Tell me about your OB's office

[Deleted]

I have never like my current OB's office. Actually I only have seen the GYN who doesn't even practice OB but I digress. It's a big place that I originally picked because it was close and on the bus line and took my insurance. I suspect I recently missed the annual exam that I scheduled 7 months in advance because I didn't mark it on my calendar and I never received the usual phone call the day before reminding me. Anyway it's time to move on and find a new provider.

Some questions:

1. Does insurance let you just willy nilly meet with multiple providers in less than a year's time? I know I couldn't have an annual more than once but would they pay for a consult?

2. How long does it take you to get an an appt for a regular old visit - not pregnancy related - like an annual or a birth control check or whathaveyou? Do they have bullshit rules like no annuals after 1 pm or something?

3. How long do you have to wait usually in the waiting room?

4. Do you see the same doctor or different ones?

5. If you get pregnant do they really need to check your weight at every appointment? Can you just tell them you weighed yourself?

6. How is their web site? Why is it that every single doctor website I've seen is totally awful and it is 2012?

7. How many ultrasounds did you have during your pregnancy? Were any 3D or 4D?

8. Would you drive 30 minutes out of your way to see a doctor who delivers at the crunchy woman's hospital that lets you use a birthing ball and jacuzzi and stuff or are there too many appointments to make that sacrifice? Assume you work full time.

And go!

[Brie]

1. I am on my fourth OB practice in less than three years. Insurance never minded.

2. No BS rules. I am always seen very quickly but don't feel rushed. I've only had to wait a long time at one appointment and that was because the doctor I was scheduled to see was pulled out for a delivery. I totally understand that as long as it's not happening all the time.

3. I try to get early morning appointments, so usually no more than 5 minutes. Afternoon appointments tend to run about a 10 minute wait, plus a little waiting once I'm back in the room.

4. Different ones. My OB office has 6 or 7 OBs that deliver patients, and they want you to meet all of them at least once during pregnancy. Plus, I saw the nurse practitioner for a few early appointments. (She's great, though, so NBD.)

5. I would think they do for medication dosing-type reasons and to make sure you're not swelling excessively. I have reached a point where I close my eyes. I don't want to know.

6. Not bad but not great. I can check test results online and review old appointments and labwork, which is nice. It could be better but it's not terrible.

7. I had ultrasounds at 7w (confirmation and HB), 9w (bleeding scare), 11w (NT scan), 14w (car accident), and 19w (a/s). I am not planning on any more. They were all 3D. We got a peek in 4D at 14w but that shit was ugly. Yuck.

8. My OB's office is in the hospital I'm delivering at. It's 30 minutes from home and from work. It's NBD. I don't mind driving and I kind of like having to take a little extra transit time off work--I make a morning of it and usually do my appointment, then pick up a bagel and coffee on my way in, ha. I am a little concerned about how I'll feel about the distance during L&D but we'll see.

I really like my OB practice. It's big, but I like all the practitioners I've seen and I like how much flexibility a big practice has given me (easy to get appointments, in-house ultrasound techs, on staff masseuse and acupuncture, etc).

[wordtothewise]

Aug 15, 2012 19:03:21 GMT -5 @notquiteblushing said:

I have never like my current OB's office. Actually I only have seen the GYN who doesn't even practice OB but I digress. It's a big place that I originally picked because it was close and on the bus line and took my insurance. I suspect I recently missed the annual exam that I scheduled 7 months in advance because I didn't mark it on my calendar and I never received the usual phone call the day before reminding me. Anyway it's time to move on and find a new provider.

Some questions:

1. Does insurance let you just willy nilly meet with multiple providers in less than a year's time? I know I couldn't have an annual more than once but would they pay for a consult? Mine does

2. How long does it take you to get an an appt for a regular old visit - not pregnancy related - like an annual or a birth control check or whathaveyou? Do they have bullshit rules like no annuals after 1 pm or something? If I am having an issue, I get an appt same day. For an annual exam and with a particular dr - 1-2 months.

