I first saw Dr. Fein after receiving confirmation of a viable pregnancy by my trusted Gynecologist (who had stopped practicing Obstetrics). The referrals I had been given were either fully booked for my due date or didn't take my particular insurance plan. I found Dr. Fein on my insurance web site & went to her without any information or recommendations. The first few appts were lackluster & I got the feeling that bedside manner was not Dr. Fein's strong suit, but did not consider looking for a new doctor at all. However, as my pregnancy progressed, my appts became more & more stressful as Dr. Fein became even less empathetic, more "lecturing," and even abrasive as she advised that we'd discussed things that we definitely had not. I thought it was all in my head & blamed myself for being too sensitive.
Until one day, when I was about 28 weeks along, I noticed a drastic drop in fetal movement. I worried all day without calling Dr. Fein because I'd developed some fear of her & hadn't even realized it. My husband told me "Don't ignore a potentially dangerous sign because your doctor is unapproachable. I'm sure if you call her she won't dismiss you." So I called around noon & left a fairly detailed message with the receptionist. Dr. Fein returned my call over 3 hours later & started the conversation by telling me she was extremely busy, "at the hospital, delivering 3 babies at the moment." My immediate reaction was to apologize, then I began to cry. I said that my intent was not to disturb her in any way but to make sure that my baby was okay. She backed off (only somewhat) and asked me some questions about how much movement I had felt. Perhaps she realized that I was worried for good reason because she then said & I quote "If you're really that worried about it, you can come to the hospital. I'm already here anyway." I immediately said that's what I would do & I went.
Once at the hospital, I was told she was busy (which I already knew) & I was treated by a very compassionate resident. I was shocked at the difference in how it felt to be treated by someone other than Dr. Fein, who did not chastise me for worrying about something. Everything seemed okay with the baby, following all the tests, however he was definitely less active than normal all day. The resident said it could've been related to the heat wave we were having or maybe nothing. She then went to get Dr. Fein to see me before being discharged but came back, saying Dr. Fein was still too busy. I was so relieved, since I never wanted to see her again at that point. What sealed my distaste for her was when I left the exam room, I saw her standing in the hallway, leaned against the wall, chatting with a colleague. She actually saw me see her and she DIVERTED HER EYES & turned her head away. I was so disgusted at her complete disregard for me or my unborn child, I immediately began a search for a doctor who would take a transfer patient, already 7 months along.
I had to go to one more appt with her in the interim of switching docs & I was terrified of what she would say about my previous over-concern that had so inconvenienced her. I insisted that my husband come with me for support (& hoping she would be more polite in his presence.) It must have worked as she was the most pleasant she had ever been and did not even mention the hospital episode only 2 weeks earlier. I was pleased to get in & get out without confrontation, but equally amazed that she would not even ask me about what had happened or how things had been since then. It was almost as if she had no idea who I was or about my recent hospital visit. I will never know if she was "acting nice" because my husband was there or if she was honestly so detached & unconcerned about her patient that it completely escaped her consciousness. Either way, I was the most displeased I've ever been with a doctor & could not run away fast enough.
I see some positive reviews for her on other web sites & am very skeptical because it sounds like these women are describing a totally different person than who I saw. Perhaps she just had something against me in particular...? read more