Switching OB/GYN because of hospital?

melmarie4 · August 2014

I'm not sure what to do. I've been going to my current OB/GYN for about 4 years now for regular checkups and now for my pregnancy. I really like her and feel comfortable with her but, but she only delivers out of one hospital. This week my husband and I decided to tour both the hospital ("A") she delivers at and another one ("hospital B") near us that I had heard good things about. I thought I might like hospital B better, but would still prefer to keep my doctor and just stick with hospital A. Unfortunately I hated hospital A. The rooms just seem so small and cramped. I know when I feel sick and uncomfortable I just want lots of air and space. I cannot image 3-4 people in that room at one time. I felt so much more comfortable walking into hospital B. The rooms are spacious, the nurses all seemed friendlier, they provided us with so much more information and seemed a lot more organized, there's a NICU(hopefully won't need one but I like that it's there just in case), there's a possibility I could get a room with a jacuzzi(there's only two rooms with one so it would really depend how many people are delivering at the same time, but if I could get a jacuzzi I definitely see myself using it to help with the contractions), there's a bench in both the delivery room and the room you stay in after delivery (other hospital only had a chair in both rooms) I think the bench would be nice for my husband to sleep on and for when we have multiple visitors at a time, it's a bigger hospital so they have multiple lactation specialists compared to just the one at the other hospital, they have a monitor that enables you to walk around if you need to, and I guess just better overall vibe.I can't think of a single thing that makes hospital A better. Both hospitals are an equal distance from my house so that's not a factor. My husband agreed that if he were in the one giving birth he would definitely choose hospital B too. I'm 17 weeks now and would rather switch now before I get really far along in my pregnancy. What should I do? Is it stupid to switch doctors just because of the hospital? (I can't guarantee my doctor will even be at my delivery because there's 7 other doctors in her practice. It depends who's on call when you go into labor). Will it be hard to find a doctor in the middle of my pregnancy? Was the hospital a factor in deciding on your ob/gyn?

Barbiemasacre · August 2014

I was going to but then I relized the other hospital would be too far away in any emergency.

2000cougar · August 2014

I didn't get the typical post partum rooms after my last delivery. The L&D ward was full so they put me in a "swing" room that wasn't even in the L&D ward. It wasn't the best experience. I was there for 4 nights and the bathroom didn't have a shower. My experience wasn't anything like I thought it would be based on the tour. I'd stick with the OB you like and are comfortable with.

Samiantha101 · August 2014

Of everything you mentioned, the only reason I may consider changing hospitals is the lack of the NICU in hospital A, however because I am not high risk, this wouldn't necessarily make me want to change hospitals.

Sure, it's nice to have all the bells and whistles, however seeing a doctor I comfortable with and confident in trumps the bells and whistles every time.

rainbows · August 2014

Im struggling with the same issue. I love my OB but Im not so happy about the hospital. I have been told that the sooner you switch, the better off you are. Otherwise I would just keep seeing my OB, but go to the other hospital for delivery.

Just remember that your OB will be there for the delivery, but is not usually the person you are dealing with during labor, recovery and afterwards (at least at the hospitals around here), and If the doctors rotate on delivery, you may not see your OB anyway.

My biggest qualm about moving is that the current OB is in the same city that I work, which makes appointments very easy and convenient. The other hospital is about the same distance away from my home, but about 15 minutes further from work. So, is the extra time for appointments and travel worth it? Maybe!

southernyankeegirl · August 2014

If you can find a medical practice that you're comfortable with, I'd switch personally.

We were facing two choices: mediocre hospital 15 minutes away who sucks at billing with brand new OB practice, or brand spanking new hospital 45 minutes away with all the bells and whistles with an established OB practice that has really positive reviews.

I met with the new OB practice, because bells and whistles aside, I figured 15 minutes was a more reasonable distance to go while in labor, and that's the hospital an ambulance would take me to in an emergency anyway. Well, I just got a bit of a bad feeling from them. We didn't 'click'. Not to mention that hospital then really messed up some billing for bloodwork I had done there, are completely incompetent and won't do their jobs, unethical predatory billing practices that makes me want to post an Op/Ed in the town newspaper about them.

