Sacramento Maternal Fetal Medicine

I read all of the negative reviews on here and was hesitant to schedule but because of my insurance (tricare) I had no choice. I got there 15 minutes as directed since I filled out the paperwork ahead of time. After waiting 15 minutes after my scheduled appointment, we asked the front desk how much longer and was told they were 20 minutes behind, so I thought «cool, another 5 minutes.» I waited for an hour AFTER my appointment time. I have a busy schedule with work and school and I would appreciate my time being valued as I wouldn’t show up an hour late to the appointment as well.
We finally got called back. The tech was nice and fun then the doctor comes in to go over the results. She was in there for maybe 3 minutes just to say everything is fine. At the beginning of the scan I asked to find out about my placenta placement because we are on pelvic rest (no sex) and I was hoping to get off it and a few other questions in regards to my family history. When the doctors comes in, I asked about the placenta once it seemed she was done saying everything was fine, she didn’t give a decent answer. «Oh, it’s a few centimeters away». I would hope since this is their specialty that I could get a straight answer. When I asked about it more she said I would have to talk to my OB. I’m sorry but why am I here then? Also, while we were waiting for the doc after the scan, the tech left the screen up with the baby’s measurements. Of course we looked at them and asked the doctor about one of them and she seemed irritated that he asked. Sorry again but I am here because I have been flagged as «high risk» and I have questions about my baby! If me asking these questions is too much trouble then I don’t see the point of me even going.
I was told that I need to come back in 6 weeks for a follow up ultrasound and I don’t know why and I dread it so much. Of course I am going because it is for my baby but now I am more prepared for what to expect and I will speak up if I feel ignored again.
Update: I called to reschedule my appointment and found out that they put me in the books for a different day than we agreed on in the office. I am glad I called to verify and change. I may call them again before my appointment to confirm. (they never called me to confirm my last appt)

I’m 35. By BMI standards I’m obese. I have an autoimmune condition. I was beyond happy to finally conceive my first child! I have been understanding that my pregnancy may come with risks due to my age and my health. My insurance only covers Sacramento Maternal Fetal Medicine. The reviews and scheduling made me very nervous about this center. (The scheduler was hard to communicate with and belittling.)
However, I feel like I have to provide my experience to ease others worries like mine. First my 1^st trimester ultrasound was great. My tech Catherine was warm and informative. The center was clean and my appointment was timely. They gave me and my husband our results quickly and a few pictures to take home.
My second appointment to go over my genetic risks and test options was good too. We were not seen until 20 minutes after our appointment time but Dr. McLean was informative and responsive to our questions. The genetic assistant was very helpful in how to schedule the tests we opted in for.

There’s a reason why women are referred out town Sac MFM… it’s because of high risk pregnancies. If you want someone to pamper you and hold your hand and tell you all good lollipop and sprinkles kind of stuff then by all means… don’t listen to what these doctors are trying to tell you to have a healthy pregnancy and healthy baby.
Other reviews complain about the doctors’ personalities… you see past all the gruffness and straight talk after a few visits. They shock you into doing what’s right for your baby. Sure you’re emotional and sure you’re hormonal, but that shouldn’t turn off your ability to understand why the doctors are like that. LISTEN AND FOLLOW WHAT THE DOCTORS SAY! if you’re not willing to be healthy, then of course, you’re going to have a bad experience.
These doctors helped me a lot. They got me hospitalized when I started having problems in my pregnancy, which ended up being a very long time in hospital. They did rounds with me every day. And they have wonderful personalities! They monitored my health and the baby’s health and were there for me and the nurses when I needed something changed…24−7. They delivered my preemie baby and she came out healthy and full of fire. I cannot begin to express how truly grateful I am to Sac MFM for all the care they showed to me. If we are blessed with another baby, I wouldn’t trust my pregnancy to anyone else!

