Has anyone delivered at Prentice, or with NSW?

Pockety

I don't regularly post on here - I'm usually with the June 2011 board, but I wanted to see if anyone has delivered at Prentice, specifically with Northwestern Specialists for Women, and what their experience was?

Yesterday, I went in for my first ultrasound, and asked some questions about giving birth, and was told that 98% of women who deliver with their practice have an epidural, and was essentially told if I think I may not want one, I should go talk to their midwife practice.

I'm not anti-epidural, but 98% sounds way too high!  It makes me nervous that my wishes on the day of the birth won't really be accounted for.  I know that I don't want an epidural too early, because I don't want it to slow down labor and create a need for pitocin or a c-section.  I know that these aren't always correlated, but they may be.

Obviously, I need to talk to the doctors more, and I have plenty of time, but I just wanted to hear from other local women and see if anyone has had experience with this group?

Thanks! 

Sara714

I wasn't with that doctor practice but I did deliver at Prentice just two weeks ago. I did get an epidural because I wanted one but they never pushed it on me. They asked if/when I wanted one when I arrived. I told them I didn't want it yet and they walked away. A few hours later when I decided I did want one, someone was in there in about 30 minutes to give it to me. All my medical decisions were done through my nurse. I am sure they had to consult my doctor before administering any medicine but that was done behind the scenes. I'm sure the experience could be different depending on what nurse you get because that nurse really is your lifeline. She didn't leave my side her entire shift (except for her scheduled lunch break and whatnot). Overall I had no complaints with the hospital and will most likely go to Prentice for my next baby too.

myoo

I delivered at Prentice and also took the Great Expectations class where they told us that 92% of women who deliver at Prentice get an epidural. Because they want one, not because one is forced on them. You fill out registration paperwork a few months before you deliver, and it asks you there if it is something you are considering. It is called a birth plan. Your Dr will ask you also and want to go over the birth plan with you. At Prentice they ask you as soon as you go to triage if you are considering an epidural. They ask you again when you get to L&D. After that it's up to you to ask for it. I have never heard of an epidural slowing down labor since active labor begins before you get the epidural.

I suggest you take a class before you freak out.

Pockety

Thanks, both of you, for your responses!  Very helpful and much appreciated!!!

Mabmin

I delivered at Prentice in August and did not have a pleasant experience with my birth.  The nurses in labor and delivery were excellent, but once I left the delivery room and was transported upstairs, I was not impressed with the nurses.  I had two nurses that were fantastic, but other nurses prevented me from seeing my baby for almost 24 hours after he was born since I was on bed rest and he was in the NICU.  After my doctor got involved, I learned that it was a staffing issue and not a hospital policy.  My doctor said that there was absolutely no reason that I should be prevented from seeing my baby.  It might be a new hospital, but I could have cared less about the view from my room or the alleged nice amenities when I was in my room without my baby.  Some of the nurses in the NICU were not impressive either.  They made us feel bad about asking questions and gave the impression that it would be better for them if we didn't come see our baby.  They also did not allow me to breastfeed and made no effort to allow us to feed our baby.  If I have another baby, I would never allow this to happen again, but I thought that the nurses would do what was in the best interest of my baby.  I was wrong!

Not all epidurals are given after you are in active labor.  I actually received my epidural before I was in labor - I think I was given the epidural about two hours before I was induced.  I was given the epidural around noon on Wednesday and delivered on Thursday at 2 pm.

MrsWindyCity

I delivered at Prentice and had a completely med-free birth.  That said, I did labor at home for a looooooooong time (to avoid the meds) and arrived at the hospital fully dilated.  If your doctor is already telling you that you should go to a midwife if you don't want an epidural, I would get a new doctor.  When the day comes, there is a good chance s/he will push an epideral or pitocin on you if you are not progressing quickly enough. I have heard that Prentice does tend to have a high birth augmentation rate.

growingmybun

I went to Northwestern Specialists for Women with my first pregnancy and I have to tell you that they are awful.  I called my doctor because my progesterone dropped and she basically told me that she would not supplement because "if the pregnancy is not viable, then progesterone won't save it."  That's fine, but how can you know if the pregnancy is viable if you DON'T supplement?   When they discovered my m/c (which I truly believe they could have prevented), they made me sit in the waiting room for 45 minutes to wait for a doctor to confirm the u/s.  

I hope that I don't sound bitter, it's just that if I could help someone find a better experience, I'd really like to.  I think that the practice is very large and not focused enough on the individual patients.