Ob-Gyn North

I love coming here especially when everyone makes you feel so welcome regardless of appointment reasons. The wait times a bit much, but so far I have no complaints.

First off I have to say I LOVE this office! I had started off logging into my Unilocal account to just leave a simple positive review and noticed all these negative reviews being left. I feel as if I need to defend this practice now AS WELL as leaving the 5 star review they DESERVE! I had (past tense thank god) worked in the healthcare field and I do not envy the staff of a practice this large.
We as patients tend to think just because we have an insurance policy that it covers everything — NOT SO! It is NOT the responsibility of the practice to know OUR insurance policy, IT IS OUR OWN! Someone’s review stated «check your billing» OMG, COME ON! Do billing errors get made on occasion? Probably, because a human is inputting and humans make mistakes! Someone also rambled on about anesthesia charges — LET ME CLARIFY because in my initial intended review I was going to rave about this service. 2.5 weeks ago Dr Sebestyen performed the Endometrial Ablation on me. When scheduling the procedure I was OFFERED choices! I could have had the procedure done in the hospital and incur all the hospital fees OR they could have an anesthesia company come to the office. The anesthesia company that comes to the office does not accept insurance (don’t get mad at the office for that, thank our president and his affordability health care act) BUT the company charge was less then $ 500. My cost at a hospital or surgery center would have been 3x that. Plus I had NO WAIT like in a surgery center AND call me crazy but $ 495 is a pretty low fee for a company to drive to my location and administer general anesthesia.
I have to apologize because this review turned out to be nothing that I had originally intended. I want to just address all the other ridiculousness that I read on here but I will not… all you really need to know is Dr Sebestyen, Siobhan Kubesh (nurse practitioner) and Jamie (the office manager) ARE BY FAR THE BEST! I trust them explicitly and I would 100% recommend them or any other staff member of this office!

I had an amazing birthing experience here with Siobhan Kubesh at the Natural Beginning Birthing Center. I was able to birth naturally and it took as long as it was going to naturally take. I am utterly thankful that I was able to have a wonderful first birthing experience here and not in a hospital setting. I also truly love all of the drs and midwives here. I have never had a problem with any of them.
Except for one-​Dr. Mary Mirto. She is very experienced and I am sure a wonderful dr. What she lacks is bedside manner. I do not appreciate being spoken to like I am a 5 year old. I appreciate people like Dr. Maansi Piparia, who listen to what I am saying, truly seems to HEAR it, and has a conversation WITH me, instead of speaking AT me. I appreciate someone who is not abrasive and condescending, which unfortunately, Dr. Mirto was. I am sure I am more sensitive than the usual patient, but my experience did really bother me. But I really, really do love this practice! I just will request not to see Dr. Mirto again.

If you are high risk so not come here. Doctors are very busy but the midwives are great. I saw a couple of them and would actually ask great questions. Came here wanting a natural birth but found out I was having twins. Wish I would have went somewhere else. Wait times are horrible. But my twins are healthy and that is what was important.

