An obstetrician is a specialized physician who has advanced further training in female reproductive matters, childbirth, and pregnancy. This type of doctor is also commonly referred to as an OB/GYN. To become one, doctors have to commit to years of study as well as following specialized courses in pregnancy, prenatal health, health problems following childbirth, childbirth and labor, and genetics.
The highly personal nature of these services make it essential that, when you start searching Google for the phrase ‘obstetrician doctor near me,’ you should have a clear idea about what you are looking for. Below we have listed our favorite tips for choosing the best obstetrician.
Ask for Recommendations From Family Members or Friends
Let’s face it: a personal recommendation from a family member or close friend will give you peace of mind during a time when the last thing you want is to be overly stressed. Specifically, ask them about their obstetrician’s bedside manner. All the qualifications in the world can not compensate for lack of empathy and tact when you need it.
If you want to get reviews from a wider audience, search Google and your favorite social media sites for recommendations about an ‘obstetrician near me.’ Specifically, try to find information about his or her communication style and personality.
Make Sure They Are in Your Network
We are mentioning early that it is crucial to find a doctor in your network. Choosing an obstetrician in your network typically means your health insurance will cover most of their services. So before you make a final decision, phone your insurance provider to confirm the obstetrician and his or her clinic belong to your health network.
At this stage, it’s also essential to take a closer look at your insurance benefits, so you will know exactly what is covered and what not.
Location Is Important
Obstetricians often see patients in practices or clinics that are near a hospital. When delivery day arrives, the hospital is likely where you will be heading. While a 50km drive through a beautiful mountain pass might be a wonderfully relaxing experience now, will you still feel the same way when you must rush to the hospital, and the birth pains are getting closer together? Also, take into account that you might have to visit the obstetrician several times during your pregnancy.
So while it would be nice to impress your friends with having that celebrity OBS/GYN from New York at your side during childbirth, it might simply not be practical. Something as mundane as a traffic jam on the way to the hospital might become a life-threatening issue when time is of the essence. So when searching Google for ‘best obstetrician near me,’ you want to consider location.
Check Out Their Credentials
As we have already mentioned, when searching for the ‘best obstetrician near me,’ his or her personality and style are essential – but there are other equally important things. Try, for example, to find information on the following:
– How long they have been practicing
– Where they attended medical school
– Where they completed their residency
– Do they specialize in a specific field?
-This is particularly important if you have a specialized need, e.g., a high-risk pregnancy
– Is there any evidence of complaints, disciplinary actions, or malpractice suits against them?
-If so, perhaps instead continue your search.
Take Your Specific Health Needs Into Account
Carefully going over your personal health history will help determine whether you should look for specialized obstetric or gynecological care. Suppose you suffer from chronic conditions like diabetes or high blood pressure, for example. In that case, you should search for an ‘obstetrician near me’ who has experience dealing with pregnancies where any of these were involved. The same applies if you previously had problems giving birth or had a C-section.
Is Your Doctor Affiliated With a Good Hospital Near You?
Many women already have a specific hospital in mind when they start looking for an obstetrician. If that sounds like you, it’s, of course, essential to make sure that your obstetrician of choice is affiliated with your hospital of choice.
But, on the other hand, if you choose first to start looking for the perfect obstetrician doctor, you should make sure that the hospital he or she is affiliated with has an excellent reputation.
It’s no use if your search for the ‘best obstetrician near me’ is successful, but the hospital your doctor is affiliated with has a patchy reputation, questionable neonatal standards, or even worse: isn’t covered by your insurance.
Check out a couple of reviews on their care and services. Specifically, look for any reports about complications or infections after surgery. When the big day arrives, you want the best resources and experience to make sure it will become a memorable experience for all the right reasons.
Discuss Your Needs and What You Have in Mind with Your Potential Obstetrician
It’s completely OK to arrive at the obstetrician doctor for the first time with your own opinions and questions about induced labor, doulas, pain management, and much more. Be honest about what worries you and how you would like things to proceed. The obstetrician will then have an opportunity to share his or her expertise about the topic and make you feel at ease. If this is your first pregnancy and you do not have any firm ideas yet, he or she should patiently go through the options with you.
If you start feeling very uncomfortable with their style at this stage, it might be a red light that things could only get worse from here. An obstetrician’s bedside manner is often as important as his or her medical qualifications. And there’s more than bedside manner to think of here.
Please make sure you and your prospective obstetrician doctor are on the same page regarding issues such as childbirth, birth control, and post-delivery care. If not, many very uncomfortable moments can await both of you before the delivery. So instead, continue your search for the best obstetrician.
Find Our What Will Happen if You Need Related Services
Once you’ve found the perfect obstetrician, you should check whether your doctor belongs to a team. This way, they can refer you to a different women’s health specialist should the need arise to discuss related services such as, for example, depression or anxiety during pregnancy. Also, ask whether you will see the obstetrician every time you visit or see different members of their team, depending on the nature of your appointment.
Trogolo Obstetrics and Gynecology
If you’re searching for an obstetrician, please schedule an appointment with us. After all, we put our patient’s health first and offer personalized care. We would love to hear from you below if you feel we should have added any other tips or tricks while finding the best doctor.
The same applies if you have a question (or many questions!). Of course, you are also welcome to visit our website if you would like to learn more about our services. That’s where you will also find our contact details.
