picking a OB

[Tabi's mom]

I am still not totally positive if I am pregnant, but pretty sure, but my next problem is this. Where I live there are only 3 OB's and they all work together and one of them is my daughter delivering doctor. I have talk with my family doctor and he can deliver naturally, but not by c-section. He told me that I would see him throughout the nine months, but then his partner would do the c-section for him but he would be there. Do you think that that would be ok or should I drive to a high risk OB in Wichita which is 3 1/2 hours away? Any suggestions?????????
Thanks,
Tabi's Mom, Tisha

[JessicasMom]

If you trust and have faith in your family doctor and are confident that he can have a doctor there for the C-section. As him to meet with the doctor who will do the c-section. Confirm his availability and make your personal assessment of him. If you feel confortable with him, I would go that route. I can't see driving 3 hours and I would never go back to the OB that delivered my daughter!

Just my opinion,

[JessicasMom]

I meant "ask to meet the doctor who will do the c-section"
Typo, sorry!

[admin]

Tisha:
You have a really tough call to make. Wow. Is your family doctor's partner experienced in C-section deliveries? That's what I'd want to know. Does he know much about brachial plexus injuries or know your history?
Prenatal care locally would definitely be easiest, but are you absolutely sure there is no high-risk OB any closer to you than 3 hrs. away? And there are no other OBs you can go to in neighboring towns? I'd be most concerned about the skill and experience of whoever delivers your child. Good luck with your decision.

[Francine_Litz]

Hi Tisha - just want to congratulate you if you are pregnant and wish you a great pregnancy and great birth.
-francine

[JessicasMom]

"Wow. Is your family doctor's partner experienced in C-section deliveries? That's what I'd want to know"

I forgot to add this point to my reply, I agree completely! And as the guest said, be sure they both know about your history with having a bp baby!

- Michelle

[admin]

I would try and find out how much experience the dr. has with c-sections too. I must say I would take the 3 hour drive - after all if it's a planned , scheduled c-section there is no problem of not making it there in time or anything, it would be worth the peace of mind to me to know I have the most experienced Dr. taking care of me. But that' s totally just an oppinion - your local dude may do fine.

[JessicasMom]

I had another thought. You said the nearest high-risk OB/GYN is 3 hours away, so that is why you are considering your family doctor. How about a regular OB/GYN, are there any of those closer? They don't have to be high risk to perform c-sections.

Personally, I wouldn't drive 3 hours because you do need to go for visits monthly, then bi-weekly, and then weekly until you give birth -- that's just a bit too much driving for me (6 hours total!)

- Michelle

[Paula]

Michelle there are only 3 OBs here in this small town and they all practice in the same clinic. 1 of them is her former OB.

[JessicasMom]

Thanks Paula, I missed the part about the "regular OB". I just noticed she was driving to see a "high-risk" OB, so I thought she may not have considered a closer to her home regular OB. She doesn't say if there are any regular OBs closer than 3 hours away.

It's pretty hard for me to imagine since I live in the NYC area and we're flooded with them!

-Michelle