How do you choose a good OB/GYN?

Question

What do I look for in a good OB/GYN? Are there any special questions I should ask at my first appointment?

Answer 1

Don't rule out midwives or family practice docs as well. You may find one of them that seems a better fit for you.

Think about your own birthing philosophies, if you have any ideas what they are yet. If you want an unmedicated, low intervention birth, then you'll want to make sure your caregiver is used to supporting mothers who choose that option.

Make sure that the caregiver DOES NOT cut a lot of episiotomies. Ask what his/her rate is. It should NOT be very high. Some caregivers out there still think that a first time mom always needs one and it's NOT true! Actually, unless there is fetal distress, it's better to risk a tear. A tear is likely to be less severe than a cut and will heal better than a cut.

Find out his/her c/s rate. It shouldn't be very high. Some docs actually have a 20-25% c/s rate and that is INSANE! If that many women really needed a c/s, I think the human race wouldn't have made it this far.

Ask about what they consider to be routine prenatal tests and routine procedures during labor. Find out why they consider these things routine and why they recommend them.

Find out what would happen if you disagree with the caregiver on something.

What hospital do they deliver at?
What schedule do they follow for appoinments?
What about post-partum follow up care?
What do they recommend reguarding preparation for the birth? What childbirth classes? What books?
Do they have a problem with you hiring a doula to support you through the birth?
What % of their patients use medications in labor?
What % is induced?
How far overdue would you be allowed to go before an induction?

If you ask friends and family for recommendations, be sure to ask them WHY do they like their doctor or midwife? The exact reason that they might like them could be a reason you would hate them! You could save yourself a lot of time then if you knew ahead of time.

Answer 2

Consider visiting several obstetricians and interviewing them before making a final decision. For example, you may want to ask each ob-gyn whether she routinely uses interventions such as IVs and continuous electronic fetal monitoring, how often and under what circumstances she would do an episiotomy, and when she thinks a cesarean section is warranted. You can't predict what your individual case will require, but you'll get an idea of the caregiver's outlook and practice patterns from her responses to these questions.

Bedside manner counts, too. Is the ob-gyn forthcoming with explanations and up to date in her thinking? Does she seem interested in you personally, or does she rarely look up from her charts? Does she seem like someone who will respect your wishes? You want a healthcare partner you feel comfortable with and can communicate with easily.

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Answer 3

I got a referral from my primary doctor. Chances are if you like your primary doctor you will like the OB/GYN. Also ask the nurses at the doctors office or ask over at the Hospital which you wil be delivering. Ask other Moms when you are out and about, friends, etc.

Answer 4

When I moved to a new city and was pregnant I went to the hospital I was going to deliver in and went right to the delivery floor and talked with the staff and asked them!!!
Of course they said they shouldn't say lol But I was a nurse and they told me who they thought was good and yep they were right. I called the doc they suggested and asked for an appointment and he took me on as a patient and I never looked back. He delivered my next 2 boys.
So if you can get away with trying that route - I'll tell you - the nurses on the floor know!

Answer 5

Awesome question. Looks like we don't know for sure if you are expecting(?).

Make sure the practice you choose spends time with you and doesn't just treat you like a number. Other important things to consider are waiting times (how long you have to wait in the waiting room), how easy they are to contact on the phone (or via email, etc.), and the distance between that practice and your job/home.

If you are just looking for a general women's health practice - you should reflect on your philosophies about birth control, breastfeeding, pregnancy, sex, etc, and try to find a practice that really cares about you and not one who just wants the money.

If you are pregnant, decide how you want *your* birth, and *your* pregnancy to go. Then find someone that agrees 100% with your philosophies. You can always leave a practice if you find you are not on the same page.

Good luck!

Answer 6

What I asked was

Whats your rate in C-sections?
Whats your rate in episiotomy?
How many babies do you deliver in a given month?

Personally I chose a Nurse Practitioner/midwife for both my children BC their rates are alot lower in C-sections and Episotomies. Not to mention they are re a bit more laid back they usually dont wear a white lab coat and are in either scrubs or everyday clothes its more of a comfortable feel

Answer 7

Talk to your friends and family they would be your best resources. Go on your first impression. Make sure that you don't feel rushed through your appointment.

Good luck!!

Answer 8

whilst i began going to the GYN, I purely went to the single my mom went to. there have been 2 women interior the place of work, and that they have got been the two OB/GYN's, so as quickly as I have been given pregnant, I purely saved going to them. yet they have been out-of-state, and whilst my insurance replaced, I had to discover a diverse wide-unfold practitioner or pay each and every of the expenses out-of-pocket. And on appropriate of that, my dr saved passing all of my appointments directly to her better half, whom I hated. She became impolite and short with me, and truthfully stated i check out abortion at my first OB appointment (because of the fact i became 19, no longer becuase there became some thing incorrect with the toddler). So as quickly as I regarded for a sparkling place of work, I asked different pregnant human beings I knew. My sister-in-regulation became pregnant and became going to a close-by place of work, and he or she suggested her place of work became super, plus it became approximately 3 minutes away (as damaging to 30-35 the place i became going). i desperate to offer them a attempt and that i'm so happy I did! They have been plenty nicer than my previous place of work, and that prepare had 2 OB/GYN's and a midwife. I went with the midwife (I felt greater gentle along with her, yet my SIL observed on of the Dr's because of the fact she felt greater comfortable with somebody who had that degree), yet ended up having to have between the docs called in to preform a cesarean. If there's a prepare like that in the process your area, i could recommend giving them a attempt. traditionally, midwives have much less sufferers at a time, so as that they might spend greater time with each and every of them. in addition they use diverse laboring techiniques to objective to sidestep over-medicine. yet a physician can dispense drugs and preform a cesarean if necesary. that's what became so sturdy approximately my place of work. i became in a position to work out the midwife, yet whilst there got here a concern, she already knew the wide-unfold practitioner who became going to come back in and take over. As for a doula, for my area, they're rather unnecesary. they can't furnish a toddler, dispense drugs, or provide prenatal examine-ups. All they're is a exertions coach, and in case you have a husband, boyfriend, better half, mom, sister, or anybody you extremely understand who could be able to be interior the transport room with you and wipe your brow and feed you ice chips and summon a nurse once you like one, you do no longer might desire to pay for a doula. Congratulations on the toddler, and sturdy luck!

Answer 9

Go with a female! Hands down the easiest way....they understand our bodies a hell of a lot more than a man.....they will never truly get it and no matter what.....men are men, they may be doctors, but they are still men! Get a female doctor and you will be fine.

Answer 10

ask referals from friends and relatives.

you should feel comfortable with her, coz she will play a very important role in you and your baby's life.

look the way she answers your questions, the way she explains your condition.