Deborah L Coleman, CNM

I saw Debbie Coleman during my second pregnancy. Although her office was running behind schedule and the waiting room visits were lengthy I felt like she was knowledgeable and made me feel safe and comfortable with having a natural birth at Alta Bates. She was out of town during my labor and delivery but she gave me enough resources to feel comfortable with delivering with another midwife/​Dr. I’m currently pregnant with my 3^rd child and will go back to her. Yes parking sucks at the San Leandro office but there’s plenty of street parking and parking close to the library across the street.

this location is small & parking lot is tight. I prefer her Oakland office. Debbie & her receptionist are great & efficient.

Her receptionist fits right in at this practice. Right off the bat I was treated like a prisoner. Handed a cup and ordered «pee» *points to bathroom*. I come out…“sit” *takes blood pressure*. «Go in the room» *points to door*. Every visit went this way. Very cold and frankly, weird.
The «Medwife» offered an induction at my first visit due to history of fast labors. Even listed what drugs she would use completely ignoring the fact that I had zero interest in induction.
Completely dismissed my interest in discussing forms of birth control for post partum. Even gave me some false info regarding the copper iud when I asked if a metal allergy would matter. She told me she had no way of telling. (I was later told if I have metal allergies do not get a copper iud) I complained of constant burning and pressure in my bladder area. I was told she would have the pee checked when it would later come back normal I was dismissed as just whining.
She then gave me formula samples on the way out the door –_​–
She «ordered» me to go to labor and delivery when the baby had an irregular heartbeat, for a minute at best, reported by me, a day after it had resolved.
I explained that this had happened in each of my previous 6 pregnancies and I have been told multiple times it is normal. Furthermore, it had already resolved so sitting in L&D would show nothing at that point. She was rude, condesending, even telling me I probably didn’t know how to listen for a fetal heartbeat anyway. She even went on to say I probably had one of those toy dopplers from babies r us. Actually, what Debby Coleman was unaware of is that I’ve had midwifery training of my own and my doppler was actually higher end than the one she uses in her own practice. My doppler cost $ 600. Instead of arguing thoughI let her continue on her little tirade. Why not let her show her true colors?!
I told her if she was worried I was open to having a fetal echocardiogram done. She told me she thought that was overkill (but being admitted for 24 hours was rational? VS. My suggestion of a 30 minute scan. I could tell she just felt threatened because I was a well educated involved client. She even told me I was «micro managing» my care. She finally gave me the referal but also told me she was transferring my care to alta bates high risk practice. I didn’t bother arguing with her because had she not transferred me I would of fired her anyway. Baby’s echocardiogram came back perfect. I was again reassured that it was normal for a heartbeat to fluctuate during pregnancy.
I continued to complain about the burning and pressure in my bladder. It was later found I have a bladder prolapse. Debby Coleman ignored my complaints instead of ever checking me. Months of discomfort and pain could of been managed or corrected had she of listened to me.
The high risk practice had my medical records, even though I had never signed to have them sent (Hippa violation). Every single doctor in the entire practice agreed I was NOT high risk.
I am now full term and have hired a private midwife to homebirth with.
I would hardly call debby Coleman a midwife. I have only written a brief run down, but she had done multiple other things that raised red flags during my short amount of time with her.
She is very medical minded, rude, dismissive, controlling, and easily threatened by informed patients.
A real wolf in sheeps clothing.
(Please excuse any typos, I’m on my cell)