OB-​GYN North has an natural child birth facility attached to it called «Natural Beginning Birth Center». This place is about as «natural» as «natural flavorings». It’s the Herbal Essences of natural prenatal care.
For moms to be in the Austin area, that truly want a natural birth, as well as natural prenatal care, this review is for you. I feel extremely misled with this practice and after months of feeling bullied, left the practice this week at 31 weeks pregnant.
My first appointment should have raised big red flags. Even if you are choosing the birth center, you are still set to see regular doctors and nurses. The first doctor I met with was pushing for me to have a flu shot, DURING FLU season, while pregnant. When I informed her that I hadn’t had a flu shot in my entire adult life, she then did scare tactics that I could go into pre-​term labor if I had the flu, etc. When I was pregnant with my daughter in 2003, they would have never suggested a flu shot. I’ve also never had the flu, mind you. This appointment paved the course of every other appointment experience. Every appointment I defended my natural beliefs to be pressured into things that I wasn’t comfortable with, even after requesting to see only midwives.
The nurses asked me relentlessly about flu shots, about the DtaP vaccine, about the glucola drink (I tested my blood sugar 4x day for 7 days instead of drinking that orange crap) and about antibiotics for asymptomatic bacteriuria. Each time they would start the conversation as if I was ok with that procedure or on a medication. I felt like a broken record every time I went in to say, «No, I’m not doing that.» I finally asked the nurse if she ever bothered looking at my patient file before seeing me, because she was constantly ignorant to my stance.
They never talked to me about nutrition, I gave them an extensive list of the supplements and herbs I was taking, it never got uploaded into my patient file. They would glance at it for a second and put it down. I also had requested a 25-​hydroxy vitamin D test to make sure I was having adequate vitamin D and they looked like they had never ordered that blood test for a patient before.
My health is supreme, I’ve got a 52ng/​mL for vitamin D. I’ve gained a total of 25lbs at 31 weeks and being 5’11, perfect blood pressure and blood work. I have no edema or pregnancy pains/​frustrations/​etc. This week I was informed that if I refused to take an antibiotic for my asymptomatic bacteriuria (e. coli in urine with no symptoms) that I would be refused for the birthing center. I provided about 8 pub-​med medical articles showing how the efficacy of antibiotics do not outweigh the risks associated with antibiotics for this diagnosis. They once again, picked up the papers for a solid second, and put them down. I informed them that I hadn’t been on antibiotics in over 10 years, that I had no idea how my body would react… they didn’t care. I spoke of my concern that if I did take the antibiotic, I just had a few weeks until my group B strep test to rebuild my flora… they didn’t care. If I don’t take the antibiotic, me, an incredibly healthy pregnant woman, could do not deliver in the birthing center.
BTW, if you fail your group B strep test at 36 weeks with this practice, they don’t allow you to retake it. You must deliver your baby while on antibiotics.
The universe has told me this is not where I’m supposed to birth my son. The midwives have good hearts, but chose to work for a practice that is under St. David’s umbrella. It’s like they have an invisible muzzle.
If you are the kind of gal that believes in antibiotics for things that have no symptoms, that believe in getting in your annual flu shot and see logic in getting a DtaP vaccine while pregnant, this is the place for you. You can get all of your western medical care and maybe you’ll get approved for the birthing center to deliver your baby. If you don’t fall within these belief systems, save yourself.
I won’t even BEGIN with the billing nightmare, because I just don’t need the stress right now. It’s truly unorganized and absurd.

5.0 /​5
I LOVE this practice! They literally saved my life. I had prenatal depression (quite severe). My previous OB ignored my and my husbands concerns until I was in bad shape. (Not eating, unable to leave the bed, etc). It being my first pregnancy I didn’t know I had options.
I searched online for help and an angle told me about OBGYN north. At my first appointment I was in tears explaining my symptoms and the midwife (who I had never met) actually hugged me, listened to me, helped me get a professional care team together.
It didn’t stop there once we overcame the depression obstacle their team worked tirelessly to make every aspect of my pregnancy/​delivery as healthy and comfortable as possible.
They are soo nice! From the front desk to the billing and everyone in between they really care. The midwives, nurses, and OBs actually like their jobs and care about your desires for care and delivery.
I wanted an all natural, no interventions birth. We studied hypnobirthing and had a great doula. The practice supported every choice on my birth plan. I labored in the hospital for four days unmedicated and fully supported by the obgyn north team. They work on call shifts so while they’d love to be the ones to bring your baby into the world there is no rush if baby needs more time another midwife and OB will be on the next shift to help. Also, you meet them all during your prenatal care and they share the same women/​baby centered care philosophy so it’s more like a sisterhood than a practice. My story didn’t go as planned in one of their very rare c-​sections. It was truly medically necessary and I’m so thankful that we exhausted every option to have my son naturally before exploring surgery.
I can close by saying I love this practice so much I’m currently planning my delivery VBAC with them for my second son due in June. If you are not listened to, in need of help, or just want a peaceful birth experience you need to be with OBGYN north!

