Are You Asking Your Doctor the Right Questions Before You're Pregnant? with Dr. Justin Thompson

How do you choose the right OB-GYN before you're pregnant? Whether you're trying to conceive naturally, planning IVF, or already thinking about starting a family, choosing the right obstetrician is one of the most important decisions you'll make. In this episode, you'll learn the questions to ask, when to start looking for an OB-GYN, how to advocate for yourself throughout pregnancy, and what makes pregnancy care different for IVF patients.

In this episode, I'm joined by one my favorite OB-GYNs, Dr. Justin Thompson, to talk about his journey into obstetrics and what every patient should know before choosing the doctor who will care for them during pregnancy and delivery. Justin and I dig into what it really takes to find the right obstetrician (spoiler: don't wait until you're pregnant!), how he creates a safe and positive birth experience, the unique considerations for patients who conceived through IVF, and why patient experience should be a bigger priority in healthcare. We also discuss physician burnout, the future of obstetrics, and practical ways to advocate for yourself and your growing family. If you're planning a pregnancy, going through IVF, or simply want to make informed decisions about your pregnancy care, this episode is packed with practical advice.

✅️In this episode, we cover:
- Why you should start looking for an OB-GYN before you're even pregnant
- Questions to ask when interviewing potential obstetricians
- Why "meet and greet" appointments have disappeared and how to get one anyway
- How Dr. Thompson limits his patient load to provide better care
- What makes a birth experience safe, positive, and low-stress for both mom and baby
- The "Sparkle checklist" and other ways patients can advocate for themselves
- Special considerations for IVF pregnancies vs. non-IVF pregnancies
- The future of obstetrics and why patient experience needs to be prioritized

🎯Resources
Dr. Justin Thompson's practice: dedicatedpregnancycare.com
Subscribe on YouTube or Spotify
Join The IVF Class (my next class call is on July 13, where you can ask me your IVF and fertility questions live on Zoom.)
Read the full show notes on my website where you can also sign up for the newsletter

Dr. Aimee Eyvazzadeh is one of America's most well known fertility doctors. Her success rate at baby-making is what gives future parents hope when all hope is lost. She pioneered the TUSHY Method and BALLS Method to decrease your time to pregnancy. Learn more about the TUSHY Method and find a wealth of fertility resources at www.draimee.org. Related Phrases OB-GYN journey, egg whisperer show, IVF pregnancy, finding an OB-GYN, prenatal care, meet and greet appointment, high-risk pregnancy, IVF patients, birth experience, emergency c-section, physician burnout, Stanford Hospital birth, Palo Alto OB-GYN, patient advocacy, Sparkle checklist, pregnancy after IVF, obstetric care, evidence-based birth, doctor patient communication, advanced maternal age pregnancy