AP-friendly ped in Mont. Co?

[mary3mama]

I've tried searching the forum already, btw, but need more recommendations.

I need to assign a ped for my younger 2 children (ages 5 & 1.5 yrs old).

If you know of a ped in Mont. Co (Bethesda/Rockville area ideally, but will drive for a good doc!) who is AP-friendly, cool with delayed/no vaxing, breastfeeding friendly...all of that, please let me know.

I'm supposed to turn in our insurance paperwork today (they just gave it to me yesterday!) and am lost..

TIA!

[berry987]

Dr. June Fusner at Kensington Pediatrics is great. So is her nurse practitioner, Nancy Hoover. They recommended we delay vax and talk about how they approach vaccines on a case by case basis (each child is different, etc.) They are very holistic and attentive/nice, etc.

[mary3mama]

Thanks for the reply!

I wish we could use them. Unfortunately I called their office already and found that they are only taking newborns as new patients now. Bummer. They do sound exactly like what I'm looking for.

I do appreciate you taking time to reply, though. :-)

[MeiTaiMamma]

I don't know that much about her but Dr Saba of Saba Pediatrics in Rockville backs up Dr Fusner for Shady Grove. She was very helpful with breastfeeding, etc. She told the nurses that I was declining Hep B before I even had to say anything or sign anything. I would check her out. Other wise I know that there are two lists available of pediatricians (one with recommendations) on the Birth Options Alliance yahoo group.

[mary3mama]

Thanks so much for those leads! Dr. Saba is on our insurance...yippeee! I'll call and see if they are accepting new patients. I'm also looking at the ped list at the birth alliance.

Thank you. This is just the sort of 'in' I needed to find my way through all of this!

[MeiTaiMamma]

I had a lucky break myself so I am more than happy to help. I only wish I had known about Mothering forums when I was pregnant. I really could have used the resources.

[swl73]

We interviewed Dr. Saba and found that she was flexible on some issues (e.g. vaccinations) and not others - she definitely strongly stated that she was opposed to co-sleeping.

We went with Dr. Fusner's office so I'm sorry not to be more help!

Good luck.

[mary3mama]

Thanks!

I did call Dr. Saba's office (thankfully they are on our new insurance) and was told that they were taking names for a waiting list of new clients.

I asked how long the list was, since I wasn't currently 'in need' of a ped for the children, but needed to select one to submit to the insurance company.

The receptionist called me back the next day, as promised, and said that Dr. Saba was cool with adding my 2 wee ones as patients in that situation.

I like flexibility!

Anyway, thanks for the heads-up. I have never discussed sleeping arrangements with the docs in 9 years of parenting and co-sleeping. I just don't think it's any of their business.

Vaccination issues are in their area, so really wanted someone flexible with that.

Don't know when we'll actually see the doc -- kids rarely need to, very, very healthy... But if/when we do I'll be sure to post a 'review.'

peace,

[KimPM]

We used Dr. Saba for DS's first year. She is a good doctor, and we had no trouble with not vaxing but she does make you sign the "bad mommy" form. In hindsight, I would add my own notes to that "bad mommy" form. With all the pro-vax literature and posters on the wall, it seems she is biased toward vaxing, but she is definitely open to you not vaxing. She was very supportive of breastfeeding (even in her office). She was very on-top of issues like checking for sensory problems and the like. She refers out to specialists often in order to be proactive on checking for problems early. Though, I did not like the pediatric neurologist that she referred us to.

We had issues with her office logistics and billing. The waiting room is small and crowded, and there is no separation in either time or space for sick vs. well kids. The waiting time before seeing the doctor was longer than it should have been. It sounds like she is even more busy now than before. As for billing, we had problems and whenever I tried talking to the billing person (on the phone or in person) I got the runaround. Somehow the billing person was never available for talking to. The office logistics and billing are the two reasons we stopped seeing her. Hope your experience is better than mine.

BTW, we never discussed cosleeping with her. IMO it's none of her business.

[mary3mama]

Thanks! I'll be on the lookout for billing issues!

I only ever take sick kiddoes in to see a doc.

Ideally we will NEVER even need to see a doc for the two little ones. They are super-duper healthy. But it is necessary to have someone chosen for the insurance company's records.

My eldest child is gonna see a different doc, an osteopathic family practice doc. I love osteopaths. Unfortunately she doesn't see children younger than my eldest and I couldn't find any osteopathic peds in the area.

[mariskamom]

If it doesn't work out with the other recommendations, I thought I'd make mine. We see Dr. Wendy VonBronkhorst and really love her. I do vax but not on the CDC schedule. She's been very open to whatever schedule I want to use. I know others who go to her and have not yet vaxed. She co-slept with her little ones and breastfed her children until they were over 2. They have a lactation consultant affiliated with their practice. See www.yourkiddoc.com. They are in Germantown.

A lot of my neighbors see Dr. Rahman in Clarksburg www.clarksburgpediatrics.com. They rave about her. It is a little more of a drive but she just opened her own practice about 2 years ago and is definitely taking on new patients.