Looking for a Bismarck area ped

[gentle_mama04]

I would like to find a ped who is non-vax friendly. I really hate arguing with them and getting the condecending looks. We go to St. A's if that helps. Am I just dreaming or is there maybe one of them out there?

Thanks so much.

[keeters]

Hi there!

I've only just lurked on the vax boards but thought I'd check to see if there was anyone from ND here. Anyway, I don't have an answer to your question as I am looking for a new dr. for my dd as well. My dd received all vaxes up to 12 mths (except mmr) and I have now chosen to delay the remainder of her vaxes. At my dd's 12 mths appt when she was so supposed to get her mmr, I had voiced some concerns I had with vaxes and told my dr. I wanted to wait until her 15 mths for that vax (didn't go to her 15 mth appt). Well now I want to wait even longer and maybe not even give it to her at all (as well as other vaxes). I haven't seen the dr. since then but I will take my dd for her 18 mth check-up next month so I am sure if I do go back to her, she will not be impressed by my decision not to vax anymore - at least for now. (I am still in the midst of my research on vaxes)

If I do come across a recommendation for a ped I will let you know. (I go to St. A's also)

Nice to see someone from Bismarck. I am part of an on-line mommy board and have never seen anyone from ND.

[zersha]

I'm in Bismarck and I was wondering the same thing. I don't even know if I'll go back for our 6 month visit because my doc barely supports bf'ing after 6 months and would probably have a fit if I said I was delaying (or just not getting, I'm still unsure) the rest of the vax.

What has your ped said about it so far? I haven't brought it up yet, but I would really like to find a dr that is more in line with my parenting style.

[JenDoula]

My non-vaxing clients have been happy with some of the doctors at UND Family Practice. One had Dr. Fahn, and he didn't argue with her very much about vaccinations, he was just surprised because he thought it was the law.

I think you might have more luck with a family practice doc than a ped.

[zersha]

I actually do use a family pratitioner at St. A's, but like I said, he seems very mainstream. The only good thing he's said is that he didn't see any reason to circ.

I could try the UND Family Practice Center. Our insurance is OK with to going wherever we want. We used to go there a long time ago. It seemed to be hard to get a specific dr. though. Unless we made an appt. well in advance we would have to take whoever was available. Maybe it's different now. I'm so used to going to MidDakota and being able to get in with my dr. right away.

[thunderkitty]

I also live in Bismarck and have avioded my dd's ped. like the plague since deciding to quit her vax's. DD was seeing Dr. Grourud at Medcenter One and she is very friendly, never rushes me, always goes over things with me and seems relaxed. I love that she doesn't rush me after having to wait in the room for a little while. Her waiting time isn't that bad though compare to some other doc's as she doesn't seem to be that popular which I don't understand, but anyways just for basic stuff I'd recommend her not sure on the vax thing. If I go back to her and talk with her about my decicion to quit vaxing I'll let you ladies know how bad it is :lol .

[gentle_mama04]

The ped I had a medcenter was okay with it. (Dr. Twogood) He did say a few things, but he didn't argue with me or make me feel uncomfortable. We have to switch to St. A's now because our insurance companies switched. I hope to find someone who is at least not going to give me a lecture.

[thunderkitty]

oh man you're really lucky to have even got to have dr. twogood to begin with he doesn't take new patients anymore!:( otherwise I'd be using him. I can say for sure NOT to use Kotrapu at st. alexius. He is very difficult to understand (foreign) and he isn't very supportive of breastfeeding, in case this applies, which would also lead me to believe he wouldn't support other things like not vaxing. I have a cousin that swears by Zacher but, my cousin is pretty mainstream. I'm sorry I'm not of much help but, if I find out about someone I'll post again.

[gentle_mama04]

We had to have our previous doc send a letter of recomendation. To be totally honest, I wasn't that impressed. He seemed like just another doc to me. We did see Obergon before we left St. A's the first time. (another insurance change) She was okay with bf'ing. Although ds was about 8 months when we left. My aunt told me Zacher was really good too. She is also very mainstream.

[JenDoula]

I forgot to mention, we have Dr. Twogood at Medcenter. We originally requested Dr. Grorud because my brother had her while he was growing up, and he just loved her. But since I had an unplanned C, the on-call doctor gave him his first checkup. It happened to be Dr. Twogood, and we liked him so much we just switched to him. My three boys have all loved him. I am surprised he didn't argue too much with the vaccination issue! We have vaccinated our boys, but to me, he seems very pro-vax. But then again, so far he has never argued with anything I've done. He's a firm believer in mothers' instinct, which I really like. He has said to me many times "If you think something's wrong, then it probably is" and "If you're not worried and think it's no big deal, you're probably right." He prescribed Elidel for Mason's eczema when he was only 6 mos. old - I did some research and was not pleased with what I read about it, so I never filled it. I found better and more natural ways to deal with the eczema, and he is fine with it. Mason hasn't had a flare-up since November.