I have nothing but good things to say about this practice! The practice that I came from prior to transferring to obgyn north claimed to be very nurturing, to have a naturalistic way of doing things and to have a low c section rate. Unfortunately, the doctor from that practice was awesome throughout my prenatal care and then did a 180 and was absolutely awful when it came time for my labor and delivery (she was belittling, mean, rushed and she made me cry several times). Obgyn North was actually the practice that that doctor had come from prior to beginning her own. Needless to say, that fact really worried me about OBGYN North. I was still wanting a more naturalistic experience with this pregnancy and OBGYN North was the only other practice in the area that was known for this and my doula had said that they were awesome/​I should switch to them for my next birth. I met with everyone from OBGYN North at one of their meet and greets and when everything went well, I ultimately decided to bring my care to them. I am so glad that I did. Everyone seems so genuine and I only wish that I had begun my care here prior to my last pregnancy. I have not had any long waits (maybe 20 minutes on average) and I have never felt rushed. Billing has made a mistake, but in fairness, I have an HCA that automatically pays them and they are not used to that (it seems that an HCA directly paying out with no credit card is a rarity and therefore most providers have limited experience with this). The mistake was fixed and in the grand scheme of things, it is not what is most important to me. If you’re looking for an obstetrician/​midwife group of caring women with a more naturalistic approach, I would say that you have found it here.

I always see Dr. Sebestyen on «Top Docs» lists, and for the life of me I can’t figure out why. She is very nice and clearly takes her job seriously, I like her, but I’ve had many issues with the care I received at her office.
First, her attention and passion seems very split between her care-​giving and the responsibilities of running the practice. More than once, I sat in the exam room while I could hear her doing admin type work down the hall – one time, not too long after they had moved offices, it was a logo design issue that kept me waiting. If an obgyn runs late habitually bc they are delivering babies or dealing with emergencies, it’s one thing. I am totally understanding of that. Regularly late because they are focused on a lot of other things besides being a doctor, not so much.
And, much much more importantly, the one important procedure I had done by her (I only saw her for routine exams otherwise), which cost me $ 3,000, wasn’t done correctly. I had to have it redone by another doctor, for another $ 3,000, one month later. I also had postpone my IVF transfer as a result, which was a really big hassle, as our clinic is in another city and we had travel, work, and other arrangements already made.
During that procedure, I had a really weird experience with the anesthesia team, which is hired by OBGYN North. I won’t get into it here, but everyone I told about it was like, «Really? that actually happened??» Then, the itemized bill the weird anesthesia co sent me was like 10x what it should have been based on the chargemaster rate, what I have been charged elsewhere (I’ve had same procedure done in preparation for previous ivf cycles by other doctors), and what I was quoted from other places I researched. It didn’t cost me any extra since I had hit my deductible, but it seemed to me like they were committing some sort of insurance fraud by grossly inflating their charges. I read all my medical bills closely, I understand that med professionals charge insurance companies more than they do cash paying patients, but I’ve NEVER seen a bill so outrageously inaccurate. So, I reported them to my insurance AND wrote a letter about BOTH issues to the office manager and Dr. Sebestyen. I never heard anything from either one of them. No «I’m sorry that happened to you,» or «Wow, that sounds really unprofessional,» about my experience or «We will look into their billing.» Nothing.
Their failure to contact me and the inadequate job that was done in the procedure by Dr. S (I did not mention the failure in my letter and never saw her again, so, to be fair, she did not have a chance to make that right, as if I’d let that team put me under again to fix it) was more than enough reason for me to leave the practice. One would assume that a Doctor, and especially a supposed «Top Doc,» would take the time to respond or have a staff member respond if a patient cared about something enough to write a lengthy letter about it.
Two other quibbles… Their billing is a mess, just like lots of other people on here have already said. I just got a bill for something in 2014, that’s TWO YEARS OLD, that I have already paid. Seriously. Geez. Plus, looking at the old bill I was reminded that an item mysteriously went up in price from one statement to the next. They changed it back when I pointed it out, but come on. Who has the time to read every line of every medical bill they get. Unfortunately, if you are a patient here, that’s part of the bargain I guess. IF YOU GO HERE, KEEP METICULOUS TRACK OF WHAT YOU’VE PAID AND INSPECT EVERY BILL.
Lastly, the nurses I spoke with anytime i called with questions or concerns were often of the «the world operates in black or white not grey» variety typified by postal employees and the like, which is SO frustrating. You just want to scream, «I am a human. This is not a factory. Have some flexibility.» But the practice is so busy and they talk to so many patients, their answers often unfortunately felt stock and rigid, like their goal was to move their pile, not to actually take the time/​effort to help you if it meant going out of their way. More than once I hung up feeling like our interests were just not aligned. Maybe they are just overloaded. If so, I feel bad for them.
Anyway, I left the practice, and as nice and friendly as Dr. S is, I wouldn’t recommend her to a friend for anything beyond routine exams. And her office certainly wouldn’t make my personal top doctor expereince list.

