Welch Ob/Gyn

Doesn't Recommend

phil16

Joined 2 years ago

Don't see if you want any say about your delivery. My first impression with Dr Welch was that he was very professional. He seemed so personable, looked me in the eye, etc. His staff was also always very kind (perhaps they are the ones giving five stars...?). However, as my due date drew near things began to change. I was due Thanksgiving weekend and had been very clear about not wanting interventions that were not medically necessary. When he asked about an epidural I told him that I wasn't opposed to one per se, but I would like to see how things go first. I knew that having an epidural increases the chance of slowing down labor and needing pitocin. And that pitocin increases the risk of birth complications. At 36 weeks he told me I was 2 cm dilated, at 37 I was 3cm, and at 38 weeks he told me that because I was 4cm, I had no choice but to go directly across the street to the hospital and there was no time to go home. He used a medical term that I hadn't heard before - later I found out that it simply means that the baby's head is not staying engaged in the pelvis and is NOT a valid medical reason for an emergency induction. As I was walking out the door, I said "no pitocin, right?" Dr. Welch said "Oh, you're going to need pitocin, but don't worry, we'll go slow."

So I get to the hospital and they begin the pitocin drip. I work in healthcare, so of course I'm paying attention to how much/often the nurses are turning up the drip. After returning to work I looked up the drip rate and found that Dr. Welch used HIGH DOSE pitocin induction, not low dose as he implied.

After 4 hours of high dose pitocin, the nurse checked me and told me that I was 4cm. I now believe that I was never 4cm in his office, and that he lied to me in order to ensure that I delivered before the holiday. Anyways, a few hours later when Dr. Welch came to check on me, I was 7cm and he said that I HAD to have my water broken and he couldn't believe that I hadn't requested an epidural yet. I had been tolerating the contractions just fine, but since artificially breaking the water greatly speeds up labor, the hour between my water being broken and getting the epidural was sheer hell. Our bodies are designed to tolerate a slow increase in contractions, not a sudden shift into high gear. It turns out that it was all too fast for my LO, as his head became stuck in the sunny side up position. After a little pushing with the nurses, Dr. Welch came in and said that he would need to use suction. One contraction later, he pulled my son out, tearing me to shreds. After reading some of the other posts, I guess I should be grateful that I still had the epidural while he sewed me up, but I was still horrified that he stopped stitching to take a call from his wife on his personal cell.

The extensive tearing led to a very long painful recovery. My LO was very bruised as a result of the suction. The bruising led to jaundice and he required a bili blanket at home and daily heel pricks/blood tests for a week - not the best way to begin a recovery from childbirth.

At my follow up visit, I was placed in a room where I hadn't been before. I realized that I could hear just about everything that was said in the other exam rooms. I overheard Dr. Welch use the same reasoning to send another woman to be induced well before her due date and I heard another woman scream in pain as he placed an IUD.

If you want a doctor who will be very personable and you plan to see him once a year for pap smears, by all means, go see Dr. Welch. But if you are having a baby and you can think for yourself, Dr. Welch is not the doctor for you.

Recommends

emmabug

Joined 3 years ago

Best Doc I have Ever Seen. I have never had a bad experience with Dr. Welch. I followed him from his old practice and have had both my children with him. Since he is practices by himself, I really get his full attention and he always treats me like a person, not a number like some of the larger groups I have been with in the past. He is relaxed, compassionate, and always ready to answer my questions and needs. He spent as much time with me as I needed to make me comfortable with my deliveries and even when things were a little complicated with my first son, I felt I was in good hands. Nothing bad to say. I have recommended several of my friends to him and they have had the same experience. The office may be small, but it is inviting and it all feels personal. Like it should!!

Doesn't Recommend

Epeace

Joined 3 years ago

Dr.Evil..more like it. Oh...I am so glad I found these reviews... I was a patient of Dr.Welch at Blue Ridge OBGYN in 2003.

