Hospital question

lafsalot

So I had never thought about this until someone told me the chose to drive an hour to deliver instead of delivering locally because the hospital an hour away has a NICU, I am not (other than age) in a high risk pregnancy at this time and all indications are for a healthy normal delivery at this point, barring anything changing or my doctor advising that the journey would be warranted, I think I still plan to deliver at the hospital 2 minutes from my home... Why about you? Are you looking at hospitals with NICU's as a precaution?

fluttergirlmoonchild79

Thankfully the hospital not only closest to our house but also the one my OBs office delivers at has a NICU.  I never really considered it with DS.  I had a completely normal pregnancy and wasn't high risk until I went into spontaneous PTL at 34w5d and delivered at 34w6d.  My son was in the NICU for 11 days - mostly for jaundice.  Not trying to freak you out, but there's never really any way to know whether you'll need a NICU or not.  In a lot of cases, if the hospital you deliver at doesn't have a NICU or one that's equipped enough for your child's needs, they will transport the baby to the hospital that has the appropriate NICU and the mother usually heads over there after she's been discharged from the hospital where she delivered.

JaysonandKristin

I just know where the NICUs are and what Level they are.  Other than that, I already have to drive an hour and fifteen minutes to my delivery hospital as it's the only "close" one that is VBA2C friendly.  

wendy2613

My hospital whiich is the only one in my town also has a NICU. I would have to drive about 2 1/2 hours to the next nearest hospital with a NICU. Not sure if I would or not. Good question

Daysie

I chose a hospital with a NICU even though so far this pregnancy has progressed normally. I've had 3 early losses that have really impacted me and this is a FET baby, I'm just taking every precaution I can. Plus, *if* anything were to happen, I'd like to be in the same hospital as LO. 

ETA: Fix spelling....

ETAA: Also, this hospital is only 20 min away. But there is a closer one I chose not to go to. 

brandeeteer

The hospital closest to our house has a great NICU. I'm hoping not to need it but glad to know it's there if we do.

PeachsMama

my friends baby had to be transferred by helicopter to a hospital with a NICU and her husband went with the baby as her orders and she was left alone for three days because of her own complications and not able to be transferred. The hospitals were two hours apart. They lived way out in the country and their hospital couldn't handle the baby's situation.

There are three hospitals 10 minutes from my house. None have NICUs. After her horrible situation I decided to go to the one 40 minutes from my house that gas a NICU so I won't be separated from my baby if something were to be wrong. And the farther one is the only hospital my OBs deliver at. So I would of had to use a different doctor and I love my OBs.

rbtrumpet

fluttergirlmoonchild79 said:

 In a lot of cases, if the hospital you deliver at doesn't have a NICU or one that's equipped enough for your child's needs, they will transport the baby to the hospital that has the appropriate NICU and the mother usually heads over there after she's been discharged from the hospital where she delivered.

This.  A friend of mine was in a very small town, and had a micro-preemie.  He was air-lifted to the nearest appropriate NICU, and she made the 2.5 hr drive once she was released.  If, God-forbid, something does happen, they will at least be able to get the baby the care they need.


As for me, having a NICU in the hospital was a perk, but not the only reason I chose my hospital. 

Having a NICU (or access to one) was the reason I chose hospital birth over home birth, at least for #1.  Just because I like to be over-prepared.  

babymama619

My hospital has a NICU. However the one close to my house has a better one. I chose the way I did because of the OB practice I wanted to use. Maybe talk with your doc at your next visit. I'd ask what is the protocol if baby needs extra care. Also, what should you do if you go into labor before a certain point?

GopherBaby13

Thankfully, the hospital that is closest to me has a NICU staffed by Children's. They also just redid their entire L&D and PP area.

AnsbyGamber

My hospital has a NICU, but it's a Level I, and they transfer any more serious cases to a hospital about 45 minutes away. I talked to my doctor about this and whether or not I should be worried. She said that most of the reasons for needing a better equipped NICU were for children born very prematurely or for issues that they can usually diagnose in utero. If we knew any of those things were happening, she would send me over to that hospital to give birth if at all possible. That way we wouldn't be separated. However, if something unexpected comes up and they have to transfer baby away from the hospital I'm at, they have a set up between the hospitals where I can video chat with her doctors, see her, get updates, etc until they discharge me.

MsCrispy

I live in a city, so I have a lot of choices of hospitals. The one my doctor delivers at happens in the Children's Hospital with the best NICU in the area. It is not the closest to my house, it is about 10 miles away (20-30 minutes depending on traffic).

The closest is about 2 miles, about 5 minutes away, but does not have a NICU and does not rank as high. I didn't really look at it since it wasn't an option with my OB.

With a larger difference of 1 hour vs 2 minutes, I would probably stay local. If you happened to go in preterm labor, then it may be a more difficult choice, but I'm guessing getting to a hospital sooner would be more important in that situation.

