9th OB Appointment (35w2d)

I had my 35 week check-up today and first internal cervix check with Dr. Marcus Penn (the final, yet senior OB in the practice, who I had yet to meet). I liked him - he was very friendly, seemed to have a good sense of humor, and took a good amount of time to answer my questions. I gained FOUR pounds since my last appointment on May 6th! However, all is well - my cervix is closed and Dr. Penn could tell that Murtle's head was down! I figured she was positioned feet down based on where I was feeling the majority of her movements (in my lower regions as opposed to up near my ribcage). But darn it - wouldn't you know that Dr. Penn was about to also do the Group B Strep test until I told him that I already tested positive for it and that he had already told me that he was going to put me on anti-biotics at delivery time. I am really not a fan of these large group practices anymore.

Also, my husband and I got to meet with our potential new pediatrician today, Dr. Andre Gvozden of Gvozden Pediatrics. Dr. Gvozden and his staff seemed very nice and friendly and my husband and I liked that the practice consists of just him (as the pediatrician), his wife Cathy (as the pediatric nurse practitioner) and another pediatric nurse practitioner. He also has great credentials (been in practice for over 20 years; training was at the Children's Hospital National Medical Center, Johns Hopkins Hospital and Sinai Hospital; has additional expertise in dermatology and attention disorders; is currently on staff at Anne Arundel Medical Center and Johns Hopkins Hospital; and is an associate professor of pediatrics at the University of Maryland).

We also liked that he does not take transfer patients - his new patients consist of the newborns he meets when they are at the hospital and then he follows their health throughout their youth.

The only issue we may have to consider is that he is very pro vaccination, which is something I was still a bit on the fence about. I am not opposed to vaccines, just the schedule and amount. However, Dr. Gvozden did a good job of allaying our concerns about the alleged vaccine - autism link. We will probably end up going with his practice because I do feel as though he looks out for the best interests of all of his patients and that we can trust him to provide good, quality care.