I went here about 6 weeks ago for a growth scan at 28 weeks. I’m only reviewing because there are so many bad reviews; I figured they could use a good review. I arrived at my appointment about 15 minutes early with *very* full bladder like they asked. There was only one receptionist and she was with someone so I waited, the whole 15 minutes, even though another receptionist came up to the desk but was still «unavailable» that was kind of annoying but oh well. I finally checked in and was asked to have a seat. I waited about 5 minutes and I was called back to the room. The tech was very nice. I laid down and we started the session. She was very good at pointing out what she was doing and body parts, etc. She also asked if we already knew the sex, which we did, so she took a look again. (Still a boy!) I LOVE the fact that they offer a 3D picture. When I saw this online, I was so excited! So our appointment was wrapping up, so I asked if she was able to get a 3D picture. She said unfortunately she couldn’t because my little man was breeched and facing my back. I was so disappointed. She did print me a couple of pictures she got though, which was nice. I have an appointment in a few days for another growth check. I will be 34 weeks. I REALLY hope he is cooperative and gives us a 3D picture! But overall, I am very pleased. They were really nice and answered all my questions.

Called by them at the end of November and was told I needed to schedual an appt. I had stated fears that I was worried my insurance would not cover it, because I was having a change of coverage December 1^st. They said they would be able to run the insurance before hand to see if it was covered or not and give me a call and asked weather or not I wanted to make an appointment. The week before my appointment approached and I never recieved a call. I called the friday and Monday before my appointment to see if the insurance had cleared and i was put to voicemil and never called back. So I called to cancel on monday night and was put on hold. So I skipped my appointment and reschedualed for a later date. I’ll review agajn then!

I want to HIGHLY recommend Nia as the ultrasound technician. I have been seen twice here so far and have one more appointment coming up next week. I am currently 5 ½ months pregnant with my first baby and have to say I have so far had a great experience both times I have gone.
Based on my experience they are very professional, kind but yet they won’t be overly warm and fluffy since they ARE doing genetic testing. My second experience was much better than the first. My second experience was with Nia (pronounced Nie-​yah). She was very helpful letting me know right away that there is a heartbeat, had very good communication on what she was measureing and what I was looking at on the screen. she made sure I was very comfortable when I was laying down and was very personable. She asked if I wished to know the sex of the baby (at which i said yes) and got me a perfect picture showing that I am clearly having a boy. She then had a meeting with a dr just to make sure all the measurements that she had taken were showing normal signs of development. She came back to let me know that everything is great. I truly hope I have Nia again for my next visit, if there were a way to request someone, I would HIGHLY recommend Nia. The receptionist we had that day was also VERY helpful. My mom really needed water and she offered to fill her water bottle for her. it was just a very nice gesture that she didn’t have to do, but did anyways.
My first experience was ok. It’s my first time being pregnant so over all they were nice. The receptionist i dealt with that day was a bit dry but not rude. The ultrasound technician was a bit dry at first but then she became more personable as my session with her continued. I know they won’t be extremely «baby centric», they deal with things every day and must see things that they dread telling soon to be mom’s. but over all, I have had good experiences here and hopefully my next one is the same since I have a coworker that has had the exact opposite experience as me.

Dr Haesslien is by far the worst doctor I have ever seen or will ever see. Absolutely no bed side manners and is very rude and blunt. He actually got defensive when my hubby stood up for me by a rude comment he said to me. Wow! He should not be in this profession. He might be a «good doctor» but if u want to feel comfortable and not cry every time you leave than don’t see him. He’s a jerk! I saw him about 4 times. It was horrible. :(

most horrible and disgusting experience !!
we’re already going through an emotional tough time and meeting these people did it… the most rudest and heartless people… the worst was the doctor… simply the most rudest person on this planet. .
20 thumbs down

