Hi Ladies..
I recently found out that my husband and I are expecting our 3rd child.. Wow, that came too soon...LOL!
I have a dilemma though. My OB/GYN is Jane Kappus of Fairview Hospital. She is an outstanding doctor, but her office is literally at Fairview Hospital. Trying to hull out to Cleveland for regular appointments with two kids in tow, and pay hourly for parking is a bit too much for me at this stage. I plan to deliver at Fairview Hospital once again, but I am looking for a Female OB/GYN with a practice nearby. My sister worked for the a couple of Fairview's Women's Health Centers in Westlake area.. and prefer not to go to them for this reason. My preference would Avon area.
Another concern for me is that my 1st child was delivered via an emergency c-sec, and my 2nd was a successful VBAC. My doctor with child #2 was forcing me to do c-sec on my due date if I didn't deliver before hand. This made very uncomfortable not having a say in the matter. Luckily my little guy came a day early, and I refused to let her proceed with a cesarean. If this pregnancy goes fine, I plan to have a VBAC with #3 as well. Some doctors really fight this because they don't want to deal with the liability.
So I need your help... I'm looking for an OB that will communicate well with me, and be open to a VBAC method of childbirth. Below, I've listed some doctors in Avon & Sheffield Village that have birthing privileges at Fairview Hospital. If any of you go to these doctors, could you please share your impression of them with me? What are their personalities like? Do they brush off your concerns, or take them seriously? What is their office staff like? Scheduling?
I have narrowed my search down to 2 locations...
The first is Avon Women's Health Center (Cleveland Clinic/Fairview Group). Their OB's are Reinhold, Starck, Zanotti, Stephens, and Grosel.
Another is Tracy Farrow, in Sheffield Village. I actually used to go to her years ago when she was at Gemini Bldg. in Westlake. She has since switched over to Erie Shore Women's Health. Anyone familiar with that practice?
Do any of you go to these doctors? What is your impression of them, their skills, and their staff?
Any info you could share would be helpful.
Wow.. I sent this message out on MamaSource and to my Early Childhood PTA group. So far, I've received over 40 responses on the OB/GYN topic. Thank you very much for all your responses.
All the responses I received favored both Avon Women's Health Center and Erie Shores Women's Health. Since you can't read all the responses I received, I'll sum it up for you...
At Avon Women's Health Center in Avon, OH.. Dr. Grosel, the only male OB/GYN on site, was the most liked of the whole group. Matter of fact, he had zero negative responses. Dr. Reinhold, Dr. Starck, and Dr. Steven's all had numerous favorable responses, and were widely respected. I did however receive a handful of negative referrals to all 3. So my decision became more difficult with some of the mixed reviews. I knew I would be in hands with the Avon group, the location would be close, they have a lab on site, and I could deliver at Fairview.
On the other hand, Dr. Farrow & Dr. Kovach of Erie Women's Health Center of Sheffield Village, OH had nothing but positive remarks. They were highly favored, seem to have a great staff. Like Avon Women's Health, they too are a one stop shop with a small lab, and a Sonographer on sight. They also have a children's room separate from the adult waiting room, for the times I can't get a sitter. So the big bonus.. I don't have to drive to Fairview Hospital in Cleveland for labwork or Ultrasounds.
Erie Shore Women's Health is equally as close for me as the Avon Group. The only disadvantage I found is that Farrow no longer practices at Fairview Hospital where there is a Level 3 Pediatric Trauma Center/NICU. I will be delivering at EMH in Elyria. EMH's has a really nice Maternity wing in which you deliver in the same room you stay in for the duration of your recovery. Plus, there is no charge for parking, and it's close to our home, my immediate & extended family, and friends. The positives for going with Dr.Farrow & delivering at EMH outway all my other choices. So that is what we decided.. Erie Shore Women's Health, with Dr. Farrow. Kovach is excellant too, so I know I'll be in good hands.
Once again, I thank all of you for your outstanding referrals. I hope this post will help other women in my situation to make an informed decision.
Thanks again,
K.
Hi-
I am patient of Dr.Stark- she is wonderful! she has delivered both my children, a 3 1/2 girl and 12 week old son. Their practice is great and I always get the answers and response that I expect.
I know that she is pretty hard to get into, but it's always worth trying-
Good luck!
I just delivered in January at Fairview. My OB was Dr Lynn Simpson. She was great. She is at Fairview OB/GYN West. It's in the Cleveland Clinic building on Columbia Rd just off 90 in Westlake. There are 5 MDs in the practice. They are all female. So if Dr Simpson is not available when you deliver, at least you would have a female filling in! The number is ###-###-####. Good luck and congrats!
I have to tell you I absolutely love Dr. Grosel and the whole team over there. They are a great group of doctors that care about the patient and I truly believe they enjoy their job. They delivered my daughter and if it wasn't for Dr. Grosel my cousin would have lost her son who is now 6! I highly recommend that group!
A friend of mine highly recommends Dr. Grosel and my sister-in-law is going to him as well. I have heard nothing but good things of him. He is a male, though, if you are looking for a female. The location of that Dr is great as I take my daughter to a pediatrician there. The Cleveland CLinic delivers "World Class Care" and I wouldn't take my daughter anywhere else in Cleveland! I used to work at the Children's Rehab Hospital before I had my daughter and would go back in a second if it fit into my schedule!!
