Hello mamas,
First, sorry for the novel. I'm trying to give as much info as possible to help you know what I'm looking for! Thanks, in advance, for reading on...
I'm going to be moving to Austin in a few months and am expecting a baby a few months after that. I just LOVE my current doctor and the hospital where I had my first baby boy in April of last year...after doing a lot of research, it was the perfect choice in Dallas. Perhaps you mamas can help me to select my new "perfect" doctor/hospital in Austin?!
What I liked about the hospital where I delivered is that they had a good NICU for a "high-risk pregnancy". Since I'm a woman of "advanced maternal age" (I hate that term! :-), the pregnancy was considered "high-risk". So, I wanted to go to a top-ranked hospital for labor, delivery, and neo-natal care...just in case! I also like the hospital I chose because all of their rooms were private rooms (my healthcare plan would only pay for semi-private, if such a choice were available). Also, the nursing staff was great and the Labor & Delivery rooms were also amazing.
Knowing this info, to which hospital do you recommend I go to deliver my second little firecracker? Also, which doctor would you recommend at that hospital? I chose mine not only because of his experience, but also because he was laid back, and had a sense of humor, which is what I needed as a first time Mom who was old enough to have heard all of those friends' stories, read way too much on worrisome topics, and had tons of questions for him). LOL. By the way, male or female would be fine...
Thanks for you help!
Hi D.,
My husband is a doctor here in Austin and I worked in the medical field for several years here so I feel like we know the medical community well. Seton Medical Center (Central) has the best NICU. David Berry, MD is a perinatalogist and a great one. He was also my physician last year for my first pregnancy.
Hope this helps. Please contact me if you have any other questions.
Hi D.. I'm 41 and gave birth to our son in May, so I was also considered "high risk" (the pregnancy and delivery were all beautifully healthy!) I highly, highly recommend Dr. Nancy Binford. She is wonderful, I just can't say enough good things about her. She's very kind, very easy to talk to, her bedside manner is fantastic, and she'll work with your goals toward the kind of delivery you want. I went for natural labor, ended up getting an epidural the very last hour, and gave birth to a gorgeous 8 lb. 7 oz. boy. She was great and very supportive during both the natural period as well as the epidural. She delivers out of Seton Hosptial (the Central location, 38th Street). I will recommend her to everyone I know. Also, you guys are making a great choice going West/South. I've been in South Austin for years and my husband and I both love it. Good luck with everything, and welcome to town!
My daughter had trouble regulating her temperature after she was born and had to spend 5 days in the NICU at St. David's. We were thoroughly impressed by the nursing staff there -- they really seemed to care. And I had one-on-one time with a lactation specialist every day she was admitted to ensure that she was still able to breastfeed despite being in intensive care.
My Ob/Gyn is Dr. Michelle Chouteau. Very no-nonsense and direct, but good! If you like someone touchy-feely, then you should look elsewhere!
Dr. Robert Cowan!! Austin Area OBGYN too switched cities and doctors in the middle of my 1st pregnancy and was so fortunate enough to have been recommended Dr. Cowan. I love him and all of his nurses and consider them friends. I went from a rushed, barely give you enough time place in Houston to a practice that sits and talks to you and really makes you feel comfortable. The delivery at Seton Medical Center on 38th was so fantastic and easy with Dr. Cowan (right next to the hospital so even some of his nurses came over). I am now pregnant with #2 and am not at all worried about anything because I know Dr. Cowan is there for me as well as his staff. Please email me if you have any questions. You will be safe, secure, happy and at ease with him. Good luck on your move too.
Also if you need an Pediatrician - I use Capital Pediatrics (Dr. Sandra Treybig) and just love them too. They are very near Seton area on 39th. I had some issues with baby #1 and we were there almost weekly. They were fantastic!! And still are! Open on Saturdays which is nice because things always seem to happen on Friday night. ###-###-####. Best to you!!
