hospital with NICU?

livvielo

My OB doesn't deliver at a hospital with a NICU, but the MFM specialist I'll also be seeing does. Would you switch over to the MFM specialist completely just to be sure to be in a hospital with a NICU if necessary? (I have to ask my OB these questions, of course, but my next appt isn't for a month.) So far I haven't had any complications but I'm only 12 weeks.

kafunder

Yes, I definitely would want to deliver at a hospital with a NICU (I even looked for a high-level NICU, not just a regular NICU). If your babies need to go to the NICU, which is somewhat common with twins, and you deliver at a hospital that doesn't have one, they'll likely be taken to a different hospital and you'll be separated from them for what could be days. 

ninjabridemom

Personally I would not deliver my twins at a hospital w/o a NICU.  The other hospital must have an agreement of sorts w a NICU hospital, though, right?  I'd look into that more if you *really* like your OB.

jellolz

the closest hospital to me with a nicu is four hours away... so obviously i would like to deliver here, if we don't think that the babies will need a nicu. if something goes wrong they will air ambulance me to the hospital with the nicu before they are born, or afterwards, just the babies. my mfm is with the hospital with the nicu, so at least i'll have a doctor i know if i end up at the bigger hospital.

mars724

yes! I think you should deffinetly make the switch. I've had 2 friends recently be in situations where they had c sections and their babies were in a NICU at a different hospital, and those were singeltons. 

chances of your c section and babies needing a NICU are so much higher, so, YES I wouldn't even think twice about switching. it's heartbreaking to see a mother separated from her infant hours after birth. 

Mrs. Alice

Definitely deliver at a hospital with a NICU, preferably a level III.  Even full term twins can require NICU time.

tootlebug

Yes. This is really important...I made sure we went to one with a level 3 nicu. I mean just do some research. One thing that I wasn't aware of is that every nicu is different...ours in particular is very strict on release requirements. I'm ok with this bc I would prefer to not deal with regulating temps, putting them under lights for jaundice etc....I would just rather the professionals do it. Some would not. But I would definitely switch. You don't want to be in a bind when you deliver.

ougrad1

Lots of babies are born full term and need the NICU for various reasons-especially multiples.  I wouldn't deliver at a hospital without an NICU.

LALASEPT05

For me being at the hospital with the best NICU and access to children's medicine was my largest decision factor. I really found the hospital first and a doctor who delivered there second.

komurphy

I stayed with my doctor who delivered at our local hospital who only had the lowest level NICU.  She told me from day one that she'd transfer my care if it looked like the babies would need a NICU.  And of course that is exactly what happened.  At 26 weeks she transfered my care to another doctor who delivered at a hospital with a level III NICU.  I don't regret my decision to stay with my original doctor.  I had been seeing her for years and I had a good relationship with her.  And in the end I had my emergency c-section at a great hospital.  It was with a doctor I had never meet but in my situation it didn't matter because every thing happened so quickly anyways.

snoangel79

Just in case yes you should... Sh*t can hit the fan at anytime. Trust me it continuously did for me >: I had an emergency c-section in a hospital with a level 3 nicu that my kids needed and I'm very glad I did!

kthappy76

I would not plan to deliver multiples at a hospital w/o a level 3 NICU. Does your MFM deliver babies? Many don't. Is the hospital accessible to you? If so, then yes, I would switch.

reillyroowho

No NICU? EEEEEKKKKK! I couldn't handle that. I went to a hospital 90 miles away so that my babies would have the best possible care. It wasn't much of a question for me.

GeauxTigers82

Absolutely a hospital with a Level III NICU!

I was set on this even with my singleton DD1, and I had no reason to think she would be a preemie. Well, she was, and I'm so glad a friend made me think about the NICU issue.

I would hate to have the babies transferred while I'm recovering in another hospital! I would switch for sure, regardless of twins or not.

MuseumMaven

I would 100% deliver at the hospital with the NICU - and this comes from someone who's twins never had any NICU time.

Remember that transferring a fragile newborn is no small task, either.  It would be in your LOs best interest not to have to be transferred but to be at the NICU right away if need be.

ColleenS629

Without a doubt, I would switch. Like PPs said, you don't want to have to have your babies transferred to a different hospital than you for the NICU.

DenaRenee78

I would want a doc who delivers at an NICU. It would be awful to deliver at one hospital and the babies be sent to a different one! I almost has that happen with my one son but luckily they transferred me too right before my son was born. Otherwise I would have been at one hospital and him at another  =(