Inova Fair Oaks or Inova Fairfax for delivery

mdrswedding

Give me the good, bad and ugly with experiences at either of these hospitals.  My OB Practice uses both hospitals, they primarily work out of Fairfax but do occasionally work out of Fir Oaks.  DH and I would much prefer Fair Oaks from a location perspective....much closer to where we live.

doggylovr

I was born at ffx but that was 29 years go and I delivered DS at Fair Oaks...I had a great experience at fair oaks...it was big enough that they had a NICU if I needed it, which thankfully i didn't but small enough that I felt like more than just a number.....

 

i dont think you can really go wrong with either and they even have some staff that goes back and forth between the 2 because they areboth inova 

VARedhead

I delivered at FFX and had a fantastic experience. The nursing staff is wonderful, the rooms are nice (as far as hospital rooms go). The food was ok, but we had people bring food in for the most part. I think they changed the company that does their food and it may be better now.

The only thing I may have heard (I can't remember) is that at Fair Oaks you automatically get a private room, and at FFX it's based on availability and costs $100 per night. I have never heard of someone who wanted a private room who didn't get one at FFX, though, you just have to pay extra for it (and considering insurance covered literally everything else, paying $300 for a birth wasn't a big deal).

rubride

I delivered at Fair Oaks and am planning on delivering there again. I had a great experience. The L&D nurses were amazing, post nurses were great. I loved the fact that they had private rooms, although they were very small and got cramped. The food wasn't bad for hospital food. They had room service which was nice so I could choose what I wanted to eat. I too liked that the hospital was small so it wasn't too overwhelming (or a mile long hike to get anywhere) but it still had a NICU just in case.

fatjavacat

I had a great time at FO too...I think most places you will find the L&D nurses to be top notch.  Some of the postpartum nurses are a little iffy, but we had a good one that I trusted.  A friend of mine had a baby born that had some pretty serious medical issues (that were not evident in any prenatal testing) and spent a week or so in FO NICU but then was transferred to FFX (hopefully you won't have to worry about that)  FO has a smaller feel, where as FFX (to me) feels huge.

I think if I new there was a big issue then I would go to FFX, but if everything looks good I would stay at FO. 

Either way you won't go wrong. 

kafunder

VARedhead:

The only thing I may have heard (I can't remember) is that at Fair Oaks you automatically get a private room, and at FFX it's based on availability and costs $100 per night. I have never heard of someone who wanted a private room who didn't get one at FFX, though, you just have to pay extra for it (and considering insurance covered literally everything else, paying $300 for a birth wasn't a big deal).

They don't charge the $100/night anymore. If you pay like $25 to become part of their Baby and Me club, you get a private room or at least preference for one. And, when I delivered last August, the hospital was fairly empty so they didn't charge us for that and everyone was getting private rooms.

We had a great experience at Fairfax. The nurses there were incredible. If you're at all high-risk, they have a higher level NICU than Fair Oaks, I believe. I can't say enough good things about our experience. 

pixieprincss

LO was born at Fair Oaks. We really are more home birth folks, but as far as hospital experiences go, Fair Oaks was the best choice for us. I had no interest in delivering at Fairfax. The parking situation there is miserable and it costs money to park. Fair Oaks has free valet parking. Fair Oaks has two rooms with laboring tubs. All of their L&D and PP rooms are private now (unless the hospital is full and then they can double up, but we're talking Blizzard Baby craziness for that to happen). Fairfax does have a higher level NICU, but when you look at what that really means, the difference will only impact a family in very, very extreme circumstances. The NICU levels are the difference between comprehensive care for seriously ill babies at Fair Oaks vs. caring for the the absolutely most complex cases at Fairfax. Many areas in the country don't have anything like either hospital has nearby. We are very fortunate to have multiple good options in our area.

Hopeful1!

My sister delivered her 2 kids at Fairfax and I delivered mine at Fair Oaks. I think you will get excellent care both places but I thought Fair Oaks was much nicer, had a better feel, and you get a private room. If I had to pick I would choose Fair Oaks over Fairfax.

smacb

I had a really positive experience when i delivered at Inova Fairfax.  The nurses were wonderful.  Everyone was extremely professional, caring, and helpful.  I'm using them again.

motherof3dragons

I worked on the postpartum unit of Fairfax until recently.  I also delivered my baby there a few months ago. I had a great exp there.  However, I really had wanted to go to FO but my OB only practices in FFX.

They're both great hospitals FFX is great for any high risk situation for you or baby but FO has a nice, newer setup.