Is this typical of OB offices?

This is my 1st pregnancy so of course I'm extra concerned about everything. Around week 12, I switched OB's nothing was wrong with the other, I just didn't vibe with him so I found one that my husband & I thought was great, especially since if he is unavailable the day of, only one other doc would deliver. Now often when I go, I end up seeing a Nurse Practitioner instead of him and I know that neither of them is doing anything special, they are just reading whatever the results of the sono are, so perhaps it's not technically a big deal but shouldn't he be getting to know me if he's delivering? The Nurse P is not going to be involved come delivery time and I don't want my Doc to need a chart the day of to know who I am and what the specifics of my case is all because he rarely saw me throughout my pregnancy?

I will be turning 28 weeks this week, can you guys share if this is typical prior to the last trimester? Perhaps he'll see me more when I am further along? Either way, when I go in this week for my Glucose test, I will be expressing my concerns.

Is this typical of OB offices?

I see my dr every single time. The nurse will take weight, urine, blood pressure. Then the dr comes in for Doppler and any questions I have and to review any results.

Re: Is this typical of OB offices?

When you make an appointment make sure you are making it with the doctor and not the NP. There's nothing wrong with saying you'd rather see the doctor, my office always asked before they scheduled me with an NP rather than a doctor, I always said no to the NP though. It's probably common practice to schedule with the NP if you have an uncomplicated pregnancy, but you should have a choice.

I will say though that chances are your doctor will not remember everything about you and your pregnancy without looking at a chart, but I agree it's nice if they at least recognize you and have some idea of who you are.

Is this typical of OB offices?

Thanks, I will definitely make sure from now on that they know it must be him.

Message edited 5/11/2015 10:39:18 AM.

Re: Is this typical of OB offices?

With a group of 2, it is possible that they have the NP see patients for regular visits so that they can do the deliveries.

The other option is to cancel appointments when a patient goes into labor or needs a section or to go back & forth between hospital & office during labor. I get phone calls frequently to cancel (I'm in a group of 3 plus midwife).

Re: Is this typical of OB offices?

My practice has 4 doctors and I always see a doctor, never a NP.

Re: Is this typical of OB offices?

I always see my doc and he's the only one that ever does my sonos and examines me but I also see a high risk doctor. However, I would definitely express your concerns and ask to make an appointment next time with the actual doctor not the NP.

Re: Is this typical of OB offices?

I've seen the NP if the dr had to go to the hospital in an emergency. I see my dr. 95% of the time

Re: Is this typical of OB offices?

Re: Is this typical of OB offices?

Is this typical of OB offices?

I also go to a small practice and I have never seen a Nurse Practitioner instead of a Doctor.

Is this typical of OB offices?

I think it depends on the practice. I see high risk MFM's which at my practice consists of about 5 or 6 MFM's and an NP. With #1, I saw 3 different MFM's and the NP (who I hated). I tried to schedule as many appointments with my favorite MFM as possible just because I liked his demeanor the best but otherwise, I didn't care too much as long as I wasn't seeing the NP or one specific MFM (she told me there was an issue with DD1's heart and then realized she had the wrong patient). I delivered at stonybrook which is full of med students and residents so during my induction, I had about 8 different people checking me with the MFM's (attendings) coming around once a day. My favorite ended up also being in the room for the actual birth but as more of a supervisor. The resident on call did the actual delivery. To me, it made no difference who was actually there but I realize that not everyone else feels that way.

This time around, I've managed to schedule all of my appointments with my favorite MFM. Even though it's a large practice, he still remembered me and sought me out when I went for my first prenatal visit with DD2 but I was also there less than a year after my last appointment with him lol.

Re: Is this typical of OB offices?

99% of the time I see my doctor. I think there was only once that I ever saw the NP and that was because the doctor was out of the office.

ETA I see a solo practioner

Message edited 5/11/2015 12:50:05 PM.

Re: Is this typical of OB offices?

It was typical in mine and that is one of the many reasons I switched from him. For my first two kids, there was a midwife in the practice and I always saw her and she delivered both of them but she has since left the practice. I loved that woman. With the pregnancy, I was not comfortable always seeing the NP's or the one GYN who no longer delivered babies because they would not be there for the delivery so I switched at 20 weeks and so happy I did.

Like PP's mentioned you should make sure your appointments are with OB who will deliver and not the NP's moving forward. Good luck!

Re: Is this typical of OB offices?

Re: Is this typical of OB offices?

Hmm yes this is odd to me. I would ask or complain about that. It could be just bad luck that the dr was out delivering that day or off for some reason. Did they explain it to you or say next visit is with the dr and then you got there and it wasn't?

At my old office they had 4 doctors and 2 PAs. I saw the PA every other time. At a certain point toward the end I only saw the dr.

I switched practices for several reasons and now this practice has 2 doctors. I know they added a PA but I think its just incase one of them has an emergency delivery or surgery to get to.

Is this typical of OB offices?

The practice I go to has 3 doctors. Towards the end when you start going often they make sure you see all 3 a few times. Earlier in the pregnancy though you can see the doctors or the nurse practitioner, up to you. I've always seen the doctor who delivered my son up until last appt and then I've been making my appts to see the other 2 so I'm comfortable with all of them come delivery time!

Is this typical of OB offices?

Ive only ever seen my DR

Is this typical of OB offices?

I almost always saw my Dr - my appt was specifically with them. The NP always handled the initial visit or a visit just for bloodwork, but I knew my appt was scheduled with the nurse. If I had trouble getting an appt with the Dr, I would make a nurse appt.

Is this typical of OB offices?

Thanks for all the input ladies. When I called they just said he could only see me if I came in earlier. Unfortunately, neither of them do the actual sono so the Doc & NP just read off what the sono report says but it still pisses me off & I will definitely let them know how I feel when I go in this week.