Tips For Choosing An OB/GYN

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Today I am sharing a little more about my experience with my medical care throughout my pregnancies, as well as tips for choosing an OB/GYN that is a good fit for you.

When I first announced my current pregnancy and did a question box on Instagram, I got a ton of questions about which OB/GYN I’m seeing, how to find an OB/GYN and more relating to this topic. A lot of you are also pregnant, trying to conceive (TTC) or thinking about starting a family soon, so I know this could benefit many of you! I hope you find it helpful.

Disclosure: this post is sponsored by AdventHealth Shawnee Mission and I am being compensated monetarily; however, all opinions expressed are my own.

how i found my ob/gyn

I personally found my OB/GYN through a recommendation from one of my good friends who recently had a baby. I trusted her judgment and knew that AdventHealth Shawnee Mission was the health system we wanted to use, so I figured I’d give her a try! Thankfully, I loved her right off the bat.

Up until last year, my primary care physician was the one completing all of my well-woman checks. When Ethan and I began to talk about starting a family, I figured it would be a good idea to establish an OB/GYN as well.

Keep in mind that there is often a bit of a wait to get in as a new patient, so it never hurts to plan ahead. If you are trying to conceive, or thinking about starting, and do not currently have an OB/GYN, I would recommend looking into this.

AdventHealth has a tool that you can utilize to get matched with a physician if you have no idea where to start. Click here to take the quiz and find a doctor that is right for you based on your health needs and goals. (This doesn’t just apply to OB/GYNs, but primary care physicians as well.)

when did i first see an ob/gyn?

I saw my OB/GYN for the first time in early December of 2019. This was an “introductory” appointment to get established, talk to her about our timeline for wanting to start TTC, transitioning off of birth control, and any other questions I had regarding the process. I was extremely thankful that I had already established care with her when we unexpectedly found out I was pregnant in mid-January.

My first pregnancy unfortunately ended in a miscarriage, which I wrote about in-depth in this post. Having a miscarriage is devastating, but I was extremely happy with the care and support I received from my OB/GYN and other care team members throughout that process.

my experience with my miscarriage

If you want to read more about my miscarriage experience, I would encourage you to read my post, linked again here. For anyone going through it, I know it can be helpful to read about other women’s experiences to help you feel less alone.

Please refer to this post on dealing with grief if you are in the midst of a miscarriage, and know that I’m thinking of you. I hope my story provides you with hope and encouragement for what the future can hold.

When we found out that my first pregnancy was no longer progressing at a sonogram at 9 weeks, it felt like my heart was breaking into a million pieces. I was sad, confused, angry — every emotion you can imagine.

Everyone from the sonographer, to the nurses, to my OB/GYN showed so much kindness and empathy throughout the long, drawn out process. Between waiting for the fetal heart beat to stop, to taking the medications to make the miscarriage happen, to bleeding for weeks, to weekly blood draws to follow my hCG levels down to zero, everyone was so caring.

If and when I had questions or concerns throughout the process, they were always very accommodating. I always know their office is just a phone call away and I can leave a message for a nurse any time. They always get back to me in a timely manner and answer any questions I have.

I have cried at multiple appointments (during my last pregnancy AND my current pregnancy), which I’m sure they are used to, because, hello – pregnancy hormones!!!! But I have always felt comforted and cared for. No one has ever made me feel silly or dramatic for expressing how I’m feeling. It is truly such a supportive group of providers and I can honestly say that I feel at home when I’m there.

how to ask questions outside of doctor’s visits

My OB’s office provided me with a very thorough booklet at my first (8-week) appointment, outlining what to expect during each trimester, common symptoms of pregnancy and how to treat them, safe medications, things to avoid, etc. It is a super helpful resource that I can refer to anytime with questions.

If there is anything that I can’t find in the booklet or feel that I need more information on, I can always call and leave a message for a nurse, and they typically get back to me that day (or the next, depending on the time of my voicemail).

With this pregnancy, I made the decision NOT to Google anything, and to just call if I had any questions or worries about a specific symptom (or lack thereof), or whatever the case may be. Google can be a slippery slope and before you know it you are diagnosing yourself with something crazy. In my opinion, it is best to just go straight to the professionals and avoid that unnecessary anxiety attack. Speaking from experience here. ; )

where my ob/gyn is located

My OB/GYN is located at a practice conveniently located on the AdventHealth Shawnee Mission campus.

We will also be delivering at the AdventHealth Shawnee Mission Birth Center. More to come on that as we get closer to my due date!

Of course, always check and make sure that your provider is within network for your insurance.

I hope this post provided some helpful tips for choosing an OB/GYN that is right for you if you are looking to establish one or transition your care from another practice. It is so crucial to feel comfortable with your provider during such an important and sometimes overwhelming season of life.

Please let me know if you have any questions or if I missed anything within this post! I’m excited to continue to share this journey to motherhood with you over the next 4-5 months, and beyond!

Thanks so much for reading,

Shanna