Choosing where to deliver

busterbeagle · October 2013

My OB delivers at 3 different hospitals. The first one is half a mile from her office, 5 minutes from my parents' where DD will be staying, very small and homey atmosphere. Labor, delivery, and recovery all in the same room. Definitely the most convenient, but we had a bad experience in the ER this summer that is souring my opinion. Option 2 is a large urban hospital with a level III NICU, 25 minutes from my parents/DD. I had DD there. It's a teaching hospital, so I had 4 residents up in my business, but one ending up being the major support person who to me through pushing. We had to move to a different room on a different floor for recovery. Lots of security to prevent stolen babies. Hospital #3 is brand new and the only one I haven't toured. They claim that their birthing suites are "spa-like" and each one has an immersion tub, but you move to a separate recovery room after. It's about as far from my parents/DD as option 2 but in the opposite direction, so less traffic and easier parking. I don't know how to choose. What was the deciding factor for you if you've already chosen?

mrsbtobe20122 · October 2013

I work at a level 2 NICU hospital in labor and delivery. If I am term with no complications, I'll def drive the extra 10 minutes to be taken care of by my own. It's the newer, fancier hospital also.

I'd I'm <37 weeks, or have any complications with babe--I'll go to the hospital 5 min from my house (same hospital system) that is older, not so flashy--and has a level 3 NICU.

NICU level definitely trumps all--after all, all I want is the healthiest scenario for my baby, not a jacuzzi (although nice). The only other thing that could possibly change my mind is if my primary OB is on call at one and not the other. Odds are, he won't be--as I go to a large practice.

Junebug060609 · October 2013

I would need to tour #3 before deciding.

Do all of them have ORs and at least regular NICUs (obv the one has the level 3)? Presumably they all have some security in place, Baby LoJack or the like, right?

Ps. I had DS in a teaching hospital, too. Two residents in my business...though thankfully I had seen them during the pg. They were great.

busterbeagle · October 2013

All three have ORs and the smaller two have level IIs. The BFing support is also much better at hospital 1 (no clue what it's like at #3).

Allibob · October 2013

I'd go with the level 3 NICU for my peace of mind. Depending on how the teaching hospital runs, you can usually request no residents. Ask your doctor about that first though.

busterbeagle · October 2013

I am stressing unreasonably over this, too. But at least it is a legitimately important decision. Is it normal to just choose a hospital depending on when/where you go into labor? I was induced last time so I have no experience. I would definitely go to the hospital with the level III for preterm labor or if something comes up at the a/s. Maybe I should wait until then to decide.

busterbeagle · October 2013

kitchencolors said:

busterbeagle said:

All three have ORs and the smaller two have level IIs. The BFing support is also much better at hospital 1 (no clue what it's like at #3).

This just makes me more in favor of 1. Obviously if you go into labor at 34 weeks or find out that you're having conjoined quads or whatever, then go straight to the one with the fancy NICU.

Crap, what made you mention the quads? I had the same thought today after I ate 4 half bagels. And I got my flu shot last week, so you know what that means.

busterbeagle · October 2013

Do you think I'll get a group discount?

busterbeagle · October 2013

Sweet! I'm sure after conjoined quads I will be in a huge rush to get KTFU again. It will also be necessarily in case they are all girls since I will have to try for a boy.

busterbeagle · October 2013

So, this started as a serious question, so if anyone else is still deliberating like me, I can totes behave like a normal person. @kitchencolors just makes me all giddy and stuff.

Tkhixen · October 2013

My practice only delivers in one hospital, but it's a great one! All private rooms, cots for the daddy's, and one of my best friends works in the NICU. I haven't toured yet, but have spent many waiting hours in that hospital due to all my friends and family members delivering there!

awisern · October 2013

I work in a level lll nicu...I was adamant about delivering at my hospital last time. Then my ob switched practices/hospitals half way through and I had tomake a decision. Initially I was going to switch docs and still deliver at my hospital but then decided to go with my doc to another hospital I my system that was closer to home. They have a level ll nicu but are covered by the docs I work with.

I really liked the hospital and my experience so that's where I will deliverthis time.

Go with your gut...if you are full term and no complications deliver where you like (pending they have at least a level ll nicu). Just ask where baby would go if a level lll nicu were needed.

Good luck making your decision.

@HatchetFace haven't seen you much lately....I lurve you

MissLadyTay · October 2013

Does Option 3 have a NICU? I am extremely risk averse so would probably choose (and am choosing something similar for this baby) Option 2. I don't care about amenities like immersion tubs or staying in the same room. Moving around didn't bother me last time.

