Choosing a Doctor or OB
By Tine Reese
July 13, 2009Since Bloom was launched a few weeks ago, I have had a couple of inquiries from women wanting recommendations for local doctors and obstetricians (OBs) who have good reputations for attending natural births. While I believe midwives are the best care providers for low-risk, normal pregnancies I understand that there are women who require the prenatal medical care of a physician but are still interested in a natural labor and delivery. I have heard it said that most OBs may only give lip service to “natural birth” or consider any vaginal birth—even those with induction, medication and other interventions—a natural birth.
However, there are doctors and OBs who gain reputations for being supportive of natural childbirth. I have spoken to a few of our local doulas with a lot of hospital birth experience and done some online research to be able to provide these recommendations to Bloom readers. As one doula said to me, “Obstetricians are surgeons. They are trained to perform surgery. Women should look for a family physician or general practitioner if they are interested in a natural birth.” Definitely something to consider if you don’t have extreme pregnancy complications that require the care of an OB.
Here is a short list of physicians that have been recommended to me from multiple sources. I don’t personally know any of them and have not spoken to them about their work, but present them here for your consideration.
Dr. James Brasch, MD
Specialty: Obstetrics & Gynecology
Hospital Affiliations: Holy Family Hospital, Deaconess Medical Center
Phone: (509) 482-0111
Group Practice: Associates for Women’s Health
Dr. Kurt Fine, MD
Specialty: Obstetrics & Gynecology
Hospital Affiliations: Holy Family Hospital, Deaconess Medical Center
Phone: (509) 482-0111
Group Practice: Associates for Women’s Health
Articles: Read Dr. Fine’s views on natural birth in hospitals in the InHealthNW article Birth Rights.
Dr. Ronald Hardy, MD
Specialty: Obstetrics & Gynecology
Hospital Affiliations: Holy Family Hospital, Sacred Heart Medical Center
Phone: (509) 489-2101
Group Practice: North Spokane Women’s Clinic
Dr. Melissa Sousley, MD
Specialty: Family Practice
Hospital Affiliations: Deaconess Medical Center, Deer Park Hospital, Holy Family Hospital, Sacred Heart Medical Center
Phone: (509) 482-4402
Group Practice: Group Health Lidgerwood Medical Center
This article on NaturalBirthandBabyCare.com provides a list of interview questions to ask potential care providers. Be sure to ask whether you will always see the physician you are interested in or whether you’ll have to see others within the practice. As well, try to find out the epidural and c-section rates for the doctor and the hospital where you will give birth.
Have you had a positive natural birth experience with a doctor or OB in the Spokane/CDA area? If so, please leave a comment below with your recommendation and provide contact information for the care provider(s).
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Comments
I am the VBAC patient driving from Wenatchee in that InHealthNW article interview with Dr Fine. I had a great VBAC experience with him and would be quick to suggest him to any higher-risk patient that wants to give birth naturally in the hospital. At 41 weeks 4 days I did have him break my water to induce labor (I was 4 cm dialated, 60% effaced, and baby was at 1+ station, and I had a 3 hour drive from wenatchee!). My baby was born drug-free, 4 hours later. Ranks up there as probably the top most amazing experience of my life. I will never forget his gentleness, and assurances that I could do it.
Roxanne, thanks for sharing your story and recommending Dr. Fine for VBAC and higher-risk patients interested in natural birth. Your comments will encourage other women in similar situations to know that they can achieve a natural birth too. I’m so glad to hear that you had a satisfying birth experience!!
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