Finding the Right Obstetrician-Gynecologist

For many women, finding the right OB-Gynecologist can be a daunting and frightening ordeal. Aside from the thought of having to share your intimate and private affairs with a perfect stranger, you will also have to literally endure being poked and prodded in your most sensitive and private areas! An OB-Gyn check-up is a must for every woman, especially if they are sexually active, in their birthing years, and even beyond. OB-Gyns are your allies in your reproductive health and that is very important.

It would be great if all OB-Gyns were nice and accommodating and easy to talk to. Unfortunately though, not all of them are like that and it really does take some effort from you to find someone who you can get along with well and trust.

Here are some tips on finding an OB-Gyn that is right for you:

1). Get referrals from friends and relatives that you know and trust.
To prevent any uncomfortable and untoward situations, it is always best to seek referrals from people you know and trust. Also, don’t be afraid to set appointments with several doctors for an initial consultation. By doing this, you will be able to have options and find the OB-Gyn that is perfect for you.

A friend of mine was so afraid to ask people for referrals so she just went to a random OB-Gyn in a clinic. As it turned out, the OB-Gyn was very disapproving of my friend’s pre-marital affairs that she was very scoff and less than gentle when she was examining her. Her disapproval of my friend’s lifestyle and lack of proper bedside manner was off-putting and obviously that was her first and last consultation with that OB-Gyn.

2. Find someone that puts you and your welfare as top priority.

You should be able to trust that your OB-Gyn will be there for you and do what is best for you at all times.

My own OB-Gyn told me just a few weeks before I was due to have my second child that their first priority is the woman or mother that is their patient. That is also the reason why a pediatrician is asked to be present during births - so that they can also put the child’s welfare as their top priority, too.  

Sadly, a friend spoke of an OB-Gyn that refused to perform a C-Section on her patient even if the pregnancy conditions of the woman warranted it only because the hospital she was affiliated with was checking up and auditing doctors that automatically recommend C-Sections even if unnecessary. The woman eventually had to undergo an emergency C-Section after hours of stressful labor which put both her and her child’s life at risk.

Cases like these should never happen if OB-Gyns put their patient’s welfare above all else. Remember, you are entrusting your reproductive health, and even your life (during childbirth) to your OB-Gyn so you have to make sure they are there for you a hundred percent.

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3. When it comes to OB-Gyns, trust and dependability are a must.
Once you do decide on an OB-Gyn it is important to really build and have a relationship of trust and honesty with them. You should be able to ask anything regarding your reproductive health and be given answers in an honest and straightforward manner. They should be upfront about procedures that you may have to undergo as well as the costs they will ensue. They should be dependable in the sense that they keep to their appointments or clinic hours and they can be reached in cases of emergencies. Having a reliever doctor with you during times of emergencies is added stress; it would really be best to have your OB-Gyn attending to you as much as possible.

I have had bad experiences in the past with OB-Gyns who would arrive 3 hours late, never reply to calls when emergencies arise and are always be unavailable when you really need them! Remember, trust and dependability are very important, no matter how well-known they are.  

4. Find an OB-Gyn that can accept you and work with you being who you are.
Of course there are ideals - what lifestyle you should maintain, what diet you should follow, and what kind of relations you should keep to, if you want to be healthy. Unfortunately, few if not zero women can be perfect and be the ideal patient. OB-Gyns should be able to accept you for who you are and work with you from that point. They should not be too judgmental of your actions or force you to become someone you are not.

A friend of mine who was a few pounds overweight was having some difficulty getting pregnant and asked for help from an OB-Gyn she had had a few consultations with. Once she told her OB-GYN that she was having difficulty conceiving, her OB-GYN started an embarrassing tirade about her weight and how it was hindering her from conceiving and that it was her own fault. She was then told to lose 20 pounds and that the OB-Gyn would not help until she did. My friend of course was offended and sought a second opinion.  

5. Do your homework, too.
Having a great OB-Gyn is one thing, but it is also your responsibility to be in the know about your own health. In this day and age where information is easy to acquire, it is your responsibility too, to be an informed patient. That way, you and your OB-Gyn can really work together and be on the same page about your health. Gone are the days when women knew nothing and took the professionals’ word without question. You have the responsibility to be informed, ask the right questions and be an active participant in decisions regarding your health.

Finding an OB-Gyn that is perfect for you may take a little time but it is well worth all the effort once you do. More than being the authority, women should see their OB-Gyns as their partners in health.

Had an OB-Gyn experience that made you uncomfortable? What did you do to ensure you get the best care? Tell us by leaving a comment below.

Photo from sxc.hu