I went to the Northland OB/GYN because I planned to deliver at Liberty Hospital. First, no one told us when arrived that as self-pay patients, we would have to pay $1,100 up front when we arrived. Thankfully, someone allowed to us to pay "just" $500 the first time if we promised to pay the rest next time. The nurse who did the sonogram was nice, but everything went down hill from there. I didn't even meet a doctor, I met a nurse practitioner. She was very vague about everything and kept asking if we had questions. This is our first kid so I wasn't sure what to even ask! She was about to send us out the door after a ridiculously brief 15 minute session when I thought to ask about my options for labor and delivery. I told her I was interested in some more natural options for labor to which she immediately responded, "Well what do you mean by natural?" Her tone was impatient, condescending and judgmental. When I expressed interest in water birth, walking exercises, stools, etc. she said that I might be able to move around if the doctor okayed it but no water birth at all. And I had to have constant prenatal monitoring, an iv drip (even if I didn't want meds) and no food or drink at all. She was completely unwilling to hear what was important to me and offered no suggestions, compromises, or anything else. I left feeling very ill at ease. We have since canceled all our appointments there and are now going to the New Birth Company in Overland Park, KS. The experience has already been so much better. If you want to be told exactly what to do and treated like an ignorant person who knows nothing about her own body, then by all means go ahead and go to these doctors, but if you want to learn about the process, your own body and the options available to you, I would recommend two things. First, watch "The Business of Being Born." Second, explore other options, whether it be another hospital or a birthing center. Midwives are an excellent and very safe option for low-risk pregnancies. I will NEVER go to this office again and I will be sharing my opinion freely with others to prevent them from having the same horrible experience during what should be a joyous time.
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