New OBGYN - How to Choose?!

[renbee]

So now that I've been released from the RE (yay!) I'm wanting to switch OBGYNs. I don't love my current one, and her office locations are really inconvenient for me - I want someone closer to my work. A little background: MH and I work at locations about 1.5 hours apart, and we live right in the middle, meaning we each have roughly 45 min commutes. After doing some research and speaking to my RE and some friends, I have narrowed it down to two options.

Option #1
A doctor in the same large network as my current doctor, which means I don't have to transfer my records. The reason I chose her is because she sees patients at two locations - one close to my work and another fairly close to my home. She also delivers at the hospital 15 minutes from where we live, and another that is about 30 minutes away, but is the top rated hospital with the best nicu. A downside is that I haven't loved being part of this large network because it's hard to actually get ahold of the office if I need to - there's one phone number for the whole network and it rings into an operator type person. It's just a very impersonal experience.

Option #2
Smaller practice, separate from the large network. They see patients in one location that is close to my work, but the second location is super far away and I wouldn't ever want to go there. They deliver at one hospital but it is the one that is top rated and has the best nicu. A friend of mine goes there and loves it, and my RE also recommended them. I'm concerned that it would be difficult for my husband to attend appointments here, and that our only option for hospital is a bit further from us. There's always the risk of running into traffic and having our 30 minute drive to that hospital become over an hour.

So, who would you pick? How important is it to deliver at a hospital close to your home? STMs - how many appointments did your husband actually go to - would it be weird to just go by myself?

[renbee]

As a thank you for your help, here is sexy Chris Pratt:

[MissMusic]

I just switched from a big practice to a small practice, mostly because they were impossible to get a hold of and hard to get an appointment. They deliver at a good hospital but there were aspects I didn't like (c-section rate, mostly).

I switched to the smaller practice for more individual attention, shorter drive, ease of scheduling, and a doc that actually listens to me and doesn't treat me like a number.

I would go with option 2, but thats my personal opinion. 1 hr of labor in the grand scheme is not so pressing. If YH has notice, he might be able to attend appts (and TBH, they're all boring except for the ultrasounds, which are few and far between). If your friend loves it and your RE loves it, thats even more reason to go there.

[minae01]

DH only goes to 2 appointments - the initial OB intake and the 20 week (unless there is a problem). Otherwise, it's just me. There's really no point for the guy to go. I wouldn't really consider his commute into the equation. I think if I were you, I'd go with Option #1 due to the ease and convenience. Based on experience, transferring medical records is a pain in the ass (maybe it's not for everyone). Our hospital is also 30 minutes away and we did have 24 days of NICU time with our first, and that drive wasn't terrible. I also second checking into an online portal. My OB has MyChart and I can message her directly at any time. I also get quick access to test results.

The decision is a tough one, but I don't think that you can go wrong with either. Good luck!

[lclegit]

My first OB sounds similar to buttercup. The doc and the hospital were in downtown Chicago and and we lived in a suburb that in rush hour could take 90 minutes to get to. We worked in the city at the same company so DH came with me to most of my appts but it wouldn't have been a big deal if he couldn't make it. He went to the initial and the U/S ones. The practice was part of a huge system at a giant teaching hospital and I loved it for all the people that could be involved and jump in if necessary. I never had to call but if I would have to, a nurse would take a message and call me back. Being far away went I went into labor wasn't a huge deal because it was 4am. But even in rush hour 90 minutes wouldn't have been a nightmare.

The records transfer would be enough for me to not want to move but I also loved my OB and even in a huge system, the office didn't know me by name but my doctor absolutely did.

I'm at a new OB now just because we moved. Huge system, I'm just a number to everyone else but still feel like my actual doctor and NP know me.

I guess my point is that as long as you feel listened to and that they know you as a person, I personally prefer the larger system where everything is connected. The drives aren't a huge deal and H can come to the really important appts.

Good luck with your decision! Let us know how it goes!

[Deleted]

How important is it to deliver at a hospital close to your home?
I wanted it to be close to home. I didn't really even look into the hospital other than the fact that it takes less than 10 minutes to get there. This time again, I'm more focused on the hospital being close.

STMs - how many appointments did your husband actually go to - would it be weird to just go by myself?
DH went to... maybe a couple in the beginning before we moved with DD. Then his work schedule wouldn't allow him any time off so he went to none past 16 weeks and maybe 1 or 2 prior to that. I doubt he'll come to any this time, I'm just hoping he'll even be around for the delivery.

[renbee]

Sept 7, 2015 12:29:53 GMT -5 heartbot said:

1) The hospital: it's important to have a hospital within a reasonable range, but for a better hospital, I'd happily drive a little further.

2) Husband at appointments: there's no reason for him to be at most of the appointments. Unless there's an ultrasound or you seriously think you might be sent directly on to L&D, there's not really much reason for him to be there.

3) For me, the most important thing is having a practice where I feel like the doctors/midwives/whoever listen to me and know who I am. I've been through the baby factory once and hated it. I won't do it again. If it means I have to drive a little further to get to a doctor or to deliver, then so be it. That's my preference, though. If that's less important to you or if distance to appointments is more critical (if you have limited time off from work, for instance, it might not be an option), then you might swing the other way.

4) Maybe wait to make a decision until you've met with both doctors and have a chance to decide whom you get on with best?

See this is where I feel like I am. I had a CP in May and I just didn't like that I couldnt get in touch with my doctor, and I really had to fight to get betas. It was my second loss and she just completely was blowing me off it felt like. I think this is why I'm leaning towards the smaller practice because I want a more personal feel, and someone who knows and appreciates my background of loss/IF.

The smaller practice is still convenient with their location right by my work, which is the most important part because I'd like to avoid taking a lot of time off for appointments. Since it sounds like most of your SOs didn't go to that many appointments, I don't think it will be that big of an issue that it's a bit more difficult for DH to get there.

Now i didn't even think about scheduling appointments with both to check them out - I guess I didn't think that was an option. I may check into that though!