So I made the difficult decision to switch practices to go with the further away hospital and existing OB practice. I am SOOOOOOOO glad! I love every single one of the doctors & midwives in the office, the hospital is exactly what I'd hope for (minus those jacuzzis, those sound awesome). It's just such a better environment for me, and I feel really confident with my decision.

Trust your gut. Being comfortable is important. Probably not quite as important as safety and overall cost (if there's a vast difference) but I wouldn't want to deliver at a place where I didn't feel comfortable for any reason. I get claustrophobic, I could very well have a panic attack if I felt the room too cramped.

winecastle14 · August 2014

I was about to say you won't really care about the room size and the NICU isn't that big of a deal because they'll just transfer you if need be, but not having a bench for your DH to sleep on actually really sucks. Also, having more lactation consultants available is a huge plus. You aren't delivering the baby in your doctor's office. Do you even know for sure you'll have your doctor at the time? I'd pick hospital preference over doctor preference because other than delivery (maybe) you won't be seeing your doctor much in the hospital.

You can still switch back to your original one for gyno related stuff after the baby if you want.

Stargirlb · August 2014

Look into switching ASAP. Time is ticking to find a new care provider, and who knows, you might go to one appointment and not like him/her and decide to stick with your current provider. You should do this as soon as possible though.

bigbobdole · August 2014

I switched my OB. I was seeing the same doctor for years prior to this pregnancy. Once I got pregnant and went to see him, it was like a whole new practice, the nurses were rude and the doctor was pushy, it was really strange and it made me uncomfortable. Plus, the hospital where he delivers and quite a distance from my home and its not really highly recommended. I called a different OB as soon as I left my appointment and they scheduled me right away. I love my new doctor and the hospital she's associated with. Plus, the new office is two blocks away, and the hospital is less than 15 minutes away.

I was very happy when I switched, and would recommend you look into it if you aren't happy with the hospital.

KnitPixy · August 2014

Crap! I keep forgetting to schedule my hospital tour! I know the hospital well as I'm there all the time for my check ups but still... need to do that this week!

Personally I would go with the hospital you are more comfortable with. That being said can you meet some of the OB's from that hospital before you switch? If you don't like the doctors that might influence your decision.

Stargirlb · August 2014

a shitty hospital tour (with no realistic alternative) was also a big part of why I first decided to have a homebirth! I was 30 weeks along at that point, lol. I definitely recommend hospital tours as early as possible so that you can suss out potential issues.

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Eyefrog · August 2014

You have to go with your gut, however people will have good and bad experiences at all sorts of hospitals with all types of medical staff. I had such an experience with one doctor(on call pedi) after one of my births, it had nothing to do with my OB or the hospital itself and it didn't stop me from returning again.

melmarie4 · August 2014

rainbows said:

Im struggling with the same issue. I love my OB but Im not so happy about the hospital. I have been told that the sooner you switch, the better off you are. Otherwise I would just keep seeing my OB, but go to the other hospital for delivery.

Just remember that your OB will be there for the delivery, but is not usually the person you are dealing with during labor, recovery and afterwards (at least at the hospitals around here), and If the doctors rotate on delivery, you may not see your OB anyway.

My biggest qualm about moving is that the current OB is in the same city that I work, which makes appointments very easy and convenient. The other hospital is about the same distance away from my home, but about 15 minutes further from work. So, is the extra time for appointments and travel worth it? Maybe!

Ya my current OB is down the street from my husband's work which makes it a lot easier for him to attend some of my appointments. I love the convenience of that, but I guess him getting off work early a couple of times won't be too big a deal.

melmarie4 · August 2014

southernyankeegirl said:

If you can find a medical practice that you're comfortable with, I'd switch personally.

We were facing two choices: mediocre hospital 15 minutes away who sucks at billing with brand new OB practice, or brand spanking new hospital 45 minutes away with all the bells and whistles with an established OB practice that has really positive reviews.

