... My heart is set on it.... Its so strange how sometimes you "just" know"......... What are your experiances with "choosing the perfect midwife/ob/gyn".......

=)

[julianovak]

I made an appoitment with a nurse, and then im going to be seeing the midwife that delivered my baby.... Ive never seen her thruout my pregnancy with Isa, but she was so caring and gentle with BElla that i know i HAVE to see her with this pregnancy.

[Ashelen]

I got shifted around a group of doctors my first pregnancy...and there were several fantastic doctors and some really really awful ones...one midwife that consistantly made me cry and whom I actually had a row with in the office when she pushed so hard with the dopplar on my stomach at my 18wk appointment that I cramped so hard I couldn't straighten for 2 days....went to the ER and they told me never to let her touch me again...I went back after calling the office and telling them never to schedule me with her again and she came in and tried to have a go at me for "maligning her professional mannerisms and giving her a bad reputation" and I gave her an earful. now i am NOT a confrontational person but she seriously got the rough side of my tongue that day.


the doctor who delivered my daughter was so old and slow (he was even semi-retired) that he barely made it in time to catch my daughter. granted he had quick fingers and sewed me up before I bled to death so I am grateful to him for that...but...never again.

so with my son I did a lot of searching...pulled up a pair of OBs who work as hand-in-hand partners and did some online patient review reading...and when EVERY SINGLE review out of 300 (!!!!) was favorable..I decided to go with them. they were the most amazing, most caring, most professional, caring, funny, affectionate, skilled doctors I have seen in my life, and I've seen a ton of doctors. I wish I could get ALL my care from them.

online patient reviews = a God-send.

[JoyRenee]

*found the midwives with my third baby; forgot to mention that. The first two were born with OBGYNs.

Obstetricians are in actuality trained surgeons and most have never even seen or attended a birth (especially not a natural one) before starting out in their field of choice. A midwife is specifically trained in birth and how to make it most effective. I really appreciate the midwives' stance on birth and the womans' body.

They're becoming increasingly popular. People think they're hippies who smell like patchouli and don't shave or dance under the moon. They're not. They VERY intelligent, educated and trained in all things birth. Most midwives have a c-section rate of less than 5% whereas OBs have upwards of almost 50%. And it is proven that home birth is safer than hospital birth. The infant and woman mortality rate in the US is one of the highest. We need to look at WHY and get back to letting the laboring woman do what her body needs to do. And in the rare cases assistance is needed welcome the OB with open arms!

[JoyRenee]

Had OBGYNs with my first two births and just felt like a number in line. There was a LOT of defensive medicine ("We'll give you an IV JUST in case...") and even talk of a c-section because my second daughter's collarbone broke at birth. There was no resolution or solutions to my fears.

So I called up a midwife group when I was 36 or 37 weeks pregnant and they took me in. A few weeks later I had my baby with only three people in the room (MIL, husband and the midwife) without any preventative/defensive measures and I had her vaginally and DID NOT EVEN TEAR.

I felt I was FINALLY heard when I found the midwife group. Next time I'm shooting for a water birth! Might even consider a home birth if husband is on board.

[trying43]

I picked my doctor based on how much time she spent with me and how she treated me as a person not just a patient.  I was totally comfortable with her. Also all the doctors in her group are excellent in case she isnt there in time and they are all super nice.  

[julianovak]

Thank You! I definatly will check into patient reviews.... =)