Any experience with delivering at St. Luke's in the Med Center?

tweettyjohn

Ladies,

   It seems like my doctor delivers at St.Luke's and I was just curious if anyone had delivered there.  Also I hear that the new Texas Children's/St.Luke's Maternity Unit will open by the end of the year.  Any advice and/or experiences are appreciated!  TIA!

duchessII81

I will never have another child at StL/TCH. Our experience was good up until recovery. I had a c/s on a Sunday after a 4 day failed induction. The l&d nurses were fabulous.

In recovery, the pedi nurse pushed formula on us because L had an initial normal (but low end of normal) blood sugar reading. When we refused (we were trying to bf) they threatened to take her to the nicu at TCH. After being so totally frustrated with the lack of bf support, we caved and gave her formula. They took her anyway, even though her subsequent readings has been fine and we refused consent to transfer.

The apology we received from them and the promise that policies would be better enforced, personnel issues would be "handled," and our situation wouldn't be repeated? Zero consolation to them spinal-tapping my 6hr old baby out of incompetence.

TexasPaige

I had a wonderful experience delivering at St. Luke's. I delivered my first at Texas Women's and switched OBs, partly because I wanted to switch hospitals.

My scheduled c-section was great. I loved everyone from the anesthesiologist (seriously, he was amazing) to all the nurses. My son had what seemed like a breathing issue when he was born, and they called my pediatrician to see what he would like them to do. He thought Ryan should be checked by a TCH doctor, so my husband carried him (he was probably ten minutes old - I was still being stitched up) out to a little bay outside the OR. The doctor met them there, checked him out, and Ryan was in my arms within a few minutes. I nursed in recovery, when my son was less than an hour old.

Ryan stayed with us for everything - first bath, hearing test, immunization, etc. They only took him for the circumcision (fine by me!), and one night when I wanted a few hours of sleep.

I am sure the new wing will be really nice, although the old one was just fine for us. Our room didn't have a glider when we got there, but we saw them in some other rooms and asked for one. We had it within a few minutes. Having a glider was so helpful.

If I were to have another baby, I would deliver there again. 

Quizzle

I had a scheduled c-section. The staff was great, and did a fantastic job -- they explained everything and when the anesthesiologist managed to futz my spinal slightly he was sooo apologetic (I have mild scoliosis and he noticed it... but was totally shocked when he managed to zap a nerve on the other side!) Post-op and in our stay afterwards they were great. I got a visit from an LC immediately and they brought me a pump... and then switched it out for one of the nicer ones when I wasn't totally happy with the initial one they brought me. They also made sure to get to see me right before I left because I didn't get to have her in the room with me except for the last day because of the NICU.

I was not completely happy with my experience with the TCH NICU, but my first experience with a nurse there was  with one who was exceedingly schedule-bound. DD was in the NICU because she aspirated fluid and really wasn't too sick, but they're pretty aggressively cautious. So they whisked her away before I was stitched up. When I finally got to see her 16 hours later, the nurse was not happy I wanted to try to breastfeed and take so much time with her not getting a latch well. She pushed formula on me, and I finally gave up because I wasn't getting much help. DD then had a borderline glucose read and they kept her another day... I sort of blame the schedule-boundness.

But the other nurses we had there were pretty great and totally helpful and supportive of breastfeeding -- the male nurse was my favorite, he went and got me another nurse to help with trying to latch and build me a barricade for privacy. 

I think this rant may be more about the TCH NICU, I didn't really have any complaints at all about St Lukes.

jgettelfinger

I had a wonderful experience there and will definitley deliver baby #2 there we get to it.