He delivered my first son, which he made a complete nightmare. He came very close to a lawsuit. If I had only taped 3 mins or more videotaping I would of caught the bedside manners he thinks a patient should receive. Let me just start by saying any ne who has had a baby knows that when your epidural wears off, you can feel everything. While Dr.Welch is stitching me .....(remember I can feel this) and I jumped everytime he sticked me, (close to 40 stiches) he then leaned up and told me" If you don't be still, I will leave you like this, or you can go to surgery". Because I was so small I tore inside and out. So I am crying, and upset and on so many drugs I did not react the way I should have under normal conditions. The nurses asked him multiple time if they could please give me another epidural for the paid....and he replied NO. He cut me so bad, and didn't care how he stiched me up at all. I then had to be put to sleep to be stichted up.Saw my new baby son for 5 mins, and didn't see him until 5 hours later. And really I was suppose to have a C-Section to begin with. All the other doctors in the practice told me, I was too small to pass a baby. Well Dr.Welch didn't suggest I have a C-section, he took upon hisself to say...no I was not having it vaginal, that I would deliver that day. So he induced me at my last visit, two weeks early of my due date. I was 4 cm at the time. After I delivered my son, I also started bleeding to death, and my legs were shaking, my body was completely pale. But overall he had the worst beside manners that I had ever seen. What a surprise it was at my 6 weeks follow up visit, that they told me he no longer worked there. When I signed in at my appointment for the follow up, all the staff knew exactly who I was, and they felt so sorry I was treated so hateful during labor. And Dr. Gunter told me don't worry honey you will never have to see Dr.Welch ever again. Dr. Welch caused me to have horrible post partum depression, because he made my experience so bad. He took the chance of braking my tailbone, or risking my childs life. If I had, the comments he made to me on tape now, he would not be practicing. I am so sorry, I haven't told you'll about him until now. I can only hope he never treats another women in labor the way he treated me. My suggestion to you'll, never let him deliver your babies. I just wish I could split his dick in half and tell him to just hold still , and not move while he is stichted up. He lost his job at BlueRidge OBGYN after he delivered my son.....go figure.

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wolfpackgal17

Joined 4 years ago

A Better OB/GYN? I Don't Think So!. I've been a patient of Dr. Welch's for 10 years and have yet to have a single negative experience. I really think some of the people who have left reviews just have an axe to grind for whatever reason - I mean really, waiting over an hour? Suggesting you get on Zoloft? I find that all very hard to believe. Every time I've gone for a visit over the past 10 years I haven't had to wait more than 15 minutes. I've always received my Pap results within 2 weeks. Dr. Welch and his staff have been nothing but considerate, knowledgeable, caring, and always professional. Every concern I've ever had he addressed it directly with facts and laid out all of the options. I actively investigate topics on sites like WebMd or Mayo Clinic prior to my visits and he is always in line with what I read. He has helped me with issues ranging from modifying my BCP to getting tested for the breast cancer genes. A friend of mine has had him deliver 2 of her babies and neither one was a C-section. I wouldn't trade Dr. Welch for any other OB/GYN and anticipate the day when he will help me deliver a baby too.

Recommends

PTBloom81209

Joined 4 years ago

Wonderful Doctor and Staff. I am reading these other reviews that state Dr. Welch wants everyone to have a c-section, and he isn't supportive when you have an opinion about your birth plan. This is CRAZY TALK!! Dr. Welch totally supported me in my wishes for a natural delivery, my baby was big and apparently my pelvis is small... I was not progressing in labor and I begged him for a c-section. He was the one that kept telling me that he didn't think I needed one and that I needed to give my body a chance. Finally when we were totally out of options I got my c-section. I assure you it was not his goal to cut me open. He is a wonderful doctor who truly wants what will work best for his patients. His staff is so sweet and I would recommend his practice everyone.

