Need New OB for Second Baby

I second the recommendation to use a midwife, if your pregnancy is normal and healthy and if you feel confident in your ability to birth (sounds like you do!). Have you pressed your insurance company on what might be covered with a midwife or birth center? Keep asking. I used a midwife, and they ended up saying they'd pay 70%. Even so, the expenses were much lower than a hospital birth would've been, so I think we could've afforded to pay out of pocket in installments. My son was born at home and it was an amazing experience, and I think his peaceful birth has a lot to do with his easygoing personality. My midwife was Laurie Fremgen. Another response mentioned Natalie Lake, and she is a wonderful midwife as well. You'll want to interview several midwives and find one who you feel comfortable with.

If homebirth seems too scary, maybe you'd want to try a birth center with a midwife? Birthwise with April Bullock is a great option.

But if you feel you need an OB/GYN for insurance, check out Dr. Christina Sebestyen at obgynnorth (near mopac and parmer). She's been working hard to get midwives back in Austin's hospitals, and she has great respect for the birth experience. I saw her speak at last year's BOLD play.

Good luck with your pregnancy and birth!
H.

Hi L.!
Congrats on your new pregnancy! My terrific, wonderful ob is Nancy Binford. She is very much like a midwife in her demeanor and helpfulness with natural childbirth. She has her own practice but shares "on call" rotations with a larger group of obs (she used to office with them) so there's always the chance she won't be there to deliver, but I don't think you can avoid that except if you go with a midwife. Her # is ###-###-#### and that's on Medical Parkway near Seton central, where her patients go to deliver.
Just a footnote to give you support for natural childbirth just in case you do need induction, I did it twice! And Doctor Binford supported me every step of the way and checked in with the labor/delivery nurses often (especially with my first) to make sure they went slow and steady with the pitocin so I could handle it drug free. I have the best birthing stories for all three of my boys!
P.

Why not just use a midwife????
A midwife is very experienced and would know to transfer to the hospital ahead of time for complications.
I would suggest you at least consider interviewing a few and see how comfortable you feel.
I have alot of friends that are moms now, and I hear WAY HAPPIER stories from the moms that went the midwife route.
I was with Natalie Lake and it was the most amazing day of my life!!!!
Her number is ###-###-####, but there are many others , too!
-Angela P.

I had a terrible and traumatizing experience at that practice as well. I am looking for a new office to go to for my second pregnancy too as a result. I have heard wonderful things about Dr. Seeker's office. He is a male, but there is one woman at that practice. I will be looking into that this week.

I used to go to Women Partners in Health over off 38th. they are a wonderful office and there are mid-wives there as well as obgyn's. Nancy Loomis was my practitioner and she was fantastic. All around great place.

I have Dr. Michelle Gooch with Austin Regional Clinic. She was really amenable to natural birth sans drugs, etc. Then, when I delivered, she wasn't on call, and her partner Dr. Bushart delivered. Amazing, he totally followed the chart and saw that I took Bradley Method classes and all of the other stuff that Dr. Gooch wrote down. It was a great birth - exactly what I asked for. I highly recommend. They deliver at Seton Central.

Dr. Margaret Thompson she is on Duval and Mopac. She is a great Dr.###-###-####