I met with the new OB practice, because bells and whistles aside, I figured 15 minutes was a more reasonable distance to go while in labor, and that's the hospital an ambulance would take me to in an emergency anyway. Well, I just got a bit of a bad feeling from them. We didn't 'click'. Not to mention that hospital then really messed up some billing for bloodwork I had done there, are completely incompetent and won't do their jobs, unethical predatory billing practices that makes me want to post an Op/Ed in the town newspaper about them.

So I made the difficult decision to switch practices to go with the further away hospital and existing OB practice. I am SOOOOOOOO glad! I love every single one of the doctors & midwives in the office, the hospital is exactly what I'd hope for (minus those jacuzzis, those sound awesome). It's just such a better environment for me, and I feel really confident with my decision.

Trust your gut. Being comfortable is important. Probably not quite as important as safety and overall cost (if there's a vast difference) but I wouldn't want to deliver at a place where I didn't feel comfortable for any reason. I get claustrophobic, I could very well have a panic attack if I felt the room too cramped.

Exactly this! I feel like I might get a little claustropobic and that would just add to the stress of the day. I've had a couple panic attacks and they are not fun. I'm thinking hospital A is more expensive since it's a private hospital. I'll look into the cost and see if it's a huge difference.

southernyankeegirl · August 2014

ExcitedMama2 said:

I would also look into if the pediatrician you selected has privileges at the hospital you like. If not, it isn't as big of a deal because they will have the hospital pediatrician look over baby, but I always have this feeling that hospital peds work there because they don't have to maintain relationships with their patients for a long period of time...just my experience, I'm sure there are some fabulous hospital peds out there.

This is actually a really good point. We found out the name of the practice that has privileges for pediatrics, so our baby will be seen by one of those pediatricians regardless of who we choose for on going care. I plan to meet with that practice beforehand to figure out their experience, policies, procedures, etc. to gain a comfort level with the doctors who will be handling my son after birth.

melmarie4 · August 2014

Stargirlb said:

Look into switching ASAP. Time is ticking to find a new care provider, and who knows, you might go to one appointment and not like him/her and decide to stick with your current provider. You should do this as soon as possible though.

That's a good point, just because I meet with a new provider doesn't mean I can't stick with my current one if I end up not liking them.

melmarie4 · August 2014

KnitPixy said:

Crap! I keep forgetting to schedule my hospital tour! I know the hospital well as I'm there all the time for my check ups but still... need to do that this week!

Personally I would go with the hospital you are more comfortable with. That being said can you meet some of the OB's from that hospital before you switch? If you don't like the doctors that might influence your decision.

It seemed like most of the people on the tour were delivering in the next couple months. I guess I was the only one "exploring my options". So don't feel like you're behind. You can probably wait till November/December especially if you already know the hospital pretty well. Also if you are planning on taking birthing classes at the hospital I believe most hospitals usually give a tour then.

melmarie4 · August 2014

ExcitedMama2 said:

I would switch if you can find a doctor you like at that hospital. Room size/etc might not seem like that big of a deal now, but really, that is where you are going to be spending a day or two or four, and you want to be comfortable with the environment. You'll see your doc for delivery and like 5 minutes a day afterwards.

I would also look into if the pediatrician you selected has privileges at the hospital you like. If not, it isn't as big of a deal because they will have the hospital pediatrician look over baby, but I always have this feeling that hospital peds work there because they don't have to maintain relationships with their patients for a long period of time...just my experience, I'm sure there are some fabulous hospital peds out there.

The nurse actually gave us a long list of pediatricians that have privileges there. I haven't picked my pediatrician yet, but she said if they don't go to the hospital I can just have a pediatrician on the list to come to the hospital and check on the baby then go to the regular pediatrician I selected for the baby's first appointment.

