Finding out you're having a baby is an exciting and joyful time. One of the most important decisions you can make regarding your child's birth is picking an OB/GYN who is experienced and makes you feel safe, secure, and comfortable.
Dr. Sharon Breit and her team of medical professionals at the Center for Women's Health are dedicated to providing women a safe, warm, and relaxing environment. Here, we share five helpful tips for choosing the right OB/GYN for your pregnancy and childbirth.
Throughout your pregnancy, you need to see your OB/GYN numerous times. In the first two trimesters of your pregnancy, you visit your OB/GYN at least monthly.
After that, you should come into the office every two weeks, and after 36 weeks, weekly visits are recommended. That's a lot of visits and potentially a lot of driving, so you should choose a doctor that's close to your home.
As mentioned above, you're going to have to make many doctor visits throughout your pregnancy. And you'll most likely give birth at a hospital. Paying out of pocket for those services can be cost-prohibitive.
Make sure the doctor you choose takes your insurance. At the Center for Women's Health, we accept most major insurance plans.
When researching which doctor to choose, check their credentials. Board certification means your doctor has gone through additional, rigorous specialty training to pass a board qualifying test. It shows that they have extensive skills, knowledge, and expertise in their specialty field.
Dr. Breit, for example, is board certified by the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology and is a fellow of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.
While experience is essential, an open, warm, and caring nature is equally as important. Having a baby is an exciting time, but you may feel anxious and also experience problems.
During your pregnancy, you will most likely discuss intimate issues and questions. You should find a doctor with whom you feel comfortable having these discussions or asking questions of a personal or awkward nature.
In some large practices, the doctor you see regularly is not always the doctor who delivers your baby. It can be upsetting to develop a relationship with a physician only to have someone you don't know as well be the person present at birth.
If you want the doctor you see regularly to be the one who delivers your baby, find out if that's how the practice operates. For example, at the Center for Women's Health, Dr. Breit delivers 98% of her patients' babies.
Are you pregnant or thinking about trying to start a family? Call our office in Wichita, Kansas, for an appointment or request one through our online system.
We offer telehealth appointments, too. Please call our clinic to determine if your visit is eligible for a telemedicine appointment.
