What traits are important to you

[meltoine]

In a gynecologist?

brought to you by my less-than-satisfactory appointment with a new one this morning. 

[Deleted]

Doesn't judge me when he finds an old tampon hiding in there.

Makes me feel comfortable even when a baby's head is sticking out.

Gynecologists are one type of doctor that I would drop and find another one if I was feeling not 1000 percent comfortable.

[rootbeerfloat]

Timeliness, accessibility (during pregnancy, anyway), quick and gentle hands, and a non-judgmental attitude.

[Deleted]

I've never had one
Generally, my primary doctor needs to be someone I can be honest with, that I feel like listens to me, and that offers me medical advice without judging me. My family doc takes care of all my gyn needs (including ob stuff when I was baby-making).

[arch01]

non-judgmental and personable.

[Brie]

Not ham-fisted.

[Deleted]

Timeliness, professionalism, takes time to answer questions, does not push their own beliefs onto me.   Personality. 

My current practice (okay the only one I've ever gone to) became associated with a Catholic hospital and now is owned by a medical group that is owned by that hospital, so they no longer do terminations. It was something I asked about at my first OB appt with DS and the doctor told me they refer those out but still do all the other testing (i.e. they do everything that might lead someone to decide to terminate) and will discuss all options with a patient.  That was important to me.  I didn't want to feel like any of my medical options were limited because of my practice's affiliation with a catholic hospital. that may be flammable to some but it was really a big deal for me.

My practice also requires that you meet with all OBs during your pregnancy and they cannot guarantee that a certain doctor will deliver your baby.  (the one who did my c-section was one of the few doctors I had never met in all my years of going there, but I also think she may have been the best one, hence why I never had an appointment with her, LOL,since she was so booked).  So some of the OBs I get along with more than others, some are more talkative than others, and so on, but they are all as timely as OBs can be in a busy practice and they all are professional and take time to answer my questions, and I trust them all with my medical care. 

[meltoine]

Timeliness is really important to me too. I wait an hour and fifteen minutes this morning, even though my appointment was first thing. I also really side-eyed her when she read on my intake form that I use NFP and she said, "Oh, so you're using the rhythm method". I need my care provider to be more knowledgeable about my choice in family planning than that.

[barefootcontessa]

experience

reliability: when I call I off hours I want to be called back, if I leave a message w nurse I want to hear back that day

conservative but not an alarmist

[Deleted]

Timeliness
Non-creepy
Professional
I actually prefer my OB to be kind of stoic in personality. I'm a spaz by nature, and I need someone to talk me off the ledge without discounting my concerns. My current OB is definitely a numbers gal, very rational, and I like that a lot.

[badtzmaru22]

I chose my OB because she was young and went to Duke. I carry a grudge against Duke, but can recognize that it's a good school. Lol.

I stayed because she took me seriously when I said I'm pretty sure I have PCOS, can we run some tests? I had been brushed off elsewhere because I'm not overweight (nevermind I had every other symptom!) and she didn't think I was a weirdo for charting. She explains things well, and she didn't nick my ute during my D&C, which I was very afraid of. I was a little sad she didn't get to deliver DD, but she did come see me that day. She probably won't get to deliver DS either, but oh well. If I go tomorrow, it'll be the same OB that delivered DD, so I'd be totally cool with that.

[starlily]

Good bedside manner and gentle hands.

[turtlegirl]

Timeliness/waiting times for appointments
Responsive to phone calls/emails
Good beside manner
Non-judgmental and explains medical things really easily to me (kinda like an "explain this to me like I'm five..")

But I also just think it's a gut check thing. I LOVE my OB. He just instantly makes me feel comfortable and is really laid back and easy to talk to.

[Willis Jackson]

She went to a good school and has a good reputation and all that crap, but mainly I just like her. And she's fine with me going to 42 weeks unless there's a compelling reason to induce sooner.

[scribellesam]

Responsive to questions and phone calls
Personable
Non-alarmist and a little bit hands-off

[dcrunnergirl52]

Good bedside manner
Patient and explains things to me
Has credentials at a hospital with a high-level NICU

[catsarecute]

Doesn't think that everyone ovulates on day 14.