Need Advice: Changing OB/GYN Late in Pregnancy

Personally, I feel that if you feel any discomfort or misgivings with your OB it is completely worth it to switch. I know being a first time mom to be has enough worries and concerns on you mind, the last thing you should worry about is you OB. Believe me you will want someone who is supportive and on the same page you are. I have delivered once with a midwife and the second time with an OB from two different practices due to a change in my insurance. Both experiences were wonderful and positive. I found my first midwife, just by chance. When I switched I got recommendations from a moms listserve that I belong to. Both of the practices deliver at Northside and are located in the SandySprings/DUnwoody areas, just off I-285. The midwife I used was LIsa Holt with Arbor OBGYN (I think that is the name of the group-the doctor is Dr. Samantha Anderson, who I also met and liked during my first pregnancy). My second delivery was with Dr. Phoebe Sun. I forget the name of the group, but they are located in the Doctor's Building next to Northside. The practice includes Dr. Michelle Houston and Dr. Soufi. Email me if you need the contact info for either. I would imagine that if you explain your circumstances it should not be too late in the game to switch, especially sice this is your first pregnancy. This actually happens more then you know since many times women have to move to completely different cities during their pregnancy. Good luck finding a OB and with the arrival of your first little one.

A.
____@____.com

I changed doctors at 25 weeks and it was the best decision I made. When it came down to it, the delivery did not matter so much because I saw a doctor on call and delivered 20 minutes after i arrived at the hospital but my office experiences were so much better when I switched. I felt comfortable with the doctor and all the staff.

As for size, I was sent for ultrasounds twice because I measured 3 weeks small although my weight gain was fine. the ultrasound tech said that the baby was actually measuring a week or 2 bigger but was sitting very low (why i had the quick delivery). They told me that baby position could cause measurement discrepancies. If you are worried, I would ask for an ultrasound to check the baby's size. Good luck!

I changed doctors around 30 weeks with my last baby. I was hoping for a VBAC with the doctors I was seeing and at first they were very compliant. Little by little though, their story began to change, I began to feel stressed about it, and I decided I needed to make a change. I remember my doula saying to me - if you are uncomfortable with your doctor now, it will only get worse later. I encourage you to find a Dr. you are comfortable with and one that treats you well. You deserve to be nurtured and educated during this time. Good luck!

My feeling is that there is almost nothing as important as feeling compfortable and confidant in your health car provider. I have had 11 babies and the ones that I was not totally comfortable with the health care provider left me not feeling very well and concerned during labor. It may be somewhat difficult to find someone who will take you on but since you have had car all along not impossible. Maybe you could request recomendations and why people liked their providers in your area. Best wishes to you!

K. B

www.shaklee.net/takecontrol

I changed OB's when I had 4 weeks left in my 1st pregnancy. If you do not LOVE your OB then switch. I loved the OB I started wiht, but they kept putting me with the other OB in the practice that I didn't "click" with. I repeatedly asked to be scheduled with my favorite OB, and they never did. So, I completely switched docs. I went to another OB, who accepted me, with some reservations. But, I am quite headstrong, and at this point was tired of putting up with BS. The new OB happened to be friends with my old OB (the good one) and called him the night of my visit and told him the whole sob story. There was more than just us not clicking. The "bad" one (who wasn't not a bad doctor, he was an excellent doctor) but his bedside manner stunk, his nurses were rude, he called me fat, etc. Anyway. The old doc (the good one) called me at home and asked me if I wanted him to be my doc again, and that I would never have to deal with the other doc again. I did, and ended up going to my original doc. However, I could have stayed with the new doc and it would have been fine too. The whole point is this...this is a BIG deal, and you want everything about this experience to be as perfect as possible. If you don't feel comfortable with your doctor, you will be all stressed out which is never good. SWITCH doctors. don't let the old doctor tell you that you can not!! This is YOUR body, not his. This is YOUR baby. YOU make the decisions about who is involved in your medical care. DO NOT be bullied by anyone!!!! They work for YOU. Do not allow anyone to do any procedure, make a comment, not explain a diagnosis etc that you do not fully understand, or agree with. THIS IS YOUR RIGHT!!!!!
I have been in several different situations over the past 6 years where I have had to put my foot down and not get railroaded by the medical "professionals" I was dealing with. MY father has worked in hospitals all my life, and I have a great deal of respect for the medical profession as a whole. But, I do not tolerate anything that is not completely professional and absolutely necessary.
Don't let one rotten doctor spoil the whole group though. I think my Current OB/GYN is the best (well, next to the one that delivered my 1st child!!).
Ask your friends for a name of a good OB, ask co workers. Everyone has an opinion, take them all with a grain of salt, but remember there is always SOME truth in peoples opinions!!

