OKC mamas - I need Dr. recommendations

[SueZVudu]

Hello, Oklahoma City area mamas! I'm moving back to Oklahoma City from Boston with DH and DD (10.5 months) in a couple of months. I need recommendations for a good pediatrician for my daughter - someone down to earth, not anti-alternative medicine, etc. I'm also pregnant, due in October, and I'll need a good OB or midwife. We'll be living near Tinker AFB, and I'm planning on birthing in a hosptial (had some weird complications last time, just want to be safe.) Any good/bad experiences with particular hospitals or care providers? I've heard some good things about the Renaissance Women's Health center in Midwest City. Anyone been there?

[MomOfHeathens]

I don't know if you already made it here or not but I can tell you that Renaissance doesn't deliver babies anymore and the guys they had deliverying them are HORRIBLE!!!

I wouldn't recommend Dr. Anthony Jackson as an OB because he was mine and I saw him a whole 2 times the entire pregnancy. He didn't listen to any of my concerns and pawned me off on his NP.

Southwest Medical Center is also horrible. I worked there for almost a year and the horror stories alone should have kept me from going there but nooooooooo instead I had to go ahead and have my baby there. Worst experience of my life and this was suppose to be my great one being my third child. I almost had to deliver my son myself because no one would listen to me that he was coming. When the nurse came in I was trying to hold him in with my hands!!

Lakeview Women's Hospital is suppose to be good though and you might try them.

As for pediactricians, don't use Dr. Anita Blick-Nolan. She was my son's ped up until recently and she's horrible! She'll run tests you don't need and double charge you on visits just to get money. Her office has tried to charge our insurance double visits in one day for my son when we were only there for ten minutes and ONCE!!!

There is a birthing center on Reno Avenue that has a wonderful midwife and I wish I would have used her and her facility but I let my insurance rule my birthing experience. :(

[Dana]

Don't know if you're still interested in docs... I just did a search for oklahoma and your thread came up...

I just heard that a doc named Scott Burr in Norman is really good and his wife is a midwife. Her name is Michelle Robidoux and has "Community Midwife Services" in Norman. Phone number is (405) 477-9433. (Norman is just south of okc)

I recently moved to Stillwater (where Oklahoma State University resides) and would like to find a healthcare giver closer to home, if anyone else reads this and knows of anyone.

Thanks,
Dana

[LuvMy2Kidz]

If you don't mind driving to Yukon(across town about 15 or 20 miles) we have an awesome ped. Dr. Martha Arambula. For some reason I've found that female peds, tend to listen to the mother more than male peds. She's been wonderful with us, although I do vax, but she was great about delaying some vaxes and splitting up the MMR etc. She's totally pro bf, as my daughter is 18 mos and still going strong. She was great about us delaying solids until age 1(although was concerned when dd wasn't gaining as well as she should have, still gaining, just slower than "normal", but she didn't force the issue) Doesn't like to use antibiotics unless absolutely necessary, or any other meds for that matter. She's probably about as "natural" a pediatrician as I've had.

[MomOfHeathens]

Actually I have heard of Dr. Arambula and I've heard nothing but good things! A friend of mine tried to get me to go to her from the very start and just loved her!

BTW- My info about Renaissance was wrong. They were going to stop delivering babies because of budget cuts but I guess they decided to keep it open. I honestly haven't heard too many good things about them though. I did a teen mentoring program up until a few weeks ago (I'm moving this week) and a few of the girls there delivered there babies there and even they knew they were treated badly.

It sounds like the other two ladies gave you some really great leads though. Good luck!

[suggiemommy]

Hi! I'm new here, but thought I'd help. Although I live in Dallas now, I gave birth to my two kiddos while living in OKC. If you would like to go to Rennaisance Women's...I'd go to the one in Edmond. I have heard nothing but good things about there, and that's where I had my kiddos. Great experience both times. The ob I used there was Dr. Margaret Hall. She was WONDERFUL! The only thing about there is, a friend of mine wouldn't give birth there because they were so specialized with women etc...that she was worried that they wouldn't be able to handle a life or death medical emergency because they did not keep blood there or have a surgery room for other than c-sections. I felt very safe there, but depending on what medical problem you had, I would definately check into that. I'm also not real sure where that friend got that info, so it could very well not be the whole story or all the way correct.

As far as peds go...I can't really help too much. We had a family dr who was a DO, but our ideas about medicine have changed since we used him. He is the dr I credit with saving MY life, and he was wonderful, probably the best dr I've ever had. But, if you are looking for someone really granola, I'm not real sure about that. He was very pro-vaccination, BUT he was pleased as punch that I was nursing and wanted us to hold off on solids as long as possible. I never told him that we were co-sleeping (I knew better. rofl), so I don't know how he feels about that. He was great with Tanner, our insurance changed after Meagyn was born, and I very unhappily had to take her to another ped. His name is William Bondurant, last I knew he was practicing with the Edmond Physicians Group...located in the same block as Edmond Rennaissance. I can say nothing but nice things about him...I just don't know how "crunchy" he is, KWIM?

HTH! :thumb

[oklahomamidwife]

I am in Okc for anyone needing midwifery, doula, well woman care or just a group to meet like minded mama's! Check out our website heavensentbirth.com and drop us a note!

Margarett

[littleriver]

I delivered my son River at OU with the most amazing compassionated and patient Obgyn Dr. Cathering Gazzaniga, also working with her and myself was a midwife Leanna Harkis and Pauline Lisle were there and always available for me. They really believe in having your birth your way there, they offer the only I think nurse certified mid wife in the state I believe and is covered by most insurance. They also have whirlpools in the birthing room.
I highly recommend their services.
Feel free to ask any questions.
Good luck.
S

[N8'sMom]

Lesa Mulligan in Norman was my obgyn and I had him at Moore Medical Center. Great hospital. They went by my every wish on my birth plan.
I am going to see Dr. Kelly Stephens at Mercy in two weeks for our pediatrician appt. He was recommended by my alternative medicine doc.

[hink4687]

I delived at Renaissance in Edmond which was an awesome experience for a hospital birth BUT its closed now. :( My dr though, Dr. Doedon, delivers at lakeside now. She was super supportive of natural childbirth and let me have my way with my birth. So I highly highly recommend her!

[katsam]

Although I haven't seen them myself I've heard great things about the OU midwives.
http://www.ouphysicians.com/specialties/adult/Ob-Gyn/NurseMidwives/

[N8'sMom]

I actually went to the OU physicians midwives at first, but their payment plan was not the best. They wanted a lot of money up front and I didn't like that. That's why I switched to my gyno, who is an obgyn. She is really good and will accomodate a lot of your wishes, etc.

[littleriver]

I met Dr Stephens selling herb plants to him at the Edmond Farmers Market last season I already had a physician at the time, but he seemed nice and I've heard alot of recommendations for him even from my gyno Dr. Gazzaniga at OU. We are now looking to change ped. for my 2yr old little boy and may consider going to him as well.