Going Natural

Hi C.!

You are one smart cookie for looking into this before moving here! I'm a midwife and a certified doula and have worked in Central Arkansas in various hospital settings and with many different doctors for over 6 years. We honestly only have a handful of doctors who really support and understand "normal",natural birth. The very best hospital to deliver at is Baptist in Little Rock. Their nurses are hands down the nicest and most supportive of natural birth and a few of them are even doulas themselves! There are only two clinics that I recommend to women because I have seen them in action time and again giving excellent care and maintaining low c-section rates. These are anyone from Cornerstone Clinic (Dr. Brenniman, Dr. Singleton, or Dr. Simmons). The other clinic is Arkansas Women's Center (Dr. Garner (my fave from this clinic), Dr. Wyatt and Dr. Huthison). Please feel free to give me a call anytime if you would like to talk more in-depth about your options in this area. Good luck!

K.

Hi C.,

Welcome to The Rock!! Haha! My husband and I are stationed here and our daughter is 6 months old. I am happy to tell you that you have great options for on OB to deliver your baby. Fortunately for us, they do not have the capability on base to deliver babies, so you will get a referral for a civilian Dr. I had Dr Chang, at Baptist Health North Little Rock, for my Dr. He has delivered many military babies. When we got here we asked around and everyone told us to go to him. I personally loved him and the labor delivery staff at Baptist. As a first time mom I was really scared, but they really put me at ease even when I started having a few complications. I chose to have an epidural, so I'm not sure if they would be pushy about that or not. I can't imagine that they would, but it might be something you ask about before you go see him.

I have a friend who's Dr was at St. Vincent in Jacksonville. She really liked going there, but I'm not sure his name. I could find out for you. Whatever you do, DO NOT go to Rebsamen. I have heard bad things about there.

Now for the OB you will have after you deliver, you will have to go on base for that. I was very upset about that, I wanted to go see the Dr that delivered my baby and already knew my history, but I wasn't allowed. I saw Mgr. Bingham on base, she was very nice. Right now we are stuck to the Pediatrician on base too.

Good Luck!

How far along are you? Just to give you a head's up, you will probably have a miserable summer. I was big last summer and it was SOOOOOO hot. It's already starting to get hot here.

I am active duty also and I had a baby in July. Everybody recommended me to Dr. Jimmy Chang and I really like him. My birth experience was wonderful, no one pestered me about an epidural although I pestered them because I wanted one. Baptist Health (springhill) in North Little Rock is where I delivered. I do not recommend the Dr's at Horizons for women in Jacksonville (couple blocks from base) and I don't recomend North Metro Hospital (couple blocks from base). My 5 year old was born in Alaska and my experience here was like being at a spa!! If you have any other questions please feel free to contact me.

I've not had a child yet (newly married and husband and I have decided to wait two years), but I have an awesome gynocologist who is and OB/Gyn, Dr. Sharon Keith. The office phone number is ###-###-#### and it is also a fertility clinic, so don't let this throw you. She moved to this practice so that she could provide more resources and services to her patients. I've been a patient of hers since 1996 and would not think of changing and one time paid for the entire visit when the clinic she was at didn't take the insurance I had. She is very nice, attentive and really listens. The only down side is that her office is on the opposite side of LR from the base, so you would have a 30-45 minute drive to her office.

C., I have two children (son, 13 and a daughter, almost 5). I deliver both of them in Jacksonville, Arkansas, where the Little Rock Air Force Base is located. The doctors at Horizon's for Women are WONDERFUL!!!!!!!!! Unfortunately, my doctor, Dr. Taylor, is retiring soon and I don't think he's taking on any new maternity patients but if he is, I would highly recommend him. He is not epidural happy and in fact I delivered both of my babies naturally. Dr. Grant is another highly recommended doctor there!!!! My sister is an OB nurse at the hospital where you would deliver if one of these doctors treats you and I have heard nothing but good things about the Women's Health unit of that hospital (and not just from my own experiences!!).

Good luck on your move and in finding an OB doctor! You should start calling now because they, especially Dr. Grant, stay booked up. Their phone number is ###-###-####.