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My OB was technically in a group but I never saw any of his associates and he was the one who delivered my baby. But there was another doctor on call when I went into the hospital. I communicated with her via phone but that's it.

I technically went through a group of CNMs, but I didn't really rotate through them - I saw a handful during my first pregnancy and I only saw one during my second pregnancy. Both times, it was a different midwife that I'd never met who delivered my boys. It didn't really matter to me!

Mine is kind of in between. My OB is part of a group, but I never saw any of the other OB's during my pregnancy. My OB office is located in the hospital I delivered at and someone from the group was always on call.

Of course I delivered 2 weeks early and my OB was on vacation. The on call OB did my delivery and it was totally fine. Prior to having my son, my OB and I went over my preferences so they were all in my file and the on call OB was able to see all that.

Would you be able to find out who the OB's are that are on call at the hospital you will be delivering at? Maybe you could set up a "just in case" meeting?

I had a single OB and my experience both times was incredible. I had very complicated and scary pregnancies, and having someone who knew me, nurses who were always available to talk on the phone without having to wait for a call back, and the predictability when I was in the office every week was really wonderful.

I was really worried about not having her do my c-sections (I had a breech baby both times) but in the end I decided that I trusted her so much that I trusted her judgement in choosing who would be her backup practice. The first time she was the one who was there, which was great because it was unexpected and 5 weeks early. The second time she was not the doctor on call. I could have waited until morning for her to be the one to do my surgery, but in the end I decided I was okay with the doctor on call doing it and it went very smoothly. She was in first thing the next morning (and every day after) to check on me, so aside from the surgery itself she was still my doctor. I am really happy with the way everything worked out and I would highly recommend it, assuming the single practice doctor is one you adore.

@MaryM: I would probably switch if I were in your shoes. If the bad memories are already affecting you, that might not get easier I think I could have had the opportunity to meet my OB's backup doctors if I had wanted to, and that might have made it a little easier. By the time I "went into labor" the second time I had already been through 20 weeks of progesterone injections and 8 weeks of all day long contractions. I was DONE haha Knowing my ob liked the drs was good enough for me. But had I had any concerns I am sure I could have dropped by their office to meet their midwives/obs.

I see a single OB now, but last time I saw a group and the resident OB AT the hospital delivered me that I never met before anyway. To me it wasn't and still isn't a big deal.

I've had both experiences.

With LO1 I had a group practice. I saw my regular OB the first 5 months and then they started rotating through the others so I could get to know them. I had never met the OB who ended up delivering my baby, but it really didn't matter to me. It was still a good experience and I didn't mind rotating through OBs. I also had a smooth, complication-free pregnancy/birth.

With LO2, I saw one OB. I looooved him, he always remembered me (and still does now that I see him for just annuals) and we had a great physician-patient relationship. Unfortunately, my 2nd baby came so quickly that he arrived at the hospital 10 minutes after the birth. He examined me though and stitched me up (just 2 stitches).

I don't think one is better than the other, and in both situations you have to be open to the possibility that something unexpected could occur.

I chose a group for this reason, but after being on bed rest for 6 weeks, I realized that there was no guarantee my OB would be there. It was a group of 6 woman OBs and they all each had certain days that they were on-call.

I got to know my 6 OB in my office very well. When it came close to delivering, I was able to ask them their preferences. Luckily, all of them fit my minor requirements (breach extraction of twins if twin be turned).

While I was in the hospital, I have heard there are offices where the OB will come no matter what. I guess that's a good thing but how does that OB ever have time to take days off or vacation. I guess I would say that's a dedicated OB to do that.

The OB that delivered my twins was not the OB I saw but I really liked the two OBs that were on-call during my induction weekend. My goal was healthy twins so I didn't have a lot on my birth plan.

@MaryM: haha sorry I misunderstood your comment about switching mid pregnancy and assumed you werent pregnant yet congratulations!!!

I had a single OB and he was there for both of my deliveries. I never waited long and liked that I always saw him at my appointments.