If you are moving near south Austin my doctor recommendation is any of the wonderful doctors at Hill Country OBGYN (I use Dr. Schneider and she is AWESOME!)
Best part is that you would deliver at Seton Southwest. They have the most amazing Labor and Delivery Unit! We chose to deliver here because they use Labor Delivery Recovery Postpartum rooms. Your baby never leaves the room unless you request it (which was nice to do one night when we were in need of some Zzzz's)
My experience at Seton Southwest was fabulous!
Good luck with everything!
Hi D.,
My gynocologist is Dr Jo Bess Hammer, who has the fund of knowledge and humor and experience you ask for. She practices at St. Davids, which has an excellent NICU. I used to take baby pics there.
I also have the most beautiful house on the market in Eanes (Barton Creek West) where we were extremely happy with the schools. Bee Caves Road does indeed have traffic, but not the worst in town by any means. We only left because both my kids graduated and we downsized.
Dr. Margarete Thompson office out on Duval. I delivered all my children with her and my experience being pregnant with twins, was awesome with them.
Hi D. - welcome to Austin. I had a baby in Dec, and I am 'advanced age'. I was in fact 46 when I had my baby girl. I really liked Dr.Phillips at Austin Area OB GYN and Fertility, who is affiliated with Seton Central. A friend of mine who is a general practitioner suggested that I go to Seton Central because they had great facilities in case of emergencies or complications. I have to say though, my doctor was not on call, so someone else (Dr. Seeker, who is also a very good docter I hear),delivered the baby. Their office is lovely, and even though you sometimes have to wait a while for your appointment, there is a cofffe shop right there,
the waiting room is well stocked with magazines and the staff are very nice. Their number is:###-###-####
I had no complications - and I had a private room without asking for one. Oh, and there is a beautiful home (fairly expensive but really nice) for sale in my neighborhood. Great elementary school (Eanes District)in walking distance, very family friendly neighborhood. Check out Charles Ave and Aqua Verde just off 360 and Cedar street.
Hi D.! Welcome back to Austin! For the past 10 years my ob/gyn doc has been Dr. Mikeal Love and he is great. You are welcome to contact me if you would like to ask my questions about his attitudes, office staff, bedside manner or anything else.
Dr. Love delivered all 3 of my babies at St. David's, and I felt so well taken care of there. The nursing staff is great, and they also have excellent lactation specialists there who were great for helping me learn to breastfeed. I read the other responses about Seton being the best, and I am sure it is excellent but I had always heard that St. David's has the best NICU.
hello D.,
first congrast on your second and welcome to austin. i am i also expecting my second child in decemeber. The hospital i had my first daughter was abosulely wonderful. i had my daugther at St. David. The LDR are big and the recovery room are also good and privete. The nurses are also wonderful. For my first child i had a wonderful exprecience there and i will be returning there for my second deleviry. They also have a great NICU. I check it out before i delever and i i love it. they do tours daily. You could check it before delevery.
For Ob/GYN i would recomende April Harris. She is my OB and she is awesome. She answers all the question and she see you right way. Good luck!!! I hope this help.
May I welcome you to Austin, D.? Drs. Melanie Belt ###-###-####), Sasikala Hemkumar Ste 350 ###-###-####) and Emily Hooi ###-###-####) are wonderful OB/GYNs in South Austin, too. They are in the same building with Dr. Tara Cherry ###-###-####) 4101 James Casey St Ste 300 Austin, TX 78745.
DEFINITELY go to Dr. J. Grimes. She's with the Women's Health Team. She and her husband, Dr. Mumphreys have a practice together. She is AMAZING! So personal and caring! They are located right behind South Austin Hospital in a medical complex. If you go to Dr. Grimes, you WON'T be disappointed! Here is her website: http://www.thewomenshealthteam.com/health.htm
All of these doctors have admitting priviledges at South Austin Hospital
Good Luck!
