I chose Dr. Wang because of her excellent reviews and reputation. This was my first pregnancy, and I wanted to trust my doctor completely and believe she had my best interests and my baby's well-being at heart. Unfortunately, that was not my experience.
I'm sharing this not to speak badly about anyone but to help other first-time moms who might be feeling the same doubts I ignored. My goal is to give others information I wish I had. My baby is now healthy and thriving, and I'm so grateful for that, but the entire experience left me traumatized and afraid to go through pregnancy again.
From the start, there were warning signs I should have paid attention to. Every appointment involved waiting four or more hours past the scheduled time, which showed how overbooked the practice was. At my 20-week anatomy scan, the sonographer mentioned seeing something on the baby's brain. That comment caused me immense anxiety, and I later learned it was unprofessional for a sonographer to share findings before a doctor reviewed them. When I asked to meet with Dr. Wang to discuss the results, she brushed me off and treated me like I was overreacting. That day I waited four hours to see her.
Throughout my pregnancy, Dr. Wang strongly pushed for a C-section. She said things like "in China everyone with money chooses C-sections" and told me recovery would be much faster than with a vaginal birth. As a first-time mom, I trusted her advice, not realizing how serious the surgery and recovery would be. Looking back, I wish I had received balanced, evidence-based information rather than pressure.
I also experienced severe nausea, exhaustion, and other symptoms that were dismissed. When I voiced concern, she told me, "this is as good as it's going to get." I had to advocate for myself to get additional lab work, request a different nausea medication, and push for the 4-hour gestational diabetes test when the 1-hour one came back abnormal. My due date was April 20, yet she scheduled my C-section for April 5. I now know that was early and likely unnecessary.
After the scheduled C-section, I fainted when my catheter was removed due to blood loss. My hemoglobin levels dropped dangerously low, and I later realized I had been hemorrhaging. Dr. Wang and her nurse practitioner saw me once the next day, barely acknowledged what had happened, and discharged me less than 48 hours after surgery.
Two days after returning home, I developed severe swelling and bruising across my abdomen. I had to leave my newborn and go back to the office, where Dr. Wang told me I had a "mango-sized" hematoma and recommended another surgery that same week under anesthesia. She said if I didn't do it, I might "look pregnant for months." She was cold and dismissive when I told her I was terrified, and when I begged her through the patient portal to call me afterward, she refused. Her nurse practitioner finally called me 12 hours later, but Dr. Wang never did.
I sought two other medical opinions, and both doctors advised that only a general surgeon should perform that type of procedure, not an OB. I followed their advice and had the surgery safely about a month later. I truly don't know what might have happened if I hadn't trusted my instincts. Dr. Wang blamed the hematoma on the postpartum nurses pressing on my abdomen, which other doctors later said was not realistic.
Lastly, Dr. Wang performed my son's circumcision in the hospital. Once it healed, our pediatrician noticed something was wrong and referred us to a specialist. It turned out my son had hypospadias, a condition that should have been identified before a circumcision. Because it wasn't, he now has to undergo surgery for both the hypospadias and a circumcision revision.
I am thankful every day that my baby is healthy. But this entire experience was traumatic, and I hope sharing it helps another parent avoid what I went through. If you ever feel dismissed, pressured, or ignored by your provider, please trust your instincts and seek a second opinion. You deserve care that is compassionate, ethical, and safe. read more
