Woman's Hospital or St. Lukes?

jennyliztx · December 2010

I'm planning a natural birth (due in a few weeks) and need to decide between Woman's Hospital or St. Lukes. My OBs office is right next to Woman's Hospital and he delivers more there and it's more convenient for him - he has stated that he would prefer that I deliver there.

However, I have misgivings about Woman's Hospital. I had my first child there 5 years ago (scheduled c-section for baby issue) and it was "ok". But a scheduled c-section is right in line with the "program" there and I didn't breasfeed so there wasn't much room for friction. I was hoping that things had changed in 5 years (since so many hospitals have moved to a more family-centered model of care). I was even told by my OB that Woman's was moving away from their Mandatory Separation Policy. But, as of last weekend when I was there visiting a friend who just delivered, the policy was still fully in place so I guess that is NOT true. I also have several friends whose babies were given formula while the baby was in the nursery despite the parents' direction that no formula, no bottles, etc were to be given to the baby at any time. I get the impression that the attitude is "this is how we do it here" and they don't really care what the parents think.

I don't want to go into the hospital knowing I'm going to have to get into a fight with the nurse as soon as the baby's born (because they will NOT be taking the baby to the nursery unless there is a medical necessity).

Meanwhile, I've been reading about the St.Lukes/Texas Children's Labor and Delivery facilities and at least PR-wise, the attitude seems totally different and more in line with what I believe in. No baby separation, active promotion of breastfeeding and a more natural childbirth-friendly environment.

So, does anyone know? Is Woman's as bad as it seems or have I been given the wrong impression? Is the St. Lukes PR just good marketing or are they really as good as they sound? Anyone with a "less medicalized" labor and delivery had a recent experience good or bad at either place?

What should I do?

TexasPaige · December 2010

I am not exactly what you're looking for since I had a scheduled c-section at both hospitals (St. Luke's less than three weeks ago). I definitely preferred my St. Luke's experience. They helped me nurse in recovery, and my baby only left me to be circumcised and one night when I sent him to the nursery for two hours because I needed a little shut-eye. I did find their family-friendly approach to be more than just marketing. I also preferred the nurses at St. Luke's.

Good luck with your decision.

somethingchangd · December 2010

I had an emergency c/s at 36w at St. Lukes. Even being a month early my son never once left my side, with the exception of 2 hours one night when I needed a little sleep and sent him to the nursery. My doctor told me I could attempt to breastfeed while I was still on the table being sewn up if I wanted, although I waited until recovery to bf. I was never once pressured to give formula or pacifiers or anything, even though my son didn't have a suck reflex at birth and my milk didn't come in while I was still in the hospital. (Instead my LCs showed me how to pump and helped me collect the drops - literally drops - of colostrum in a syringe and feed it to him.) I really wanted to labor without meds and have a vaginal delivery, but it was never an option for me (placenta previa and placental abruption), but I really believe my St. Luke's experience was absolutely the best possible c/s experience I could've had. I don't have a single bad thing to say.

Violet_McPurpleson · December 2010

I attempted to go natural at Women's and to my surprise everyone was very supportive. I was even given a nurse who birthed both her kids naturally. That being said after 4 hours on pitocin with broken water I caved. I don't blame the hospital though, I wasn't super invested in a natural delivery.

I did have a hosebeast of a postpartum nurse though.

aly&jj · December 2010

I loved my experience at Woman's. I had my delivery without the epidural and the nurses were awesome. I told my doctor upfront that I didn't want Lauren taken away for observation so they set it up to where she could be in the room with me the entire time. They just put us closer to the nursery in case anything happened. We ended up sending her anyway because after 22 hours of labor we were exhausted. Oh, and we EBF and they never forced formula on us.

hendy02 · December 2010

I delivered naturally at st lukes and had a wonderful experience. DD was only out of the room once when she started choking on amniotic fluid and they whisked her off to the nursery. Otherwise we were all together all the time. The L&D staff was also relatively supportive of going drug-free. It wasnt that they tried to convince me to get an epi, but they definitely talked to me to make sure I knew what I was doing

. I wouldn't have thought that all-natural births were rare but maybe? If I had it to do again, I'd go back to St lukes. (I have heard that womans gives out a ton more freebies though. Their rooms also seem to be nicer, but St lukes is building that new hospital with TCH so they aren't really updating their rooms. I didn't have a huge problem with all that though.)

kreeper611 · December 2010

I'm really no help - I had a scheduled c/s at Women's and breastfed. They did give C formula in the nursery after asking me if it was ok. In fact, my dr asked me the day before because we expected C to be huge (he was) and she said he would be hungry. I knew about the recovery time and I guess since I was so mentally prepared for it, I was fine with everything.

If I have any complaints about Women's it would be these, although they are more about the people and not the hospital:

-first baby nurse brought C to me and didn't show me how to breastfeed. I didn't know what I was doing and she wasn't very helpful. Not rude, just not hands on. Our next nurse was very hands on and gave great instructions and C ended up being a great nurser.

-first LC seemed like she was too busy to stay too long. Turned out I didn't need help since he was doing so well, but I wanted a little encouragement. I called for another one the next day and voiced my opinion stating that I didn't want the same LC and they sent over another lady. She asked what had happened the day before and I felt like things were good.

melissa0312 · December 2010

st lukes does "rooming in" so you might want to consider that.

i delivered there, but dd was whisked away to the tch nicu so my situation was a lot different from yours. i had a great experience and with all the complications i had i felt like i was in very good hands.

Quizzle · December 2010

I had a scheduled c-section at St Luke's (due to her size, and because I had NO progress so we knew she'd get even bigger) and breastfed. I'm sure I'd have been able to breastfeed on the table, but DD aspirated fluid so had to go to the NICU at Texas Children's for a couple of days

She got formula there (I was annoyed at one of my nurses there, who wasn't very BFing friendly) becuase of how long it took me to be able to get down there to see her. However, St Luke's had a LC in the room before I was even up and about after the c-section to talk to me and bring me a pump and teach me how to use it as well as give me verbal instructions on breastfeeding. Some of the other nurses in the NICU were much better about helping me out. And the LC came to see me pretty quickly after she was in the room with us. They made an effort to come by early on discharge day, too, and I got several follow-up calls and help.

I had the feeling they'd be pretty natural birth friendly, but circumstances never let me try that.

KT120106 · December 2010

No offense, but from what you've said, it totally sounds as though you would prefer St. Luke's and are only caving to your doctor's wishes. It is not his decision if he has rights at both hospitals, and how inconvenient can it really be for him to deliver at St. Luke's? I personally would be more concerned about my doctor understanding my wishes for a natural birth than the hospital.

FWIW, I delivered med-free at St. Luke's and had a really wonderful experience. I would do it again in a heartbeat and probably will.

jennyliztx · December 2010

How were you able to arrange that with your doctor? Did you need to get some sort of note from him/her to take to the hospital?

SageBeginnings · December 2010

If I had my choice, I would go with St. Lukes - rooming in, more than 2 birth balls on the floor (a few times now, they were both 'in use' at Women's), no 'required 2 hr nursery stay'... BUT, all that said, I have worked with women at both hospitals that had wonderful natural births.

kck329 · December 2010

This is my first so I don't have any personal experience. But I'm delivering at St. Lukes with the Women's Specialists midwives. At our orientation they told us that all the nurses on the L&D floor have been trained as doulas as well which seemed like a big selling point to me.

I say go with what you think is best for you and your family-don't let the doctor pressure you into making a decision you aren't comfortable with.

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