Community› The Bump Local Boards› Northern California Babies
Northern California Babies
New Discussion

San Francisco vs. Redwood City Kaiser for Labor and Delivery

ames999ames999
in Northern California Babies
Hi there!  I live in-between SF and RWC, so I need to decide which Kaiser hospital to deliver my first child in.  I have scheduled tours for both hospitals, but I wanted to get some input from those that have delivered at these hospitals.  I understand that the SF facility is newer, guarantees private rooms, and has more advanced facilities should anything go wrong during the delivery.  I am also interested in the fact that RWC has a midwifery program, and since I am trying to have a more natural birth without drugs, the midwifery program sounds appealing.  Any thoughts on either hospital and your experiences would be very much appreciated!  Thanks!  
Report Reply to Post

Re: San Francisco vs. Redwood City Kaiser for Labor and Delivery

  • love22love22
    I go to the RWC Kaiser and I love it.  At the paperwork class I recently learned that RWC Kaiser has the lowest c-section rate in Northern California.  I have also heard from a few friends who used Doulas that they really like RWC Kaiser.  I know nothing about SF Kaiser so I can't compare but I really liked our nurses, etc. at RWC.
    Baby Birthday Ticker Ticker Lilypie Third Birthday tickers
    Report Reply
  • Loading the player...
  • ames999ames999

    I read about the low c-section rate at RWC on another board post as well.  That's certainly encouraging, since I am hoping to do a natural birth!  Thank you for your input.  

    I'm also trying to decide if I should have a doula or not.  I'm sure it definitely helps to have a doula, if you are planning to have a natural birth, but I'm interested in hearing from some moms who had a natural birth without one.   I have a friend who had a doula and really appreciated the extra help. It's just an extra cost that I'm debating. 

    Report Reply
  • CelynCelyn member
    RWC
    image
    NorCalMOMS bio* NorCalBOTB* babywearingBIO
    Harmony Doula
    Report Reply
  • spicy-mustardspicy-mustard
    I also delivered twice at RWC and loved it!
    image
    Report Reply
  • SFAug07SFAug07 member
    I delivered in San Francisco and it was great. They have really nice birthing suites and family rooms (all private) and you never ever have the baby taken away from you. They do everything in the room with you. I learned that's not the case in all Kaiser facilities due to hospital layout (e.g. in Oakland they can't do that). All the nurses and doctors were amazing. I'll deliver in San Francisco again.
    Warning No formatter is installed for the format bbhtml
    Report Reply
  • StructenggalStructenggal member

    My brother and SIL live in SF and go to Kaiser. They were told when their DS was born (whether it's true or not, I don't know) that SF kaiser fills up very quickly with people coming from all over to have their kids born in SF (to have SF on the birth certificate).  They were told that when they went into labor that they might be directed to Oakland or Richmond.

    Low and behold, when my SIL's water broke, they were sent to RWC.  So, I'd definitely tour both, since SF may not be a choice when the time comes.

    Lilypie Third Birthday tickers Lilypie Second Birthday tickers Lilypie First Birthday tickers
    Report Reply
  • tri-readertri-reader
    I've delivered twice in RWC.  First time around I had a room all to myself for recovery for two nights.  Second time it must have been a full moon because I had to share and that sucked!  But people were sent in from other hospitals, I believe my roommate was from SF.  I have some complaints, but it was after the fact when I realized I could have spoken up.  For example, I had a midwife in training the 2nd birth and I didn't know she wasn't an actual midwife until I was stuck at 8cm for 3 hours and she didn't know if what she felt was the baby's head or my bag of waters.  She called the actual midwife (like I said, news to me at the time) and after the midwife came in, broke my water I delivered in less than an hour after that.  So...a lot of it was learn from my mistakes sort of complaints, but overall not a bad experience.  Overall, staff was great, nurses were nice and same with lactation consultants.  I'm delivering there again for my next birth
    Image and video hosting by TinyPic My Blog Lilypie Fifth Birthday tickers Lilypie Second Birthday tickers Pregnancy Ticker
    Report Reply
  • RozieGirlRozieGirl

    I delivered twice at SF and don't have any major complaints or issues. When I delivered in Nov, they were remodeling one side of the L&D area so I'm not sure if they are finished yet but I remember one of the nurses saying that if I had delivered 5 minutes later, I would have shared a room. Thank goodness I didn't have to share a room because one of the nurses was telling me, that the 2 women who did share a room got into it. For the most part, the staff was great and friendly. I had 2 very different deliveries both being natural and never felt that the hospital was ever trying to push meds on me. If and when I was ready, they were ready to provide what I wanted but of course never felt any pressure to. When its time, be sure to call L&D to make sure they have a room for you, and yes that is correct that if they are full, they will direct you to the next nearest Kaiser. I even asked one of the nurses is there any priority for people coming to deliver at SF and unfortunately no. I guess you can say, its a first come first serve basis and they'll take any Kaiser patient no matter what city you live in.

    GL!

    Report Reply
  • ames999ames999
    Thanks everyone for your input and sharing your experiences!  I really appreciate it.
    Report Reply
This discussion has been closed.
Choose Another Board
Search Boards
"
"