https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Sun, 26 Apr 2026 20:39:22 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-to-pick-a-ob-gyn-starting-from-scratch#post-2065888 Thu, 12 Feb 2015 09:38:39 +0000 TemperanceBrennan 2065888@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Thanks again, everyone! I scoured the local mom's message boards and found a few leads. I chose one that looked the most promising and called the practice and the receptionist was very helpful. Figures crossed I like her in person! I have a good feeling about it. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-to-pick-a-ob-gyn-starting-from-scratch#post-2065105 Wed, 11 Feb 2015 17:08:18 +0000 blackbird 2065105@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Join a local FB mom group and post the question. i'm always recommending my OB to people who are looking for one in that area. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-to-pick-a-ob-gyn-starting-from-scratch#post-2064983 Wed, 11 Feb 2015 16:02:25 +0000 mrs. tictactoe 2064983@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I struggled with a similar situation last year. The problem is, with my insurance, I can't just go meet with a couple of doctors to see if I like them first (I was able to do this when choosing pediatricians, but not for OBGYNs for some reason). I have to actually select the doctor first, then make an appointment. If I wanted to meet with them without insurance, it was $100+ just for a quick visit. </p> <p>What I ended up doing, is picking a random doctor at an office I had been to before. I didn't like the other doctor I had seen there in the past, but I liked the office (staff, cleanliness, location, etc) and thought I'd just try out one of the other doctors there, knowing I could switch later if I needed to. She ended up being amazing and I feel so lucky that I ended up with her! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-to-pick-a-ob-gyn-starting-from-scratch#post-2064959 Wed, 11 Feb 2015 15:57:04 +0000 snowjewelz 2064959@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Can you join a local mom FB group and ask there? I moved last year before TTC and just kinda found a random one too. It wasn't good or bad but I want to try another one for the next LO. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-to-pick-a-ob-gyn-starting-from-scratch#post-2064770 Wed, 11 Feb 2015 14:56:28 +0000 Eko 2064770@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I had to find a new OB when I found out I was pregnant. I did base it off of which hospitals they were associated with. After that, I looked at the individual practice. I found that by searching for individual doctors, many of them are just their own practice, which I didn't want. I was looking for a smaller family practice that had 3+ doctors. If something goes wrong and your doctor is unavailable you want to make sure someone else is available. After hours calls, etc. After that, I looked at how convenient the practice hours and location are. I quickly found that my options were being narrowed quickly. Then, if I could call and very easily and friendly make appointments, etc. then I was sold. So far, I love the choice I made. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-to-pick-a-ob-gyn-starting-from-scratch#post-2064704 Wed, 11 Feb 2015 14:41:13 +0000 edelweiss 2064704@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>barring any word of mouth, i would simply pick one based on the most convenient location and hours, and see how it worked out. you could also see how many doctors work in the office (gives you an idea of the size of their operation). good luck! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-to-pick-a-ob-gyn-starting-from-scratch#post-2064695 Wed, 11 Feb 2015 14:37:09 +0000 TemperanceBrennan 2064695@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mamaof2: My friends that have had babies had doctors out of my network or doctors that aren't accepting new patients. I have other friends without kids that have doctors that they are "meh" about and only see them for ten minutes at their once-a-year chekups. </p> <p>@mediagirl: I don't really want to tell anyone we are trying that I haven't told yet either! </p> <p>I work with all men. I'm sure their wives have recommendations, but I don't feel comfortable asking my coworkers about it. </p> <p>@LBee: I really like your list of questions. I guess I'm struggling with how do you find out the answers to the questions? I guess I could call around and talk to the people that answer the phone and do scheduling, but I'm worried I would be awkward and weird. </p> <p>@bluestriped bee: Yep, the website lists their schooling, preferred hospital, specialties, and if they are taking new patients. Some even have videos of the doctors. They all seem the same to me. </p> <p>@Mamasig: That's a good idea. I was searching specifically for doctor reviews, but I haven't really looked into mom groups in my city yet. I'll do that. </p> <p>It seems like some clinics only list one OB-GYN, while there are others that have three or four in the practice. I sure there are pro/cons to having one doctors opposed to a group - but I don't know which one I would prefer. </p> <p>Thanks for everyone's responses! It's given me more to think about. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-to-pick-a-ob-gyn-starting-from-scratch#post-2064672 Wed, 11 Feb 2015 14:29:03 +0000 tiramisu 2064672@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Can you ask any of your coworkers? Or check on Yelp? I had to find a new OB when I was 5 months pregnant and my OB abruptly retired. I went with a recommendation from a friend and fortunately it turned out well. I second PP and calling to check if they're accepting new patients. @LBee: has some great considerations too! Wish I had thought of these when I was looking for an OB. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-to-pick-a-ob-gyn-starting-from-scratch#post-2064623 Wed, 11 Feb 2015 14:13:10 +0000 Mamasig 2064623@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Does your city have any kind of mommy blog? Mine does and they've asked on Facebook for OB and pediatrician recommendations. Tons of people answer and you'll see the top recommendations. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-to-pick-a-ob-gyn-starting-from-scratch#post-2064592 Wed, 11 Feb 2015 14:06:15 +0000 BSB 2064592@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Does the office(s) have a website where you can read each Dr's profiles (like schooling and other background)? Then call to see if those Dr's are taking new patients. That should help narrow your list down further. </p> <p>My last OB/GYN retired and I got a new one around the time I started fertility treatments at my RE. Now that I'm pregnant, I did wonder if I should go back or find a new office. I ended up staying with the office and looked at all the profiles they had and they all seemed fine to me. One of them looked vaguely familiar so it might have been the one I saw last time. The one I got is close to my house to convenient for appt and it's across the street from the hospital. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-to-pick-a-ob-gyn-starting-from-scratch#post-2064571 Wed, 11 Feb 2015 14:00:35 +0000 LBee 2064571@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I went off recommendations as well as researched education, etc. I chose the doctor who went to the top school and had a great fellowship. I also wanted a practice / doctor who had a connection to a RE, in case that became something I needed. </p> <p>Some other things to consider:<br /> 1) What hospital are they connected to? Is this the one where you want to deliver?<br /> 3) How is making an appointment there? You will have to be there often once you are pregnant.<br /> 4) What is the wait time like? See #3.<br /> 5) Are you comfortable with the other people in the practice? You will most likely have to see all of them and it's no guarantee that your doctor will deliver your baby.<br /> 6) Are they inline with what kind of birth experience you want? </p> <p>Just some food for thought! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-to-pick-a-ob-gyn-starting-from-scratch#post-2064554 Wed, 11 Feb 2015 13:55:57 +0000 mediagirl 2064554@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I found a hospital I wanted to give birth at and then found OBGYN's that delivered there. From there I looked at reviews online. I didn't want to tell anyone I was trying. I later found out pretty much everyone I know who delivered at my hospital used them. Ha. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-to-pick-a-ob-gyn-starting-from-scratch#post-2064551 Wed, 11 Feb 2015 13:54:36 +0000 Raindrop 2064551@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I did trail and error. I picked one... then I meet with them... if I didn't like them... I changed and then meet with that person.</p> <p>I switch insurence a lot when I was younger... I found out a lot about myself during this process. I definitely prefer women and someone asian (I'm asian) and someone that grew up in the general area. I guess because it was just nice to have conversations with them and relate to them better outside of them being a doctor and you being their paitent. :) Good luck! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-to-pick-a-ob-gyn-starting-from-scratch#post-2064547 Wed, 11 Feb 2015 13:53:03 +0000 LuLu Mom 2064547@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Word of mouth, can you talk to others who have recently had babies, ect? it might help narrow the list down. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-to-pick-a-ob-gyn-starting-from-scratch#post-2064545 Wed, 11 Feb 2015 13:52:13 +0000 Mamaof2 2064545@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@TemperanceBrennan: what do you mean no solid recs? Meaning they like them but don't love them?</p> <p>I asked a co-worker and went to that practice - I was pregnant so I got to meet a different dr each time and ended up not picking my co-workers OB but a different one and I love her! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-to-pick-a-ob-gyn-starting-from-scratch#post-2064544 Wed, 11 Feb 2015 13:51:49 +0000 cascademom 2064544@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Do you have coworkers or friends with OB preferences? My best doctor gets have been from recommendations.</p> <p>I switched to my OB based on a friend's recommendation. I've been with her for 5 years. My OB's moving out of the country, but the doc who delivered my LO is going to be my OB. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-to-pick-a-ob-gyn-starting-from-scratch#post-2064511 Wed, 11 Feb 2015 13:40:36 +0000 MediaNaranja 2064511@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>No advice but curious because I'm in the same boat!! We moved last year and I was too overwhelmed to choose a doctor so I just used Planned Parenthood for my checkup, ha. I'm due for my annual exam again and need to get on this :bummed: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-to-pick-a-ob-gyn-starting-from-scratch#post-2064491 Wed, 11 Feb 2015 13:36:05 +0000 TemperanceBrennan 2064491@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My work changed health insurance providers this year, so i have to switch all of my doctors. I'm under 30, generally healthy, and only go to one check-up at the GYN (and saw various NPs) and one at the family medicine doc.</p> <p>I hope to conceive this year, so I want to find a good doctor, but I am overwhelmed with choices. The hospital I would like to deliver at is in network and I searched for providers that use that hospital as their primary. There are 42 doctors to choose from! </p> <p>I looked at clinic locations, reviews from angie's list and other online websites (nothing really turned up that was helpful). I talked to a ton of my girlfriends, but no one has solid recommendations for doctors in my network. I don't have a standing relationship with my previous doctors to ask for a recommendation. </p> <p>I knocked the list down to 15 or so purely based on location but beyond that, I don't know how to narrow them down! </p> <p>What would you do? I might just close my eyes and pick one. </p>