Melissa B. Waterstone, MD

Reviews (11)

• C-section experience at Alexandra Cohen/NYP Hospital

  May 2023

  I had a c-section at NYP/Alexandra Cohen with Dr Melissa Waterstone. My situation was a little different in that the baby wasn’t breach but I needed to be induced due to other complications and ended up getting a c-section. My husband got to hold him about 9 minutes after he was delivered, and I think I held him a bit after that. This wasn’t exactly how I pictured my delivery, but once we were in it my main concern was having a healthy baby and I trusted my care team to do what they needed to do to ensure that. If you have a wish list in terms of holding the baby right away, or your partner cutting the cord, I would try to communicate that to the drs before you go in to surgery so they can accommodate if possible. I felt like my recovery was pretty easy and smooth. By time I was discharged three days later I was walking around on my own without too much difficulty. Within the week I was slowly walking my dog around the block. Not to be glib, I know everyone has a different experience, but I remember thinking at the time “that wasn’t such a big deal, not sure what everyone is on about”. 10/10 would deliver this way again. That being said, I did have a good friend who delivered one week earlier via c-sec from the same dr due to a breach baby and her recovery was a bit more complicated and she took a little longer to get around comfortably. We both ended up with happy healthy babies. Also - we found the hospital very comfortable and all the staff were great. Not sure if they are still doing the Chanel gift bags but that was also a nice perk, doesn’t hurt to ask!

• Review from the Spring 2022 Birthing Survey

  March 2022

  Amazing - I typically dislike going to the doctor and it was something I was very anxious about when I got pregnant. Dr. Waterstone took time to get to know me and meet me where I was in my journey to becoming a mom. She helped me understand what things are worth investing mental energy in figuring out (like nutrition) vs what things I don't need to dedicate a lot of time to (like a detailed birth plan because the hospital focuses on patient-first, evidence-based medicine). Doc and I were able to talk through birthing options and she advocated for me to continue pushing well into my third hour, when some of the other nurses and PAs were beginning to ask her if it was time to talk about other options. She knew me well enough to know how much I could handle and where my priorities.

• Weill Cornell - New Labor Department and OB suggestions.

  August 2020

  My OB is Melissa Waterstone of Weill Cornell and she's fantastic. She also delivered my son, now 3, by scheduled c-section back in 2017 and I cannot recommend her and her practice highly enough. At the hospital, all the doctors, nurses, PAs and other staff who took care of us during delivery and the postpartum process were not only extremely professional and knowledgeable, they were also incredibly kind and thoughtful about ways to make our stay comfortable, which was heartwarming and lovely given how physically tolling and humbling the post-surgery process can be.

• Review from the 2020 Birthing Experience Survey

  August 2020

  Cold, never thought I could push the baby out, never even gave me a chance. She kept telling me my baby was really big, it was going to be 9-10 lbs, and multiple times strongly suggested that I should just get an elective c-section (spoiler alert: my baby was 8.5 lbs....not that big). Was not there when I was pushing. She refused to let me try different positions during the birth other than on my back. I would not recommend. She really is a SURGEON who just wants to perform c-sections, not really interested in providing a good birth experience. I made multiple requests to her during both pre-labor and during labor -- she did not follow- through on any of the things she said she would do. Would not recommend. I only went to her bc I was very late in my pregnancy when I needed to find an OB-GYN, and she was the only one who would take me.

