I do not reccomend this doctor. He delivered my first child. He's cold & arrogant. He also does not believe in "epidurals", but will lie and say he does. I was a nurse, working at the same hospital, when I delivered. I had always requested an epidural, and there was NO medical reason not to get one. At the time, my hospital didn't have 24 hr. anesthesia. It was a Sunday evening, and Dr. Bender didn't want to call in anesthesia, just for me, even though he could have. He was also very dressed up, like he wanted to get back to a party. He even told the nurse, "get her into the shower", when I was in hard labor. I refused. My nurse said that "I needed" the epidural, but came back with an injection of, 1/2 dose, of a synthetic pain med. It had about as much effect as 1/2 sm. glass of wine. The labor pain was horrible, and my doctor lied to me, and did not advocate for me. DO NOT TRUST THIS DOCTOR!! I found out years later, he wants all his patients to "go natural".