Dr. Skalnyi is an American hero. I found her here on yelp ten months ago when we found out we were pregnant with our first, and initially chose her because it felt important to me to have an OB who was committed to delivering the babies of their patients themselves. We are healthy with no history of health issues so I expected to have a run-of-the-mill pregnancy. My god I had no idea what a big deal that choice would end up being. 22 weeks into our pregnancy, we learned that I was high risk and would have to be put on bedrest for the remainder of my term (I am not a bedrest, chill out and stay still kinda gal...it was torture!). After nine weeks of bedrest at home and a few preterm labor scares, I ended up going into labor early, at 32 weeks.
Throughout my bedrest, Dr. Skalnyi legitimately dropped everything anytime I had a question or a scare (I really tried to be discerning!), and no exception once I went into preterm labor. I was in labor in the hospital for a week, trying to hold off giving birth til my son was a little more developed, before having to have a high risk emergency c-section (kiddo was footling breech--a dangerous position). Not only did Skalnyi visit me often and communicate clearly and with deep care, she treated me with the concern of a family member. Dr. S gave me my c-section, and she's renowned at Mills Peninsula for being an excellent surgeon, even under tough circumstances.
Baby was healthy, my scar is minimal and healing great, and thanks to Dr. Skalnyi's care, we were able to hold off our preterm labor risk from 22 weeks (not a viable baby) to 33 weeks (moderately premature baby). It meant the world to me that the person who decided when we would press "go" on the c-section and who did the surgery was the person who had cared for me and my unborn son the whole way through. She made calls I don't think a random OB would have made as a result. And when I was particularly down one evening at the hospital, she came by with a stuffed bunny from the gift-store to cheer me up :) don't let her straightforward, Russian toughness fool you--Skalnyi is a total softie under it all!
Finally, her office staff is platinum standard. Claudia returned parental leave and insurance documents to me with breakneck speed, often the same day, where other offices might have/do ask for a week to ten days. Angela and Tatiana took fabulous care of us, and remembered every detail, every single time. Their office feels like a place where women are really cared for, where the sisterhood is respected and valued, and where tough and competent ladies take care of other tough and competent ladies, with love.
My husband and I were not surprised to read about Dr. Skalnyi's family lineage saving Jewish people from the nazis--there is something about this woman, when you see her in action in high pressure situations like we had all the time in my scary pregnancy--loving, composed, hard-working as hell, and full of integrity--that is consistent with a lineage of gritty heroes.
If you want a touchy feely OB who will talk to you at length about what music to play when you give birth, or who will talk nutrition at length with you, Skalnyi is not your person. She's probably great for normal pregnancies--I wouldn't know--but where she shines like a diamond is when you need a hero. So if, like me, you want someone who will be there personally and make brilliant game-time decisions and recommendations at all hours when things go awry, who will treat you like family when something unexpected and serious happens, go with Skalnyi. You really never know with pregnancy, and you don't want to find out the hard way. We owe her our son's life and our sanity a few times over, and we couldn't be more grateful. read more