Any Berks County PA Moms or Moms-to-Be?

Re: Any Berks County PA Moms or Moms-to-Be?

• belladonna11307 member

  December 2011

  I used The Reading Hospital and Medical Center and was very happy with my experience.  Lets start from when you arrive...hey have valet parking until, I think 9 pm, ad there are reserved garage spaces really close to the entrance. They gave us a wheel chair, and my husband wheeled me up to triage because my water had broke and there was no way I was walking without a mess!  The triage nurses were great.   They started my paperwork while they ran my tests to confirm that my water had broke (I wasn't feeling the contractions, yeah, I know I suck!), and that was actually a continuation of paperwork as I had filled most of it out on line a month earlier.  My L&D nurse was awesome, as was the resident doctor on the floor (Emily was my nurse and Dr. Webb was the doctor).  They asked if I wanted pain meds a couple of times, but I never felt pushed in either direction.  There's a cafe and a lounge with vending machines for after hours.  I had planned on having my mom and hubby in the room with me, Dad was there as he drove.  They brought pillows and blankets for everyone to rest while I labored.  The NICU is right across the hall from L&D if you need it, and they have some postpartum rooms on the floor for NICU mommies.  They also have separate c-section rooms for emergencies from the scheduled c-sections, so there's always one available. After my recovery period they offered to bring me a sandwich (it was late, dining services was closed) either to my delivery room or my postpartum room.  It was huge!  As starving as I was I shared it with my husband so it didn't go to waste.  The postpartum rooms have a refrigerator in them and televisions.  The nurses check on you frequently.  There are a series of videos on taking care of the baby that they have to play for you, they just come in and say, if you're not watching anything I'll put this on for you.  Baby can room in with you or go to the nursery whenever you need.  They were gong to discharge me after 24 hours, but since my insurance covered it, I asked to stay the extra day and it wasn't a problem, the level of care was just as fantastic.  They have fold out chairs in the room for hubby, which aren't the most comfortable things, but at least he was able to lay down at night and had pillows and blankets.  A lactation consultant will drop in each day if you are nursing and check in with you and most of the nurses are well versed in breast feeding.  I never needed the lactation consultant because the nurses were so great.  If you take a class there they will give you a certificate for an "elegant dining experience".  I wouldn't say elegant, but it was very nice.  Instead of your tray they wheel in a table with a cloth and a surf and turf meal complete with rolls, salad, and dessert.  My LO wound up having to go to the nursery after the first day to by under the jaundice lights and I filled out a card with my wishes for her care (pacifier or not, bring her to me for feedings on demand, etc) and I feel like that was followed.  I could go see her whenever I wanted and when the nurses came in they let me know how she was doing.  So, in summary, I had a great experience there.  I recommend taking a tour and going to Doctor's Night (different than the classes) to see everything they have and do.  I'm sorry this kind of rambled a bit, if you have specific questions, let me know and I'll do my best to answer.

  That all being said, I have heard that St. Joe's is an excellent hospital as well.  It's newer, but Reading is so up to date that I'm not sure there will be many differences there.  I don't know anyone who has had a baby there. 

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