This may not be the best place for this, because it's not directly c/b related, but you mamas are the most understanding and non-judgemental on all of mdc, so I'm bringin' it here... mostly I just want to whine, because I think a lot of this is hormonal...
Dh and I moved here ~ a yr ago, so obviously, I had to find a new person for my pg this time. I like my primary ob (A), but whoever's on call will be at my birth. There are 4 drs in the practice. A is fabulous. B is pretty good, a little more reserved. C is okay, even more reserved, seems doubtful about my VBAC and about "allowing" me to go past 40 wks (which I'm sure I will). D, in my opinion, has a really crappy bedside manner, and said very unprofessional things about VBAC in general (but she's pg, due in April, and leaving the practice, too).
Here's where my discomfort comes... (1) I had an appt last week with C. She was very rushed, but it seems like the further along I get, the less supportive she is of VBAC, which is kind of scaring me. (2) I just found out they'll be bringing on a new OB in April (I'm due 5/7), and I'm a little freaked out about how I'll feel if *that* is the dr. and I don't like her (because April is awfully late to try to switch to a new practice to avoid that). (3) I'm part of a local moms' hiking group, and there was just an online discussion of my ob practice, a lot of it not so flattering... (I missed out on this kind of thing when I chose the practice; I was new to town, didn't know anyone, asked my pediatrician--whom I trust--for a suggestion). The office staff isn't always the best--know that from experience. D is yucky--know that, and she's leaving. A few people had unflattering insights into C which unfortunately seem to resonate with (1) above. And the thing that freaked me out the most was a description of a delivery at which A was very rushed and caused an inverted uterus (big emergency) and then dumped it off on another doc... Aaaaaaaahhhhh!
I feel all kinds of doubts now. I definitely don't want a homebirth. There are no longer any CNMs in my town, and the hospital itself is much better than the surrounding hospitals, so I don't want to travel outside my town for care. This practice has better stats than the other 2 ob practices in town. My only other choice is a family practice that has 2 women drs., and they both do prenatal care/births (but I'm not sure if they do VBACs). I'm concerned, though, that if I do wind up needing a cesarean for legitimate reasons that an ob/gyn would do a better job at it than a family practice dr. (And to be perfectly honest, I see my odds of VBAC at about 50/50--I think I may just run out of time.) Part of the reason I'm considering looking elsewhere is that the "care relationship" with the CNM I saw when I was pg with ds fell apart by the end (and I was actually almost relieved to have the emergency so she wasn't at ds' birth). I just don't want to make that mistake again.
I think probably the best thing I can do is to call our doula and ask her to listen to me, and ask for her frank opinion of the practices in town. She's done a ton of births, pretty sure with all the drs. in town, so I think she might have more complete insight than a bunch of women each with an individual experience.
Anyone out there switched this late? Anyone gone with a family practice dr.? Anyone want to send me some calming vibes?