Never did I imagine that a decision could be so difficult or complicated. Having moved around quite a bit over the last 15 years and having been of healthy stock I have long since accepted that I won't have long-lasting relationships with the doctors I see. More often than not, I have simply taken whomever could get me in for an appointment.
Fastforward to the first time that I had to choose a doctor for me AND for my little gummi bear and essentially for the father of that gummi bear as well. I dove into that decision with a good amount of internet research and lo and behold I found out that everyone complains about everyone online. Either as a general population we are a dissatisfied bunch or it is only those who tend towards the unsatisfied that take the time to do reviews. Needless to say, I read of doctor's dropping babies, doctor's forcing c-sections so it didn't ever interfere with their evening plans, and doctor's forcing religious opinions on their patients. When I finally settled on my first-ever OB, it was simply the one doctor's name that I found that I couldn't find anything else about (no ratings, no educational history), just a name followed by the all-important "M.D."
Well, turns out this logic worked (or so we thought) and Kev and I found ourselves face-to-face with a jolly, rosy-cheeked man of middle-age who got our jokes (both the American and the British ones), answered our questions and generally made us feel good. This relationship was developing quite nicely when I suddenly realized this week (okay, maybe it was the crazy cramping that jogged my memory) that I hadn't heard from the Doc in about 5 weeks. Being a "first-timer," I don't really have a clue as to how often early pregancy appointments should be but my mind has been playing tricks on me (as in your not really pregnant, just retaining a whole LOT of water tricks) so I figured I would like a little reassurance. I called up my OBs office (don't get me started on how much I have hated the office itself... I just figured the cranky and absent-minded receptionists aren't the ones delivering me so it would be okay) only to be told, "Oh.........(long, long pause)........ Dr. Shaw hasn't shown up for work in awhile." Say what???? What the heck does that mean: is he sick, is he out of the country, is he taking some "me" time? The response was a combination of trying to cover up with lies and a "we don't have a clue where the man is." I try to remain calm and tell them that I was thinking I might be due for an appointment and then I proceed to have the usual 5 minute run-around with them where they have no notation of me being pregnant i.e. they say, "well you just had your annual exam...so what are you wanting to come in for?" (seriously, happens every time). Once I had them convinced I was an OB patient they offered to let me see the other Doctor in the practice with the caveat that "she only works half-days and is really busy with Dr. Shaw's patients, she might be able to see you in December...." Oh no... oh no no no. This other Doctor was one whose reviews were so poor that I would not go near her with our dog let alone our gummi bear. So, I set about calling a gazillion other doctors in town and I will spare you too much detail but essentially, there is a wait-list for an OB in this town as in .... well, if you aren't due till after next August, we might be able to get you in. HUH? Anyway, the story has a somewhat happy ending in that we have found someone to take on our poor cause and that someone has an opening before 2012 and that someone actually delivers at the hospital that we can see from our bedroom window so... fingers crossed. Although, I am now completely convinced that the one doctor with availability has got to be the worst doctor in town. Oh well, if only my Cousin Carrie was licensed at our local hospital ..... Anyway, that's the news for now. 3 1/2 month belly pics coming soon. xoxo
