Anyone deliver at Crawford Long (Emory Midtown)?

S+J+G+1

We delivered #1 there and did not have a good experience at all.  My surgery (C-Sec) was not done well and the service we got was OK. We are expecting #2 and basically, we have insurance through Emory and they ONLY deliver at Crawford Long and we would have to pay a large supplement to go somewhere else - like $4,000.  Did anyone have a good experience at Crawford Long? Is my experience typical? If you didn't like your first hospital, what would you pay to go somewhere else? TIA

GTLawGirl

I delivered at Crawford Long in March, 2009.   My experience was good and bad.  My nurses were awesome but my doctor ticked me off.  I found that the key was to have a plan and making sure that everyone knew what that plan was.

My water broke on a Saturday evening, so L&D was dead as there are no inductions on the weekends.  Out of 25 L&D rooms, there were only 5 in use.  My nurses (both day & night) were excellent!  I made it clear from the start that I wanted to try and have a natural birth experience, but would be flexible as medically necessary.  My nurses completely supported my decision.  DD was facing front, so I had excruciating back labor.  When I was ready to give up and get an epidural, my night nurse was quick to suggest trying something else first that would help me get rest but let me stay mobile first.  

At one point my doctor, who I would not see until Sunday at 11am when I was already pushing, ordered pitocin for me.  This REALLY made me angry b/c my labor was progressing just fine and I had made it clear to her practice all along that I wanted no interventions unless medically necessary.  I refused the pitocin and my nurse fully supported my decision.

I finally caved to an epidural for the last few hours of my labor, but I was never pushed into it by the nurses.  In fact, they kept trying to talk me out of it.  Looking back, that's exactly what I wanted.  

My doctor on the other hand, completely disappointed me.  She showed up while I was pushing, performed an episiotomy without even DISCUSSING it with me first, stayed long enough to stitch me up, and then I never saw her again.  In total she was there 45 minutes.  All the follow-up visits in the post-partum room were performed by one of the practice nurses.

The post-partum experience was also good and bad.   My nurses were really good for the most part.  My only real beef was the lack of a lactation center and only one lactation specialist on staff.  I had thrush right off the bat (wasn't diagnosed for a week though), so I had serious problems.  If I hadn't been so stubborn about nursing I probably would have given up since there was no support.  I hope they correct this at some point and add a Lactation Center.  The lactation specialist (when she finally came by) told me that less than half of the mother's that deliver at Crawford Long choose to nurse, so it may be that combined with the small size of the L&D unit.

You're amazing if you made it through that whole post.  All-in-all, I would consider having another baby at Crawford Long because I was happy with most things "hospital" related.  My OB on the other hand has likely delivered the only child of mine that she ever will. 

JoelsGirl07

I have heard mixed reviews from others who have birthed at EUMT. Definitely, everyone has said that their lactation is mediocre at best. Maybe when I get my CLC I will get a bunch of moms from there....that would be nice.

Anyway, I WAS planning to deliver there, but I think I have thoroughly pissed off the MD that I was thinking about using because I have now decided (95% sure) to have a HBAC. He doesn't believe in them and was trying to scare me into going to the hospital. Anyway, that's a whole other post. 

You might want to evaluate specifically WHAT about your past birth you were unhappy with. Some things can be changed, some can't. Nurses change, providers can change, what you want can change.

runblondie26

I did and thought they were excellent. I even wrote a letter afterwards the let the administration know how pleased we were with the experience. I had an emergency c-section, so not the delivery I had planned, but looking back I see nothing that could have been done differently and my recovery was easy.