I had a wonderful birth experience here for my second son. Everyone is very kind and welcoming. They take good care of you and your baby. I delivered at the birth center, and it was a truly amazing experience. Thank you!

I received obgyn services from OBGYN North for the first six months of my pregnancy. I would give them zero stars if I could. Not only was their service a huge disappointment, but they refuse to refund me the fee I paid them when I switched providers.
I paid them a «global fee» of over $ 2,000 to cover all of my doctor’s appointments, delivery, and post-​partum visits. I had a $ 1,000 deductible through my insurance, so I paid $ 1,000 of this fee out of pocket, while my insurance covered the rest. I later warned by my insurance company that these «global fees» are always a bad idea because you are paying for services not yet rendered. The policy at OBGYN North is to require payment of the global fee in full before the 6^th month of pregnancy.
After five months of appointments I was not satisfied with the service (I always saw a different doctor/​midwife; most of whom were unpleasant, and one midwife actually snapped at my husband!), so I switched to another provider.
My last appointment with OBGYN North was in June 2015. I notified OBGYN North that I would no longer be using their services, and asked to have the final paperwork submitted to my insurance company and a refund for services that I had paid in the global fee. The billing department notified me that my refund would be in the amount of over $ 800, but it would take 2 – 3 months for them to process this refund. That was in July 2015.
I’ve been calling every two weeks or so since then to check on the status of my refund. There is always an excuse as to why the refund is not ready yet. By November 2015, they said they would be issuing me a refund check to be mailed out December 9. When I called on December 14, the billing department informed me that they actually couldn’t issue the refund check because they «couldn’t print checks out before Christmas.» Note that this is two full weeks before Christmas. I asked to be transferred to the clinic administrator and left her a message describing my situation, but have not heard a response.
It has been over 6 months since I received treatment at this facility. The clinic acknowledges they owe a refund. In the meantime I am unable to pay the provider’s fees who actually delivered my baby, and collections agencies are calling me.
I have notified the Better Business Bureau to resolve the issue. I’m also prepared to involve the courts if this refund is not issued soon.
Needless to say, the folks running this clinic are liars, crooks, and generally shady. Definitely wouldn’t recommend trusting them with something as important as bringing your child into this world. They blatantly and proudly ripped me off during what should have been a happy and exciting time in my life.

I have mixed feelings. I started my prenatal care here, it was ok. The nurses were great. Never met the doctor even though I had more than a few appointments. I ultimately decided to transfer my care to a different practice and have only had 1 appointment with the new place so far. Recently I was in a car accident and wanted to get an ultrasound to make sure everything was OK. Since it had only been about a month since I had seen OB/​GYN north, I thought I could make an appointment with them since they do ultrasounds in house. The office reported since I had not seen them in a month they would not do an ultrasound for me even though this was a special situation and I have only had one appointment elsewhere since my last at obgyn north. Apparently the safety of my baby is not a concern to them. How disappointing.