Maebb · August 2014

I would switch OB-GYNs if I hated a particular hospital. Where I live, there are some hospitals that are equipped to handle ICU type issues and some that cannot, and I personally would want to be at a hospital that is the most equipped to handle that, should a need arise, assuming that both hospitals are a similar distance from me.

sparksfly22 · August 2014

I chose my doctor based on her hospital because I may not know many OBs but I knew there were hospitals I didn't want, which were closer to me. I preferred one that's 10 minutes from me instead of 5 because of it's amazing reputation and stories I have heard from other women and friends. It's also top 20 in the nation.

Their staff is kind, the facilities are clean and spacious, the doctors are wonderful, and I've been there before so I know what the floors and everything look like. At one of my first prenatal appts I made with a diff doctor I cancelled right in the waiting room when the receptionist told me she only delivered at the hospital I hated. I consequently found a great doctor, after 6 appts cancelled, that delivered at my choice of hospital and she's amazing.

I would HIGHLY recommend looking around in case you can switch, just because the place where your baby will be born is just as (or more) important than the person who cares for you during your pregnancy. I imagine it's very uncomfortable to deliver in a hospital that doesn't meet your needs, your preferences, or your expectations. I've heard horror stories about some hospitals where the nursing staff laughed at her for not being able to quickly breast feed, or where they had only room for their small bed so her husband couldn't visit her with her older daughter because there was barely space. I would be mad if this was something I had to deal with and had no control over during the day of delivery.

Goodluck!!!

Jellybean707 · August 2014

I would switch. I chose my care provider this time based around the fact that the practice is on the same campus as my prefered hospital.

With DS I spent way more time interacting with the nurses, lactation consultants, and other hospital staff than I ever did with my midwife. She checked on me a few times and was there to help deliver DS. I felt that the nurses weren't really responsive to my needs and treated me like an inconvenience at times. The new hospital has a much better reputation in this regard.

I would have chosen differently when I birthed DS had I realized that most of the time is spent with hospital personel and not my awesome midwife.

ETA: Typo

MarxieVonTrapp · August 2014

If you're not happy, switch. Your doctor may not be on call or available when you go into labor, so make sure that you at least like your hospital.

A local hospital just changed its policy that babies are only permitted to go into the nursery if they are sick. I checked my hospital to make sure we didn't have that policy, and we don't. But if we did? I'd probably switch OB practices.

FWIW, my hospital doesn't have any pediatricians. They have neonatologists. My daughter was very well taken care of during her time in the hospital, and we saw our pediatrician two days after we got home.

kc192 · August 2014

Kind of a tough call... If you really hate the hospital I'd consider switching OB's and going back after the birth. I ended up with a C section which means I was in the hospital for several days after, and I had lots of people stopping by. I LOVED my hospital. The nurses were incredibly professional and helpful, and fun! The rooms were great and it was just a wonderful experience over all. And even if I wasn't high risk a good NICU is still important to me as as lot of people I know lately seem to have needed a NICU... My practice sounds similar, they have everyone have at least an appt with everyone bc there's a good chance your OB won't be on call when you go into labor. The OB who did the C section was the one dr who I hadn't met with yet! I've had to switch drs a few times throughout the years and IMO there are more good OBs out there to find then good hospitals. I would hurry though. I know of certain drs who don't accept new patience after a certain number weeks and if you don't like one you meet you want plenty of time to find another. Good luck!

artistewonder · August 2014

This may be a stupid question but since Im having the same feeling and Ive yet to see my doctor to ask him, can't I be seen by my obgyn but register at the hospital of my choice? Like many have said theres a chance my obgyn might not even be there to deliver the baby and Id rather be at a hospital that in my opinion is better then the one my obgyn is registered at. I don't see many people saying that as an option, is there some reason they wouldn't let me deliver at a different hospital? I am comfortable with a doctor on call delivering my baby I think in the moment I wont care who it is as long as they get him/her out! But being in a facility that has low c-section rates and rated one of the top hospitals in nyc will definately be on my mind!

cclfc · August 2014

I feel like if you have a less than positive feeling about Hospital A now, it's not likely to improve when you're in labor. I'd explore alternatives while it's still earlier than later and see what options you may still have at this stage.

