Like many women, you may find it difficult to reveal the most intimate parts of your body and life to a doctor, when you are excited about expecting a baby, finding an obstetrician seems to be a huge task. If you are pregnant your health and your baby's health depends on it. Although some private obstetrician do have good reputations in this field, Rahul Sen for instance is known for his amazing obstetrician skills, but still it is really a challenge when it comes to finding the right obstetrician. So how to find the best obstetrician for you? Some important factors are to be kept in mind.
- Referrals - To start with, ask your doctor for a referral list. Friends, family and health care providers may also be asked for recommendations. Research the doctor's credentials and experience. When you narrow your list, give a call to each of the obstetrician's offices and ask for an appointment to meet and interview the doctor.
- Research the credentials - One of the most important considerations is the board certification when choosing an obstetrician. It shows that the doctor has the necessary training, experience and skills to provide gynecologic and obstetric care. Also you should confirm that the obstetrician has no malpractice claims or disciplinary actions. You can search for the obstetricians medical school, certifications, training hospital and disciplinary and malpractice history on any of the websites..
- Consider the Experience - If you are facing a complex gynecologic problem or high risk pregnancy, experience matters a lot. The more experienced a doctor is with a condition or procedure, the better results you will get. Some obstetricians focus on obstetrics and some focus on gynaecology exclusively. Some specialise in gynecologic cancer treatment. Find out how many patients with similar specific conditions like yours the obstetrician has treated. When you know you need a specific procedure, you can ask how many of the procedures has been performed by the doctor and also about complication rates- the number of complications the doctor has encountered and also your own risk of complications.
- Consider The Gender - it is very important that you feel comfortable with your obstetrician's/gynecologist's gender because you have to openly discuss your personal information. If gender matters to you, you might feel awkward in front of an obstetrician of a certain gender. For serious health concerns do not deny yourself the best professional care because of the doctor's gender.
- Hospital Quality - The doctor's hospital is your hospital. Consider the quality of the care at the hospital where the obstetrician treats the patients. The quality of the hospital matters to you because at top rated hospitals patients have fewer complications and better survival rates. Also the hospital location is important for you. Because frequent trips back and forth to the hospital means you need to have a convenient location so that it is manageable for you.
- Communication Style - You should go for a gynecologist /obstetrician with whom you feel comfortable talking and one who supports your information needs. On your first meeting with a gynecologist, ask questions and notice how you get the response. Is your question welcomed and answered in ways that you are able to understand? Find an obstetrician who is interested in knowing you, who considers your treatment preferences and who respects your decision making process.
