Natural Birthing at North Shore-LIJ Manhasset

Re: Natural Birthing at North Shore-LIJ Manhasset

• jacks198122 member

  May 2013

  Obviously, the facility is truly amazing.  Brand new and shiny with private rooms and flat screen TVs etc....However, they are very restrictive.  I was late and forced to be induced and was not allowed to get out of bed and move around at all through the induction which I have come to find out is not the norm.   I had to beg for a half hour to be allowed to get out of bed to use the bathroom.  The nurse wanted me to use a bed pan....gross!!  I was only 3 centimeters dilated at the time.  They were very overly cautious and restrictive-def not conducive to natural, intervention free birth.  After many hours of labor without proper dialation and continual upping of pitocin, I had to get a c-section because they broke my water and it was nearing the 24 hr mark. 

  Now that I am pregnant with my second and have hired a doula and midwife and am hoping for a vbac, I realize that the restrictive nature of my laboring definitely played a role in my failure to progress.  My midwife said she would have had me: walking/moving around a lot, would have given my more than one dose of cervidil, and would not have broken my water which all would have given me more time to dilate.   

  I did find the care to be very competent and the nurses were just about all very knowledgeable and attentive but if you want a natural experience I suggest you find a practitioner very supportive of your birth plan-look at Nassau Hospital.  Many midwives practice there and they have birthing tubs, all good signs.  My friend had a water birth there without any medical interventions.  I have also read many positive natural birthing stories of moms who gave birth there.  I would also be birthing there for #2 if we were still living on LI.  

  Good Luck! 

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• Lhoopie member

  April 2014

  I know this is an older thread but I found it while searching and felt the need to point out a few things for anyone else reading this. Don't let a c-section stat in and of itself affect your opinion of any hospital- if they handle a large number of high risk cases that number will be abnormally high as a result. Talk to your doctor- I've never heard of anyone being forced into anything at North Shore Manhasset- I wasn't. I was induced and I opted to wait for an epidural-I wanted to skip it but just couldn't in the end but I made it quite far. I don't know if they let you walk around after being induced- I have heard they are a bit restrictive with many things- I didn't try because I was too exhausted from not sleeping the night before so I just kept going back to sleep until things got really going. I know they recommend walking - but I know once you get an epidural you can't move (obviously).
  
  Next- their breastfeeding rate - consider the areas/demographics of those getting services. I have a few friends who work as nurses there. They tell me many stories of moms who call nurses to change their child's diaper because when they are discharged they will have full time, live-in nannies and it's a job they have no intention of doing. I imagine breast feeding in groups like that is also quite low.
  
  That being said- Nassau University Medical and Stony Brook both work with Midwife groups and obviously have operating rooms avail in the event something goes very wrong (which, while I support people's right to choose, is the only way I'd use a midwife! and I did consider it). Nassau is the only tub birthing facility on LI. I was considering it for my second since I tore so badly with my first. I am a logical person and don't see anything beyond claims from midwives about the tub birth helping with preventing tears, I don't want to switch my Doctors because they are very good and I don't know how the hospital is beyond their special services (I imagine it's fine- I just don't know personally- always do your own research!!). Now after reading the new research and advice that you don't have a water birth I will be avoiding it. They say laboring in a tub is beneficial but evidence shows higher risks to the baby and infection risks for momma with tub births. Again, do your own research and if the hospital still allows it make up your own mind. I support many aspects of natural labor but I find many of their claims are emotionally based and not supported by facts and studies. 
  
  Anyway- good luck to all for healthy and happy babies. In the end that's all that matters. Luckily we live in a part of the country where we have a lot of great options ans services to meet everyone's needs/preferences. (until we hit info/option overload)
  

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• thehappybaker03 member

  August 2014

  My doctor delivers at the Katz Women's Center at NS in Manhasset. I'm happy to read the above information and if anyone has anything else to add I'd like to read it! 

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• T ELLE member

  November 2014

  I know this thread is old, but I am undecided between North Shore MANHASSET, or LIJ. Also, my current OBGYN does not deliver. The office works with a team at LIJ who do deliveries. I don't like that. Could anyone refer a great OBGYN affilliated with Ana's MANHASSET! Thank you..

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• T ELLE member

  November 2014

  Correction....Affiliated with "NORTH SHORE" MANHASSET. (Autocorrect. Grrrr)

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• krystal525 member

  January 2015

  I also found this thread while doing some frantic searching about midwives. I am planning to deliver at NSU in Manhasset largely due to the facility and services that are available. My doctor does not deliver, so she transferred me to a practice that she is affiliated with in the ProHealth network. I know that moving to a practice means that any of the associated doctors might be the one to deliver my little one, and I'm anxious about it--but the truth is that I'm anxious about the whole thing. To make things worse, my initial experience with the doctor I was transferred to was not great. He was extremely curt, didn't really know my history, and didn't seem to take my questions seriously. My next appointment will be with someone else and I hope it works out. In the mean time, I'm researching midwives. I'm also interested in hearing about other people's experiences at NS.

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