Help! I hate my hospital!!

cnu_gurl

My doctor i am fine with, it's the hospital i have a problem with. My second child was born via c-section, and ended up in NICU, i am trying for a VBAC this time. I have been reading online about the L&D unit at my hospital, and it is real nice, i finally go in for my tour.... there is no NICU at this hospital!?!? If something happens they will transport baby to a hospital that is over an hour away. I would not be transported, I would have to wait to be discharged, which they said they would do right away, but what if i can't/shouldn't be discharged right away? I have never been in a hospital where there in no NICU, and now i am having major anxiety over this. My hospital is about 20 minutes away, the next nearest hospital(not the one they would transport baby to) is 30 minutes away, in the opposite direction, but they have a NICU. If I change hospitals, i change doctors. I'm not sure what to do. I'm 33 weeks, has anyone ever changed doctors this late in the game, or been in a hospital without a NICU. Am i worrying over nothing? Help!!

honkytonk_kid

I would not be comfortable with a NICU so far away, IF I had other choices. 33 weeks is late to switch but not impossible, I would start looking around for VBAC supportive providers at the other hospital.

CandaceC1020

My hospital does not have a NICU - it's a small local hospital.  If transport is necessary, my little one will be flown to a Washington, DC area hospital.  I don't have much of a choice because the next closest hospital is an hour away - and my midwifes don't have any affiliation with the other hospital.  It's a risk I chose to take.  If something happens to my little one, my husband or my parents will immediately go be with my baby and stand guard.

jennypolkadots

Why do you feel like this baby will need a NICU? I didn't read anything that suggests that you are expecting an issue, so the liklihood is the baby will be totally fine and this is an unnecessary worry. 

I don't know of any hospitals without any NICU services. If you go into premature labor or are expecting an issue, I would think the doctor would have your deliver at the hospital with a NICU. Even if they don't have a dedicated NICU, I can't imagine they don't have some capabilities to support the baby until they can be transferred. We have one near us that only has a level 2 NICU so serious issues need to be transferred to the larger hospital. We aren't planning to birth in the hospital, but it's good to know each hospital's capabilities just in case we need to transfer for some reason. You can not transfer with the baby right away - you have to deliver the placenta, possibly be stitched up or have any bleeding stopped, and be able to walk, along with signing discharge papers. But I don't think you would be far behind the baby as long as it's a vaginal birth. Make sure you have a family member who can stay with you in case your husband needs to go with the baby, or just plan to deliver at the larger hospital if you think there is going to be some issue. 

tinyhumantoe

I would talk to your doctor about how effectively they can get the baby to proper facilities if there is a problem.  I probably wouldn't switch, but would want more information.

sschwege

Does your hospital have no special care services or just no NICU?  Because my hospital has a Level II Special Care Nursery, but had I delivered a baby needing more care than that a transfer would have been necessary.  My son actually had breathing problems when he was first born and spent the first 36 hours in the Special Care Nursery, but they never talked about transferring.  I was OK with no NICU because they had a Level II.

samantha1508

cnu_gurl said:

My doctor i am fine with, it's the hospital i have a problem with. My second child was born via c-section, and ended up in NICU, i am trying for a VBAC this time. I have been reading online about the L&D unit at my hospital, and it is real nice, i finally go in for my tour.... there is no NICU at this hospital!?!? If something happens they will transport baby to a hospital that is over an hour away. I would not be transported, I would have to wait to be discharged, which they said they would do right away, but what if i can't/shouldn't be discharged right away? I have never been in a hospital where there in no NICU, and now i am having major anxiety over this. My hospital is about 20 minutes away, the next nearest hospital(not the one they would transport baby to) is 30 minutes away, in the opposite direction, but they have a NICU. If I change hospitals, i change doctors. I'm not sure what to do. I'm 33 weeks, has anyone ever changed doctors this late in the game, or been in a hospital without a NICU. Am i worrying over nothing? Help!!

You have every right to be worried! I would definitely talk to your dr about this and see what their thoughts are. Is it the same dr that delivered your other child?

I def feel your pain. I was dropped by my dr at 28w and now I had to change drs and hospitals. I HATE the hospital that I will have to deliver at but its bc they have the best NICU that I have to go there. I hate it bc the drs are all residents that arent much older than me (im 25) and I dont like the way they do things there. Just checking my cervix during 1 visit, I had 2 drs and 3 nurses watching (both drs had to check me) and all but 2 nurses were men. It was extemely uncomfortable for me but I had no say in it I really hope everything goes well for you!!!

HStrawberry

The hospital in our rural town is very small with no nicu. The next closest hospital is an hour away so if there is an issue, the baby will be transported there (or flown to the nearest big city 3 hours away if it is extremely serious). I'm assuming I will have to follow. It is what it is, we don't have any other options.

I would opt to stay with your dr since it's not guaranteed you will even need the nicu. Your SO can always go with baby if you can't leave at the same time. I doubt they would make you stay any longer then medically necessary. Drs understand the importance of keeping mom and baby together.

Sahara6971

My hospital does not have a NICU. My Dr. also delivers at another hospital that does have one and is about 30 minutes away. If my baby were to require a NICU stay I would want them at our Children's Hospital (not the 2nd hospital my Dr. is affiliated with) so no matter what, a transfer would have to be made in my case.

hazelrora

I would definitely consider switching. I delivered my daughter at a hospital with a special care nursery but no NICU. She was transported to a NICU 30 minutes away shortly after birth. I had to stay behind until I was discharged at the 24 hour mark. It was extremely hard being stuck in the postpartum recovery room without my daughter while hearing babies in rooms by me. I don't think it's silly to worry about this at all. I had a healthy pregnancy and no signs of issues with my DD (besides pregnancy induced hypertension). Her issues stemmed from a traumatic birth and lack of oxygen. She's fine now but I wish I had picked a hospital with a NICU.