LAKE Affect OB GYN & Midwifery Care

I feel it’s a bit early to be handing out 5 stars to a place I’ve only been to twice, but alas, I can’t help it.
Prior to my first visit I was pretty much dead set on finding a reason to not go back. I don’t know why, perhaps I was swayed by the hospital they deliver at, RGH, and wanting to be at Highland instead. I’ve only heard good things, great things, about both hospitals, and I’m soooooooo much closer to RGH but Highland… just seems prettier. It’s the location, really, surrounded by gorgeous old houses and I think there’s a beautiful park nearby, plus I’ve heard bad things about RGH food… but no, this practice of one Obstetrician and two midwives only delivers at Rochester General.
I arrived exactly at 10 am for my 10 am appointment. Every other medical office I’ve ever been to gives you a «really, you’re not early» look because they have 18 double sided forms for you to complete (not that I’m not always early…). Not here. I apologized for my tardiness and the receptionist (I know she’s more than a receptionist, but she was playing the role of receptionist at the moment) sincerely pointed out that it was, in fact, 10 am and therefore I was not late at all. She handed me two pages to sign, with minimal info (birthday, full name, emergency contact). A moment after those pages were done, the nurse called me in. Weight and blood pressure were taken in a comfortable, softly lit room, not the hallway like everywhere else I’ve been to, and I was escorted to a room where the midwife would meet me. The midwife, Catherine, was calm and confident. She spent time getting to understand my medical history, letting me explain in detail little things that probably aren’t relevant at all but she still added notes to my file and was actually listening to my ramblings. She was gentle with the physical portion of the visit, too, which is obviously very important and is definitely a make-​or-​break moment of any exam. I was completely comfortable opening up to the things that you need to talk about when discussing child birth and pregnancy, something I was definitely not comfortable with on my first visit with my son 3 years ago (at another practice out of state). I was instantly at ease with the idea of this woman being by my side (or feet) in 6 months. The doc and 2 midwives rotate days to be on call for deliveries, so I will meet all three throughout my prenatal visits. I’m already attached to Catherine (I think she went by Cathy), but I am confident the other 2 women will be just as experienced and comforting. With my son, I was with a midwifery of 7 and hadn’t actually met all of them before delivery (because we moved to the area halfway through my pregnancy), and had meet the two I labored with only once before. I like the idea of a smaller group where I will know each of them much better. I initially was also turned off by having an OB/​Gyn involved (I avoid doctors at all costs), but Catherine and the general feel of the entire visit has changed my thinking that it would be much better to have a doc on the same page than an unfamiliar doctor take over should things get out of the realm of typical midwife deliveries. I guess it all depends on what you’re hoping the outcome to be (besides, obviously, a healthy baby).
Later that same afternoon I received a call asking if I would like to come in the next day for an ultrasound to date the pregnancy. I was able to leave a message to confirm I would be able to take the appointment and that was that. No jumping through hoops, no «oh, sorry, you missed out, we gave it to someone else». My husband and son accompanied me to this appointment, which we arrived a few minutes early for but were seen promptly upon arrival, much to my son’s dismay because he had found the toy box. The ultrasound was quick and simple, the tech was friendly though it was her last day (which is why they called last minute because they were scrunching as many patients in before she left). She printed out a few pics and let us ooo and aaah at the little hands and feet kicking around. It was not an issue for my husband to snap a few pictures and record video, nor was the tech impatient at my son wanting to «see baby again». The appointment was quick and simple. And cost per ultrasound $ 20 because apparently that’s how they do things at this practice. The rest of the appointments are all wrapped up into one large charge that you pay for after delivery, after insurance is done paying their measly contribution.
Overall, while I’m not exactly looking forward to the big event, I am excited to be working with this group of women. And will just be sure to assign friends breakfast/​lunch/​dinner duties (with proper take-​out options) for the hospital stay.