Opinions about the midwives that practice with Dr. Guy in Dayton, OH

[wjmama]

I am pregnant and trying to decide on what practice to go with in the Dayton area, Dr. Horlacher and Dr. Wood or Dr. Guy and the midwives.  With my first child I went to Dr. Wood and I loved him, but when it came time to deliver my son Dr. Guy was on-call.  I absolutely feel in love with Dr. Guy after that so now I am seriously considering switching to him for this one.  My only apprehension is that there are so many people in his practice that I may not end up seeing him much and I may end up having to give birth with someone I don't like.  Also I read a post that said one of the midwives in his practice was awful ( lisa mix) so I was wondering if anyone has any opinions about the other people in Dr. Guys practice, particularly Lisa Mix.  Thanks for any input!

[Monkey Keeper]

I don't have any personal experience with Dr. Guys' practice.  However, if you're looking into CNMs in Dayton, be sure to check out those at Good Samaritan Hospital.  I have friends who have used them with rave reviews!

[buckeyedoc]

A number of women I have met through ICAN have used Dr. Guy's practice for their births. Most reviews have been excellent, and they are considered one of the most NCB-friendly practices in the area. However, one mother recently attempted a VBAC with one of the midwives (can't recall the name), who suddenly vanished on her in labor, and she was essentially forced into a cesarean section under GA done by Dr. Woods (covering on call duty), who never even came to see her after surgery to tell her what happened (no one did). Perhaps the cesarean was medically necessary, but the fact that Dr. Woods didn't talk to her afterward is pretty cold IMO. This mother did like Dr. Crouch, who works with Dr. Guy, so that's two good OBs at one place.  

[Monkey Keeper]

Originally Posted by buckeyedoc 

A number of women I have met through ICAN... 

Katie, I haven't been able to find any ICAN information for Dayton, and I was considering becoming involved.  Can you PM me with any information you have?  Thanks!

[khaoskat]

Originally Posted by buckeyedoc 

A number of women I have met through ICAN have used Dr. Guy's practice for their births. Most reviews have been excellent, and they are considered one of the most NCB-friendly practices in the area. However, one mother recently attempted a VBAC with one of the midwives (can't recall the name), who suddenly vanished on her in labor, and she was essentially forced into a cesarean section under GA done by Dr. Woods (covering on call duty), who never even came to see her after surgery to tell her what happened (no one did). Perhaps the cesarean was medically necessary, but the fact that Dr. Woods didn't talk to her afterward is pretty cold IMO. This mother did like Dr. Crouch, who works with Dr. Guy, so that's two good OBs at one place.  

Yes, but the problem started with the Midwife, not with Dr. Woods.  There is a lot more to the story than what  you have posted, as I have talked with the mom a bit.

Dr. Woods wouldn't just step in and do a c/s, unless he was called in by the Midwife.  The Midwife was not talking with or to the parents during the labor, she did step out and disappear.  IMHO, you cannot blame Dr. Woods 100%.  And technically, he might have been off call by the time mother was out of recovery.  Also, the Midwife(s) nor Dr. Guy's office came in and talked to her either.
 

[khaoskat]

Originally Posted by PinkBunch 

Katie, I haven't been able to find any ICAN information for Dayton, and I was considering becoming involved.  Can you PM me with any information you have?  Thanks!

We do have a local ICAN chapter, but it is not an "active chapter".  We never have meetings or even any presence...so I really don't know what use the group is.  One person as told me that the leader is pushing her services more than anything else as either a HB midwife or doula.

[Monkey Keeper]

Originally Posted by khaoskat 

We do have a local ICAN chapter, but it is not an "active chapter".  We never have meetings or even any presence...so I really don't know what use the group is.  One person as told me that the leader is pushing her services more than anything else as either a HB midwife or doula.

That really stinks since we actually have a decent number of vbac options around! Wonder if I know the leader...

[buckeyedoc]

The contact person for ICAN of Dayton is still Denise Easthon, to my knowledge:

[e-mail]
[phone]
 

I belong to ICAN of Central Ohio, and we have some Dayton moms who participate in our Yahoo group from time to time:

http://centralohio.ican-online.org/Home.html

I talked to the mother with the bad CBAC about 2 weeks ago, but I hope she is feeling better (is she?). She really received poor care at Miami Valley Hospital, seemingly on multiple levels. It was very disappointing.

[khaoskat]

I am also on central ohio ICAN.  I did VBAC with Dr. H and Dr. W.  I can say that Dr. H will do breech births as well, Dr. W will but is much more reluctant to do so.

I have not heard anything from the mom in question for a bit, and hope she is ok.  I have sent her a few messages via facebook, but I think she is attempting to recover emotionally from this and take care of a newborn.

I have often considered talking with ICAN about a second local chapter that is active and has a yahoo group.

[Monkey Keeper]

Originally Posted by khaoskat 

I am also on central ohio ICAN.  I did VBAC with Dr. H and Dr. W.  I can say that Dr. H will do breech births as well, Dr. W will but is much more reluctant to do so.

