Thoughts on L/D at GBMC

Justtee33 · October 2012

Hi all,

I'm having my baby at GBMC and would love to hear from mothers who have delivered there. What was your experience like? What did you like? Do you wish anything could have been different? What would you recommend to me based on your experience? Any other thoughts...

Thanks!

NewMom92 · October 2012

I had my son at GBMC on June 28th and I was a wonderful experience. The staff is friendly and competent. The post-partum rooms are a good size. The food wasn't even that bad. Overall it was a gret experience, with no complaints.

Good luck!

BunintheOven311 · October 2012

The food is great-nurses are great-place is beautiful-we call it the baby hotel!

bridetobe920 · October 2012

We had a wonderful experience there when we had our daughter. The staff was wonderful, and really eased our minds as new parents. The post pardum rooms were beautiful and very comfortable, and we thought the food was great too.

Good luck!

Irishgypsy88 · October 2012

I had my son at GBMC and had a very good experience. I had a c/s, so I was there a little longer than originally expected (4 days), but it was fairly comfortable and I was glad that they would give me enough food for DH to eat as well. The furniture wasn't the most comfortable for breastfeeding if you're short like I am, but I did OK. Most of the nurses were very kind and attentive. The first lactation consultant that I had was great.

I did have one negative...one of the night nurses and a lactation consultant weren't very nice when it came to my baby's weight loss (11% total, which probably wouldn't have even gotten that far if we'd gone home in 2 days for a vaginal delivery). They pretty much made me feel like I was an awful mom for letting this happen, and it was only in the last 12 hours that it did (he's since been thriving). I mentioned my experience in my comment sheet that was sent through the mail a few weeks later, and was subsequently informed that a letter of grievance had been filed on my behalf. While that wasn't really what my intent was with my comments, I do hope that it helps another new mother to not have to deal with such attitudes. Ironically, the only person to talk to me about my son's weight that day that DIDN'T make me feel badly was the male pediatrician!

KrisM86 · October 2012

I did not give birth at GBMC but have two friends who did.

One friend loved her OB and her entire experience with both her kids.

The other had a terrible experience and feels she was talked into a C-section with no actual evidence that it was necessary. I will say that GBMC's C-section rate is over 40% which is just ridiculously high - it is one of the highest (if not the highest) in Maryland.

BunintheOven311 · October 2012

In their defense it was HER doctor that may have talked her into the C-section-not GBMC and the reason the rate is so high is because they are he best in the area-moms who need one generally go here for that reason. I had a c-sec but I've known plently of women who have had vaginal deliveries at GBMC. Just because you deliver there does not mean you will have a c-sec unless it's necessary.

KrisM86 · October 2012

BunintheOven311:
In their defense it was HER doctor that may have talked her into the C-section-not GBMC and the reason the rate is so high is because they are he best in the area-moms who need one generally go here for that reason. I had a c-sec but I've known plently of women who have had vaginal deliveries at GBMC. Just because you deliver there does not mean you will have a c-sec unless it's necessary.

I am sure this does contribute to it, however I don't think it is true that the majority of moms who need c-sections go here. I don't think it completely accounts for their extremely high rate. It's just something that I think the OP should be aware of so she can educate herself about when a c/s might be necessary.

SnoopyLuv · October 2012

BunintheOven311:
The food is great-nurses are great-place is beautiful-we call it the baby hotel!

We do too! We loved it there and if we have another I think I'll go back even though it's 45 minutes away. It was fantastic, from the LC's to the nurses, the food and the welcoming way they were with my family and guests. I was extremely happy with my treatment there.

SnoopyLuv · October 2012

GBMC takes a lot of high risk cases (multiples, etc), so it makes sense that their c-section rate is higher. I'd blame the doc for that- not the hospital.

I had a scheduled C for a breech baby and it was surprisingly a pleasant experience.

cbaummer2be · October 2012

I've had four children there. Two vag and one csection twins and baby b was breeched. I was not talked in to it but did so for the safety of my children. It is fabulous place to have a baby. Food has definitely improved over the years. Staff is outstanding.

Csection rate is due to the fact that they deal with a lot of high risk patients mothers and baby. They have a level 3 NICU which is not available in all the local hospitals. Great place.

anonsouthernbell · October 2012

WHO recommends a csection rate no higher than 15%. Thiss is supposed to include high risk cases, so when you see a hospital w/almost a 50% c-section rate that should give room to pause. And yes while a lot has to do with individual OBs there are policies that hospitals can put in pace that have a bearing on this as well. For instance, AAMC requires that all babies be born in the bed. If a baby is having difficulty descending, one of the best things you can do is change positions, especially into one that is more upright, which would be difficult to do in bed with nothing to hold on to/without a birth stool, etc.

2PuppiesHon · October 2012

Like PP's have said, their facilities are lovely, but I am wary of their high c-section rate. I've been told they freely admit on their tour that 98% of their patients get pitocin. That seems absurdly high and medically unnecessary to me.

CamFam · October 2012

anonsouthernbell:
For instance, AAMC requires that all babies be born in the bed. If a baby is having difficulty descending, one of the best things you can do is change positions, especially into one that is more upright, which would be difficult to do in bed with nothing to hold on to/without a birth stool, etc.

I would NEVER recommend AAMC to anyone. I delivered there (induced 10 days late) and had to call the nurses on duty to come place my fetal monitor multiple times when it stopped detecting his heartbeat for more than 15 minutes. They hardly monitored my stats, did not change the paper in the printer recording my contractions (my mother had to, and she only knew how because she used to work in labor and delivery), a student nurse checked me for dilation and declared me at a "3" when I was really "1" so I was given the epidural too soon, I pushed for 3 hours before they used a vacuum.... Horrible experiences.

I had heart palpitations after delivery and it took an hour to get a cardiologist in to see me. My coworker was also induced and after 10 hours on Pitocin, they sent her home due to failure to progress. Another friend had pre-eclampsia and had to deliver at 31 weeks, but they did a c-section and pulled too hard... Ended up ripping the baby's liver in the process (that was in 2008).

Sorry to go on my soap box about AAMC, but I want to inform others of my experience because I didn't research before choosing AAMC and wish I did.

anonsouthernbell · October 2012

CamFam:

anonsouthernbell:
For instance, AAMC requires that all babies be born in the bed. If a baby is having difficulty descending, one of the best things you can do is change positions, especially into one that is more upright, which would be difficult to do in bed with nothing to hold on to/without a birth stool, etc.
I would NEVER recommend AAMC to anyone. I delivered there (induced 10 days late) and had to call the nurses on duty to come place my fetal monitor multiple times when it stopped detecting his heartbeat for more than 15 minutes. They hardly monitored my stats, did not change the paper in the printer recording my contractions (my mother had to, and she only knew how because she used to work in labor and delivery), a student nurse checked me for dilation and declared me at a "3" when I was really "1" so I was given the epidural too soon, I pushed for 3 hours before they used a vacuum.... Horrible experiences.
I had heart palpitations after delivery and it took an hour to get a cardiologist in to see me. My coworker was also induced and after 10 hours on Pitocin, they sent her home due to failure to progress. Another friend had pre-eclampsia and had to deliver at 31 weeks, but they did a c-section and pulled too hard... Ended up ripping the baby's liver in the process (that was in 2008).
Sorry to go on my soap box about AAMC, but I want to inform others of my experience because I didn't research before choosing AAMC and wish I did.

:hugs: I'm sorry that you had such a horrible experience!

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