I will be moving to the Cedar Hills area of NW Portland in about a month, and I am terrified of not finding a good OB GYN for me and Pediatrician for my 3-year-old. I had gestational diabetes with my daughter, Audrey, and she also had a spontaneous brain bleed at birth that required her to be life-flighted and hospitalized in Infant ICU for several weeks.
She is healthy and strong now, and this pregnancy (I am 23 weeks) is normal so far. Still, considering my past complications, I want to find a doctor who is not only kind and professional, but who is attentive to even the smallest of details and experienced in high-risk pregnancy.
We will be living just a few blocks from Providence St. Vincent Medical Center...is this a good place to deliver? How's their reputation? I am willing to drive to any clinic/hospital that will be the right fit. We are coming to Portland as grad students, so for a few months we will probably be using state insurance/med. coupon until we get settled into a job.
I would be so grateful for any advice or recommendations from moms who have gone through similar experiences or who shares these concerns! Thanks!
I don't know about Peds Dr's because I'm not overfond of the one I go to, but I HIGHLY recommend Dr Jenna Murray at Good Sam. I live in Beaverton and St V's is the closest hospital to me, but I chose to go to Good Sam because a) Good Sam it is an LDRP so the room you labor/deliver in is the only room you go to - you aren't trying to move all of your stuff within an hour or two of delivering a baby, whereas at St V's you have to move it to a new room quickly, b) I didn't like any of the OBs I saw that deliver at St V's (I saw 2), c) they are right across the river from the Level 3 NICU at Emanuel (where I work, actually), so if things go wrong, I know all will be okay, and, lastly, d) at Good Sam they have whirlpool jet tubs in every room that you can labor in (you just can't push in the tub, but otherwise, you can stay in as long as you want) whereas at St V's they have a few labor tubs that have to be shared among the rest of the laboring moms (so you have to wait your turn and can't just hog it :) ).
Anyway, yes, I loved Jenna Murray. She was amazing - very attentive, very watchful...just wonderful! (and I can be a nuerotic pregnant mom because I work in the NICU - the home of the "worst case scenario" babies)
Good luck!
Hi Kate,
I take my now almost 3 year old to Providence/St. Vincent's and see Dr. Kristin Crowley or Dr. Gayle Jacobe-low. My son also had issues (heart) at birth and lots of surgeries, etc. I know what you mean when you say you want someone who will be attentive!! I would recommend either of these 2 doctors to you. I just put in a transfer, just because I live in SE and the commute over there is unbearable sometimes just for a cold type visit. Good luck with the new baby, peace!
Kristine
Welcome to the area... I'm a 5 minute drive from St. V's myself. We went with OHSU's midwifery program, and I have never been surrounded by so many attentive, thorough, patient, and knowlegeable women. Every appointment was as long as it needed to be, sometimes an hour, and they never made me feel like I was being pushed out the door. With delivery they are required to work with doctors and consult with them, just as an added layer of precaution. I delivered both of my girls at OHSU through that program...I can't sing their praises enough. I was always amazed at how in touch they were with this or that research, they always gave me info that none of my other friends had even heard about. They were incredibly friendly and were really great with my husband, too- made him feel very much included. OHSU is about 10 minutes from St. V's.
Good luck!
The Children's Clinic and The Womens Health care associates are both in the medical Plaza next to St.V's. It's a tough decision to chose a Dr, I know. But, I would suggest checking both these clinics out. No matter who you choose, bring a list of questions and any prior medical concerns with you and feel out the reponse you get. My kids see Dr Smith with the Children's Clinic in Tualatin, and I've been seen at the Women's Health care Assoc Tualatin for more than 8 years. They both have "sister" clinic's in the Peterkort plaza next to St. V's.
I soooooo love my doctors. It is Portland Family Practice, probably a bit of a drive, 20 minutes or so from you. My regular doctor and my kid's doctor is Lauren Roberts. But she doesn't do deliveries anymore, so I got Susie Bobenrieth (bobbin-wreath). She is fantastic! My sister used her too, and we both just loved her. She's in her early 30's, has 2 kids, and is just the sweetest lady. But if anytime she isn't available, pretty much any doctor you see there will be nice to you. It's just a great office. I've been with them I think about 8 years. It's on 20th off of NE Sandy Blvd. Their number is 503-233-6940 I think. If you get to see Susie, tell her Sera and Liberty recommended her to you. Good luck!
Welcome to Portland, the nice weather will be here by then.
I would refer you to Susan Payne at Providence Medical Group 503-216-2602. She is experienced (Stanford trained, so has had all the "drama"), compassionate as a provider and also a mom of 2. Another OB/Gyn, Shirley Fox, equally compassionate, a mom of 2 and always looking at how her newly delivered moms are recovering-physically and emotionally. Her number is 503-292-3577.
The other option would be to have a referral to NW Perinatal- all of these doc's handle high-risk OB.
For pediatricians, I absolutely love Sunset Pediatrics. Margaret McCloskey, Michael Ericksen and Kelvin Snyder are great. The small office environment is appealing, each of these doc's have many years of experience but probably won't retire while your children are in grade school. Give them a call 503-296-7800.
All of these providers are on Barnes Rd, next to the hospital.
I will admit I have a bias on hospitals. I delivered my last 3 children at St. V's. It is the busiest hospital on the West Coast so that gives reason to the "shuffle" from labor to postpartum. The NICU is a Level 3 so the babies are in good hands.
