I was the first to review here in 2013 and then did the BRCA test, was positive for a deleterious…read moremutation, and was referred to a specialist and stopped coming here shortly thereafter.
Last year, I became pregnant and came back for my obstetric care. I'm over 35 so there was a lot of testing, blood tests, ultrasounds, and referrals to EVMS for special screenings but they handled it all with care and made it fairly easy.
I've seen most of the physicians here, as a group, they prefer to rotate you around to everyone so that you hopefully have seen all the doctors who may be on call when you go into labor.
Still, you will likely click with one and try to stick with that one if you can. My original doctor, Fontanares, was wonderful, but retired from deliveries at around my 4th month and passed me on to Dr. Sarah Murphy who she said she knew I would love. She was right. I saw her for the remainder and is the Dr. who ultimately delivered my baby girl at Sentara Leigh.
I also liked Dr. Connor and Dr. Arbogast but really clicked with Dr. Murphy who is younger, recently had a baby herself, and is very healthy and active. We bonded over both being runners while we were pregnant and staying active late into the third trimester.
Dr. Murphy is a D.O. instead of an M.D. If you're like me, you don't know the difference. This means she is a medical doctor with similar practice and education as an M.D. but is doctor of Osteopathic Medicine - meaning the main difference is a more holistic mind/body overall approach to care of patients instead of the M.D. more treat the illness type of approach. Ok, sign me right up! That's exactly what I wanted for my pregnancy/delivery experience and is just what I received.
I 100% had the delivery that I wanted. I wanted to remain active, wear a wireless heart monitor for the baby, walk around, wait to get the epidural and stay informed and make choices the entire way. We worked on a plan for induction and scheduled it for a day she was on call. Luckily, my induction/labor only lasted 12 hours and I delivered at 3:49am when her shift was ending at around 8am! We pulled it off. I feel grateful to have had her as my physician for perhaps the biggest medical event of any woman's life - she was a real gem who treated me with respect and as a partner in this event. She listened to me, made sure I was heard, took the time to answer all questions, is very personable and down to earth, everything I wanted. I've heard so many horror stories that I wanted to share a very positive birth experience and positive experience with this practice!
I'm sad that I will likely not see her again as I see an oncologist for BRCA/Cancer screening but, if I am released, I will come back!