Northern California Babies
phdprocrastinator
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Any recent experiences with Kaiser San Jose?
phdprocrastinator
member
Hello! As you can see in my signature, I have one daughter and just got a positive pregnancy test for baby #2.
DD was delivered at Kaiser Santa Clara/Homestead in 2012. While she was healthy (and that's the best one can hope for - right!?), we were left a little dissatisfied with my labor/delivery. Turns out DD was sunny side up, but nobody knew this until she was delivered via vacuum extraction after 4 hours of pushing. We had a travelling nurse who lied about how long I'd been pushing to the doctor when he came around (she said it had been 1.5 hours), and I also had an anesthetician who wasn't supposed to be in labor and delivery adjust my epidural... poorly. My birth plan really went out the window, and at certain points we had to answer needless questions (YES! We want immediate skin-to-skin - it's on the birth plan!) While I really can't complain (again, totally healthy child to show for it all), I have been thinking about switching to San Jose because they have midwives on staff. I think some of the issues that arose with DD wouldn't occur with midwives, although I could be wrong...
I hesitate to make the switch because I have vague recollections from when I was pregnant with DD of hearing that San Jose has shared rooms for mom/baby... meaning Dad can't stay the night, and I'd be really uncomfortable (I've been hospitalized with a shared room in the past, and would like to avoid it if possible).
I've been surfing the web looking for input but most of what I'm finding is from several years ago. I'd hate to judge their facilities based on staff that may no longer be there.
Thanks for any input!
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Re: Any recent experiences with Kaiser San Jose?
I didn't have much on my birth plan for preferences, but felt like my requests were listened to (don't know how much they looked at it in advance). Have friends who have friends that are nurses in that department & have a number of coworkers who also delivered there. All had positive experiences.
Rooms are single unless there is an overflow, then a few of the rooms have a second bed still set up. Look at their online tour. They have a NICU which helped eade my mind for those times when I'd have the what if thoughts. They have baby room-in with Mom & Dad assuming everyone is healthy & Dad can stay (fold out couch). We were told they still have a few rooms set up as doubles, & if they have to double some one up for a night, once a room is available, they'll get own room. Some bathrooms are shared (my L&D room had a shared bathroom). They talk up the post birth meal, the dessert was the best part IMO and was way too much food for just the two of us. Over night staffing of the mom & baby unit seemed like there could have used one more person, however was there over the 12-12-12 time frame so I don't know if they were more crowded than anticipated.... but we had our own room. Would definitly reccomend having a baby at Kaiser SJ (and have).
Was a bit of a challenge signing up for classes while pregnant) andthe scheduling windows seemed off for the classes, & the growth ultrasound. They were able to open up an appointment & get me in for the growth check within the specified window of time though.
I've seen a lot of other dr's at San Jose Kaiser and used to work there infact. My ob/gyn is actaully located there and I will get my first prenatal experience there next month though so stayed tuned.
PS...can anyone see my tickers??