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2nd Trimester
Beth1031
member
prepared childbirth class/ hospital rant.. long
Beth1031
member
So.. tonight was our first prepared childbirth class. We are new to the area and have never been to the hospital where we will be delivering up until this point and let me tell you after tonight I am a bit nervous.... First of all, signing up for the class was difficult to say the least... you have to sign -up online, they responded that the class we wanted was not available and to email our second choice and they would get back in touch with us... it took over a week and as of yesterday had not received any word... I also called and no one returned my calls either.... finally got signed up and the told me the class was at 6pm and in the auditorium and that the information desk staff would give us directions when we get there. The parking garage and signs were cryptic to say the least and the information desk was closed, so we tracked down a nurse to ask where the auditorium was, and she told us the class was moved but didn't know where to, and had to call someone to find out... No one answers the call, so she calls two more departments before getting and answer... the class had been moved to the complete opposite end of the hospital (mind you now we are 10 minutes late, and I hate to be late). So we walk all the way across the hospital the where they said it should be and nobody is there... so I find another information desk ask them if they know where we are supposed to go and it takes another 5 minutes to explain to the elderly (and quite possibly deaf and or senile) staff what we are looking for.. the y have no idea and send us BACK to the first desk (that is closed, but it is not worth arguing with a deaf person....) so on the way back we run into the first nurse, and I am freaking out about being late and she tells me of don't worry, they told you the wrong time the class starts and 6:30... great, but we still can't find the darn class, not even hospital staff.... so she finds a Doctor and asks her and she said there is a sign by the elevator saying it is in the auditorium downstairs... So finally we find the class and the instructor can't get the computer and projector to work so she asks the husbands to figure out how to work the media stuff because the hospital IT staff won't answer the phone....the class started almost 30 minutes late and the instructor didn't know where a restroom was so us pregnant ladies had to go on yet another wild goose chase..... Now I am a little nervous to give birth in a hospital that seems so chaotic... and DH and I we really looking forward to do these classes... I nearly had a stressed out melt down .... Hoping next week is better!
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Re: prepared childbirth class/ hospital rant.. long
That sounds like a nightmare! I'm sorry you had to go through that. This is my first baby and I'm only 15 weeks, so I don't claim to be at all knowledgeable about choosing a hospital, but I wouldn't let that experience put you off. It sounds to me like more of an administrative error than anything else. I mean, if the class had been moved it was probably a last-minute change of plan (because a conference running late, for example), and whatever that reason was probably caused a lot of problems and confusion for the staff. I don't have an explanation for why you were told the wrong time, or your calls weren't returned, or the email took so long to get to you. That's weird, but, again, I wouldn't let it put you off.
Think of it this way: say you went to the dentist, and the receptionist was really rude; the layout of the building was a disorganised mess; the waiting room had a terrible smell and as you came in someone was complaining that they were told the wrong appointment time. None of that is actually the dentist's fault, and none of it will stop you from getting the treatment you need and deserve.
Basically, don't worry too much about it
I can be sure that just because the administative staff are a mess, it doesn't mean that the doctors aren't capable.
Then again, having a baby is NOT like going to the dentist, and I can't imagine that worrying about all these things when the time comes will help. I would go to at least a few more classes and see if you feel more reassured, but above all, stick to your own instincts and don't listen to anyone. I'm of course not trying to tell you you're being silly, I'm just reassuring, but don't let anyone over-reassure you if you really don't like it.
Editing after AmberMH08's post: also, definitely listen to someone who's actually HAD a baby or at least chosen a hospital over me, lol.
Just make sure you are comfortable with other docs there as well as there is always a chance your OB won't be there. Its actually a lot more common than it should be
but then again babies have there own timelines.
Exactly this, about not definitely getting "your" OB at delivery- I didn't and the OB who wound up delivering my son was my least favorite in the practice. Also, your OB isn't there with you for most of your labor- the majority of it is the nurses and the OB just pops in once in a while and catches the baby. If I'd had this experience, I would look into other options, to be honest.
I wouldn't worry about it. Don't forget that this class is super important to you, but for the hospital it's last priority- their first priority is saving lives and taking care of their patients that are currently checked in.
The nursing staff and everyone that works there can't be expected to know everything - there are SO MANY of them and so many different wings and so much going on - that they really can only focus on their current job. One nurse may have heard through the grape vine that a class was being moved and maybe thought it was that- but maybe it was another night or it was moved a week ago and she just got mixed up.
I would imagine that the admin staff that is scheduling things like these classes, are not exactly notifying the nurses and doctors since it most likely doesn't really concern them. I mean, the same thing happens in any large business between departments. I never know what the accounting department is doing or what the training department is doing...etc.
Plus, the teacher might not work for the hospital. Are you sure he/she wasn't hired from outside the hospital to do this class? It's possible this teacher just got confused and is kind of an idiot- it may not have any real reflection on what the hospital is like.
If you've heard good things from other people you're talking to, and this is the hospital your OB that you love reccomends and uses- then I would stick with it.
EDIT: When I say maybe the teacher was an ididot, I do not mean that he/she doesn't know what they're talking about regarding the class they're teaching. I just meant maybe he didn't know exactly how the hopsital runs or didn't fully understand other instructions.
That sucks! Sorry you had such a stressful time, that is NOT a good first impression of a hospital! I agree with PPs that this is most likely not a reflection how the L&D unit will be run (especially if you have friends who have had good experiences there).
You should take a Maternity tour if the hospital offers them. That way when the time comes, you'll know where you're going, and be familiar with everything. It might set your mind at ease about the place.