3. How long do you have to wait usually in the waiting room? 5-10 mons

4. Do you see the same doctor or different ones? For ob, I saw all of them. I have a main gyn I see every year.

5. If you get pregnant do they really need to check your weight at every appointment? Can you just tell them you weighed yourself? I was weighed each time

6. How is their web site? Why is it that every single doctor website I've seen is totally awful and it is 2012? Good. Lots of relevant/helpful info

7. How many ultrasounds did you have during your pregnancy? Were any 3D or 4D? More than I can count, but I had a complicated pregnancy that ended in a premature delivery.

8. Would you drive 30 minutes out of your way to see a doctor who delivers at the crunchy woman's hospital that lets you use a birthing ball and jacuzzi and stuff or are there too many appointments to make that sacrifice? Assume you work full time. No, but crunchiness is not impt to me. I would drive that far for a top notch ob or MFM doc.

And go!

[hilwithonelary]

I'm going to answer some of these questions twice because I went to different offices for DS (saw an OB) and DD (saw a CNM)

Aug 15, 2012 19:03:21 GMT -5 @notquiteblushing said:

I have never like my current OB's office. Actually I only have seen the GYN who doesn't even practice OB but I digress. It's a big place that I originally picked because it was close and on the bus line and took my insurance. I suspect I recently missed the annual exam that I scheduled 7 months in advance because I didn't mark it on my calendar and I never received the usual phone call the day before reminding me. Anyway it's time to move on and find a new provider.

Some questions:

1. Does insurance let you just willy nilly meet with multiple providers in less than a year's time? I know I couldn't have an annual more than once but would they pay for a consult?
I don't know. I never tried to do that.

2. How long does it take you to get an an appt for a regular old visit - not pregnancy related - like an annual or a birth control check or whathaveyou? Do they have bullshit rules like no annuals after 1 pm or something? The first time I saw my OB, it was a 6-8 week wait for an annual. When I switched to my CNM for my pregnancy, they wanted to see me around 8-10 weeks.

3. How long do you have to wait usually in the waiting room?
It varied for both my OB and CNM. Usually about 10-15 minutes, but sometimes up to 45 minutes.

4. Do you see the same doctor or different ones?
I saw the same OB except when she was on vacation. I wasn't guaranteed to have her at the birth. It it was a weekday, I'd get her. It it was a weekend, I got whomever was on call. I delivered DS on a weekend, and my OB was not on call. My CNM was the only one in a large practice of OBs. I saw her for all my visits. She personally attends all of her patients' births barring extenuating circumstances.

5. If you get pregnant do they really need to check your weight at every appointment? Can you just tell them you weighed yourself? They will need to weigh you. Drastic changes in weight can be signs of a bigger problem.

6. How is their web site? Why is it that every single doctor website I've seen is totally awful and it is 2012? Both offices had halfway decent websites

7. How many ultrasounds did you have during your pregnancy? Were any 3D or 4D? 3 official ones with each. I had a dating ultrasound with both. With DS, I had a follow up early ultrasound because originally I was expecting twins, but lost one by the second ultrasound. I had the anatomy scan with both. I had a biophysical profile with DD because I went to 41 weeks. I did a fun 3D ultrasound with DS out of pocket.

8. Would you drive 30 minutes out of your way to see a doctor who delivers at the crunchy woman's hospital that lets you use a birthing ball and jacuzzi and stuff or are there too many appointments to make that sacrifice? Assume you work full time.
I would, but med free birth is very important to me. I did not have a good experience with DS, and I'm glad I switched practices for DD
And go!

[badtzmaru22]

1. It's probably different. I don't think mine cares if you switch.

2. Annual- maybe a few weeks? I don't know, they usually call me a month out or so to schedule. Now, I had a complication recovering from childbirth, and got in with the NP right away. I had to go back and actually see the OB and it took four weeks- and it was the longest four weeks of my life!