Can I give you no stars?! Absolutely worst doctors office ever! Beware! I have tried for 2 years, hoping this place was just going thru some issues, but no more! Several of my family members have gone to this OBGYN and we all come back with the same feeling of mistreatment and disgust. The doctors do not know medicine! I was on a serious drug for a few years that you cannot get pregnant while on, and the OBGYN said I could! The side of the pill bottle reads DO NOT TAKE IF PREGNANT, and OBGYN North says to ignore that warning! That was sadly the least of my concerns. I have had fellow friends be told that there wasn’t a place to breastfeed! That is inexcusable! If you call about a UTI it takes 4 days to get in just to pee in a cup to go for culture resulting in a 7 day wait to get antibiotics, multiple times!
The saddest part, we didn’t even realize just how badly this doctors office treats its patients until we all went to new OBGYN’s and it was a completely different world!
Waiting for 30 minutes past your appointment time isn’t normal?! Who would of known!!!

When my husband and I discovered the amazing news that I was finally pregnant, I knew that I would be going with OB/​GYN North. I had a personal connection to the office and wanted really good care. At first, I wasn’t sure about the team based approach. I wasn’t sure about the wait. But we made our first appointment and just went for it. And I’m so glad that I did because if I hadn’t, I would have missed out on the opportunity to meet and find some of the most special people that I will ever meet.
Each doctor was equally important in the care and delivery of my sweet baby. Dr. Schiemenz told me the honest truth, even though sometimes I didn’t want to hear it. Dr. Miller and Dr. Piparia calmly reassured me and held my hand when I was scared and anxious and in the hospital yet again for monitoring. And Dr. Sebestyn… sometimes there just aren’t any words. She delivered my baby. Through all the complications. And hormones. She was so amazing. And all of them were right there again as we struggled through a NICU stay and more complications after delivery. Even their on-​call partner, Dr. Schmitz put my safety first and made me take care of myself when I could only focus on my baby. I wish I had better words to be able to express the gratitude that my husband and I have for her and her team.
I would also be remiss to forget to mention the amazing medical assistants, nurses, midwives, and my favorite sonographer who walked that journey with me too. This group isn’t just a medical office for me. They’re my dear friends for life.
No medical office will be perfect. And there will always be a day when you leave unsatisfied with something. But at the end of the road, when you feel gratitude and confidence in your caregiver, the other stuff doesn’t seem to matter much anymore. When we’re ready again, we will have absolutely no hesitation about who will help us grow our family: Dr. Sebestyn and the OB/​GYN North team.

Time and again. Countless. These glorious women prove themselves to be consistent and caring for their patients. I am always disappointed when I witness the differing levels of care within the obstetric community. Yet, when I am hired to help a family that has chosen to work with OBGYN North, I know that this family will get the utmost care. The doctors and midwives will sit by their side and listen to their story, share their thoughts, help process decisions and support a mother/​family in their birth goals. They include me, the doula, into the conversation. They sit bedside and create a bond with their clients. They aren’t just here to catch a baby and run out the door. They are open, honest and do not put up a front to maintain a client base… but they are willing to lay all the cards on the table to gain your trust.
This is not only a physical journey but an emotional one as well that should be nurtured. This is the place to find outstanding medical care and a support network. Every doctor, Every midwife.
Consistent care to lead you through your transformation to parenthood.

