https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Thu, 09 Apr 2026 12:05:01 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/any-bees-give-birth-in-a-rural-hospitalsmall-town#post-392481 Sun, 11 Nov 2012 21:13:54 +0000 Mrs. Pickle 392481@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My stepmom did twice. Everyone thought she was crazy for not driving an hour to a larger city because they didn't offer epidurals at the rural hospital. She said she liked it because the maternity wing was small and there weren't many other women that delivered there. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/any-bees-give-birth-in-a-rural-hospitalsmall-town#post-392474 Sun, 11 Nov 2012 21:11:34 +0000 Mrs. Yoyo 392474@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My town was so small that the hospital didn't even do births! The next choice was 40 minutes away, and it was still a fairly small hospital. Honestly, I felt more comfortable heading to the nearest bigger city (almost a 2-hour drive) because I just couldn't stomach the idea that any complications would mean we'd be helicoptered out. Things worked out perfectly, but I know a lot of people wouldn't be willing to make that kind of drive. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/any-bees-give-birth-in-a-rural-hospitalsmall-town#post-392448 Sun, 11 Nov 2012 20:54:40 +0000 polkadots 392448@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@bree72: @babyjmama: @mrsmenow: @marionberry:<br /> Thanks for your stories and advice! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/any-bees-give-birth-in-a-rural-hospitalsmall-town#post-392413 Sun, 11 Nov 2012 20:35:44 +0000 marionberry 392413@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I haven't had a baby but work for a rural hospital praised for its family birth center. We have 16 labor and delivery rooms, a separate OR, and offer VBAC's. We do not have a NICU but our patients who require one are transferred to either the nearest hospital with a NICU (25 miles) or a children's hospital (45 miles). Our patient satisfaction scores are higher than most hospitals in our state and we deliver as many babies as a large big city hospital. So what'd I'd recommend is get to know your local hospital. Stop in (or wait for one of those tours) and ask all of the questions you'd like to know or peruse the hospital website for answers. Then make your decision. I just say this, because not all rural hospitals are bad just because they're small. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/any-bees-give-birth-in-a-rural-hospitalsmall-town#post-389864 Fri, 09 Nov 2012 18:17:54 +0000 mrsmenow 389864@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I had DD #1 in a rurual hospital (4 OB beds total, 17 other patient rooms). She ended up being transported to the closest NICU, which was an hour and a half away.-the NICU actually comes and gets them in a special ambulance.</p> <p>The rooms were really nice. And the staff was great. I was the only one there deliverying so I got a lot of support. and when things went bad there were a ton of people helping baby and me. </p> <p>#2 I had at the hospital #1 had been transferred too because I had moved. They were both really good experiences and I don't think I would have preference one over the other as long as I like/trust my doctor. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/any-bees-give-birth-in-a-rural-hospitalsmall-town#post-389710 Fri, 09 Nov 2012 16:54:57 +0000 doodlepoodle 389710@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@lovelife: I am in a small town as well (about 25k people, lots of very small towns surrounding us) and there are only 5a l&amp;d rooms, on c-section surgery room. As the others stated, all high risk pregnancies are referred to a larger hospital an hour away, the closest children's mercy is 2 hrs and many request to go there. There is one tub room but that grosses me out so it didn't bother me ;-) </p> <p>My costs weren't all that bad (in comparison to @Honeybee!!!) All prenatal care and hospital fees were &lt;$4k after insurance and I did get an epidural. The care we had was wonderful and the girl in the room next to us actually went to HS w/DH and currently works for my MIL :) they didn't know what they were having and ended up having a girl so gifted us the going home outfit that they had if it were a boy. Gotta love small towns! ;-) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/any-bees-give-birth-in-a-rural-hospitalsmall-town#post-389627 Fri, 09 Nov 2012 16:28:13 +0000 Honeybee 389627@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@lovelife: Right?! I was surprised at the cost, too.