3. Not long at all maybe ten minutes? I used to go to a place where the waits were 45 min+. Really? I am not sitting around with a bunch of pregnant teenagers in booty shorts. That is one of the reasons I don't go there anymore.

4. Usually just the same one. But you get whoever is on call when you deliver. This did not bother me.

5. Yes, they check it. They flipped the little thig so quickly though, I always had to ask what the weight was. The only time the doctor really said anything was when one appt I lost two pounds, and then the next I gained five, and she just said some fluctuation was normal. The losing weight one was because that appt was in the am and the previous one had been after lunch. I always weigh more as the day goes on, even not pg.

6. I haven't looked at it it two years. It was meh. My RE website is nice, and the post all your results in a patient portal, which I could log into.

7. Nine. Four at the RE early on. One at 11w in the ER because of spotting. 12w NT scan. 20w a/s. 20w and a few days for a fetal echo bc they couldnt see evrything at the a/s. 40w3d to check fluids bc I was past due. I went into labor later that day. The only one that was 3D was for a few seconds at my NT scan when she switched it over for a little. I hate u/s. I had a missed m/c discovered via u/s and I get so much anxiety before them. The only one I enjoyed was the 40w one bc it was in the hospital in a special area, and the actual radiologist did it, not just a tech, and she was so awesome and explained everything.

8. No. The crunchy thing was not important to me. My OB is 8 minutes from my work. The hospital is 45 minutes from my house though. Being closer to work was great near the end when you go all the time.

[Deleted]

Aug 15, 2012 19:55:55 GMT -5 jenny1980 said:

Can I ask why you'd prefer not to be weighed? I get not wanting to **know** your weight (it can get a little surreal LOL), but if you'd weigh at home and report it, it seems like everyone still knows.

You can always ask them not to tell you your weight or comment on it unless it's a concern. I might do that this time LOL.

I just don't want to know. I hate stepping on the scale so the thought of doing it once a week while I'm putting on weight depresses me. Ideally I wouldn't even do it at home unless I was paranoid but I guess medically that's not the best idea.

[ilikedonuts]

1. Does insurance let you just willy nilly meet with multiple providers in less than a year's time? I know I couldn't have an annual more than once but would they pay for a consult?

Mine does as long as you don't get something like a pap that you can only get once a year

2. How long does it take you to get an an appt for a regular old visit - not pregnancy related - like an annual or a birth control check or whathaveyou? Do they have bullshit rules like no annuals after 1 pm or something?

I can see my doctor whenever during his office hours. I could probably call tomorrow and see him I wanted to

3. How long do you have to wait usually in the waiting room?
My doctor is an OBGYN so sometimes the wait is super long (deliveries, emergencies, etc) I just try to schedule my appointments for first thing in the morning or first thing after lunch

4. Do you see the same doctor or different ones?

My doctor is by himself

5. If you get pregnant do they really need to check your weight at every appointment? Can you just tell them you weighed yourself?
I get weighed at every single appointment, but I never asked not be weighed...

6. How is their web site? Why is it that every single doctor website I've seen is totally awful and it is 2012?
No website

7. How many ultrasounds did you have during your pregnancy? Were any 3D or 4D?
My first pregnancy I was supposed to have one around 8-10 weeks and then NT and anatomy. Now that I have had multiple miscarriages, my doctor wants me to have a lot of them. I think I had like 12 during my pregnancy with DD

8. Would you drive 30 minutes out of your way to see a doctor who delivers at the crunchy woman's hospital that lets you use a birthing ball and jacuzzi and stuff or are there too many appointments to make that sacrifice? Assume you work full time.

If you could get the time off of work and not have it take away from your maternity leave, then yes.

[Brie]

Aug 15, 2012 19:57:34 GMT -5 @notquiteblushing said:

Aug 15, 2012 19:55:55 GMT -5 jenny1980 said:

Can I ask why you'd prefer not to be weighed? I get not wanting to **know** your weight (it can get a little surreal LOL), but if you'd weigh at home and report it, it seems like everyone still knows.

You can always ask them not to tell you your weight or comment on it unless it's a concern. I might do that this time LOL.