SweetLaura286

There is a hospital 5 minutes from my house, but doesn't have a sterling reputation and no NICU. But most of all my OB doesn't deliver there.. So I am driving the 30 minutes to the one my OB DOES deliver at, and just happens to have a Level 3 NICU.. Phew

s_cloeter

I'm high risk twins and age and I will be delivery at the hospital an hour a way because it has a NICU and also because it is in my "network" for insurance.  However, if I did going into PTL and couldn't make the drive, the hospital close to me is well equipped to deliver the boys and then transfer them to a hospital with a NICU. 

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j&rwil

I am going to a hospital that is 45 minutes away because it has a NICU. There is a hospital about 5 minutes away from me but they do not have a NICU. I am not high risk and this is my 3rd baby but I felt more comfortable with the hospital and the MW I am seeing and I don't mind doing the drive for a little extra peace of mind.

mskatiep

Hospitals can keep baby stable enough to transfer to a NICU if needed. They can transport via Ambulance, helicopter, or plane if needed. The nearest NICU to me is an hour away, but I will not choose to deliver there simply because they have a NICU. If you go into preterm labor and they are unable to stop it, they will try to transfer you in labor if you are not progressing too fast.  

MrsTucker2011

Our hospital is 45 min. away without traffic. We chose to stay with them because the closest hospital (5 minutes away) is one of the worst! Also, the hospital we're going to saved my brother's life 4 days after he was born, thanks to their cardiology department and NICU. I feel very reassured delivering there.

countrygirl15327

We have 2 hospitals close by. We chose the bigger hospital versus the community hospital due to the amount of technology the larger hospital has. It also has a NICU.

Kim22

My hospital happens to have one but if you are having a normal pregnancy there is a really good chance you won't need one so I would not rule out a hospital for that reason. I picked the dr not the hospital because you spend far more time with the dr over the course of your pregnancy. There are downsides to all hospitals, for example if I needed an ambulance from where I live, they do not go to the hospital I intend to deliver at and therefore I would end up somewhere else anyway.

KatieintheCity

We live in a major metropolitan area, so any of the hospitals we'd have considered luckily have at least a level 3 nicu. The one we're going with has a 3B, but we picked it more for its reputation as mom/baby friendly. There is a slightly closer hospital with a level 4 nicu, but the difference in nicu levels wasn't great enough to factor into the decision, since I'm not high risk.

michrocc

I'm really, really (can't stress that enough) lucky in that I live in a huge city and my hospital is ranked in the top 5 of the country, complete with a connected children's hospital.  I hope beyond hope that I never need it, but it does reassure me to know that it's all right there for me.  

But!  I did move here from a relatively small town, and I remember with my first pg (which was a m/c), questioning whether I should stick with the local hospital or plan to commute to a bigger, "better" one.  Still not sure what I would have done if that LO had lived.  

DebateThis

My initial plan had been to deliver at a hospital with excellent outcomes, lots of midwives, and birth tubs in every room, but no NICU. I was comfortable with the caregivers and the low risk of LO needing a NICU, and if all else were still equal I would absolutely still be comfortable with that situation - it would be my first choice. Not having an on site NICU is pretty much the norm for most of the US and really most women don't have any need for it at all.

However, my pregnancy had other plans. I wound up with a shortened cervix at 18 weeks and have been under the care of MFMs (in conjunction with midwives and OBs) since then. I'm at a much higher risk for preterm birth now and so I made the choice to deliver at a hospital that has a Level III NICU on-site in case I do wind up in labor prior to 37w.

artistlife

The small hostpital that I will deliver at is a part of a local hospital system. The main hospital is on a 20 min drive and is probably closer to me. It has a level III NICU. I chose the smaller hospital for comfort. They have private birthing suites. Also, my OB has exclusive rights at this one since their office is located on the campus. I didn't want to change obs. I had an interesting labor last time and my ob stayed with me even though his on call shift was over and he performed my CS.

JaysonandKristin

Kjensele said:

Luckily the closest hospital to me has the only level three NICU between SF and Portland.  

Roseville has a Level III NICU.  That's geographically between SF and Portland.

julie1122

My obgyn only delivers at one hospital so I don't have a choice. They do have a NICU. The only issue is that it is about 40 minutes away, even longer in traffic. It's my first and they assured me it would be fine. Hope so!!

Soulfulmom83

Our closest hospital has a NICU. I def wouldn't go somewhere that didn't have one. My last pregnancy I was induced and our baby had to stay in the NICU for a week because of complications. I had wanted to go to a birthing center this time around but it is an hour away and the hospital is also an hour away. If something were to happen again I wouldn't want our baby to be an hour away from our home so I went for the hospital instead of a water birth at a birthing center. Good luck!

3Dewdrops

JaysonandKristin said:

Kjensele said:

Luckily the closest hospital to me has the only level three NICU between SF and Portland.  

Roseville has a Level III NICU.  That's geographically between SF and Portland.

Hmmm, yeah, that was definitely a made up statistic.  The hospital I delivered at in Eugene has a level III also...

beccaxbooxbear

I love in the Boston area so basically all hospitals in my area have a nicu or special care unit