• Review from the 2020 Birthing Experience Survey

  August 2020

  My doctor was sometimes amazing and other times seemingly disinterested. I know that sounds strange, and let me be clear that I am really grateful to her because I had a really good birth experience. She heard me and helped me set up a birth plan that was in line with what I wanted. But like many doctors, her manner was sometimes cold and short and I wasn't always sure that she really cared very much. Because I was over 40 and my baby was a big baby, she kept telling me that yes we would try for vaginal birth, but its seemed like she was pretty sure I would have a csection. I didn't want that. On the day of the birth though, I just decided to let go of worry and fully trust her and was more than happy to put my health and my babies in her hands. I also knew that my doula would be there to advocate for me with my doctor. I will say, when it came time to start pushing, the doctor was a really good coach, all business and a really good director/conductor! The nurses were not so great (I think they were in training) and so they seemed overwhelmed. But I was still so glad I had all of them. I will never forget the circle of women that was holding me and helping my little boy come into the world. In the end, all that worrying and anxiety just floated away when I held his little body on my chest. And my doctor came over and congratulated me and said she was really happy and I think she was! I felt like we really shared a moment together. It was great. Then I went in for my 6 week postpardum check up and I am not sure she even remembered my name. HAHA! Oh well, who cares. I will never forget his birth, it was great and she was great on that important day.

• Newly pregnant, need OB

  March 2019

  Seconding the recommendation of Dr. Waterstone! While Jamie Kramer is my OB/GYN, Dr. Waterstone actually handled my daughter's delivery at Cornell, as she was the doctor on call when I went into the hospital in the middle of the night. She was amazing... and I only met her for my delivery, but she was an amazing coach (I call her a coach because that's how she handled my labor and delivery - encouraging, tough, supportive and instructive!). I agree with the previous posts that Cornell was a great place to delivery with incredible and supportive labor and delivery nurses and staff. I was a very emotional, nervous nelly about everything and they were just amazing.

• Newly pregnant, need OB

  March 2019

  I really loved Dr. Melissa Waterstone at Weill Cornell/NY Presbyterian on the UES. She performed a D&C for me in 2013 at age 39, and then followed me through my viable pregnancy at age 42/43 in 2016. The Doc on call when I went into labor was Dr Weinstein who was also great, my delivery was very quick. The next day Dr Waterstone surprised me and visited my recovery room to meet my baby! I was so pleased with the postpartum care I received at the hospital too.

• 2018 Review

  November 2018

  Dr. Kramer is my primary OB-GYN, however, she was on jury duty when I went into labor and Dr. Waterstone was in charge of my delivery. My OB-GYN review is specifically focused on my labor and delivery, which was guided by Dr. Waterstone. If I were to sum up Dr. Waterstone's style of care in two words, it would be: Coach and Cheerleader. She was wonderful at talking through the various phases of labor and my options for care. And when it came time to push, she was a great cheerleader, encouraging me every step of the way (c'mon, you can do it, you're doing a great job, just another push, excellent work!). We had a snafu mid-pushing (all of the monitoring machines crashed and we had to transfer rooms mid-labor/pushing. NOT GOOD!), but Dr. Waterstone handled it well, despite the very unusual (and somewhat scary) circumstances. I didn't know Dr. Waterstone prior to arriving at the hospital, but she put me at ease and her "no nonsense, coach" style was exactly what I needed.

• Review submitted via 2015 Birth Survey

  January 2016

  REVIEW: Dr. Waterstone may not have the warmest bed side manner, but I trusted her wholeheartedly throughout my pregnancy. She took a fairly relaxed approach but still ensured I had the necessary monitoring in place to catch potential issues, which ended up being critical to the safety of my baby. We had differing opinions on the day of my induction but she supported my wish to avoid a c-section, which I did. INSURANCE Dr Waterstone's practice took my insurance and filed claims Based on a October 2015 birth

• Review submitted via 2015 Birth Survey

  January 2016

  REVIEW: She was really professional and reassuring. Although I didn't stick with her till delivery (I gave birth at the Brooklyn Birthing Centre) I felt in good hands with her. She just seemed a little prejudiced about childbirth classes but can't say how since we didn't continue pregnancy follow up with her. INSURANCE Cigna access pls insurance accepted. Based on a December 2015 birth

• Review submitted via 2015 Birth Survey

  January 2016

  REVIEW: Dr Waterstone is part of Weill Cornell on practice. She can be quick with her patients but when you need her she is there. I experienced a loss with my first pregnancy and she handled me with great care the second time around. INSURANCE Yes. They handled everything. Very easy, patient friendly.