I just don't want to know. I hate stepping on the scale so the thought of doing it once a week while I'm putting on weight depresses me. Ideally I wouldn't even do it at home unless I was paranoid but I guess medically that's not the best idea.

I seriously either close my eyes or look at the ground now. Weight gain was stressing me out way more than it should given that everything else is normal and I know I'm keeping up healthy habits. They don't say it out loud or anything.

[rootbeerfloat]

1. I don't know as I've never tried.

2. My current office gets me in quickly, within a month. For immediate problems, I've been seen that day.

3. Less than 10 min. My old OB (who delivered DS) always made me wait - both in the waiting and exam rooms - and this was part of the reason I changed.

4. Same doctor.

5. I didn't mind being weighed. But when my sister was pg, she would get on the scale backwards, so she couldn't see. They didn't announce the number and only brought it up if it was an issue, which it never was.

6. He doesn't have a website. I don't care.

7. 3 for DS, 1 for DD. Just regular u/s.

8. I prefer a close office to minimize taking time off. I also had c/s, so hippie wasn't really a factor for me.

[Deleted]

Aug 15, 2012 20:00:43 GMT -5 jenny1980 said:

Aug 15, 2012 19:57:34 GMT -5 @notquiteblushing said:

I just don't want to know. I hate stepping on the scale so the thought of doing it once a week while I'm putting on weight depresses me. Ideally I wouldn't even do it at home unless I was paranoid but I guess medically that's not the best idea.

Yeah, just tell them you don't want to know. I promise you will not be their only patient with that request.

I got over 200lbs with Lucy and it was VERY whaaaat the fuuuuuuck to see that pop up.

Thank you for admitting that! That milestone is almost certain to happen when I get pregnant and it gives me What's Eating Gilbert Grape nightmares to think about.

[Brie]

Aug 15, 2012 20:22:26 GMT -5 @notquiteblushing said:

Aug 15, 2012 20:00:43 GMT -5 jenny1980 said:

Yeah, just tell them you don't want to know. I promise you will not be their only patient with that request.

I got over 200lbs with Lucy and it was VERY whaaaat the fuuuuuuck to see that pop up.

Thank you for admitting that! That milestone is almost certain to happen when I get pregnant and it gives me What's Eating Gilbert Grape nightmares to think about.

I am there. It suuuuucked to see that. I think that's when I stopped looking. :-(

[water*drop]

1. Does insurance let you just willy nilly meet with multiple providers in less than a year's time? I know I couldn't have an annual more than once but would they pay for a consult? I have no idea.

2. How long does it take you to get an an appt for a regular old visit - not pregnancy related - like an annual or a birth control check or whathaveyou? Forever and a day - it took 3 months when I had to reschedule my last one. I book them an entire year in advance.
Do they have bullshit rules like no annuals after 1 pm or something? Yes. My OBGYN only works 3 days/week, and she only does annuals during certain hours of certain days of each month. I'm switching before my next annual for lots of reasons, including this one.

3. How long do you have to wait usually in the waiting room? 5-10 minutes unless my doctor gets called for a delivery or something.

4. Do you see the same doctor or different ones? Same one except when she was on vacation during a couple of regular pregnancy visits. I delivered on the weekend, so I had the on-call doctor. I didn't meet him until that day, but he was awesome, and by that point, the janitor was preferable to my actual doctor.

5. If you get pregnant do they really need to check your weight at every appointment? Can you just tell them you weighed yourself? Yes, they weighed me every appointment. I don't think not being weighed is a safe option, but I'm sure my nurse would have let me stand on the scale backwards if I had really cared about it.

6. How is their web site? Why is it that every single doctor website I've seen is totally awful and it is 2012? It's actually really good.

7. How many ultrasounds did you have during your pregnancy? Were any 3D or 4D? Three - one for localized cramping at 10 weeks, one because she couldn't find the heartbeat with the doppler at 11 weeks (and they did the NT scan during this one because the baby happened to be in the right position), and the a/s at 21 weeks. All were 2D.

