This might be a little lengthy, but I believe that it would help you to better understand where I'm coming from. I just found out that I'm pregnant (in my 5th week by my calculations.) This is pregnancy #3 for me. I am looking for a practice with only one OB GYN (female.)
With my dd #1 I was in labor for 19 hours. I dilated to 8cm and then failed to progress. Instead of suggesting various options my doctor informed me that they were going to do a c-section. The baby was doing very well up until that point (NO signs of distress.) Oh, I should mention that he told me about 4 times that if I had the baby within the next hour he could go have his dinner. Seems a little strange to me now, looking back (maybe he did the c-section because he was ready to be done with it???) Anyway, I had a terrible time afterwards. I had to deal with the emotions of having a c-section as well as the terrible pain that I had to recover from. This baby was born at Rex. Needless to say, with dd#2 I switched to another practice. I found a great practice where they were very optimistic about trying a VBAC. It is a practice of about 7 dr.'s (don't remember the exact number.) Only two females though. I feel very odd about going to a male OB or Gyn. Anyway, it was more important to me to have someone competent and who was in tune with my request to have a VBAC. dd#2 was born naturally (not without an epidural, that's not what I mean.) She weighed 9lbs 1 oz. My doctor was AWESOME!!!!! One of the two females at the practice happened to be on duty when I went into labor so, it worked out great! At my 6 weeks post delivery check up she informed me that she no longer delivers babies!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I so badly want a great experience with this pregnancy since it will probably be our last. I would love a practice where there is only one doctor and the doctor is female. I think it would be great to have one doctor get to know me throughout the pregnancy and that same doctor be there for the delivery. I have called around and found several practices with all these criteria, but turns out the doctor doesn't practice OB only Gyn. There was one female that practiced obstetrics, but she doesn't take new patients. I had dd#2 at Wakemed Raleigh so, as far as the hospital goes, it really doesn't matter, I've been to both. Our insurance is Blue Cross Blue Shield so, I'm sure they cover most doctors.
Bottom line, if there's anyone out there who had a great experience with their OB and have any recommendations, please help me out. I have scheduled my first appt. with Associates in Women's Healthcare. I have not been there before or heard from anyone who has. This is just a stab in the dark to find somewhere that I might have a great pregnancy and birthing experience. I would prefer not to drive too far with the way gas prices are, but if someone comes highly recommended I believe it's worth it. I live in Raleigh on the Knightdale border right in between 440 and 540. I'm about 20 minutes from Cary, Garner, Clayton.
I go to Wilkerson ob/gyn at Rex. I had 2 of my 3 kids there. There are 6 dr there, 5 that do ob and only one of them is a man. He was great though and delivered my 2nd child. I have had nothing but a great experience with them. I think they have a new new now but the still do business as Wilkerson. The phone # is ###-###-####. Good Luck and Congratulations!
Mid-Carolina OB-GYN on Lake Booone Trail is wonderful, they are in Raleigh. They are 2 male doctors and several female and to be honest I didn't want to see a male doctor to have my almost 9 month old, but a male doctor delivered him. All the doctors are great there. I had a great experience with them. Congratulations and Good Luck!!
I feel that I have the best ob/gyn!!! Her name is Dr. Sharon Stephenson and she works with Women's Health Alliance in Cary. The office has other doctor's as well, two males and another female. They deliver at Wake Med Cary. My son was born there and he was delivered by one of the male doctor's. They are all amazing doctors!!!
I had both of my kids with a midwife and I would totally recommend checking into that. Not all do home births there are many hospitals that have a birthing center.
I did not have my kids in NC so I can't tell you exactly where but I would look into midwives if I were you. The practice I went to in MD have 4 midwives all women. They coached you through the birthing process but didn't do anything invasive. There were complications with my first and I had to be taken to the labor and delivery floor so that the nicu staff could be on hand. For that reason it was nice to already be in the hospital.
I had my baby before moving to NC, but my best friend had both of hers at the birth center in Chapel Hill, and I go there for well-woman exams. They are wonderful!
Women's Birth & Wellness Center
930 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. Suite 202
Chapel Hill, NC 27514-2656
Phone: ###-###-####
Fax: ###-###-####
____@____.com
Have you considered the birth center in Chapel Hill? I know it is a drive, but the midwives are fantastic.
I go to Associates in Women's Heathcare and I really like them. I have only been there for regular gyn. visits since my children are adopted, so I can't say how they are about OB, but I've always been treated very well. I also like that all the staff there are women.
