https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Wed, 20 May 2026 02:24:17 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-would-you-do-re-where-to-give-birth#post-1063716 Tue, 03 Sep 2013 22:27:18 +0000 Mrs. Blue 1063716@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Running Elley: I would choose hospital #2 assuming that the NICU is a high level NICU, only because of the experience we had with our LOs. While everyone obviously hopes that their child won't need to be admitted to the NICU, I can say with 100% certainty that it would be a million times worse to not even have my baby in the same hospital that I was recovering in. It was awful to not be with my boys, but at least they were just one floor lower than me and I could basically spend 20 hours a day down there (they were closed 2 hours in the morning and 2 hours at night). The idea of not being able to be with my LO for 2-4 days is something I just couldn't risk assuming they could get great care in the NICU at my hospital. I know that most babies don't have any problems at all, but having been through NICU once, its just not a risk I personally could take. That said, if the NICU is just getting started and isn't a high level NICU, I would probably go with hospital #1 because I would want to make sure my baby was going to be getting the absolute best care if they needed it. I really hope this whole comment isn't applicable in the end, but no one ever really knows until LO arrives. Good luck deciding and I hope it goes perfectly wherever you choose! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-would-you-do-re-where-to-give-birth#post-1063700 Tue, 03 Sep 2013 22:20:10 +0000 winniebee 1063700@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Running Elley: plus there is the fact that you already like hospital 1! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-would-you-do-re-where-to-give-birth#post-1063698 Tue, 03 Sep 2013 22:18:57 +0000 Running Elley 1063698@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@winniebee: That's the way I'm leaning as well. Baby would be transferred to a top notch children's hospital so the care would be substantially better than #2. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-would-you-do-re-where-to-give-birth#post-1063682 Tue, 03 Sep 2013 22:07:49 +0000 winniebee 1063682@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>#1 if where your baby would be transferred (god forbid something were to happen) to a hospital with a better nicu than #2. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-would-you-do-re-where-to-give-birth#post-1063642 Tue, 03 Sep 2013 21:35:29 +0000 CupQuakeWalk 1063642@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Running Elley: yeah, id go for hospital #1, unless you go preterm, heavens forbid. If that happens, of course got to the teaching hospital. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-would-you-do-re-where-to-give-birth#post-1063640 Tue, 03 Sep 2013 21:33:26 +0000 Running Elley 1063640@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@TurtleDoves: I can decide to go while in labor if I want lol! There are 3 hospital possibilities in town. The third is farther away but still not super far. It's a teaching hospital and has a really good NICU. So if I go into labor before full term supposed to go there- no questions asked. As long as I go to term and everything's fine I can just show up at whatever hospital I want and my doctor will come (he has delivery privileges at all of them) so if I want I can be indecisive until the very last minute ;) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-would-you-do-re-where-to-give-birth#post-1063382 Tue, 03 Sep 2013 19:46:09 +0000 CupQuakeWalk 1063382@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I live in a city nicknamed "Physician's Town". Our city is filled with top notch hospitals and all the highest rated physicians come here. So, I had SO MANY options.<br /> Ultimately, I went with the one that has a Grade 4 NICU. So, my personal answer is: NICU hospital.<br /> That being said, though...<br /> Hospital #2 does not have a grade 4 NICU; it has a newly, not yet established NICU.<br /> Also, you say they are only 10 minutes apart, so if (GOD FORBID) there needed to be a transer, it would be a very fast transation.<br /> So, if I were you, i'd go with the hospital you are comfortable with.</p> <p>*ETA: Do you have to say where you're going indefinitely?<br /> So, if you go into labor early, couldn't you call and be like, "I change my mind, i'm in preterm labor; I want hospital #2!!" </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-would-you-do-re-where-to-give-birth#post-1063065 Tue, 03 Sep 2013 17:08:18 +0000 mamimami 1063065@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I am neurotic like that but I would almost always choose a hospital with a NICU over one without. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-would-you-do-re-where-to-give-birth#post-1062781 Tue, 03 Sep 2013 15:17:13 +0000 lamariniere 1062781@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I say go back to what you know. Of course, you can never assume anything about the birth, but if you are relatively low risk, I think hospital 1 would be just fine the second time around. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-would-you-do-re-where-to-give-birth#post-1062039 Tue, 03 Sep 2013 11:31:27 +0000 Mrs. Pen 1062039@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>given your positive experience with #1, the more intimate atmosphere and knowing that your first birth didn't require any interventions that the bigger hospital may provide, I voted hospital 1! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-would-you-do-re-where-to-give-birth#post-1062022 Tue, 03 Sep 2013 11:27:30 +0000 mrs. wagon 1062022@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I voted #1 (as did everyone else, apparently!) because you had a good experience there despite all the shortcomings. As long as there's a nicu in close proximity in case of an emergency I'd say stick with what you know! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-would-you-do-re-where-to-give-birth#post-1062014 Tue, 03 Sep 2013 11:24:22 +0000 Mrsbells 1062014@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Since your friend works there, can you ask her if she knows why more doctors are pushing their patients to the other hospital, maybe that can help you decide </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-would-you-do-re-where-to-give-birth#post-1061999 Tue, 03 Sep 2013 11:19:58 +0000 Running Elley 1061999@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@evansjamie: I'm nervous about the rushed aspect as well. </p> <p>@blackbird: That sounds exactly like our hospital!! They only have a pretty basic nursery but they do have people on staff who perform the transfers to the children's hospital and are prepared for potential issues.</p> <p>2 more things I thought of- I'm familiar with the LC at hospital #1 because I met with her multiple times while I was trying to breastfeed. Hospital #2 has a BF support group for after birth for moms that gave birth there. </p> <p>I really think the fact that my cousin works at hospital #1 is a HUGE plus though... Maybe I should talk this through with her! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-would-you-do-re-where-to-give-birth#post-1061972 Tue, 03 Sep 2013 11:11:19 +0000 blackbird 1061972@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I deferred to the hospital my dr preferred to deliver in. Which happened to be a smaller hospital that wasn't super busy. In fact, we call the other hospitals here "baby factories". They'll have 30+ births a day! A DAY!</p> <p>The hospital I birthed in actually does *not* have a NICU. They have a level II special care nursery, however (which E spent a week in). Does yours have anything similar that you'd be ok with? The small staff, personalized care was really nice. I even went back a month later to visit a friend who had her baby there, and *my* L&amp;D nurse (The one who literally helped me push E out!) was there and recognized me and we chatted for a bit. </p> <p>Trust your gut. Hospital #1 sounds like the hospital I delivered in and I wouldn't want to go somewhere else, either! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-would-you-do-re-where-to-give-birth#post-1061971 Tue, 03 Sep 2013 11:10:37 +0000 Running Elley 1061971@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@kjpugs: I'm due in November so there's definitely still awhile to decide :) I'll probably call again next month to check. They're still in the middle of construction for a whole new maternity wing so I think that's why they're limited right now in what they can show. </p> <p>I think part of the reason I'm second guessing hospital #1 is because E's birth went SO well I'm actually pretty terrified about this next one- I feel like it can't possibly be as smooth!</p> <p>Added a poll- good idea :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-would-you-do-re-where-to-give-birth#post-1061964 Tue, 03 Sep 2013 11:08:29 +0000 avivoca 1061964@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Personally, I would go where I was more comfortable. I'd be afraid that my birth would be rushed at the busier hospital and I'd be more likely to receive unnecessary interventions because they needed my room for someone else. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-would-you-do-re-where-to-give-birth#post-1061953 Tue, 03 Sep 2013 11:06:41 +0000 kjpugs 1061953@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>If you had a good experience the first time, and your doctor is ok with it, I don't see any reason why you shouldn't try to go back. However you have a little while right? I think checking in again about a tour, etc, wouldn't be a bad idea, to just keep your options open just in case. If you go more high risk for some reason, etc, it would be nice to have all the info in case your doctor decides due to your circumstances that #2 is the way to go. But until then I say stick with #1!</p> <p>ETA- you should add a poll! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-would-you-do-re-where-to-give-birth#post-1061939 Tue, 03 Sep 2013 11:02:43 +0000 Running Elley 1061939@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>This is long- just a warning! We're in the middle of a bit of a dilemma regarding where to have our second baby.</p> <p>E's birth went perfectly. The hospital that we had him in is the hospital where my cousin is a L&amp;D nurse. She wasn't working that day but she was able to call in and request a specific nurse for us. The nurse was AMAZING and I give her complete credit for how well the actual birthing process went. We had a private room for postpartum and DH was able to stay with me the whole time. It was amazing.</p> <p>When I got pregnant this time my OB informed me that he's in the process of cutting the births that he performs at that hospital. The hospital doesn't have a NICU (they transfer to the children's hospital when necessary), they only have one OR, they only have one anesthesiologist and they have limited rooms in general apparently.</p> <p>The hospital where he is now primarily performing deliveries is closer to our house now (10 minutes versus 15-20 so not a HUGE difference), they are developing a NICU (so they have more facilities than the other...even though it's still not a top notch NICU hospital), they have more staff, more room, etc.</p> <p>When I explained to him how comfortable we were at hospital #1 he said that he would be fine with delivering our second there if that's what we wanted but that he definitely encourages hospital #2 (for the reasons mentioned). I figured that we'd go on a tour of hospital #2 and then make our decision. Soooooooooo I called today and right now they aren't doing maternity tours. Apparently they are experiencing a high volume of births there and it's been difficult for them to have an empty room to show for the actual tour.</p> <p>My gut is to stick with hospital #1...especially since the main issues seem to be the lack of facilities/staff. According to my cousin a lot of doctors are trying to cut their deliveries there and so L&amp;D has been REALLY slow. That could be to our advantage, right? We'd be able to get our private room and the anesthesiologist should be free because there aren't as many people delivering there? She said that their deliveries have dropped A LOT.</p> <p>On the other hand, there's got to be good reasons as to why all of these doctors are trying not to deliver there (even though part of me wonders whether it's more hospital/insurance politics issues underlying it) and if, for any reason, there are catastrophic circumstances surrounding this birth it would definitely be safer to be somewhere more equipped...</p> <p>I just need feedback and opinions. I'm kind of at a loss! </p>