I delivered all three of my babies with the doctors and midwives at OBGYN North, and it was a positive experience. With my first pregnancy, I switched to this practice (at 34 weeks!!) because I was looking for a more holistic experience with my labor and delivery. They worked with me, and they helped me come as close to my goals as was medically possible and appropriate.
They are now helping me with the care and maintenance of an ongoing medical condition, and I have found them to be attentive and conscientious. They are up-​to-​date on the research, and they offer flexible options. They have never shamed me or intimidated me into making different decisions than my husband and I are comfortable with – they are very supportive of my self-​advocating. (This is NOT the case with many practices.)
I cannot say enough good things about this practice! I am constantly recommending it to anyone who asks…

I really love Dr. Sebestyen. She has done so many things and has opened so many doors for the birth community in Austin, Texas. I honestly can’t thank her enough for all that she has done and for changing the attitudes of so many. I truly feel she believes in the power of women.
The practice is BUSY. Sometimes the administrative side of things isn’t as good as it should be (hence the one star deduction), but Dr. S is the warmest and has the best bedside manner of any doctor I have met. I loved my prenatal visits with her when I was pregnant with my first and I LOVE attending births with her as a doula. Austin is so lucky to have her.

I don’t normally write reviews, but I had such a horrible experience with this practice, I think it bears sharing.
At the outset, let me say that I never actually saw a doctor here. I was moving to Austin from San Francisco in the middle of my pregnancy, and a friend who is a doula in Austin recommended Dr. Sebestyen. I called Ob-​Gyn North, and they told me they needed to review my medical records before they could accept me as a patient, and that this shouldn’t take more than 2 weeks, but could possibly take up to 4. I thought 4 weeks sounded a little excessive, but figured it was ok, since I didn’t need to see a doctor more than every 4 weeks at that point.
That said, it ultimately took them SEVEN full weeks to schedule me for an appointment, and as they knew, all the while I had no medical care.
I checked back in at 1 week, and was told they had received and were reviewing my records, and would reach out to me soon to schedule an appointment. I checked in at 2 weeks, and they told me they, in fact, hadn’t received the records they needed, but would get them. Then, they told me they weren’t able to get them. I then made one phone call and got the records sent. I then continued to check in every week as to how long the doctors would take to review my records, and got no response to my polite but concerned emails.
Finally, around week 5, I called the office and spoke to someone (I wish I’d asked for her name), and she was truly horrible. I’m not an overly sensitive person and understand I’m not the only person in the world with needs. But when I explained that I was concerned because it had already been 5 weeks and I was overdue for a few tests and had questions about some of the symptoms I’d recently started experiencing, and just needed some understanding of how much longer their review process would take and whether I needed to call another doctor, she was entirely unconcerned. She said that she could not give me ANY information about how long it would take, that she would and could not do anything to try to move things along, and that they were «at the mercy of the doctors» in terms of the review process. No apologies or expression of concern or anything. Just, very simply, tough luck.
That afternoon, I called another ObGyn office in Austin (Women Partners in Health), and although they also needed to review my records (and, again, there were a few hiccups in getting those records), I ultimately had an appointment there in about two weeks — AND they apologized that it took so long, and were super supportive and communicative through the entire process. I was able to see my OB there BEFORE Ob-​Gyn North finally scheduled me an appointment, even though I reached out to Ob-​Gyn North 5 weeks before Women Partners in Health. I ultimately cancelled my appointment with Ob-​Gyn North.
I’ll just add one thing, from a legal perspective (I’m a lawyer). I understand that OBs feel the need to review records before taking on new patients to limit potential liability. But a review process doesn’t immunize a doctor from any and all liability for acting with total disregard for potential patients’ health. I believe a doctor can successfully be sued for absolute negligence in the patient screening process, if for instance, it results in the potential patient unreasonably being without medical care that would have detected a problem before it caused harm. I really hope this office takes that concern seriously (or perhaps just the Hippocratic oath), and gets its affairs in order.