Really annoying when you go to an appointment and finding out you are not on the schedule because they had cancelled the appointment through an answering machine without calling the alternative number you give them initially. It was very unprofessional. I even went there afterwards for other visits but they didn’t bother to tell me that they were trying to reach me, instead left a message on my home number which is not my primary contact number. That is why you originally put two numbers in so in case you are not being reached at the first one, but in my case they decided to call my home number which is the second contact number. So I asked the reason why was it cancelled in the first place is because I had to come in for 2 US instead of one. Okay then, but when I asked when were those supposed to be scheduled, the 1^st one earlier and the 2^nd one the same week as my supposedly current US schedule, which is today. Then that makes me even more mad. They didn’t have to cancel my US today, they could have scheduled me one in between, but they decided, cancel this one so they can put one in for an earlier time and re-​schedule me at the same time as for today. What makes it worse is that I have verified with the front desk with my US schedule when I was there for MD visits. I had to request a day off just for this day. I was lectured on by Debbie on how I should circle my personal appointments on my work schedule. Instead of trying to fix the matter, it took her about 10 mins to enter that I wanted to be called on my cell instead of home, and wouldn’t let me ask question while she’s on the computer, telling me, «one at a time». All I can say is WOW. The answer and solution should have been give and take. But they chose to leave someone to become unhappy instead, like they don’t care if they will lose patient because of this inefficiency of their scheduling. And they expect me to call them to make another schedule??? Uh-​huh, I was already there, they could have given me one, but they wanted me to call. Unbelievable. They are already milking my insurance with all these tests that are inappropriate but I am still going to be at their mercy and not even give you a good customer service. All these Ultrasounds, blood tests, echocardiogram for the baby, etc. but never was I scheduled for US to determine the sex of my baby, they have said, oh, you can ask one of tech during one of your US. Definitely, not going to call them anymore. And definitely switching to another MD.

I was referred here by the care provider I am seeing. When they called to schedule the appointment I had no idea who they were and hearing someone quickly spit out «Sacramento Maternal-​Fetal Medicine Medical Group» is quite an earful. I apologized and told the woman I am sorry, but I have no idea who you are. She then dumbed it down speaking very slowly and enunciating that their facility conducts ultrasounds. Ahh ok got it. My care provider did not inform me they would be contacting anyone on my behalf to schedule an appointment for an ultrasound, nor was there ever any indication that they would like me to have an ultrasound… That was a mistake on my care providers behalf. I will review them later ;). En route to the appointment I was running a few minutes late for my 15 min early arrival and called to let them know but received a voice mail message that they were out to lunch. I am really glad I did not get there 15 min early as requested because they do ask you to drink 16 oz of water 30 min before you arrive. Being the overachiever I of course drank 30 oz. The wait, however, to see a technician was very reasonable. The woman stepped out, called my name. I smiled said hello how are you and was greeted with an inaudible grunt. My husband followed me through the door and we stood there waiting for directions to go left or right. I actually asked which way, but was ignored as she simply squeezed past us to the right. Ok… We were led to a room with gestures and no verbal communication. Naturally, I assumed since I was the pregnant one I’d have a seat on the exam chair and my husband could have the free-​standing one. Again, no courtesies offered. My chair was leaned back and I was told to pull down my skirt and lift up my top. Warm jelly was squirted out and the technician grunted out her name was Danielle. I have never had an ultrasound before and had no idea what to expect or what to look for. I mentioned to her we did not wish to know the sex and she looked at me bewildered with a response «I can’t promise that something won’t pop up!» The duration of the exam she probed around and was virtually silent except to point out the head, heart and kidneys meanwhile with her eyebrows drawn close together while looking at our child on her monitor with serious squinted eyes. The room was filled with the sound of rapid, frequent typing. Any explanation of what she was doing or looking at would have been nice. Pregnancy is supposed to be a joyous time of celebrating the life my husband and I have created. We have excellent insurance and are both college educated white collar individuals. We were treated as if we were a burden on society bringing another child into the world. Her eyes and demeanor read «great, another one of you.» I didn’t get it. She did have the decency to let us know when she was scanning between the legs so that we may look away. Toward the end she was trying to take a photo of our baby and jiggled her instrument violently and vigorously for awhile into my abdomen to shake the baby into looking for the camera. «Come on baby, cooperate.» Finally she commented that was the best we’re going get. Pressed a button, ripped out a paper image, handed it to me and said the doctor would be in to check things out. About 20 minutes later the doctor arrives nose in the air. She mumbles her name unintelligibly. From the website I found out it was Lynn K. McLean, M.D. She scans the baby and says «the best news I can give you is everything looks as it should at this point in your pregnancy. How about, «everything looks great. Your baby looks healthy. All is well! Enough of these stoic uncaring expressions hurry up and get out of our office, is this day over yet?! » … What is wrong with this place and these people?!?