Unfortunately many physician practices are out of touch with the art of customer service. If you are not satisfied, change physicians. If you want to help the next patient I would write the physician a letter explaining all the negative things that have happened and exactly why you are leaving. You are paying for a service and you are getting poor service.

I changed doctors 6 weeks before due date. I had just enough time to meet all four of the mid-wives once. And then meet with the mid-wife who was best referred and on call on my due date a total of 3 times. I wasnt inconvienced ny changing doctors at a late date.

I changed because my first Ob/gyn didnt deliver at the hospital near my new house, which I was going to be moving into the weekend before the baby is due.

When I became pregnant for the very first time - with twins I was told by my regular OB/GYN at a certain point in my pregnancy that I needed to "watch" my weight. It upset me because I have never been scolded or told anything negative about my weight because I have always been very tall and skinny thanks to genetics. The very next week at 28 weeks I was sent over to the hospital and seen by a lady doctor that was on call at the time and who was also pregnant too. She ended up putting me on bedrest at this point and told me that I needed to gain more weight or put "more fat on those babies". I looked at her like she was crazy and explained that MY doctor told me just last week to "watch" my weight. She politely glanced up at the ceiling and stared straight into my eyes and told me kindly "you need to fatten those babies up". I told her okay you only have to tell me that once and so I continued on with my bedrest and eating binge and finally delivered at 36 weeks (btw my babies weighed 6 lbs and 5 lb 10 oz.)However, during this time I thought hmm...maybe I'll change over to her because I really liked her and the way she made me feel and how we connected. When I did deliver though MY regular OB was the one on call and I have to say during my delivery I could not have asked for a better Doc and I am so glad he was the one on call. After he delivered I thought to myself why would you ever leave? I think pregnancy has a way of tricking your mind and sometimes you tend to take things personally but in all honesty they are/should be thinking of you and your baby and what is within YOUR best interest-not theirs.
Had I not had twins and just a single birth and not been considered "high risk" I would have wanted a midwife. I never had that opportunity and over the years I have seen them grow in more popularity. Perhaps instead of changing Doctor's ask for a midwife and at that one that you connect with. I would also request that particular one unless you tend to connect with ALL the midwives within that practice and if they are not willing-then guess what time to look for another OB because this is YOUR body, YOUR BABY, YOUR LIFE- not theirs and I'm sorry but if they are in the medical field of delivering babies they should know that they have to be ready at any given moment-but that shouldn't matter to them if they truly do love their job and what they do. I would never ever let anyone "tell" me who is going to deliver my baby. If MY doc hadn't been on call and there was another Doc that showed up that I had never seen or met I would have demanded another doc-period. (Believe me they are not going to have you deliver without a doctor or midwife present so from the very beginning you better make it very clear you want someone else there if whomever is on call isn't the right fit.) Yes, it would have caused a scene and yes maybe they would have thought that I was witch but I don't care you have a strange person looking at your most private parts and you need to be able to "trust" them - all of them. There were a few in my practice that I never even got to see because I just didn't make it that far. I never even got to see one of the midwives because they can't help participate in a high risk pregnancy - although that may have changed now. It's been 6 plus years since I was pregnant and things change so often. Oh and by the way too almost EVERY doctor I did see they told me I would most likely have to have a C-section. I delivered vaginal and I knew my doctor that delivered knew that is what I ultimely wanted. My second baby wasn't dropping down into the birth canal and he waited and helped bring her down-most would have taken me immediately to the Operating room. You need to discuss your birth plan in detail as to what you are ok with and what you aren't. They have them online where you can fill it out and hand it out to each and every doc you see and make sure you pack one in with your maternity bag as well to give to the nurse as you are checking in to have that baby-that way there are no excuses and everyone is on the same page. Everything will be fine but if you really truly feel that these doctors don't have your best interest at stake by all means search for another OB. I don't think it's too late and especially if you explain the situation to the new Doc. However, you really need to step back and make sure you are not being too over sensitive as well unless there is just something else that "we" are not aware of. Point being if you don't feel comfortable with them find another but you may find that after "seeing" another Doctor at this point that you may want to just stay where you are at. It's your choice I'm sort of interested in knowing which practice you go to and wonder if it's mine. I have noticed over the years the more business they get the worse they seem to get but to be quite honest it's not the doctors it's really the staff that I'm ill at. Some of the nurses are real winners over there let me tell you. I'd rather a practice know me by name than just a number if you know what I mean and if I call with a concern I shouldn't have to "demand" anything or made to feel like my doctor is too busy for me furthermore made to feel like the nurse is too busy as well I already know they are busy but I'm pregnant and I have a concern and it should be addressed with patience and care- I wouldn't be too shy either to ask for my doctor to call me back if I didn't like the nurse-yeah I know I'm most likely their worst nightmare. I love my Doc so changing just because of the staff isn't really worth it and if it bothers me that bad I'll just tell my doctor about it and discuss it with him-if he blows me off then guess what I'll look for another one because he ain't the only joint in town and there are plenty others out there that I can potentially connect with. Plus I think I am done having babies anyways. However I am only 33 and not wuite ready to fully admit that.