I’ve been writing this review in my head for two months now. There’s so much that became clear to me AFTER my birth experience.
First off, I wish I would have really paid attention to the other reviews. I thought «well that person has X condition, and that won’t be me, so I don’t have to worry about anything like that.» My best advice to anyone reading is: picture everything going wrong, because you never know could happen, and then decide who you want taking care of you. I left my caring, attentive OBGYN for this practice because I wanted to deliver in their birthing center, and it ended up being a big mistake. The most special day of my life– delivering my first child– ended up being one of the most traumatic experiences had by both me and my husband.
Despite being health/​organic conscious, active, etc., I developed preeclampsia in my 3^rd trimester and had to deliver in the hospital.
I was sched for an induction at 37 wks on a Mon., and went to the hospital for a pre-​induction on Sun. The doctor on-​call was the one I felt least comfortable with, Dr. Piparia, but I thought nothing of it because Dr. Sebestyen was on-​call the next (induction) day. I arrived and my blood pressure was very high and my platelet count was getting pretty low – I was progressing to HELLP.
I had blood drawn the prior Thurs. (after I reminded them to do that because they’d forgotten on Tues.), and my results came in on Fri. showing I was already on the decline. But, I never got a call from anyone.* They work as a group, and no one is ACCOUNTABLE. Maybe someone saw it and shrugged it off because I was already sched for my induction, but I believe if it was my former OB, she would have called me into the hospital sooner, or at least called me. Or maybe no one even saw the results?
–C-​section friendly:
After we learned about my platelet situation, Dr. Piparia came in and started a sympathetic sounding fear campaign pushing me towards a c-​section *within the hour.* She said «if you try the induction and it’s long and unsuccessful, and your platelet count lowers, you’ll have to be put under general anesthesia for an emergency c-​section and you won’t get to see your baby for 24 HOURS.» (Which sounded like a nightmare.) And chipperly «If you have a csection now, you can see the baby in an hour!»
I asked if there was anything I could do for my blood pressure… Her answer: «No, because it could mask the condition.» I don’t know why I accepted this. Panic, really. At that point it wouldn’t have mattered, I was at the hospital. My OB (who I returned to) said she’d have tried to control my bp and given me an induction, NOT surgery off the cuff.
If you read a review below, Dr Sebestyen told a patient who had HELLP and WANTED a c-​section, that she was GLAD she DIDN’T give it to her because that would’ve been EXTREMELY dangerous and she could have «bled out.» Even I know low platelets means difficulty clotting– awful for surgery – but again, panic mode prevented clear thought.
The American Pregnancy Association advises that a «Trial of Labor» should have been the first step in my exact situation. Meanwhile, Dr. Piparia was pushing surgery like it was the absolute best option and made it feel like time was running out on us that night.
My «bishop score» measuring delivery preparedness was already abt ³⁄₁₀ the prior Tues. I didn’t remember that in my stunned state, but Dr. Piparia REALLY should have checked me. Didn’t bother.
It could’ve waited. I could’ve been monitored & tried. It wasn’t yet emergent.
If I’d gone in the next day, my experience might have been different, since Dr Sebestyen was scheduled. Which leads me to:
–There’s a gap in practice based on the doctor who’s on-​call & NOT the widely advertised «natural birth-​friendly» philosophy supposedly shared by the whole practice.
SO, I possibly got an unnecessary c-​section. Precisely what people like me who go to OBGYN North are trying to avoid. Not only is it major surgery that will impact my future births, but studies suggest they could have implications for the baby’s health into his/​her 50s. (Google it and missing microbes.)
Dr Piparia didn’t even check on me afterwards (normally what happens after major surgery). She didn’t even call my hospital room. Weeks later I spoke to her on the phone after I called in.
I AM grateful we’re all ok. And I must add: the nursing staff and sonographer were great, and *I did like the other doctors and especially the midwife I met.* But everyone deserves to feel good about their choices when it involves something so significant. I could’ve dealt with a c-​section if it made sense, not because of fear tactics, lax organization, or because it was the easiest/​best for the Dr on call.
In the end it was my choice, but I felt poorly and unevenly advised.