Hnova86 · October 2013

I would choose 1 or 2. Most likely 2 if its only a 25 minute drive. In the scheme of things it's really not that bad. You just never know. I am a post Partum RN at a hospital with a level II nicu and we had a very critical baby the other night that had to be shipped out. Very sad and scary situation involving a full term infant. I wouldn't want my baby being shipped off without me. Your option 2 has a level III nicu I'd stay there since you have that option and you can go visit while you are recovering. Just my opinion.

alphalyrae · October 2013

I have 2 hospitals within 30 minutes of me both with level III Nicu's. I ultimately went with one over the other because I found my midwife practice and they only deliver at one of the hospitals. I'd opt for the highest NICU level you can, because you never know what could happen, even with a full term baby.

mrspopsicle · October 2013

My OB only delivers at one hospital (20ish minutes from my house, level III NICU , completely renovated in the last five years - no complaints about my option) so I did not have to make a decision. But, for what it's worth, they have seperate labor/delivery and postpartum rooms so we had to move. It was no big deal at all. Especially because the postpartum room had a queen size bed and my husband wasn't stuck on a hard, uncomfortable pull out.

sweetky_06 · October 2013

I'm really curious how your OB manages to deliver at 3 hospitals - what if they have women laboring in different hospitals at the same time? Around here, we have 3 hospitals in town that deliver babies but each OB practice exclusively delivers at one or the other - and 2 of them are only 3 blocks apart.

MegCullen · October 2013

I love my bed, being close to my other kids and being in my own surrounds so I'm delivering at home. The times I did deliver in a hospital though, comfort was a BIG factor!

Empireceo · October 2013

Yup, you have to decide which factors are most important to you. I didn't like my hospital experience at all though I did really like my OB. I'm looking forward to being in the comfort of my own home, with a hospital backup just in case. At that point, I would need a c-section anyway so I'm glad my midwife works with a Trauma I hospital.

kramja01 · October 2013

I am jealous of the ladies here who have a choice (although I understand it can be nerve-wracking). I live in a rural area and my OB practice only delivers at one hospital. It is actually the best around, though--the others don't deliver babies (too small) or only have 1 OB (for emergencies/C-sections, family docs deliver everyone else)

christieep · October 2013

For me a NICU was important. I had a normal pregnancy, delivered at 40w2d and my son still ended up in the NICU for 5 days. I didn't want to be at one hospital while he was potentially at another.

As for the resident issue, I seem to think very differently than most. I feel like they have to learn somehow and there was always a "real" doctor (although residents are MDs) right there every time. I was always asked permission and could have declined I didn't want a resident doing things if I wasn't comfortable.

kristine526 · October 2013

For me, it was a no-brainer. My OB primarily delivers at two hospitals. He's "allowed" to deliver at others if he's on call for another OB, but that's about it. I'm sure if I had a hospital I REALLY wanted to deliver at that wasn't one of his primaries, there's a way to do it, but that's not the case.

One is older, has a level II NICU, and is 5 minutes from my house. Problem? It's probably the worst hospital in St. Louis. I have never mentioned "St. Anthony's" in St. Louis without the person who I'm talking to having a horror story from their own experience or someone they know. My last deciding factor against it (not that I needed one) was the fact that SIL works there. All I need is one of the L&D nurses to go ask "Hey are you related to..." and then have EVERYONE know I'm in labor, and being all up in my business. Our plan (which will be made very clear to the ILs) is to have me go into labor, let you know, and then we'll call you when we're ready for visitors. No one in the waiting room. No one in L&D with me except DH. The end. My baby. My body. You don't like it? I don't really care. Thanks though. *end rant*

The other completely re-did their labor and delivery this past year. Every patient has a private room with birthing ball, soaking tub, shower, etc. Labor, delivery, recovery are all in the same room. This hospital is the 2nd best hospital in the state and has a level III NICU. Dad has a couch to sleep on if he so chooses to stay overnight. Etc etc etc. Awesomeness, awesomeness and more awesomeness.

kb2bkk · October 2013

We went with the hospital that was closer wtih the Level II NICU. If I would have gone into labor before 37 weeks, or baby was high risk I would have delivered in Boston with my practice at a hospital with a Level III NICU.

It was a smaller L&D unit (only 8 birthing rooms), but had 2 ORs right in L&D. NICU staff from the Level III NICU were rotated up to the Level II NICU, and had they been needed would have also been on a transport team in case of emergency. Thankfully, we did not need the NICU.

We are opting to go with the smaller hospital again.

Agree with PP that ER staff and L&D staff are completely different teams, so don't let that skew your decision.

jenb_99 · October 2013

I had two choices with DS. I picked the one with the best NICU, and it turned out to be the right choice, since he aspirated meconium-filled amniotic fluid and had a bilateral pneumothorax that landed him in the NICU for 4 days. I couldn't care less about the rooms or other amenities.

Themetastic · October 2013

I desire to labor and/or birth in a tub, so I sought out a hospital that offered family birthing suites that allowed for such. So if it were me, I'd choose #3.

I would never deliver at a hospital that did not have an on site NICU.

flutepharm87 · October 2013

I don't have many hospitals near me, so none of the choices are ideal. The closest hospital doesn't have an L&D unit yet (new hospital), leaving me with 3 options. Option 1 is in a terrible area and is the closest to my house. We opted not to deliver there due to the area of town it's in. Option 2 has a level II NICU and is in a great area. Never toured their L&D unit, but I've been there a few times as family members have had surgeries there. Wasn't super impressed with some of the staff members I've met there.

Option 3 (the one I chose) is gorgeous. I had one of my rotations there and got to stock the L&D unit. Amazing ORs and the L&D floor is impressive. I know most of the pharmacy personnel there from rotations and they have immersion tubs in each suite. For me, the decision was easy because I knew some of the staff there and I trust them. I'm sure I'll need meds and I know the pharmacists down there know their shit.

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