Sounds like you need a caring doctor and staff. I was a military wife and saw a different ob/gyn doctor each time. I changed regular doctors about 4 years ago because the staff at my regular doctors' office weren't answering my questions (I'm a diabetic). I am pleased now with my GP. He even calls me long distance when I am out of state. His staff always are courteous, cheerful, know my name and cares for me.

I changed my OBGYN late in pregnancy because of the same sort of thing. I had actually not even seen the doctor. Every time I came in I was checked by nurses, so I didnt even know what my doctor looked like. Let me just say that if you dont have complete confidence in your OB, you need to find one you do because when it comes time and you are in pain and scared you need someone you can trust to help you through the experience of childbirth. I found an OB that would let me do natural childbirth and was very attentive to my needs and that made all the difference in the world. Shop around before its too late!

I don't know anything about changing, but if I were you and that concerned I would definitely seek a second opinion at the very least. Then if it's something that you still want to do, I'd talk to your insurance to find out what would be involved to make the switch. Like other folks say, this is a BIG deal in your life right now for you and your husband and you should be HAPPY with your provider.

If you are looking for a good OB/GYN and are in the Marietta area and are going to deliver at Kennestone, I'd recommend Marietta OB/GYN Affiliates right next to the hospital. http://www.mariettaobgyn.com/provider.html

I adore Drs. Alarcon, Klein and Taghechian to most - the others are ok, too, and all cared for me with utmost professionalism, but these 3 were top notch in my book. I was pre-eclamptic starting at 32 weeks and hospitalized until delivering prematurely by c-section at 35.5 weeks and had a very "pleasant" experience, even in my condition. And I can't wait to get started on #2 (of course praying I don't have to experience bedrest and pre-eclampsia again!)

good luck to you and congradulations on your new addition to your family. You're going to love it!
AM