8. Would you drive 30 minutes out of your way to see a doctor who delivers at the crunchy woman's hospital that lets you use a birthing ball and jacuzzi and stuff or are there too many appointments to make that sacrifice? Assume you work full time. I wasn't overly concerned about crunchy options, but my doctor is 25 minutes away in traffic, as is my hospital. It didn't bother me, but I could arrange my work schedule around my appointments, so I didn't have to miss work for them.

[jena]

1 - I don't know that my OB charged for my consultation.
2 - a couple weeks at most if you're being picky about the time of day.
3 - 15min wait usually. It's a one-man practice, so for the rare times he's had to be away delivering a baby, the office called me and rescheduled or told me when to come. My last 2 OBs let everyone wait instead because their time was more important than mine. This is a big part of why they are my ex doctors
4 - there's only one.
5 - yes, they really need to check your weight.
6 - pretty sure he doesn't have a website.
7 - This time I've had 2. One to confirm and date the pg, and then the anatomy scan. Last time I had a lot at the end because I had GD.
8 - 30min drive is nothing around here. My OB is 30min from my house (non-rush hour) and at least that far from work. I would drive further for a doctor I loved or a hospital I really wanted to birth at.

[faith194]

1. Does insurance let you just willy nilly meet with multiple providers in less than a year's time? I know I couldn't have an annual more than once but would they pay for a consult?

I have no clue. Sorry.

2. How long does it take you to get an an appt for a regular old visit - not pregnancy related - like an annual or a birth control check or whathaveyou? Do they have bullshit rules like no annuals after 1 pm or something?

I went to just a gyn pre-ds, and I needed to call a week or two in advance. I never paid attention to timing rules. GYN likes to do a pap and then another general checkup 6 months later.

3. How long do you have to wait usually in the waiting room? 15-60 minutes depending on the crisis.

4. Do you see the same doctor or different ones? One OBGyn to the practice, but I only saw her twice. I saw CNM and NPs mostly.

5. If you get pregnant do they really need to check your weight at every appointment? yes
Can you just tell them you weighed yourself? Nope--They needed to monitor it. I was overweight pre-preg. I was never told to gain a certain amount, and I was never lectured. I did gain 28 pounds.

6. How is their web site? Why is it that every single doctor website I've seen is totally awful and it is 2012? It is so so.

7. How many ultrasounds did you have during your pregnancy? I had one at 6w with gyn, at that point he gave me recs for an OBGYN. The only other standard one was at 19 weeks for anatomy scan. I did have 10 done, due to different issues.

Were any 3D or 4D? The tech always switched it to 3D

8. Would you drive 30 minutes out of your way to see a doctor who delivers at the crunchy woman's hospital that lets you use a birthing ball and jacuzzi and stuff or are there too many appointments to make that sacrifice? Assume you work full time.

I did drive 30 plus minutes out of my way to deliver at a hospital with a level 4 NICU(just in case--never needed it). I did work full time at the time.

If you need recs, PM me. I grew up in the area where you live(I am pretty sure). I have lots of friends who delivered in different hospitals, including the crunchy woman's one).

[Deleted]

Aug 15, 2012 21:56:37 GMT -5 faith194 said:

If you need recs, PM me. I grew up in the area where you live(I am pretty sure). I have lots of friends who delivered in different hospitals, including the crunchy woman's one).

Oh thanks, I will. I've been googling but finding new info is so hard post the merger. My one crunchy friend is going to an OB all the way up in CP but that's a little too far for my working days. I'm going to bed soon but I'lll write you tomorrow.

[MamaMaui24]

You can always step on the scale backwards and tell them you don't want to know.

[sewpinkgal]

1. Does insurance let you just willy nilly meet with multiple providers in less than a year's time? I know I couldn't have an annual more than once but would they pay for a consult? Not sure on this one

2. How long does it take you to get an an appt for a regular old visit - not pregnancy related - like an annual or a birth control check or whathaveyou? Do they have bullshit rules like no annuals after 1 pm or something? Maybe a week or two, depending on how flexible of a schedule I have as well. She is scheduled for surgery at routine days/times, so they obviously plan her appts around those commitments.

