Dr. Heidi R Heck, MD

I still can't believe the audacity of this woman to be so condescending to a pregnant woman in labor. I was over 24 hours past my water breaking and making very slow progress. I had a doula with me that was assisting me in taking every measure I could to help baby and labor progress. I unfortunately had to have this woman on an overnight shift. She came in and discovered my labor had not processed based on that I said my pain was low. She started abruptly lecturing me on what labor is supposed to look like: "no, if you were in labor it is supposed to like like this" *bends over hospital bed rail and moans while holding stomach * I get upset with her condescending remark, as though I hadn't just spent most of my pregnancy reading, analyzing and taking classes to learn everything I could about labor and prepare myself to birth naturally. I begin to respond to her and she just cuts me off, continuing with her rude tone and tells me I better start moving around to help labor along,which I… had already been doing. (she just assumed I had been sitting there the whole time.) then she walks out the door with no attempt to create a respectful relative or build trust in any capacity. She then returns a few hours later at my request, to answer a few questions I had about beginning pitocin. As I begin to ask about the process of administering pitocin in order to be clear and assure my already fragile self at that point, she cuts me off again with a sharp and agitated tone and says "Why are you trying to change years and years of proven medical practice?" She goes on again to lecture me on the practice of hospital interventions and his I shouldn't question them. Meanwhile I am in shock, I catch the nurse looking at me clearly uncomfortable with the scene the doctor had created. My husband and doula sat nothing as they are also dumbstruck. I then start responding to her with a short "ok" because I have no other words for her at the moment and am feeling completely belittled, defeated, scared, and angry. She doesn't seem to pick up on this at all and leaves the room. Afterward my doula, who had attended many births in San Antonio tells me she had never seen an OB behave this rudely and she will recommend to all future clients to avoid Dr Heck. This woman was the absolute worse part of a traumatic experience. My birth did not go the way I had hoped, which is a common story for women I know. But the c section is not what left me crying for weeks afterwards, it was the flashbacks I had to the interactions I had with her. Even a half decent doctor would have known to at least be courteous with a woman in labor, even if the doctor didn't understand the patient's questions. I eventually was able to feel better thanks to my actual OB hearing this story out, empathizing with me, and assuring me she would never have treated me this way and is sorry it happened. I was also able to give feedback to the hospital about this doctor. As I understand it this woman is fortunately retiring soon.but if you happen to interact with her before then be forewarned about her style of practice. It may have been an "off" night for her in terms of her patience and attitude, but I can't imagine my own ob on her worse night lacking this much courtesy and kindness.

Dr. Heck was hands down the best doctor during my pregnancy. She is so caring and sweet and always made me feel at ease with my pregnancy. She is the best!!!

Dr H has brought me through important phases of my life from the birth of my daughter, surgery and menapause. She is extremely caring,personable, competent and I completely trust her recommendations and expertise

Dr. Heck is very intelligent, knowledgeable, easy to talk to, compassionate, and an overall excellent doctor. I absolutely trust her with my health and my baby's health, which is the most important thing when picking out a doctor.My complaint with SOWC is that the wait time has consistently been at least an hour, if not two hours. After that, they'll come and ask if I want to see a nurse. Not after I've already waited all this time! Perhaps if you gave me the option 40 minutes ago! I wish they would let me know what is going on, instead of just sticking me in a hot exam room for an hour in silence...I've started to dread going to my appointments, just because I feel like I'm one in a heard of cattle.

Dr.Heck is an amazing doctor. It may be hard to get an appointment if you new or just going for an anual exam, but it says a lot about her. Many people come to her because she is easy to talk to, down to earth, very sincere and easy to get ahold of if you need to talk to her. She is the BEST OBGYN that I have ever had.