Newly Pregnant: Caregiver Advice

snshijutpr · September 2011

Hello All!

So we just found out a week and a half ago that I'm pregnant! It still hasn't really hit me, except the crushing anxiety to figure out where to give birth and who to have help me deliver the baby. Right now I'm with Dr. Morris Ahdoot and the plan is to deliver at Hoag, but I'm not entirely sure about that. I figure the first thing is to settle on a place so here are the options I see:

Hoag
Mission
Southcoast Birthing Center

Beachside Birthing Center is too far away from us so that's out. Any other options? Any advice from Moms who delivered at these places?

My main criteria is control and respect. I want to have both of them

dehsignz · September 2011

Hoag was pretty good. My delivery nurses were amazing and even though I was in labor for 26 hours and then a section they made the experience wonderful and calm, could not say enough wonderful things about them.

Then when I was upstairs for the next 5 days there were some rough patches. Some of the nurses were great and some were just clueless, problem is there is tons of turn over with the different shifts and us being there forever. Remember if ever and issue speak up to the charge nurse and they will take care of it.

snshijutpr · September 2011

Thanks dehsignz.

Does anyone have any experience at the birth center?

MissMex · October 2011

dehsignz:
Hoag was pretty good. My delivery nurses were amazing and even though I was in labor for 26 hours and then a section they made the experience wonderful and calm, could not say enough wonderful things about them.
Then when I was upstairs for the next 5 days there were some rough patches. Some of the nurses were great and some were just clueless, problem is there is tons of turn over with the different shifts and us being there forever. Remember if ever and issue speak up to the charge nurse and they will take care of it.

This! I had basically the same experience. L&d nurses were awesome. Recovery not so much. But I had an ocean view so it wasn't horrible. I was in labor for 28 hours after an emergency induction coming from my appt. W/ my perinatologist. I was exhausted and my daughter couldn't nurse properly due to a medical condition. She also had severe jaundice and had to be in the incubator for most of our stay. Because there is no nursery at HOAG save for the NICU she was roomed in with us. After my long labor I needed sleep more than anything and it just couldn't happen. I wasn't given a pump until I had been there for 24 hours and even then they wouldn't teach me how to use it because my nurse was too busy. this experience really could have happened anywhere. Nursing shortages are a reality in this day and patient care drips significantly because of that.

I'm not a candidate for birthing centers because of my high risk status but I've heard good things about both cebter's you've got listed. I can recommend sherridan Ripley as a Doula if you're looking for one. She works w/ all hospitals in the area.

I have also been treated at Saddleback, Mission and UCI during my prior pregnancies. I wouldn't send my worst enemy to saddleback. Mission was great and UCI's nurses were saint's. I was not such a fan of the on call OB's there but they were still better than Saddleback's.

so I'm my Very longwinded answer to your question- I think you will absolutely get what you want- respect and control at HOAG. However, control is really something you are going to learn how to give up in the birthing and parenting process. Your body is going to do what it wants. If you set your mind to a med free birth experience , it wont matter what hospital or center you are at, it can be done. But things do happen. And they happen unexpectedly. My best advice is to set yourself up for success. Put the health of your baby first ( that means quick & easy access to a NICU for me) have a strong plan and partner set up, and don't be dissapointed if your plan falls through. I was very angry for quite a few months because I didn't get the birth I wanted. Today almost 2 years later, my daughter is a happy healthy toddler. It's all that matters. I've lost 2 pregnancies since then but like I said, patenting teaches you to key go of control.

wow that was longer than expected. Feel free to email me at mrsmex09 at gmail dot com if you have any more questions.I never ever check this board and cane on tonight as a fluke. And congrats!

SpceCadet · October 2011

Unlike pp, I had a fantastic experience at Saddleback. I had very supportive L&D nurses who were encouraging at just the right moments. Several of my friends had their babies at Saddleback and all were pleased.

I wasn't producing any colostrum and DS was super hungry. The help I got from the LC was great and the overnight nurse was amazing in helping me realize that he was getting everything he could from me yet needed more nutrition. Her sweet demeanor and compassionate style was exactly what I needed when I needed help.

FWIW, I had an unmedicated birth and despite the (obvious) pain and serious nausea, I was never offered medication (at my request).

linds378 · October 2011

I had my baby at home, but through South Coast Midwifery birth center and couldn't have better things to say about them. The woman are ultra warm and friendly and the midwives and kind, loving, professional and skilled. Control and respect is just a few of the things you'll get there

Best of luck!

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