3. How long do you have to wait usually in the waiting room?Average 15min, but it's been up to an hour if she had emergency surgery or OB patient stuff.

4. Do you see the same doctor or different ones? I see a solo practitioner (I know, so rare!) so just her.

5. If you get pregnant do they really need to check your weight at every appointment? Can you just tell them you weighed yourself?Yes, every appt due to medical reasons others have mentioned.

6. How is their web site? Why is it that every single doctor website I've seen is totally awful and it is 2012?She doesn't have a website, but her communication with her patients is amazing, so it doesn't bother me in the least.

7. How many ultrasounds did you have during your pregnancy? Were any 3D or 4D? 2 early ones (before 12w) due to medical history, NT scan, 20w anatomy scan, then 3-4 in 3rd tri due to medical reasons. NT and anatomy scans were done by a specialist that she refers patients to and they love giving 3D images. In office u/s was all just standard.

8. Would you drive 30 minutes out of your way to see a doctor who delivers at the crunchy woman's hospital that lets you use a birthing ball and jacuzzi and stuff or are there too many appointments to make that sacrifice? Assume you work full time. I drove an hour+ out of my way to see my OB, I love her that much. I was working full time while I did this. I would do it again in a heartbeat except that totting a toddler around while making that drive sounds horrible. It's the only reason I'll have to switch for the next baby and it makes me sad to think about it.

[mie]

1. Does insurance let you just willy nilly meet with multiple providers in less than a year's time? I know I couldn't have an annual more than once but would they pay for a consult?
I've never tried.

2. How long does it take you to get an an appt for a regular old visit - not pregnancy related - like an annual or a birth control check or whathaveyou? Do they have bullshit rules like no annuals after 1 pm or something?
When my OB was in private practice, it was probably a month or so. Now he's teaching at the medical schoolso the wait time for a regular appointment is a lot longer because he only has part-time office hours. Twice a week it's PM appointments only and once a week is AM appointments only.

3. How long do you have to wait usually in the waiting room?
No more than 10 minutes. He has to run on time because he has clinic after he sees his patients.

4. Do you see the same doctor or different ones?
If its my annual appointment, it's always him. For pregnancy appointments, most of the time it's him, but I have seen other doctors late in my pregnancy because he didn't have any openings.

5. If you get pregnant do they really need to check your weight at every appointment? Can you just tell them you weighed yourself?
Yes, they checked my weight at every appointment.

6. How is their web site? Why is it that every single doctor website I've seen is totally awful and it is 2012?
It's nothing special. They only have it because they work for the medical school.

7. How many ultrasounds did you have during your pregnancy? Were any 3D or 4D?
Usually 2-3 regular ultrasounds.

8. Would you drive 30 minutes out of your way to see a doctor who delivers at the crunchy woman's hospital that lets you use a birthing ball and jacuzzi and stuff or are there too many appointments to make that sacrifice? Assume you work full time.
Probably not. That's a lot of time that I'd have to take off from work.

[anna7602]

1. Does insurance let you just willy nilly meet with multiple providers in less than a year's time? I know I couldn't have an annual more than once but would they pay for a consult?

I have never done just a consult. When I switched OBs a few years ago (after DD was born), I knew I could only get 1 annual. So I cancelled the annual with my previous OB and waited until the new one could get me in.

2. How long does it take you to get an an appt for a regular old visit - not pregnancy related - like an annual or a birth control check or whathaveyou? Do they have bullshit rules like no annuals after 1 pm or something?

For both OBs I had in NY, appointment lead time was maddeningly long. Maybe 4-6 months in advance? But both were good about seeing me right away when pg, or UTI or other gynecological issues. And there was no rule about annuals, but I think maybe I couldn't schedule one on a certain day of the week because it was reserved for emergency appointments.

