[chep]

I'm newly pregnant, and searching for a high-risk obstetrician. I had hoped to work with a midwife at a birthing center, but because I have a hyperactive thyroid, a high-risk doctor is a must. I hope very much to find someone who is low-intervention, and comfortable with natural birthing. Currently, I have an appointment with Dr. Mary D'Alton (apparently, she works with a midwife: Jeanne Calhoun) at Columbia University Medical Center. I'd be very grateful to hear from anyone who has worked with Dr. D'Alton, or for recommendations for other high-risk obstetricians.

Thank you!!

[lizrusch]

I had the same experience you've had at the beginning of my pregnancy; I was taking lovenox and all the midwives said I needed a high risk doctor. It took me a while to accept, but I finally ended up going to Dr. Mussalli and Dr. Worth at St. Vincent's. They don't have a birthing center, but I've been told they have some nice birthing 'rooms' (haven't toured yet). St. Vincent's has a reputation for being very midwife and doula friendly, and Dr. Mussalli and Dr. Worth's website is also doula friendly and open to more natural childbirth options. Dr. Mussalli is the high risk doctor, and he is also the head of ob-gyn at St. Vincent's. In the end, he looked at my bloodwork and decided I didn't need the Lovenox and was only high risk because of my age (37). In the end, I decided to switch back to a midwife at St. Vincent's, but it was a hard decision, because I really did like Dr. Mussalli and Dr. Worth. I also spoke to a doula who had worked with Mussalli and said it was the first time a doctor had ever asked her advice about things! Their website is Village Obstetrics & Gynecology | New York City.

[emilyshapiro]

I just had my first appointment today with Dr. George Mussalli at Village Obstetrics, at St. Vincent's. He works with Dr. Jacqueline Worth, who had been recommended by my doula, but Dr. Mussalli is the one who does high risk. He's very calm, had time to talk and take questions, talks about doing "minimal intervention" births which, as he explains, might be a lot of intervention IF that is necessary, but might be none at all if there is no need. Village Obstetrics posts theirs stats on their website, and I found them very reassuring (low rate of inductions and C-sections).