If you’re looking to have an exceptional fetal ultrasound experience, this is the only place to go. It’s just like how I imagined it would be– serene, peaceful, intimate. I loved it.
First, they don’t allow any children in their office. So the waiting room was nice and quiet. No rugrats running around or crying. Even the women behind the desk spoke in whispers.
I was seen promptly at my appointed time which was nice because I wasn’t sure how much longer I could hold my bladder. The room was dimly lit and the ultrasound technician’s voice was soothing. There was a flat screen mounted on the wall directly in front of me so I could see the baby comfortably and clearly. I didn’t have to turn my head in an awkward angle trying to get a peak from the same monitor the tech was using. They really designed the place with the mother in mind. The tech was also helpful in explaining to me what she was looking for and what we were seeing.
If I could, I would be seen here for all of my ultrasound appointments. But they specialize in genetic testing and since my results came out negative, I won’t be referred here again. I wish all ultrasound facilities were like this one because as I’ve found out they’re no where near the quality of SacMFM. They’re the best.
SacMFM, thank you for giving a first time mother such a wonderful experience!

I had the worst experience ever!!! I never will go back or would want to go back… Besides, I already change doctors… So, I will never go there again… (this was a month ago, 9÷2÷08)
I had to drink 16 ounces of water 1 hr before my appointment. I drank 2 water bottles, ok. Really, hard to do when you first wake up… And, in the early morning, its really hard not to pee at all. You are suppose to hold your bladder and not go. Anyways, I got there, the waiting was small area, very nice. The reception lady was nice enough but I didn’t want to small chat. I just wanted to go already…
My appointment was 9 am. I got there actually at 9, I waited until people were being called when they first got there and I’m still waiting. I went up to the lady and advised her that I cant hold it any more, how much longer? She said that they are cleaning my room. Its 9:20, does it take 20 minutes to clean the room? She said that I can go but I have to stop mid-​stream and I can go only for 8 ounces of pee. What’s 8 ounces? She gave me a cup and told me not to go over. I don’t know about anyone else but I went over the cup. I couldn’t stop…
I sat back down and waited 10 more minutes before I was called. The medical assistant was small cute Filipino girl, she was nice. She asked me if everything is ok. I said yes, its fine. I just wanted my ultrasound done so I can find out the gender of my baby. She lead us to this room. It had a chair that turn to a long table bed, I sat there and had two monitors. I sat on the chair and laid back. She starts to do the ultrasound and she told us every step. My boyfriend said that we wanted to know the gender of the baby. She said «oh», its girl!!! She showed us how we can tell and she said that the doctor will double checks when she comes in. I was like «WHAT». We are not done yet? She said that the doctor has to double check every thing. I asked how much longer? She said just a few minutes…
Well, a few minutes turn to more minutes… Ten minutes pass, I had to pee again… 5 more minutes passed. My boyfriend was like lets just go. I was no, I want to double check the gender. I want to be sure… By the way I was suspended up in the air like almost 5 feet off the ground on this table. This how she left me. I told my boyfriend to get me down so I can go pee. I went looking for the MA and I advised her that I needed to go. She asked if I can stop and not go over the cup. Like 8 ounces. I was like «SURE» whatever… I just wanted to go… I went over the cup. At this point I really didn’t care. I went back in the room, the MA was right there waiting for me. She help me back on the table. I waited 10 minutes more then the doctor finally gets there. She didn’t say anything to us. She didn’t apologized for being late, didn’t say hi or hello. I was already fuming and I wanted to leave already. My boyfriend advised her that if she can double check the gender of the baby. She said that was the first thing she looked at and didnt know if we wanted to know or not. She said its a girl!!! Im so excited!!! The doctor said everything looks normal and she will fax everthing to my doctor. She gave me 5 ultrasound pictures only. 5 pics only. Did I say 5 pics already??? From all that waiting around, I only have 5 unltrasound pictures… I was so pissed off!!!
I got dressed and I went into the bathroom again… Pregnant people, we go to the bathroom a lot…
My experience here was so different than my first pregnancy. I got way more unltrasound pic. With my son, I got like 20 pics. I should have already knew I was having a girl. This pregnancy is so different than my son. I have different cravings and she didnt start moving until I was in the middle of my fifth month. And, Im way smaller than last time… I also started growing in my fifth month…
Overall, my experience here sucks «ASS»… I was pissed off and hungry!!! I only received 5 ultrasound pictures…