3. How long do you have to wait usually in the waiting room?

A frick of a long time. I wish they had those light-up things they give out at big restaurants, especially since my newest OB is right next to Central Park. It would be lovely to just go for a long walk in the park until she is ready to see me.

4. Do you see the same doctor or different ones?

5. If you get pregnant do they really need to check your weight at every appointment? Can you just tell them you weighed yourself?

Why wouldn't you want them to check your weight? I didn't mind this, I only minded the half-arsed comments from one of the OBs (not my usual one) who had no idea I was underweight when my pregnancy began and laid into me about "eating waffles and ice cream." IMO, there are good reasons to track weight during pg, and there are TERRIBLE ways to communicate info about weight.

6. How is their web site? Why is it that every single doctor website I've seen is totally awful and it is 2012?

Not so high-tech, but there's not much I expect from the web site.

7. How many ultrasounds did you have during your pregnancy? Were any 3D or 4D?

I had quite a few because my placenta was in a weird place for a long time. They had to track it or else I would not have been able to deliver vaginally. It moved on its own around by 28 weeks and I think I had one more u/s after that to look at growth.

The practice I went to when I was pg with DD has a majority older patients (ie, moms over age 35), so they tend to be really cautious about everything and recommend n/t scans, growth u/s, etc. to everyone, it seems. I don't know what the new practice's policy is.

No 3D or 4D u/s.

8. Would you drive 30 minutes out of your way to see a doctor who delivers at the crunchy woman's hospital that lets you use a birthing ball and jacuzzi and stuff or are there too many appointments to make that sacrifice? Assume you work full time.

Yes. I am considering going home to deliver if I get a BFP here just for the crunchy stuff. BUT, know that you could also consider getting a doula. I used the birthing ball and bathtub at home, with a doula, when I was laboring with DD. I only went to the hospital to push her out, literally. DD arrived within 30 minutes of my checking into the hospital.

Doulas are not very highly regarded in France, unfortunately, and I have no idea how I would go about finding a doctor who wouldn't yell at me for considering one. Or how I would find a doula.

But I am getting ahead of myself since I still don't have a BFP.

[Deleted]

1. Does insurance let you just willy nilly meet with multiple providers in less than a year's time? I know I couldn't have an annual more than once but would they pay for a consult? I dont know the answer to this. I go for annuals every 6 months because my guy is crazy. The insurance company just pays it.

2. How long does it take you to get an an appt for a regular old visit - not pregnancy related - like an annual or a birth control check or whathaveyou? Do they have bullshit rules like no annuals after 1 pm or something? It takes a couple weeks. Like 2. There are some bullshit rules like only maternity patients for the late night appointments. Thats a new rule and it sucks. Now that i am a maternity patient the late hours is 4:45 so i have no clue what I gained.

3. How long do you have to wait usually in the waiting room? Less than 15 minutes.

4. Do you see the same doctor or different ones? Same doctor. It is only him in the practice. Thus his very limited hours. I also see the same receptionist each time and she is so nice. I have had some nasty receptionists and it really ruins the entire thing.

5. If you get pregnant do they really need to check your weight at every appointment? Can you just tell them you weighed yourself? Yes they check at every appointment. I go every 3 weeks. Their scale is on the lighter side though so i welcome their measurment.

6. How is their web site? Why is it that every single doctor website I've seen is totally awful and it is 2012? I dont even think there is a website.

7. How many ultrasounds did you have during your pregnancy? Were any 3D or 4D? I get one every 3 weeks. I started at week 4. Today i go for my 14 week appointment. I had my NT scan at a different office last week so i am wondering if he will skip the ultrasound today. Probably not because he is overly cautious.

8. Would you drive 30 minutes out of your way to see a doctor who delivers at the crunchy woman's hospital that lets you use a birthing ball and jacuzzi and stuff or are there too many appointments to make that sacrifice? Assume you work full time. I am not the proper person to ask this. I drive an hour out of my way to go to this doctor. I really like him though. The hospital is 45 minutes from my house. I wouldnt drive because the hospital has more perks. I drive because i love this guy and think he is super thorough and very good and couldnt imagine poooping on the birthing table in front of anyone else.

