ObGyn for Pregnant Newcomer
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Moving to the East Bay when 8 months pregnant
Nov 2010
Hi there. We are a couple who will be expecting our first baby in late April. There is a possibility we will be moving from S.F. to the East Bay sometime near the 8th month of my pregnancy and we're worried about switching doctors. We've established a fairly strong trust with our current OBGYN but we'll be looking for an OBGYN in the Oakland / Berkeley. What we are wondering is if it will be really hard to find a doctor so late in my pregnancy. So far there have been no problems with my pregnancy and everything has been pretty smooth. We are insured under a HMO plan which typically assigns a primary doctor who will then refer an OB. Is this an unrealistic transition? Has anyone changed doctors this late in their pregnancy and if so what was your experience like? And of course, any OB recommendations would be greatly appreciated.
Hello - I would suggest you look for / find a new OB now. The appointments are just once per month-ish early on, so it's not so many extra trips across the Bay now. I had to change from Kaiser to Blue Shield at 7 mo pregnant, and it was tough. I had to call a number of ob offices to find someone who would take me. Then I tried to meet as many of the doctors in the practice as possible (visits every week at the end made that easier).
As for recommending a doctor, it is all about what you are looking for. Do you want the UCSF residency top school analytical, knows all the studies & study results in her head type of doctor? or the more holistic comfort kind of midwife/doctor? also, there are many practices where you get who's on call, as opposed to your own doctor for the labor & delivery. There are pros and cons to that. We had a great experience at Alta Bates - the nurses during labor are almost more important for your during labor comfort & experience. been there
Hi! I did the same thing this year in May. We live in Berkeley, and I switched to an OBGYN in Oakland when I was 36w pregnant. The whole thing was an insurance issue, we had a new insurance and it caused us lots of trouble. Eventually I understood that as HMO, I had to get another OBGYN, if I did not want to pay 30%. So from my PCP I got a name of a doctor within network, closest one was in Oakland. The first time I called them they asked me to get all my files and fax them over, then they would decide if the doctor will accept me. I was so tired of all this insurance struggle, but I went to my old OBGYN office to get copies, did not fax them to the new doctor but called for an appointment - this time they surprisingly did not ask me for the reason of the appointment. When I got there, they saw of course that I was pregnant and they got a bit nervous. The doctor wanted to talk to me before accepting me as a patient. He took a look at my papers and since everything looked good, he said ok, because where else I would go this late, he said. Though he emphasized that I now had to follow exactly his prescriptions (well, I did. I did the 3h glucose test, but I refused an extra ultrasound at week 38 - felt that unnecessary). So don't worry too much, the change of OBGYN is possible. Take care of yourself and good luck! kel
You only got a few answers, so I thought I'd offer another perspective: maybe you don't need to change your OB at all? I live in Walnut Creek, but work in SF, had all my appointments in SF, and my son was born in SF. My husband wasn't really excited about that - he worried I'd be giving birth on the Bay Bridge, I think - but it was basically a non-issue. We went to the hospital in the middle of the night, and the only downside was that my husband couldn't hop home quickly for anything we forgot. Good luck, whatever you choose.
We're with Kaiser, and I love my OB (Dr. Sarah Wilson), and we had a great experience having our baby at Kaiser Oakland.
Congratulations! I heartily recommend the very experienced and compassionate Kurt Wharton, M.D., and the great doctors at East Bay Pediatrics.
Dr Duffy is my ob, she's great. A saw a couple other people from her office (the ones who happened to be on call during my labor and delivery) and they were great as well. Dr. Emmanuel was there for the actual delivery, and I liked her a lot.
Hi! I had some issues finding an OB/GYN who accepted my insurance, so in the last six months I went to three practices and really liked them all. I ended up with Dr. Jim Nishimine, who I really like, because he accepts my insurance (Anthem Blue Cross Gold Select PPO). The other practices take Anthem PPO's, but not select plans.
To be honest, my favorite practice was the Women's Group for Health practice in Berkeley. Dr. Lilia Lozano is the head OB, but I only met with Kathy Kroger, the NP and had a really positive experience. Their office is very responsive and helpful, and they use very convenience online tools for communication and sharing test results. I went to their office in Berkeley on Regent Street. Good luck and congratulations!
https://womensgroupforhealth.com/
Good afternoon.