I had a friend who delivered at a hospital that (presumably) didn't have a NICU, and when her baby was born with complications, they whisked him off to the nearby University hospital 2 miles away. It was hard on her because she was at the first hospital recovering and her husband went to the university hospital to be with the baby, so she was all alone and felt very disconnected from the whole thing, which obviously was not ideal. Once she recovered enough to be released, she went to be with the baby, but those first few days were not easy. (Baby turned out fine)

Maebb · August 2014

artistewonder said:
This may be a stupid question but since Im having the same feeling and Ive yet to see my doctor to ask him, can't I be seen by my obgyn but register at the hospital of my choice? Like many have said theres a chance my obgyn might not even be there to deliver the baby and Id rather be at a hospital that in my opinion is better then the one my obgyn is registered at. I don't see many people saying that as an option, is there some reason they wouldn't let me deliver at a different hospital? I am comfortable with a doctor on call delivering my baby I think in the moment I wont care who it is as long as they get him/her out! But being in a facility that has low c-section rates and rated one of the top hospitals in nyc will definately be on my mind!

@artistewonder‌, for my particular OB-GYN practice, you pay a fixed price for the whole prenatal care and delivery, so it wouldn't make sense to have a totally random doctor at a different hospital deliver my baby. Also, there are six doctors in my practice, and they try to let you see all of them, so even if "my" doctor isn't the one on call when the baby is born, one of the six will be. I think they deliver at two different hospitals. Maybe other practices are different.

Also regarding c-section rates, I find that this can be deceiving for a hospital. For example, there's a hospital in ATL that has a 40% c-section rate, and that sounds shocking, but the high-risk pregnancies from more rural areas of GA go to this hospital, and people are also life-flighted in for emergency c-sections from other hospitals. I would be more interested in a particular practice's c-section rate for low-risk pregnancies than the overall rate of the hospital. That's another reason why I want someone from my OB-GYN practice delivering the baby and not a random doctor at the hospital. I know them, know their c-section rates, and trust that they will deliver the baby safely while incorporating my preferences, if possible.

summererobinson · August 2014

I don’t think it’s stupid at all. While doctor is important, they are not there for very long. Heck, if they are off that day you may end up with their fill in! If you ended up with a c section you would have to spend 5 days in the hospital, so for me, having a hospital you like is important

texasmama786 · August 2014

I have the best OB in Fort Worth, literally, this man is highly recommended and in magazines. I was in this same predicament last pregnancy since the hospital he was delivering at was small, with smaller rooms and didn't have the best reviews. I chose to keep my OB since he was performing my c-section and my life was in his hands which I found to be most important. Don't judge a hospital by it's cover. I had the best 4 day stay at that little hospital with a great team of nurses which was overall an incredible experience. Keep in mind that smaller hospitals tend to be less busy therefore you have more prompt nurse care. This year my OB is delivering at the huge, state of the art newly built hospital and I'm almost disappointed that I can't go to my little hospital. The most important thing is that you and your baby have a healthy delivery. If your OB is great at what he does and you trust him, why would a hospital room matter that much?

melmarie4 · August 2014

summererobinson said:

I don’t think it’s stupid at all. While doctor is important, they are not there for very long. Heck, if they are off that day you may end up with their fill in! If you ended up with a c section you would have to spend 5 days in the hospital, so for me, having a hospital you like is important

Is the stay at a hospital for a c-section typically 5 days? I had no idea. Do they send the baby home before you or can the baby stay as long as you're in the hospital?

firespirit717 · August 2014

I'd go with the hospital you liked more that had better rooms and better staff. Your dr is only there for delivery and that's not even guaranteed. Another dr might be on call or your dr could get stuck with another laboring patient I theirs. The nursing staff is there helping you throughout labor and not just delivery (unlike the dr) and they are there for you during recovery. I love my hospital and my dr but I know that I might not deliver with her so at least I have a good hospital to all back on.

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