Read more: pandce.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=mmmoms&action=display&thread=45278#ixzz23i8hTRC7

[Ashley&Scott]

1. My insurance just requires an office visit copay.

2. Not long, I've been seen within a day or two for random issues. I've always scheduled a few months out for my annual exam because I have a favorite doctor in the practice.

3. I try to get there 10-15 minutes early, I am often called back at or before my appointment time. (I've never had to wait more than 5-10 min past my appt time)

4. I usually opt for the first available if I want to been seen right away. (4 docs & 1 NP in the practice)

5. Yes they really check your weight. It's no big deal. They'll also measure your stomach.

6. Website is pretty good. Lists contact info, docs, bios, services provided, hospitals, etc.

7. Three: dating ultrasound around 8 weeks, NT scan at 12 weeks & anatomy scan at 20 weeks. Both the 12 & 20 week included 3D/4D images.

8. In my area both major hospitals allow those things...are you sure the crunchy hospital is the only one offering those things?

If it was really important to me & they were the only option I would do it, but remember at the end you'll be going to appointments every week.

[Ashley&Scott]

Just read the followups RE: weight.

I got up to 240 at the end with M. (Possibly even a few lbs more, it was almost week between my appt & deliv. so I don't know for sure) Like pps said you can just ask not to be told your weight. Try not to stress too much about it

[Saudade]

Aug 15, 2012 19:03:21 GMT -5 @notquiteblushing said:

I have never like my current OB's office. Actually I only have seen the GYN who doesn't even practice OB but I digress. It's a big place that I originally picked because it was close and on the bus line and took my insurance. I suspect I recently missed the annual exam that I scheduled 7 months in advance because I didn't mark it on my calendar and I never received the usual phone call the day before reminding me. Anyway it's time to move on and find a new provider.

Some questions:

1. Does insurance let you just willy nilly meet with multiple providers in less than a year's time? I know I couldn't have an annual more than once but would they pay for a consult?I see a CNM. We don't have an OB at my rural clinic/hospital. I can go out of town (1hr to 3 different towns to see an OB, should I choose)

2. How long does it take you to get an an appt for a regular old visit - not pregnancy related - like an annual or a birth control check or whathaveyou? Do they have bullshit rules like no annuals after 1 pm or something? I can usually get seen the next day. Or call her nurse to see if I can get in the same day.

3. How long do you have to wait usually in the waiting room?Depends on the day and the time of day. Usually no more than 15 minutes on a busy day

4. Do you see the same doctor or different ones?Same. Only option

5. If you get pregnant do they really need to check your weight at every appointment? Can you just tell them you weighed yourself?Well they aren't weighing you just for the fun of it. There are medical reasons. If you don't want to know, close your eyes or look up. They won't say it out loud.

6. How is their web site? Why is it that every single doctor website I've seen is totally awful and it is 2012?Fine? I live in the middle of nowhere, so it's good for out here

7. How many ultrasounds did you have during your pregnancy? Were any 3D or 4D?One. 2D. They do not do any unless medically necessary. I knew when I ovulated so I didn't need a dating scan. I had one at 20 weeks (anatomy scan)

8. Would you drive 30 minutes out of your way to see a doctor who delivers at the crunchy woman's hospital that lets you use a birthing ball and jacuzzi and stuff or are there too many appointments to make that sacrifice? Assume you work full time.I will have to travel 1 hr next pregnancy for a OB or midwife to do a VBAC, tehy can't do them at my clinic/hospital. I have to decide if I want to do prenatal care with the CNM in town and then labor in the other town, or do all prenatal care plus labor/delivery in the other town. I don't mind it because they have target so I usually go quite often. I was considering traveling 3 hours to be able to use a birthing center, but my insurance doesn't cover it and I don't want to pay OOP.

And go!