[thunderkitty]

I just wanted to post again to say I got a new "lead" :) I found out that Dr. Kumar is intact, a "family bed practicer" and I have a friend who said she really likes him alot. She is not sure about the issue of vaxing or breastfeeding just because she hasn't ever had to discuss it with him. But seeing as he is already not very main stream and not an american by origin my guess would be he would be fine with it. I hope she's right and this helps anyone interested.

[pookel]

We go to Dr. Ocejo at Medcenter and I like him a lot, however, we're mainstream on vaxing and so I don't know his opinions on that issue. He's generally very good about respecting parental authority, though - we hear a lot of "he seems fine, whatever you're doing is OK" and not a lot of "I'm the doctor, do what I say."

Whatever you do, don't go to Dr. (Denise) McDonough; she's the one who lectured me firmly that I *had* to start solids at four months, and acted like I was an idiot for disagreeing. (That was the point where I switched doctors!) I haven't been to her husband (Dr. Stephen McDonough), but I wouldn't be surprised if he had a similar attitude.

[zersha]

Whatever you do, don't go to Dr. (Denise) McDonough; she's the one who lectured me firmly that I *had* to start solids at four months, and acted like I was an idiot for disagreeing. (That was the point where I switched doctors!) I haven't been to her husband (Dr. Stephen McDonough), but I wouldn't be surprised if he had a similar attitude.

Yikes, she would absolutely hate me. Dd is almost 8 months and is still not really eating solids. She occasionaly will chew on something she can hold herself, but really has no interest in being fed with a spoon. She is still mainly breastfeeding.

We use a family doctor (well we did , haven't been back since the 4 month appt) - Dr Jondahl at middakota. He never even mentioned solids then.

[zersha]

I just wanted to post again to say I got a new "lead" :) I found out that Dr. Kumar is intact, a "family bed practicer" and I have a friend who said she really likes him alot. She is not sure about the issue of vaxing or breastfeeding just because she hasn't ever had to discuss it with him. But seeing as he is already not very main stream and not an american by origin my guess would be he would be fine with it. I hope she's right and this helps anyone interested.

Is Dr. Kumar at MidDakota? Medcenter? or somewhere else. I'm not familiar with him.

I know our doc is not for the family bed. He always hands out those sheets that say to 'put baby down drowsy in another room...blah blah blah.

He's totally fine with not circing though, seemed to not see a reason for it.

[thunderkitty]

I googled medcenter one and here is his "page" telling about him (http://www.medcenterone.com/findadoctor/result16.asp?CID=217). He is east indian, just in case you care. Some people perfer "americans" because they are "easier to understand", but personally I think other countries seem to knwo better about how to raise kids in a way doctors here would think is crazy. This guy seems really cool. I may even switch to him. He has a son that I think is about 5 and still sleeps with his them so I figure he must be good. :) I hope I've helped.

[zersha]

I googled medcenter one and here is his "page" telling about him (http://www.medcenterone.com/findadoctor/result16.asp?CID=217). He is east indian, just in case you care. Some people perfer "americans" because they are "easier to understand", but personally I think other countries seem to knwo better about how to raise kids in a way doctors here would think is crazy. This guy seems really cool. I may even switch to him. He has a son that I think is about 5 and still sleeps with his them so I figure he must be good. :) I hope I've helped.

Thanks for the link. I checked out his page a little, and it looks like he must be pro vac. There is a link about giving vacs a chance, and it features a pic of him and says he is received recognition for his outstanding vaccination practices.

Oh well. At least the cosleeping thing is cool.

[thunderkitty]

yeah I just saw that too after I put my post here :(. I guess you win some and you lose some in a state that's so mainstream like this. I know that doesn't help much though. I guess in my experiences the best thing to do is just go to a doctor when your child needs one, like something happens where they are sick. Becasue they don't bother you about stuff like that in walk in or especially in the ER for that matter.

[Lainey'sMomma]

Delainey saw DR Kumar in a office visit (walkin) about 1 1/2 ago and he "thought" she had a bladder infection --only symptom was a fever and low grade at that... he catherised her caused bleeding and low and behold NO BLADDER INFECTION....

He also discussed MY ENTIRE visit w/ a friend of mine who's daughter happened to be a patient of his.... CAN WE SAY HIPPA?!?

We see Dr. Connel at MidDakota and she completely supports my ebf my twins!!! She is kind of pro vac but she certainly will not argue or make you feel bad if you choose not too.... in fact I was willing to give Avery formula because she is only 4% for weight and Dr Connell said.. "Lets try some solids and a night time feeding first "... Avery has been sleeping through the night for about 2 months... I LOVE DOCTOR CONNEL!!! And as Jen can inform u gals... If Kristin ain't happy.. no one is happy LOL

[gentle_mama04]

I wanted to let you all know that Dr. Obergon at Mid Dakota has not said a word to me about not vaxing my new little one. I don't know if she will eventually, but she hasn't so far. She also asked me how long I plan to bf and when I said that I plan to go as long as he wants she said "Awsome, not many mom's do that."