The other bias is that I work at St V's. in the Postpartum Care Clinic (an automatic follow-up appointment offered to all moms and babies). I am a RN and a lactation consultant (in addition to my private practice :)) so I know the ins & outs.
Again, welcome and I hope this helps your move to this beautiful city.
Warmly,
Doris
Hi Kate!
I too had a complicated birth before. I had severe edema which made me gain 68 pounds and slowed my progression. I was on bedrest for 2 months and resulted in an induction. 36 hours (3 of it pushing) and one emergency c-section later my angel arrived!
Any how, during my 5th month we found out about some "complications" regarding my daughter and had a specialist (peri-natologist) at St. Vincents. He is also an OBGYN (my daughter has a bowed tibia but it was 30% shorter when she was in utero...you can't tell now!) His name is Dr. Martinez-Poyer. He is with Women's Health. I HIGHLY recommend him! He was very kind and a great support. Now I had 5 doctors at once and he was my favorite!
Good luck to you and your family this time round! Congratulations!
Aleisha & Emily Grace (6 months next week!)
Hey Kate,
Welcome to Portland area, you will like it here.
St. Vincent is one of the best hospitals to deliver your new addition. They have a wonderful reputation and deliver the most babies in this area. There NICU is run by a group of doctors that are the best on this side of the country. With a level 3 NICU, babies are in good hands.
My recommendation for an OB is Dr. Strauss at Providence Women's Clinic. His medical assistant and himself are wonderful! There # is 503-216-2602.
My recommendation for pediatrician is Horizon Pediatrics. They are in Tigard (right down the street). It is a small clinic with wonderful staff (including myself). Dr. Al-Mulla has tons of experience. He used to be the medical director of pediatric clinics at Emanuel Children's Hospital. He is full of knowledge and has wonderful bedside manner. Also, I know for sure he accepts Medicaid. There # is 503-598-9444 and website is www.horizon-pediatrics.com
Hope you like it here. I think it's a wonderful city!
Welcome to the area! I just wanted to let you know that I had both my children at St. Vincent's. With my son I had a midwife and with my daughter I had a doctor, both are with Woman's Healthcare Associates (you should be able to find them on Providence's website www.providence.org/oregon ). On that site you will be able to find any doctor/midwife you would like. I recommend St. Vincent's Hospital to anyone. I have been there many times for tests, treatments, ER visits, surgery, delivering children, and for my husbands accident and surgeries and we LOVE the care and treatment we get there. I love the hospital so much I got a job with them! LOL
Good luck and hope you find a doc/hospital your comfortable with.
Oh, and my son was a high risk pregnancy and I ended up on bedrest and steriods the last 1-1/2 months, and he was in the NICU when he was born because he caught pneumonia (he was a screamer and they didn't get him suctioned completely before he started). My nurse found it on the day we were going to be discharged and saved me from having to come back a few days later with a very sick baby.
hi kate!
you should interview michael davis. he has an office off scholls ferry near washington square mall and another in nw on lovejoy. his primary hospital is good samaritan but he delivers almost as many at st. v's. he delivered my twins there 4 months ago.
first of all, he is the friendliest and the most excited doctor i've ever met. he never made me feel like i was asking a dumb question and he never rushed with me. i really wanted to avoid a c-section with the twins and he did everything humanly possible to make that happen. i can't say enough good things about him or his nurse that works with him in the office.
st. v's has a great reputation for their nicu. although they recently had a baby die from staph that he caught from the nicu i believe it was a rare instance. most of the nurses are awesome. (some are nicer than others but i think that is just people in general.) the rooms you labor and deliver in are very nice and the food is pretty good for hospital food. :)
good luck to you and your new baby! oh, and doris (another woman who responded) is fantastic! i had my follow-up with her and she helped tremendously with getting my smaller twins to latch correctly. she is so warm and welcoming. i was in a few weeks later to return my pump and she remembered me and both the babies' names! pretty impressive.
kim
Hi Kate,
Most of my friends and I have delivered our babies at St. V's, and it's a wonderful place to have a baby! Several people recommended Women's Healthcare Associates, which is right there. I used a midwife (Helen Welch), but if you're pg is considered high risk they'd probably have you with one of the MD's. I thought it was a great office and would go there again in a heartbeat for baby #2. Good luck!
I would recommend John Buckmaster at OHSU, in the perinatal center. Any of the Dr's there are fantastic. I had a horrible first pregnancy/delivery at Providence, so I went there for my second. I had a total of 19 appts, and seen just about every Dr there was. They are all fantastic. They also work with all insurance issues. Good luck!
jenn
Wow, I have taken awhile to let everyone know how we got settled…mostly because it took this long to feel like I am caught up with myself. After several calls to many of the physicians recommended, I ran into a few roadblocks. Either someone wasn’t accepting new patients, or didn’t accept my insurance, or I was too far along. (By the time I got insurance set up, I was 30 weeks, and many docs won’t take a new patient in her 3rd trimester.)
Anyway, after my own ER visit (long story) to St. Vincent’s and a tour of Good Sam’s, I decided on Good Samaritan’s and am seeing Dr. Michael Davis. He is wonderful and attentive. I was especially happy that he takes call for his own patients, so pretty much whenever I deliver, it will be him there and not another on-call OB-GYN. I was diagnosed with GD again, and he referred me to a great nutritionist in the GSam Diabetes Center. I am very happy with my prenatal care and hospital choice so far. Six more weeks and I can let you all know how it went! Thanks again for all the advice and perspectives. I would not have known where to start otherwise!