Obstetricians and choosing birthing hospital in Portland? (Greene, Charlotte: renting, live in)

[sherrin]

Hi folks,

I'm moving to Portland in the next couple of weeks and am 10 weeks pregnant, thus far with a seemingly normal pregnancy. Does anyone have any recommendations (or warnings) about any obstetricians or obstetric practices/ centers in Portland? A friend w/ a 2 yr old told me that she'd originally preferred Mercy Hospital but that Maine Med has upgraded their facilities and that she thinks they're also better equipped to deal with high risk situations should they arise. Unfortunately her OB is retired. Does one hospital have a better reputation than the other? I do prefer a doctor rather than a midwife. Any opinions about doctors or practices/ hospitals where I might best to go for quality care would be deeply appreciated.

Thanks,
Sherri

[moughie]

Well back when the dinosaurs roamed the Earth ( 15 and 17 years ago), I chose Mercy Hospital and never regretted it!

Awesome care, wonderful nurses and equipped for all sorts of deliveries. What I liked best was the fact you give birth in your room, recoup and remain in the same room!

I had the wonderful Dr Greene, who reminded me of the Professor in Back to the Future! He has since moved to CT.

Pleas take the time and tour both facilities. It helps to be comfortable and at ease during this most exciting stage of life

[jac]

I highly recommend Charlotte Kassab at Generations. (I don't live in Maine any more, and I missed her during my last pregnancy) I also had a good experience at Mercy. Also, if there is a need for high-needs NICU, Maine Med is very close by.

[rogersparkjen]

I have heard great things about Generations as well. I delivered twice at Maine Med- it was neccesary for me because of my personal medical history ( I have a congentital heart condition) I personally use coastal womens healthcare and I see Cecelia Caldwell. I think she is awesome. My only complaint about the practice is that it is very large- currently about 8 or 9 docs plus a CNM, so come delivery time there is a good chance that you will not get your own doc or even one you have met before. The first time I got someone who did not follow my birth plan at all, the second time I got my own doc which felt like winning the lottery.

The remodel at Maine Med has been in the works for the past 5+ years, I remember the nurse manager talking to me about it at my first delivery saying it was 3 years away from being done. 4.5 years later they had just broken ground for it. It will be open this fall though so deifinitely check it out. Both times my care there was outstanding. The rooms were nothing special though. The new birth center should be a different story. I can't wait to see it. I don't plan on haviong any more children, so unless I get the shock of my life I will probably only experience it as a visitor

[rossco17]

May i ask why you prefer an OB over a midwife? C-Section rates are skyrocketing despite the increased risks to mother and baby. It's major surgery. and just not needed as much as doctors would like you to believe. Midwifery care will help you avoid unneeded doctor interventions so you can have the safest delivery possible. I've heard good things about Back Cove Midwives in Portland.

If you haven't yet seen "The Business of Being Born", i highly recommend it. you can netflix it.

Whatever you choose, best of luck to you and congrats!

[Draconiator]

If the birthing unit is ANYTHING like the care I recieved (herniated disc between L4-L5), and the compassion is the same as well, DEFINATELY go to Maine Medical Center. They will take GREAT care of you there - they did to me. I actually liked my stay there, and if you're lucky, you can even catch a Sea Dogs game (I had a very good view of Hadlock Field from my rooms' window). They won the game I watched, GO DOGS! Unfortunately I didn't catch the fireworks display after, I fell asleep, heh

but DEFINATELY go to Maine Med. It'll most likely change your view on hospitals if the care in the birthing unit is like the care I recieved.

[moughie]

Originally Posted by rossco17

May i ask why you prefer an OB over a midwife? C-Section rates are skyrocketing despite the increased risks to mother and baby. It's major surgery. and just not needed as much as doctors would like you to believe. Midwifery care will help you avoid unneeded doctor interventions so you can have the safest delivery possible. I've heard good things about Back Cove Midwives in Portland.

