High risk OB-GYN (non-kaiser)
Hello,
I'm looking for a skilled OBGYN with an excellent bedside manner, for a high risk pregnancy.
I have type 2 diabetes, and had a previous emergency csection (which healed with a lot of pain and still troubles me years later). I would like someone who is very skilled and experienced with high risk pregnancies, who will do a good job on a repeat csection (I am unlikely to be a vbac candidate, sadly), and who will act as a partner with me to get me through a difficult pregnancy and deliver a healthy baby.
I was excited about Dr. Kurt Wharton and Dr. Bill Issenberg based on many great reviews here, but sadly it seems neither is still seeing new OB patients in the east bay.
Thank you.
Feb 23, 2023
Parent Replies
I'd suggest going to UCSF Mission Bay. They are the best of the best.
If you’re willing to cross the bridge, Dr Donna Wiggins at Golden Gate OB is stellar. I had a high-risk pregnancy and would go back to her again if needed.
I loved my OB and everyone I saw in the group practice where she works during my recent pregnancy. Caveat that my pregnancy was uncomplicated but I believe she has experience with a lot more complex patients and pregnancies. My doc is named Rebecca Taub and she is with the Sutter East Bay Foundation Medical Group. There are a number of great OBs in this practice. They deliver exclusively at Alta Bates where I also had a very positive L&D experience, which unlike my pregnancy was not totally uncomplicated.
I had a great experience with Sutter Health (Oakland)'s MFM team (I had a twin IUGR pregnancy and had developed preeclampsia with my first pregnancy)- specifically Michelle Adams and Autumn Broady. Both took great care of me and my twins, and balanced risks to my babies (and me!) vs reality of living life with an almost two-year old. They are great doctors and great people who bring a wholistic approach to your care. Highly recommend!
I really liked Dr. Marinoff in Berkeley, but I'm not sure if he's taking new patients.
I went to Sutter and had a pretty good experience with a high risk pregnancy there. Sutter was able to schedule my 36 week appointment with the doctor who was scheduled the day of my induction so I could meet her ahead of time and go over my birth plan with the person who would actually be delivering the baby. I worked with Dr. Marinoff at UCSF as my MFM doc and he was great, both relaxed and cautious with my pregnancy if that can be a mix :) . Sutter likes you to stay within the Sutter network so they'll probably push you to use their MFMs, but tolerated me working with UCSF just fine. Good luck!
I recently received care for a very high risk pregnancy - started at ucsf and ultimately transferred to Sutter East Bay for all my care including a 1 month hospital stay in antepartum so I got to know their MFM and OB team VERY well. Yes UCSF is great medically but the long commute and the system is a huge hassle - could almost never reach perinatology by phone, sometimes I’d be there 3-4 hours for appointments because I’d see a med student, then a fellow, then finally the specialist…and it was never the same specialist. I’m a loyal UCSF alum but I just couldn’t take it.
Everything was way more convenient with Sutter East Bay and most the MFMs are fantastic. Mickye Adams is amazing and revered for good reason and was my primary MFM. I also love Dr Romero and Dr Yvonne Cheng. I was co-managed by a regular Sutter OB Dr Venkat but I believe she is not taking new patients. But I got to meet almost all of the OBs and like Zheng, Madhavan, Taub, Nseyo, and Kadri in particular.
Hope that helps!
I did not have a C-section but I did see a high risk doctor at UCSF Mission Bay that I liked. I was very happy with how the birth of my daughter went and will be returning to them for my current pregnancy.