Regarding the response from Dr. Sebestyen: Jamie Cousins does not seem to exist. Her voicemail has been full for weeks, and the messages I left with office staff, after explaining her voicemail was full, have never received a response.
Thumbs down.

I really had high hopes for this practice seeing as, ya know, they were going to birth my kid. But it was a nightmare from beginning to end.
After the initial appointment they ran my benefits and do an explanation of costs with you and have you sign something that appears to be a contract (or contract like) meaning all their services will cost X. It’s not cheap but that’s my sucky insurance’s fault not theirs.
Weeks go by and turns out I had a somewhat high risk pregnancy that required multiple ultrasounds and a scheduled c-​section. So after 7 months of ultra-​sounds they smack me with a bill for all of them, despite the fact their initial quote said «ultrasounds= $ 0». Their response was that «your insurance changed». Nope, didn’t. Same insurance. «Well when we called the first time they said it was covered but when we called now, it’s not». Information that would have been useful 7 months ago. Lots of arguing with their billing department and my insurance and a lot of annoyance at 8 months pregnant. Cause that’s what you want to be dealing with, right? Bait and switch is awesome.
There were small things here and there, like they forgot to give me my shots when they were supposed to. A mid-​wife called me 4 days before my monthly appointment to ask me if I had seen a fetal cardiologist due to the abnormality they found. Excuse me? What abnormality? The doctor didn’t mention I needed to see a specialist FOUR WEEKS AGO. I know I’ve got pregnancy brain here but I’d have remembered that. So they sent me over to the specialist before my check up. The doctor checked my file, was confused, didn’t understand why I was there, and ran a full scan. No abnormalities. Freaking me the HELL OUT for no reason.
We set the date for my C-​Section, told my employer. Got everything lined up. I realized I didn’t have a time during the day so I asked during one of my last appointments. No one bothered to actually schedule it. It was in the notes that my date was set for X, but NO ONE DID IT AND THE DATE WAS BOOKED. Their response was, «the hospital can do this a week prior or a week after.» I’m sorry? I don’t want a premie because you screwed up and YOU TOLD ME IF I GO INTO LABOR WE BOTH DIE, SO F YOU IF YOU THINK I AM WAITING ANOTHER WEEK. After lots and lots of yelling and panic and meltdowns they got me back in on the right date.
The highlight though, the doctor FORGOT to show up to my scheduled mandatory c-​section. Ya know, the one I have to have because they said I could die. Yeah that one. So I’m all checked in (up at 4 am, checked in at 5 for a 7 am surgery) and they’re about to wheel me over to the OR and the nurse is like «I haven’t seen your doctor today, I should probably see where she is before we give you the spinal tap». Why yes you should. No answer, no answer. They call all the other doctors to see if someone would be willing to come operate, no dice. Finally Dr Sebestyn calls in and says she doesn’t do these things before 9 am and she’ll get there when she gets there. Eventually she shows up, and I was so mad I really wanted to lose my crap, but it’s pretty stupid to cuss out the person who is about to cut you open so I bit my tongue and just got on with it. The whole time I was pretty sure she was going to kill me, if you can’t show up for your appointments how can you be trusted to slice a person open and put them back together???
But the surgery was fine and the hospital staff at St David’s was top notch. Did you know a doctor is supposed to check on you daily? Yeah, OBGYN North forgot. Twice. The nurses had to hunt them down, one day she didn’t show up until 9pm. Good thing I’m not in here dying or anything!
Now I have a happy, healthy baby girl. And after all this fun I’m pretty sure she’ll be the last, so I got an IUD. Which they had to special order. And it arrived. And they forgot to call me, it just sat in a fed ex box for a month in the back room. I had to call and ask about it and they had to find it. SERIOUSLY???
If you expect pregnancy and birth to be a sweet, magical time for you and hope to be surrounded by caring, responsible and compassionate people this is SO not the practice for you. If you want to be treated like a number and left completely 100% on your own though the entire ordeal, then then is the place to be!