Doesn't Recommend

ladylucile

Joined 4 years ago

Enter at your own risk. I had been seeing Dr. Welch for two years. At first, I thought he was a fantastic doctor. He kept pushing me on birth control, even though I wasn't sexually active. He kept insisting that they would help my period. Meanwhile, I had history of cancer (and infertility) in my family DUE to birth control and I clearly marked it on my medical history. I would wait in the waiting room for over an hour to see him. Also, he took 3 MONTHS to give me my test results for my pap smear. I called his office and left him messages but never received a phone call back. He also made me feel very uncomfortable and accused me of lying about my medical history (like he would know??) As a young woman, I do not trust a doctor who is so persistent on getting me on medication without knowing the risks it may have on my body.

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drewsmommy

Joined 4 years ago

Caring, compassionate & very educated. I have been a patient of Dr. Welch for several years. I was seen by him a few times at Blue Ridge OB GYN before he left to open his own practice. I had also seen other doctors at Blue Ridge OB GYN but none of them were as nice as Dr. Welch and they did not care about the issues I was having like Dr. Welch did. I had pelvic pain for years & had been to so many doctors and during my first visit with Dr. Welch he knew right away it was severe endometriosis. I had tried for YEARS to find a reason for my pain and discomfort & after many doctors no one had an answer except him. I had to have a laparoscopy and Dr. Welch did a wonderful job explaining everything to me & I had minimal scars from the surgery that went very well. I had also been seeing him for fertility issues and within 3 months of his recommendations and treatments I became pregnant. I had a wonderful pregnancy, labor and delivery and it is all thanks to the care I received from Dr. Welch and his courteous staff. He is very comprehensive, highly educated and always has a great attitude and sense of humor. I have recommended 3 friends to him & he delivered all of their babies just this past year! Everyone recommends him and he is a wonderful OB GYN!!!

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APMOMNC

Joined 5 years ago

Great OBGYN. I have been going to Dr Welch for 3 years and cannot say enough good things about him and his staff. He recently delivered my second child and I was impressed by how calm and cool he was in the delivery room during an emergency. I had indicated I wanted to avoid a c-section and was able to do this because of his expertise and quick decision making. I felt fully supported by him in my decisions about childbirth and my desire to be as natural as possible during delivery.

He also recomended an IUD for me when I complained of my reaction to hormones in birth control. He informed me that it did contain hormones, just a much smaller dose and I was fully informed that insertion is not so much fun. He was glad to remove it when I was ready.

Dr Welch will answer your questions with candor and it is true that he does not sugar coat much. I trust him to help me make the right decisions for my body and my health.

A review on Dr Welch would not be complete without mentioning his sense of humor. He has made me laugh so hard I cried on more then one occasion. And I have to mention Cynthia, Katina and Cece, who always return my calls and answer my questions ASAP.

Recommends

dsnymom

Joined 5 years ago

Lucky to have found Dr Welch. Dr Welch has been my doctor for 3 years and during that time he has delivered both of my children. Due to my age and health conditions my pregnancies were considered high risk. Dr Welch and his staff were there for me every step of the way. He was open and honest about the risks, and thanks to his experience my pregnancies and birthing experiences were fantastic. I have always found Dr Welch to be very professional and respectful, especially when addressing my questions and concerns. I was referred to Dr Welch when I first became pregnant and feel very lucky to have found such a wonderful person to be my doctor. I refer everyone I can to his practice and couldn't imagine ever going anywhere else.

Recommends

DBONU

Joined 5 years ago

ALWAYS A GREAT EXPERIENCE. I have seen Dr. Welch since he went out on his own and I have never had a bad experince in his office. The staff are friendly and helpful. A warm body answers the phone and when I was pregnant my questions were always answered, if not right away at least by the end of the day. Dr. Welch always gave his advice straight -up and without hesitation. I always felt like I was getting his full attention and the best information possible. I, too, ended up with a c-section, but only after we tried eveything we could to have a normal delivery. I was always comfortable with the process and felt like I was always well informed. I could not ask for a better doctor.