Hospital choice

taluce · October 2015

Hi
I've been second guessing the doctor and hospital I choose in NYC because I just found out its NICU 2 and 3 is the best. If a baby needs NICU 3 they move us to the better sister hospital. I do love th Doctor, she's gotten great reviews online and its conveiently located near my work, but I don't want to choose a dr only because of this - there are tons of doctors and better hospitals in NYC. Should I change doctors and go to a NICU 3 hospital??? Help !! Have you done research on your hospital? How did you make the final decision?

JaymeeLH · October 2015

Are you high risk? I wouldn't worry yourself too much about NICU levels when choosing a doctor. You want someone who makes you feel comfortable and who you feel is going to respect any and all decisions you make regarding your pregnancy, labor, and delivery so long as they are not jeopardizing you and your baby. I'd say if you love this doctor and her practice, stick with her!

Also, hello from Westchester!

aloha5736 · October 2015

Personally for me I do worry about a hospital that can handle it all. Just from being a nurse and seeing a lot, I never want to be in the hospital that can't deal with everything. Just IMO. It is also important to have a good relationship with your doctor. Most times things go smooth...but sometimes you just never know! My friend, who is also a nurse, delivered with complications and the baby had to go in an ambulance 40 minutes to another hospital.

taluce · October 2015

Thanks, no, I'm not high risk. I hope!!

JaymeeLH · October 2015

aloha5736 said:
Personally for me I do worry about a hospital that can handle it all. Just from being a nurse and seeing a lot, I never want to be in the hospital that can't deal with everything. Just IMO. It is also important to have a good relationship with your doctor. Most times things go smooth...but sometimes you just never know! My friend, who is also a nurse, delivered with complications and the baby had to go in an ambulance 40 minutes to another hospital.

No hospital in Manhattan is 40 minutes from another hahaha but I understand what you're saying. I worked transport EMS before I had my daughter and did my fair share of L&D transports and dispatched a couple of NICU transports. It's scary stuff, but a level II is still going to have great care

taluce · October 2015

Thanks everyone. The hospital they would transport the baby to is probably 30-40 min away because of NYC traffic

NicknShan · October 2015

I delivered my first little guy at a Level II NICU and plan to do the same with my second. I really like the atmosphere and the doctors there, and it made for a much better experience. They can handle all the more common issues that arise and send a baby to the NICU, but if there were something more serious, we would have to be transferred to another hospital about 30 minutes away as well. If I had a high risk pregnancy, I would like go to a level III, but if not, I will stay at the level II.

SchruteBucks · October 2015

With my first, I just used the hospital in town. With my second, I used a hospital that was about 45 minutes away because it had more to offer for a natural delivery and had the Baby-friendly Hospital designation, which meant it went above and beyond to support mother-infant bonding and breastfeeding. With my last I chose a free-standing birth center. I love the birth center, it's so beautiful and comfortable but I might choose a home birth this time.

If you're not high-risk, then a level II hospital is perfectly fine.

VikingGirl12 · October 2015

We had no idea my son had heart defects until the second day of his life. I'm so embarrassed to say I didn't know what a NICU was at the time. Fortunately, we had an incredible level 2 NICU at my local hospital. However, I just found out our hospital is now currently without a neonatologist. I will not deliver in a hispital that has a nicu without a neonatalist. You never know what could happen and I need to know my baby will have immediate help should it need it. As long as the hospital has a nicu with a neonatologist, I would say you're good.

hgsurvivor · October 2015

My sister is a doula in NYC, I can ask her for some recommendations if you want. You can PM me. She has gotten to work with lots of different doctors and midwives and many hospitals.

aloha5736 · October 2015

taluce said:

Thanks everyone. The hospital they would transport the baby to is probably 30-40 min away because of NYC traffic

I live in Boston and total get that LOL. That is what happened to my friend she living outside the city 20 minutes during no traffic and it took an hour plus.

taluce · October 2015

Thank you so much for the offer. I decided to switch doctors and go to one that was recommended by several of my friends and corowkers that is affiliated with NYU a Level 3 hospital. I feel much better knowing this hospital will be ready to deal with any situation. Xoxo

aloha5736 · October 2015

Im glad you found something that works for you! So many great hospitals in NYC I knew you could find something that you were 100% comfortable. I'm a little more cautious just because I'm the nurse on the receiving hospitals end of a bad situation. Not super common, but I've seen enough. I want the hospital that for no reason would need to put me or my baby in an ambulance. That's just me though

taluce · October 2015

I totally agree !!

queenklau · October 2015

@JaymeeLH I live in Westchester too! I am delivering at northern Westchester hospital

JaymeeLH · October 2015

klauerinaking said:
@JaymeeLH I live in Westchester too! I am delivering at northern Westchester hospital

No kidding! So am I!! I delivered DD at Phelps

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