I would change in a heartbeat. I've heard of such experiences from other women and it makes me feel so sad for you. I've been lucky enough to have 2 fabulous OB/Gyns for both of my deliveries (most recently 10 months ago). My OB/GYN is Bret Lewis with Northside/Northpoint OB/GYN located next to Northside Hospital with an additional office in Alpharetta. There are other physicians in his practice too (women). They are all very nice. If you would like their number please let me know. Good luck!! You deserve to be treated like a princess :-)

If you have doubts about your care, I would switch in a heartbeat. The only con would be that you may end up with a doctor that you don't know for delivery but if you don't trust the ones you're with now, I don't really see that as too big of a con. I would look around for recommendations from friends/family for practices. If possible, it might be good to find one with a low number of doctors or preferably just one doc.

Good luck! I know this is a scary time anyway, but if you are having concerns, I wouldn't hesitate. This is your new baby after all!

Hi C.,

With my first, my husband and I changed practices at 36 weeks as well as hospitals. We live right next to Northside and changed to North Fulton. I'm not sure where you are, but I use Isis OB. They are fabulous, relaxed, and believe in birth as a natural process. Once my husband and I made the decision to change I already started feeling better. It was by far one of the best decisions I have ever made. I say go for it! Feel free to touch base if you'd like to chat about it more. Here's the info on Isis if you're interested. www.isisobgyn.com.

Good luck!
C.

You have several things to consider. Is there another competent ob/gyn in your area that would take your case this late in your pregnancy? What would your insurance do about paying the 2 Doctors? How could you be sure you would like the new Doctor any more than the one you have? Is your present Doctor competent? Any complaints filed against him? I know hormones make us much more sensitive than we normally are. This could well be influencing how your are perceiving your present Doctor's attitude. V.

I love the group that I'm going to in Lawrenceville called Preferred Women's Healthcare (there are 4 doctors), but I know it's rather far for you to go there.

Hmm, what would I do? Well, if your insurance lets you do that and if a new doctor also lets you do that, I would change if you feel that you should. I certainly would. Why not check on it?

I did! I switched at 30 weeks and am so, so glad I did! I switched to a midwife - Margaret Strickhouser - and it was the best decision. They were caring and attentive, a big change from the previous office. You didn't say where you live, so we can't give you recommendations of offices. Girl, you need to starting calling today! The new office wouldn't see me until they had my file. At this point, you are going to need to go pick up the file and hand carry it to your new office, you can't wait for them to get around to mailing it. Also, I wouldn't worry too much about matching up to the doctor's little chart. Everyone is different. I think they get parents worked up over nothing when they try to compare you to their silly little charts.

When I was nearly seven months pregnant with my firstborn, my husband (military) was given orders allowing him to return to college to finish his degree. We moved back to his home state, to a small college town, and it was another full month before we could find a doctor who was taking on new patients! I was frantic! By my eighth month, finally we found a doctor to deliver my baby. All was well and no harm was done. Switching doctors this late will not hurt you or your baby and if it is your gut feeling that you should do it, then do it!

I feel what you are going through. For similar reasons I changed OB/GYN when I was 6 months pregnant with my first child. It was the best decision I made. I was extremely nervous, but my new doctor quickly put me at ease and his staff were very obliging. That's what you need at this time. A a doctor and staff that is going to make you comfortable, and help your birthing experience go along as smoothly as possible. If things are like this now, just imagine how things will be when it's time for you to give birth. That's the worst time to not have the medical support you need and deserve. Remember too, this doctor and his staff is going to be caring for you after your baby is born. If you choose to switch, ask friends or family for OB/GYN references. By any chance, If you live in Savannah, Ga. the OB/GYN that I switched to was Dr. Borenstein. He made me very comfortable and his staff were very supportive. I still go to him for my annual papsmears. I wish you much success.