Hi K.,
I don't know any of these doctors, but mine is Dr Michele Colangelo and she has an office in the Gemini building (right across the street from Crocker Park) and she delivers at Fairview. I love her, she's great! She listens to you and the staff are really nice. Dr Samanich is also part of this group and he saw me a few times for my stress tests, I liked him a lot as well. Neither of these two delivered my daughter though since she was born on Sunday and it was whovere was on call. A partner of theirs actually did the delivery (he was good, but of course it would have been nice to have my regular OB/GYN do the delivery). Here's her contact info, of course Dr Samanich is at the same number
Michele M Colangelo, DO
2001 CROCKER RD STE 650
WESTLAKE, OH 44145
Phone: ###-###-####
Good luck!
N.
Dr. Stephens at the Avon Women's Health Center delivered my daughter and she was wonderful. I met a few other partners in the practice and they were all very caring and responsive too. I didn't have a c-section or anything.
I can't help too much being that I dont have much experience with having a baby here in Ohio. But I can tell you that Zanotti is a great doctor. I felt very comfortable with her and I love the Cleveland Clinic office in Avon off of Chester Road. They are a one stop shop ir you will, the pediatric is next door as is an internal medicine, and the OB/GYN. You should really go in and meet the doctors and get a first impression from them.
Hi K., I have 2 friends who see Dr. Farrow, they really like her, but I'll ask them your specific questions & get back to you. I love my obgyn, her office is in Sheffield Village, but she delivers at Community. (Dr. Wilson-Colman)
K., 27yrs old, mother of 4 boys.
Hi K.! First of all, Congratulations!
I saw Dr. Tracy Farrow throughout my pregnancy, as well as Dr. Moodley at Fairview hospital because I was High risk. Dr. Farrow is wonderful. We found out our child was going to born with Down Syndrome after having an amnio done. We discussed all of our options with Social workers and Doctors. When we told Dr Farrow that we were NO DOUBT keeping our child, she cried. She was so happy with our decision. She is a very feeling Doctor with a very big heart.
mine is Dr Saminich- at gemini bldg across from crocker on detroit- practices at Fairview... been going to this practice for 22 years. My Doctor was Leonard Haas- just retired from there- but I have seen all of the others.
I see that I am the third referral for this office- they are great- I was high risk due to my age- (I was 36 at the time) and I have had some other issues that have always been handled in a great way- very nice and compassionate...
Have you also looked into the Cleveland Clinic/Fairview Group in Westlake in the Gemini Towers on the corner of Crocker and Detroit? Dr. Samanich is a good doctor, if you don't mind going to a male OBGYN. I don't know about the others in the practice.
I really like Dr. Farrow and also Dr. Kovach they are both in the same office but I am not sure if Dr. Kovach delivers at Fairview. I do not have any personal experience with them as far as a pregnancy but Dr. Kovach delivered my friends baby,she really liked her and she is very particular.
Hi K.,
When we moved to Avon, Ohio in August of 2007 I was pregnant and due in October so I had to find a new OBGYN. Luckily, my husband works with some women who recently had children and one gave me a referall to her OBGYN and I love their office. They are off of 90 on exit Columbia.
The doctor I see there is Dr. Joan Jessee and I delivered at Fairview Hospital.
I've seen a couple other doctors in the office too and like them all :)
Their address is : 850 Columbia Road # 330
Westlake, Ohio 44145
###-###-####
I hope this helps!
Congratulations!!!!!!
PS How do you like the Early Childhood PTA and the, North Ridgeville Moms Club and MOPS ?
I've been dealing with postpartum depression still and would love some information to meet more people in the area. My family is in Indiana 6 and 1/2 hours away and it's tough on me sometimes. ____@____.com Thank You.
I am a mother of 4 who lives in Avon Lake. I also had a C-section with #1, then had successful V-BACs with #2, #3 and #4! Many doctors don't want to even try V-BACs anymore. I know you mentioned looking for an Avon doctor, but mine is in Westlake. She's Dr. Mervart, with a practice of 5 women. I highly recommend her. She seems to be one of the few OB-GYN's who will encourage a VBAC. She's awesome!
Good luck!
I absoulutly love love love doc Starck she is incrediable. The rest of the doctors at that office are great to! All of the doctors there now what they are doing and good at it. They make you feel comfortable.
I highly recommend Dr. Rebecca Starck! She delivered my son (now almost 6). I ended up having a C-Section due to his large size. She communicated well, not just with me, but my husband as well. She then, 7 mos. later, delivered my neice. Both my sister and I are very happy with her. She's personable and very competent. Hope things go well!
Hi K.,
Congratulations on your pregnancy!! I go to Dr. Rebecca Stark with the Avon group and absolutely love her! I see other people have said the same. I delivered at Fairview. I was really against a C-section when I had my son (now 16 months old). She was understanding about this and respected my decision to labor as long as I could. Unfortunately, due to my very small size, I had to have a C-section. She let me make the decision (as long as the baby was not in distress). I feel that she really listens to your needs and communicates very well with you. I would highly recommend her. Good luck!
C.