For OB, Sutter Health East Bay. Located on Milvia street. I saw a handful of doctors while pregnant but my main doctor was Dr Kadri. Delivered at Alta Bates.
For pediatrician, any of the doctors at Primary Pediatrics Oakland. We see Dr Bruce Horowitz but saw others in the hospital and recommend.
Hope this helps!
Emily
Check out the Sutter OB office on Milvia. Dr Jewell is amazing, and the whole practice is strong. They got me through a 48hr labor w/o a c section. Our pediatrician is in Castro Valley bc we don’t live as close to Berkeley now, so that’s probably not as helpful to you.
HI, I recently moved here too at 7 months pregant, I am with Dr Lilia Lizano, located next to Alta Bates. So far my experience has been very positive, I was able to get an appointment next week after I arrived and the staff is always very responsive.
I strongly recommend Dr. Carrie Duffy who is absolutely amazing, she is friendly, always takes time to answer all my questions and makes sure to give me opportunities to ask question even when she is running late. The practice recently changed their model such that they can't guarantee that your OB will be the one delivering your baby but there are opportunities for you to get to know others in the practice who may be on call. Our pediatrician is Dr. Grace So at Berkeley Pediatrics and we love her. We feel she really listens to our concerns and is very personable and knowledgeable.
Welcome! I just had a baby a few weeks ago and loved my OB gyn practice (OB Gyn Partners for Health in Oakland). They deliver at Alta Bates in Berkeley. I worked with a few of their doctors throughout my pregnancy and was happy with all of them. My son has been seeing East Bay Pediatrics (offices in Berkeley and Orinda) and while it’s been only a few visits so far, I have also been happy with his care there as well.
Dr. Kier VanRemoortere or Dr. Elisabeth Scheunling
Anyone at this practice is great.
I gave birth in November. Best of luck.
Berkeley pediatrics are AMAZING. For OB, I had a wonderful experience with Debra Levinsky, but she's not for everyone (very direct, not so touchy-feely). Whoever you get, make sure you deliver at Alta Bates. I too came to the Bay Area in my 7th month and at first the facilities seemed really outdated, but in truth it's a boon (private room, often a real bed for your partner too!) and the nurses are just beyond wonderful. They deliver dramatically more babies than UCSF and the other hospitals in the area and it shows in the quality of care.
Another vote for Sutter East Bay Medical Foundation on Milvia in Berkeley. My OB is Dr. Ahsan, but Dr. Kadri delivered my baby two months ago. I also saw two other OBs three when Dr. Ahsan was out, everyone was fantastic! For Pediatrician, I go to the same office on Milvia and see Dr. Swearingen. I love the location because there is plenty of free parking and the building is new and clean.
I delivered with Lilia Lizano a few months ago, and I've had a very good experience with her both getting pregnant and delivering. She is probably in the last few years of her practice, and is therefore very experienced. We had a minor scare during my delivery that resulted in us needing a C-section, and she helped me confidently move through that decision and get my daughter out within 30 minutes. I also saw Debra Levinsky a while back, for what was ultimately unfortunately a miscarriage, so she did my D&C, and although she can seem a little gruff at times I can tell you she has excellent bedside manner when it counts. I use Berkeley Peds (Dr. Sam Woods) for my daughter, and all of the doctors there are great and rotate through Alta Bates for management after your baby is delivered. I loved alta bates, like another person said, the building is older but we got a private room and my husband got a real (albeit a little stiff) bed to sleep in during my 4 day stay after delivery. The non-breakfast food is pretty bad, but no place is perfect! The nurses there are just unreal in how great they are with the new moms, and they have a full staff of lactation specialists, so I got to meet with a lactation specialist every day I was in the hospital (so 4 visits!).
Thank you all so much! This is truly so helpful and a bit of relief in a time when there are so many details with moving and planning.
I will be a new mom in a new area so if anyone is interested in getting together, please email me! I would love some mom friends on this next journey :)
Just an FYI if you are interested in seeing Dr. Jewell at Sutter East Bay she is no longer with the practice. There are many other excellent doctors at SEB though (I am delivering in May) Dr. Van Ramoortere and Dr. Venkat are my two recs thus far.