</p> <p>@bree72: Yeah, our rooms were nice, but also plain. There aren't any tubs , and they only have one of labor support devices (like birthing balls, rocking chairs, etc...), so if someone else requests it before you, you're SOL. When DD was born the L&amp;D was completely booked, so they started doubling up postpartum ladies in the rooms; luckily, I left before I had someone else moved into my room! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/any-bees-give-birth-in-a-rural-hospitalsmall-town#post-389441 Fri, 09 Nov 2012 15:08:43 +0000 BananaPancakes 389441@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>The only hospital in my town that delivers is very small. All high risk pregnancies are handled at Shands, about an hour away. It isn't a big deal and if there is a true emergency, it is super quick for them to send a helicopter to get you. My husband inhaled his meconium during delivery and had to be airlifted, in fact. Huge downsides are that you can't have a VBAC and there is nothing fancy about their delivery rooms. No bathtubs or extra amenities. There also aren't a lot of beds, so during a full moon you could end up in the hallway laboring. But if it's good enough for Kelly Preston (who delivered there), it's good enough for me. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/any-bees-give-birth-in-a-rural-hospitalsmall-town#post-389418 Fri, 09 Nov 2012 15:00:13 +0000 polkadots 389418@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Honeybee: ah really! That's suprising. You would think giving birth in a limited resource hospital it would at least be a little cheaper. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/any-bees-give-birth-in-a-rural-hospitalsmall-town#post-389381 Fri, 09 Nov 2012 14:47:00 +0000 Honeybee 389381@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@lovelife: Well, I don't want to burst your bubble, but my birthing costs were ridiculously high. I think the total cost for DD (born in 2010) was $22k (about 7 hours laboring, 36 hour postpartum stay with an epidural) and DS (born in 2012) was over $28k (about 7 hours laboring, 48 hours stay for me/60 hour stay for him, and an epidural). I'm not entirely sure if it's just my area (I live in a pretty HCOL area) or the fact that it's rural, but my costs were much higher than what I see for city mommas with similar births. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/any-bees-give-birth-in-a-rural-hospitalsmall-town#post-389359 Fri, 09 Nov 2012 14:40:58 +0000 polkadots 389359@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Honeybee: Thanks for sharing your experience. I had a pretty easy pregnancy and birth with DD so I'm hoping the next ones go well too. I figure it would be easy to be close to the hospital/clinic for checkups. Also hoping Childbirth Costs would be cheaper as well! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/any-bees-give-birth-in-a-rural-hospitalsmall-town#post-389174 Fri, 09 Nov 2012 13:29:05 +0000 Honeybee 389174@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I gave birth to both of my babies in a rural location. My hospital's L&amp;D has 8-10 rooms (I can't remember exactly) and usually care-flights out anyone who has serious complications. I had some issues with my second pregnancy, and if the issues had continued, I would have been required to give birth at the nearest hospital with a NICU, about 2 hours away. </p> <p>Honestly, I had easy, uncomplicated births, so it was no big deal. The OBGYN's in my town are pretty proactive, so all high-risk pregnancies are referred out to a different hospital before birth, so very few people end up being transferred during birth. The downside to this is that they don't do complicated births, like VBACs, so it can be inconvenient for people who want those services. </p> <p>I was also very lucky that I went into labor with both of my kids during a weekday morning because there was an anesthesiologist ready immediately to administer my epidural when I requested it. From friends who have also given birth at my hospital, I know that some women have to wait a couple hours for an epidural, because they don't keep someone on staff 24/7. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/any-bees-give-birth-in-a-rural-hospitalsmall-town#post-389136 Fri, 09 Nov 2012 13:16:53 +0000 polkadots 389136@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I don't plan on having another baby for 4-5 years, so by that time we will be living in a small rural town. Our choice for childbirth is a small hospital (with limited resources) or to drive an hour to a hospital with more resources including a nicu. </p> <p>Wanted to hear stories/experiences for those who gave birth in a small hospital. </p>