Change, change, change your doctor. Otherwise you face experiencing what should be one of the best moments in your life with a team of folks with whom you are decidedly uncomfortable. Shouldn't you instead be with a team you'd happily hug? For sure you're supposed to be attended by caring informative sensitive professionals who are good listeners. During my 2nd trimester, I changed to a practice that was almost 30 minutes away and it was the absolutely right choice. Do some research, ask MOMS Club members and others, and walk a copy of your medical record to someone new. You don't have to stay with those docs.

I am 34 weeks pregnant with baby number two. I am married to a military man and we recently were stationed in GA from Washington state so of course at 33 weeks I had to change OB's, It really wasnt to much of a change I had all of my medical records and was actually really happy with the OB I was assigned to. I was in the same situation you are with my frist child though. I really wasnt comortable with my OB from the start, she made rude comments to me as my sons father was never around she actually asked me if I was sure I wanted to go through with the pregnancy a one point. As I look back now and realize how much she didnt listen to me I wish I had changed OB's with the first comment she made to me. But I didnt, I ended up delivering my son at 36 weeks an was in labor (water broken) for 36 hours before she finally decided to do a C-section. I recommend that if you and your husband are both uneasy with your current OB you find a new one ASAP.

You want to be comfortable and reassured at this point & it is close to the end for you but you are never too late. I go to a practice with like 6 doctors and there is this one there I will not see anymore because of his bedside manners. But I love love my one ob. Her office is out in snellville at eastside so its a ways from you but I love going to see her. She delivered my 2 babies and I hope she never leaves. Let me know if you would want the info.

C.,
I have never experienced this problem but, I can tell you that you need to have the up most confidence in your doctor and if you don't like the way things are going then either talk to him or find another OB-GYN. If you are located in the Columbia SC area I know of a great practice which has several wonderful doctors. I've had three children of which the first one we had many problems with and were blessed to have him in our lives for two short weeks. I can tell you from experience that having a good relationship with your OB-GYN at this time is a very comforting.

Hi C.,
I feel for you. I had the same problem. Exactly. This doctor also made the delivery bad. Because he didn't speak to me and when he did he wasn't caring or even informative. I couldn't figure out what was going on the entire time.
I would listen to your instincts. Ask around. I wish you the best and hope you and your husband the best.

If you need to switch, switch. You don't owe this first doc anything and should not feel weird about changing if that's what you need to do.

If you had a mechanic who treated you like this, you'd stop taking your car there. You owe yourself at least the same consideration!

Get some recommendations for a new ob/gyn from people you trust and make an appointment as soon as possible, if for nothing else than your peace of mind. If you choose to start seeing another doctor, it is perfectly acceptable to write your current doc a letter explaining why his practice isn't a good fit, as he deserves to know that in addition to his casual attitude, he's got people on staff who have turned you off from doing business there. And remember that's what his practice is, it's a business, and if you're paying for care you aren't getting, time to take your business elsewhere.

Good luck!

i haven't done it, but you should go with your gut. it's not too late, but by all means, do it asap! find someone you LOVE for delivery - the whole process will be so much better. :)

It is important for you to feel comfortable in your pregnancy and in labor and delivery. Switching OB/GYNs is your prerogative. This is a memorable time in your family's life and you should be enjoying it. Your ultrasound technician has been blessed to be in a position of seeing human life for the first time. Their attitude should be nothing short of joyful and supportive. When choosing a caring and supportive doctor's practice may I suggest asking women who have had multiple births their opinion. I am the mom of four children and with our last pregnancy I asked the mother of eight who is also a pediatrician who she would suggest. Her advice was right on target and we had the best experience ever! I pray for you to know peace and experience the awesome miracle about to happen in your lives with love and complete joy!

I switched providers at 36 weeks and it was the best thing I could have done!

go with your gut and change as soon as possible! Call insurance first just to make sure it all checks out and good luck!

Google Margaret Strickhouser (a midwife) and run, don't walk to her office! She is the best!