Dr. Sheppard was rude and dismissive. He spent most of our first appointment discussing the need for policies prohibiting partners from attending appointments during COVID, citing Horizon Health policies that they could not produce when asked; I later switched OBs and am able to bring my husband because it's a discretionary policy. After this, he spent the remainder trying to convince me to get the covid vaccine, at 8 months pregnant. When I said, firmly, that I'd like to move on to other issues
When I discussed my plan to have a natural/physiological birth with Dr. Sheppard he became a bully and coercive. When I indicated I wanted consent to be obtained prior to cervical checks in labour, he said "We don't do cervical checks for fun." When I questioned information he provided, he said, "Yeah well you wouldn't know. You're not an OB, or even a family doctor. You're a pregnant woman." He made me so fearful of giving birth at the SJRH. So I gave birth at home.
