choosing a new OB/GYN

[kellikans]

I'm looking for a new OB/GYN and I have two options.

option 1: doctor referred by a friend.  her office and the hospital where the group delivers is about 6 miles away from our house.  in L.A. traffic, it can take a while depending on the time of day.

option 2: blindly picking a doctor close to our house, and would deliver at the hospital 3 miles away.

both hospitals are reputable.  option 1 hospital has a state-of-the-art maternity ward that was completely updated 5-6 years ago.  don't really know about option 2, but a lot of celebrities go there to have their babies.  if it's good enough for them, I'm sure it would be good enough for me.  

I'm leaning toward option 1, but is close proximity to the doctor's office/hospital more important?  I'm sure there are great doctors for option 2, I just don't have any personal referrals.  I know 6 miles doesn't sound far (and it's not), but with traffic where we live, it can be pretty crazy.

[awick14]

How long would it take you to drive the 6 miles? Our hospital where we plan to deliver is just over 6 miles but it will only be a 20-30 minute drive max in rush hour traffic.

I honesty would go with option 1 because it is a recommendation from a friend.

[kellikans]

it could be up to 45 min in rush hour traffic I would think.

[awick14]

Aug 15, 2014 1:06:36 GMT -5 kellikans said:

it could be up to 45 min in rush hour traffic I would think.

That is a while. Maybe make appointments with a few of the other doctors and see whom you like better?

Does your insurance cover all of them? I'm guessing you already looked into this though.

[jsillyfun]

Is it ucla vs ceders? I had a baby at ucla and had an awesome experience.

[kellikans]

St. John's vs Cedars

[preppy]

I would pick the closest hospital. Then look through MD reviews online, then ask around at work or maybe post on one of the boards here if you have local ladies. I used that process when finding a new obgyn in the spring and it's worked out well for me:) Good luck!

[maybebabiesrus]

I went on a friend's rec and I now either have an awesome doctor, or the fact that she's close with friend makes it so that I get superior service. I'm loving my decision. I quit old OBGYN due to bad customer service - very long naked waits for doctor, forgetting my explicit concerns about IUD from discussion just the week before ( don't they take notes!.). I vote go with friend rec.

Fwiw, my friend is a person friend of doc, not a patient.

[mskitkat]

Finding a new OBGYN is the worst. I have a lot of specific problems that many doctors think I am making up, so I usually have to go through several before I find a good one. I'd go with the friend's rec over blind.

Lol, anyone here want to rec a good OBGYN in the northern Atlanta area?

[kellikans]

Aug 15, 2014 18:29:51 GMT -5 jsillyfun said:

Is it ucla vs ceders? I had a baby at ucla and had an awesome experience.

Curiously, who is your ob/gyn? UCLA is right in the middle of the 2, so it's a possibility as well.

[jsillyfun]

Aug 16, 2014 12:33:36 GMT -5 kellikans said:

Aug 15, 2014 18:29:51 GMT -5 jsillyfun said:

Is it ucla vs ceders? I had a baby at ucla and had an awesome experience.

Curiously, who is your ob/gyn? UCLA is right in the middle of the 2, so it's a possibility as well.

I used the nurse midwife practice at ucla. They were great and I found the nurses at ucla to be so awesome and supportive during labor and afterwards

[rbp]

I chose my OB office based on a friend's rec. They deliver at my preferred hospital, which unfortunately is nine miles from home, which is a 25-minute drive at the right time of day but up to an hour during rush hour. (I'm in Atlanta, so I can relate in the traffic front.) Getting to weekly appointments at the end was fucking annoying, but I still don't regret my decision. My OBs were awesome. I kind of miss seeing them every week!

Luckily I went into labor in a Sunday night, so it was a quick drive to the hospital.

[rbp]

Aug 16, 2014 12:04:49 GMT -5 mskitkat said:

Finding a new OBGYN is the worst. I have a lot of specific problems that many doctors think I am making up, so I usually have to go through several before I find a good one. I'd go with the friend's rec over blind.

Lol, anyone here want to rec a good OBGYN in the northern Atlanta area?

How far north? Where do you want to deliver?

[mskitkat]

Aug 17, 2014 17:23:15 GMT -5 rbp said:

Aug 16, 2014 12:04:49 GMT -5 mskitkat said:

Finding a new OBGYN is the worst. I have a lot of specific problems that many doctors think I am making up, so I usually have to go through several before I find a good one. I'd go with the friend's rec over blind.

Lol, anyone here want to rec a good OBGYN in the northern Atlanta area?

How far north? Where do you want to deliver?

I'm in the Alpharetta/Roswell area. I was thinking North Fulton because it's right down the street, but I'm not opposed to Northside.  

[rbp]

Aug 17, 2014 17:32:21 GMT -5 mskitkat said:

Aug 17, 2014 17:23:15 GMT -5 rbp said:

How far north? Where do you want to deliver?

I'm in the Alpharetta/Roswell area. I was thinking North Fulton because it's right down the street, but I'm not opposed to Northside.  

YGPM!