Excellent point! As long as you have no chronic medical conditions or genetic issues, a midwife is the way to go!

Maine has many great midwives, plus you give birth in the comfort and privacy of your own home.

[sherrin]

Thank you all for your very useful feedback! I’m delayed responding because I thought city-data would let me know as responses came in but just let me know now that there are responses waiting, to my pleasant surprise!

I think I’m leaning toward using Maine Med both since they’re more equipped to deal with high-risk situations (despite the fact that my pregnancy is normal thus far) and because the new birthing facility supposedly due in September sounds intriguing. Though Moughie I’m sure if I get an opportunity touring both would be best! Thanks, Draconiator, for the positive review of Maine Med.


Thank you Jac and Rogersparkjen for your feedback about Generations, since a good number of the MaineMed attendings are part of that practice but a friend of mine had told me very non-specific negative comments that she’d gotten from friends who’d used them – obviously those are not uniform experiences there. It’s also very interesting to know that with at least some larger practices the likelihood of getting one’s own doctors plummets, which hadn’t occurred to me.

Rossco17, thanks for the netflix tip which I will be renting! As for midwives, I guess my ideal would be to have a doctor who can offer me some reassurance that they wouldn’t C-section unless need really be and who has some knowledge of any techniques midwives might employ (my aunt just told me to ask whether the dr. uses some massage techniques based in midwifery to avoid epesiotomy). I have had laparoscopic surgery for fibroids and was told that the incisions were superficial enough that I ought to be able to birth naturally, but have also had some other vague pelvic issues and just think it’s likely safest to stick w/ a hospital birth and perhaps with a doctor. I guess I’m somewhat concerned with how readily a doctor might be available as backup in the event of something a midwife might not know how to handle, but I did also read other good things about Back Cove Midwives and will think further on that.

Again, thank you all so much for the your thoughtful responses! If you have any further thoughts please feel very welcome to share them and I’ll also respond asap given possible sporadic internet access associated with my move!

[rossco17]

Originally Posted by sherrin

Rossco17, thanks for the netflix tip which I will be renting! As for midwives, I guess my ideal would be to have a doctor who can offer me some reassurance that they wouldn’t C-section unless need really be and who has some knowledge of any techniques midwives might employ (my aunt just told me to ask whether the dr. uses some massage techniques based in midwifery to avoid epesiotomy). I have had laparoscopic surgery for fibroids and was told that the incisions were superficial enough that I ought to be able to birth naturally, but have also had some other vague pelvic issues and just think it’s likely safest to stick w/ a hospital birth and perhaps with a doctor. I guess I’m somewhat concerned with how readily a doctor might be available as backup in the event of something a midwife might not know how to handle, but I did also read other good things about Back Cove Midwives and will think further on that.

Hi Sherrin, I urge to watch that movie and also schedule an appointment to talk to a midwife, and then decide what to do. My feeling is that if having a natural birthing experience is important to you, then you don't want to be using an OB. they are great for surgical procedures, but not for births. For our 2nd child, our midwife was with us the entire time (in the hospital, not at home) giving excellent advice on labor positions and such. she was amazing. she got my wife through with no drugs of any kind and no interventions. we never even saw a doctor. OB's, on the other hand, visit you for a few minutes here are there, and then rush in to deliver the baby right at the end (if you're lucky). Frequently, they decide that you 'aren't progressing fast enough' and give you pitocin to induce labor and that makes labor so incredibly intense that an epidural is absolutely necessary. and then many times they end up doing a C-section anyways because it isn't happening fast enough for them. and, hmmmm, it just so happens that surgeries cost much more - but that's a whole other thing.

Yes, i'm certainly biased against OB deliveries. Don't get me wrong, i realize that sometimes their intervention is necessary. just not as much as they'd like you to believe.

I'm off topic here, but i would give back cove midwives a call - it can't hurt you to get all the info you can to make an educated decision.

best of luck