I have not heard anything from the mom in question for a bit, and hope she is ok.  I have sent her a few messages via facebook, but I think she is attempting to recover emotionally from this and take care of a newborn.

I have often considered talking with ICAN about a second local chapter that is active and has a yahoo group.

Maybe I should join central Ohio...  I'd really like to help support VBAC moms in particular, so I definitely wish the local chapter was more visible.  

I also knew that about Dr. H--and Dr. Guy too, at least that's what my OB said. She mentioned that as an option when my last babe was breech late in the game (he turned); she doesn't have the necessary experience so she won't do it but would refer out to them if the pt wanted a vaginal breech.

[Mom-Of-3-Cuties]

I was referred to Dr. Horlacher for my 2nd pregnancy, after a horrible c-section experience with Dr. McCullough through KMH.  My first appointment happened to be with Dr. Wood and I never saw Dr. Horlacher until I went into labor and my baby was breech.  Dr. Wood was not on call, but came in and did my c-section anyway (although I would have fully trusted either doctor to do it).  For my 3rd pregnancy, I was determined to have a VBAC, and thanks to Dr. H. and Dr. W., was successful.  Due to my circumstances (previous 2 c-sections, amniotic fluid leak, and slow labor) they could have easily pushed for another c-section, but they respected my wishes and supported me through the VBAC.  Afterward, Dr. Wood saved my life as I was hemorrhaging really badly, and he rushed me back to the OR to fix it when he was supposed to be going on vacation.  I LOVE Dr. Horlacher and Dr. Wood and will forever refer anyone to them.  They love what they do and they are good at it.  I'm living proof.

[tenecwalker]

I would recommend the Midwives at Lifestages.  I have seen all 3 practices mentioned for different pregnancies and the mw at LS are by far my favorite. 

[jessmoma77]

i know this is a late reply, but dr guy and all the midwives are amazing!!! lisa mix is wonderful!!!!! they are very natural just incredible!!! kat and margie the other two midwives are also great but i prefer lisa (she delivered my first almost 9 years ago, all naturally at 12 days overdue, and was awesome i was 17 and scared to death, she also took a lot of time to help me successfully breastfeed) they also have a new doctor in the practice dr crouch he is sooo precious!!! i could never say anything bad about any of the doctors of midwives. i just delivered a baby in august and she was breech and i was crushed when we found out at 38 weeks. and dr guy and lisa tried everything to get her to turn. the nurses are also amazing at the office too. i probably called with questions once or twice a week during my pregnancy and was always imediatly put on the phone with a nurse or midwife.

[jessmoma77]

also ive heard that lifestages was very induction friendly. at 38 weeks none-the-less. and have a high c section rate. i have a friend who was being induced at 38 weeks and when they checked her they felt a hand down their but the baby was head down and they insisted on a c section. even though the mother did not want one. now i know this is just one instance but i know several women who have delivered babies who have a hand come out first...

[gunnarsmama77]

I know this is late, but I also wanted to reply.  I saw Women's Health Specialists with my last pregnancy, and I will absolutely be going back (and I have recommended them to several people IRL).  Dr. Guy ended up delivering my son, but I loved both Margie and Cat (Cat I saw postnatally for mastitis and she worked me right in on a friday afternoon and was very helpful)  I wouldn't go so far as to say Lisa was awful (on of my son's nurses specifically recommended the practice because of Lisa) but she kinda rubbed me the wrong way.  I had one or two appointments with her (they try to schedule an appointment with everyone in the practice) but then asked for Dr. Guy or one of the other two midwives for the rest.  I saw Dr. Crouch a few times and he seemed nice enough, but truthfully I was hoping not to have him deliver my son because he did a cervical check once and it hurt quite a bit, and also just because my son had a bleeding disorder which would require a C-section if labor wasn't progressing and I wanted someone with lots of experience (did not want to end up with an unnecessary c-section).  My experience at the Valley was all right, though they were doing construction on the birth center so I went to regular L&D recovery (and had a nurse that kept trying to take my sleeping son out of my arms and put him in the isolette ) but that wouldn't be an issue if you had the family beginnings nurses, I'm sure.

ETA: Dr. Guy came back after about an hour, while we were still in the delivery room, to let us know the results of my son's bloodwork, and then came in again the next morning (so like 12 hours later) to check on me.  I felt like there was plenty of checking in.  Also, the office at the Valley was my favorite--I really liked the receptionist, and it was just them in the office.  The vandalia office (which I think is the primary one) had the lady who made the follow-up appointments (not the receptionist, but one you spoke with on the way out) who was kind of snotty a few times.  The "South" office was fine, just a shared office with another practice, which kind of throws me sometimes (as in where to sign in, etc.)  For that reason I made most of my appointments at the Miami Valley office, just figured out who I'd rather avoid, ya know?

