Hello! I need to find an OB/GYN in Atlanta with experience in high risk/jpouch women. I have takedown in late-April and need to start a relationship with a doctor soon after. I am hoping to try and get pregnant with our first sometime in mid 2012. Any suggestions on a doctor? If not, any suggestions on questions to ask during a first visit?

I don't have a suggestion but I am now wondering if I need a high risk OB/GYN? I am trying to get pregnant right now and saw a new OG/GYN last week. He never mentioned that I should see a high risk Dr. I was planning to continue seeing him if I get pregnant

Hi, I just had a c/section with my 2nd baby in ATL. I went to Atlanta Gynecology and Obstetrics in Decatur, GA. Their number is 4-299-9724. They can handle high risk cases and they will probably refer you to a high risk ob, too, for their input. I liked all the doctors in the practice although I particularly recommend Dr. Entrekin. They don't have a ton of patients with our j-pouch background, but they do have some and are willing to get help and input from other docs when needed. For instance, they arranged for a colo-rectal surgeon to be present during the c/section "just in case." As it turned out, there was absolutely no need for the colorectal surgeon. If you like your surgeon who did the j-pouch, you could ask them for a referral.

Good luck and congrats on the take-down!

Being a j-poucher does not necessarily mean you will have a high risk pregnancy. My OB/GYN did not have any experience with j-pouches, and he was fabulous. My colon-rectal surgeon sent my OB/GYN my medical records and assured him that my pregancy would be just as normal as any others, with only one exception--to schedule a c-section delivery. And my colon-rectal surgeon was right, I had no issues whatsoever regarding the j-pouch throughout my entire pregnancy or delivery. My healthy 8lb. 12oz. boy was born via c-section without any complications. I was slightly underweight at the beginning of my pregnancy, so my OB/GYN recommended that I try to gain a total of 40lbs throughout the pregnancy, and I had no trouble gaining the weight. Best of luck to you!

This is true. I have been an OB?GYN nurse with a j pouch of my own for many years. A competent Dr. should be fine. No need to see a high risk. You just need to make sure both of your docs are on the same page with each other. It should only require a c section. Good luck. Call the SEGO group through Northside and ask if one of their docs delivers, they are fabulous!

Since I was my OB groups first j-pouch patient, they referred me to the high risk group. I only went once and they told me they didn't need to see me anymore. We just talked about our birth plan, which we all agreed on. My normal OB group is doing fine taking care of me now.

Hi! I agree with all the other moms. No need for a high risk group just for the sake of the j-pouch. I was with a regular OB practice in NJ for my first and now I'm with another regular group in MD (neither have previous j-pouchers). My colon rectal surgeon and GI manage all my j-pouch care (I think I saw my surgeon more than my OB with my 1st because of chronic stricture and fistula and pouchitis issues) and then the OB strictly cares for the pregnancy. My surgeon just wrote a letter to the OB saying I had to have a c-section, no labor. And I also had a stand in general surgeon during the c-section and 2 OBs...and the c-section was totally routine the first time. I hope for the same experience with my second due in June. The uterus is so far in front of all your organs and that j-pouch is tucked so far behind, that that isn't the issue.

Best wishes! Lots of prayer and lots of fun in that process Babies truly are a miracle and a blessing from the Lord!

This is all great information! Thank you!

I am having the takedown April 27th, so excited. It's been a long road and I'm still dealing with alot of dehydration and low BP issues. I have a low ejection fraction heart rate too. It is nice to know we can all have normal pregnancies with the c-section. What a maze of scars I will have! I had my surgeries at DeKalb Medical and they have a nice, new Women's Center but I wasn't that impressed with the main hospital. Is Northside known for a good Women's Center? What about Dekalb? The facility is so nice but are the nurses friendly and competent?

I had my c/s at Dekalb Med Center in the new Women's center. I have heard that Northside is the place to have a baby, but I would confidently recommend Dekalb. The maternity area is in the new Women's center. The facilities and nurses were great. Since you had your j-pouch surgery there, it might be a reason to have your baby at the same hospital - that way, if a question arises (which it won't) your colorectal surgeon will be readily available.

BTW, I had a lot of problems with dehydration and low BP after my j-pouch, too. I have learned to drink a lot of water and gatorade. For me, sometimes, water wasn't enough so I started to drink gatorade too. When I was pregnant, I would have to drink even more gatorade and water to maintain a good BP.

Congrats on the takedown - I am sure all went well!