Edited by gunnarsmama77 - 5/2/11 at 8:54am

[boyohboy4]

I love Doctor Guy he is awesome but I do NOT LIKE Lisa Mix so next baby might have to find new doctor

[OhioDad]

My wife and I used Dr. Guy's office for the birth of our baby daughter back in September and while for the most part everyone was great. Lisa was a nightmare to the point we are considered suing them.  At one point she left the room to go get a doctor to preform a forceps extraction, against our wishes. Afterward she threw a fit and sat in the corner on a birthing ball. However, while she was out of the room the other nurse (Becky)was able to take over and help deliver our daughter. If it had not been for Becky this would have been a much worse experience than the near nightmare it was.

Previously, my wife had an awful experience with Lisa during a visit at Dr. Guy's office. She stripped the membranes without even telling my wife what she was doing and then attempted to manually dilate her cervix without asking all when she was supposed to be only taking a look. (My wife could barely walk for the next three days from the pain Lisa caused.) I had advised her to ask not to be seen by Lisa anymore, unfortunately we ended up with Lisa at the delivery. I would warn anyone to stay away from that practice or ask for Lisa to not be allowed to see you. After our experience one of the nurses told us that most of them had complained about Lisa at one time or another but unless the patients say something nothing will happen.

I cannot stress how bad our experience was because of Lisa or how bad it might have been if she had not left the room, which allowed the other nurse to take over.

[momgeog]

I'm new to this list but felt that I had to chime in about Dr. Guy and the midwives. I had both a positive and a negative experience with them, and I'm trying to decide whether I'll go with them again I have another kid.

Positives first: 1. Dr. Guy is awesome. He turned my breech baby in his office in less than 5 minutes after the OB I was seeing at the time had told me that it was too risky to try to attempt to turn the baby w/o an epidural and a scheduled c-section to occur immediately after the attempt if she failed.

2. Most of the midwives seem nice and dedicated to a natural birth, although I started seeing them late in my pregnancy so didn't have multiple months of experience with them. 

3. After my birth, all of the midwives except Lisa stopped by daily in the hospital to check on me, and I really appreciated their visits.

Negatives: My birth ended in a c-section, and Lisa played the primary role. I didn't have experience with Lisa before I went into labor, so I didn't know what to expect from her. (I really wish I had seen posts like this in advance so I knew to be on the look-out for her!) I have no idea if the c-section was necessary or not, and I try not to think about it as I just get upset if I do. For what it is worth, though, the nurse afterwards said that she thought I could have successfully vaginally delivered a baby the size of mine. I was only allowed to push 3 hours and baby semed to be fine apart from a slightly elevated heart rate, but Lisa said that she could get into trouble if we she let me push longer. In general, Lisa seemed to be the most "c-section happy" of any of the midwives in the practice and her justification seemed to be that she had had to have one herself, a fact she mentioned many times when I said during labor that I really wanted to avoid a c-section if at all possible. I overheard her telling a nurse to start another laboring mom on pitocin to get things moving because she was "dancing around her room", so I'm fairly confident that she's pro pit as well. I didn't see Lisa again after the birth until the 6 wk follow-up, at which point she repeated that she understood that a c-section was a loss because she had one herself.

[ashleyplus4]

I know this is very late lol  but wanted to give my 2 cents here!

I have delivered all three of my babies with dr guys practice. My first I went to the Elizabeths New Life Center place for my appointments so never saw Dr guy. Lisa delivered my first and I do have to say that she seemed in a hurry. I was 18 and scared out of my mind. I had a water birth. She was very impatient and yelled at me several times. After delivery she never once checked back in on me. With my second two years later I ended up having to do a regular hospital birth due to high blood pressure, Dr Guy delivered me and he was fantastic! He was very gentle and very calm. He checked on me several times after I had delivered and before I went home. With my third I went to the Vandalia office. I would try to get Cat as i really preferred her. Ended up having Lisa on call when I went into labor. She almost didnt make the birth even though they called her 4 hours before to tell her I was there. I have fast labors and this last was my longest with 4 1/2 hours. Again she was very rushed and seemed in a bad mood. my daughters shoulders got stuck and she didnt try anything to get them unstuck, just pulled her. My daughter ended up with an injury to her left shoulder and had problems until she was almost 6 months old. Again she did not check on me after delivery. I did have Cat stop by the next morning to check on me and Dr guy. I got mastitis 4 weeks after having my daughter and saw lisa the first time i went in. She brushed it off and sent me home with a prescription. I kept calling because it was not working and finally got another appointment. I ended up having to have surgery because the mastitis turned into an abcess. Dr Guy was there and stayed for the surgery and an hour after. He was great! I cant say enough about how wonderful he is. My experiences with Lisa are not so great. We are expecting baby number 4 and if shes on call when I go into labor, I will be heading some where else. :/

[mollyhowell]

Hi ladies, 
I stumbled upon this thread while researching NCB doctors in the Dayton area. This is my first pregnancy and I'm very intrigued by the philosophy of the birthing center.

1. Any consensus on Dr. Guy and Family Beginnings at Miami Valley after this string of posts?

2. Does anyone know if this Lisa Mix still works there? I took a look at the 'team' page on Miami Valley's website and there are 2 Lisas listed, but none with the last name "Mix" - possibly changed name due to being married/divorced? Or possibly moved to a different practice after these reviews?

Thanks!