Chosing the hospital you will deliver - what are you looking for?

[YvetteY]

I just found out that the physician's that I see only deliver at two hospitals.  Neither of which I am thrilled about for labor and delivery and post partum hospital stay.   One is suppose to be the best in Phoenix for having multiples.   But I'm not...so I am not concerned about that.  However, this hospital is old and I wasn't impressed with it when I went there to visit a friend.   It's located in the downtown part of Phoenix (ghetto area) and they have a slew of pregnant women coming and going - this hospital is contracted with practically every insurance company as well as Medicaid.   This hospital does not have private rooms.   They will keep you in a room with two beds and you may end up having a room mate.  With my luck I could see having a roommate with a huge extended family and her having visitors coming and going at all hours.  In my opinion this hospital is like the motel 6.  I dunno if they keep the baby in the room with you at this hospital.  And if they did, I'm not too keen on visitors coming to visit and giving the baby germs, especially visitors that aren't mine.  I think it's a teaching hospital too...so God knows how many residents and/or interns I would see during the hospital stay.

The other hospital isn't much better in my opinion, but from what I've read it's got better reviews and the rooms are private for the postpartum part of the stay.  Pretty much the same scenario as above  as far as insurance companies.
To be honest I don't know that much about this hospital...it's in Mesa and I am not impressed with the city of Mesa.  They let the baby stay in the room with you.  This hospital is about 25 - 30 miles from my house, however.

I was planning on having this baby at a very nice hospital in a nice part of town.   To my suprise my docs have priveleges (which means they're allowed to use that hospital) there, but they don't deliver at this hospital.   I'm not sure why not, but that's just the case.  If this hospital were a hotel, it'd be someplace nice like the Hilton.

I'm going to have a C-section so I will be hospitalized for 4 days and it's important that I'm somewhere comfortable.

My other option is that I could completely switch the OB doctor to a doc that delivers at a hospital I wanted.  One with a private room, one with accomodations for DH, one in which the baby stays with you in the room and one that is in a nicer and newer part of town, and a room that is pleasant to be in.   I did make an appt with a new OB and have an appt with the nurse.  He doesn't consider me to be extremely high risk and he'll see me.

So what do you think?

1.  You're being a snob, just go to the ghetto hospital!
2.   Don't switch docs and get the one with the private room in Mesa!
3.   Switch OB and go to the hospital of your choice!

I do need to add that i know I'm lucky.  I've got great private insurance, and I'm fortunate enough to live in a big city with many options.  Some facilities are definitely better than others.  My DH was of no use with regard to my dilemma and seriously doesn't see that there is an issue.  I asked his mother what she thought and she ended up telling me the story of her husband and his colonoscopy at on of these hospitals.  

[YvetteY]

Thanks for your input I feel better about my decision.  I think I am switching to an OB doctor that delivers at my second choice hospital.   This OB come extremely highly recommded from my friend.  Another friend's OB delivers at the hospital that is my first choice, but I don't want to ask her for the OB's name.  She gave it to me once and I dont' want to ask for it again.  She's going through a tough time and I think she will miscarry, she had low hcg levels and they weren't quite doubling...so I think it would be awkward.  

[YvetteY]

I did think that sharing rooms concept went away myself.  But it's still the case at Good Samaritan Hospital.  I think they contract with every private and government insurance plan....so there are a ton of pregnant women coming and going from that hospital.   I do believe most hospitals have gone to the private room concept.  

[colorado_g]

and also what i would look at is if tey have ob in hospital 24/7 not only on call

[colorado_g]

you can alway switch a dr by finding a perfect hospital that you will feel  comfortable and safe and then find dr thats affiliate with it

My OB also has 2 hospital only they both a little drive but one from what i read "( i have tour schedule for april) is new and has rooms better then some hotels with privet bathroom with jacuzzi (yep i was suprice) nice music so it seamsd like a great choice but i cant decide till i see it, this is the place were my baby spends his first hours of life so it has to be good.

good luck on whatever you chose

[NicMom]

With my first I switched to a new ob in the second trimester because I found out the only hospital they could deliver at was a teaching hospital where you have students assisting with the delivery. I found a dr that could deliver at a swanky birthing suite hosptial and it was so worth it.

This time I live 5 minutes from a really nice hosptial that's only about 6 years old. You have a private suite the whole time, they have on demand movies like at hotels, 24 hour room service instead of standard hosptial meals, and the baby can stay in the room the whole time. I was there for a surgery a few years ago and had to stay for 4 days. It was like staying in a hotel.

If it was me, snob or not I'd switch ob's! That hospital in Mesa might not be too bad. I know the area is crappy, but maybe you should take a tour if you don't want to change drs.

[alexia226]

if you're not too attached - switch doctors! you're going to be at the hospital for 4 days - and i think that private rooms are major! i would have hated to have a roommate when i was crying and yelling the first time & they had to insert a new catheter!

[JAXX55]

Hi there. I wonder if one of the Hospitals you're talking about is St. Joe's(that's where I go), and the other must be Good Sam??? I can tell you I've NEVER liked Good Sam(had relatives go there before), but I LOVE LOVE LOVE St. Joe's - I've gone there for ALL my kids(12yrs, 8yrs, and now this one) and I wouldn't go ANYWHERE ELSE... Good Luck with your decision tho... Who's your doctor? Maybe I know him/her...

[blueeyedtabbycat]

For me it really wouldnt be a tough choice. I would switch doctors, as long as I wasnt set on the one I had anyways. I love me doctor now, she is a resident and the ONLY  doctor I have seen for my last 2 pregnancys, I wont see anyone eles, lol. But I wonder if you could keep seeing your same doctor but choose to deliver at a diffrent hospital? IDK., Hmmm, I would check with your insurance. Unfortunatly as much as I love my doctor she wasnt able to be there for my last baby so, I guess it didnt matter what hospital I was at. Same with my first 2 babys, I never seen the same doctor more than twice and I had no idea who delivered my baby's. Funny though, the doctor that delivered my first born was also the same doctor that delivered my DH. He was OLD, lol! Im sorry you are having this problem, I guess I never did because I found the hospital I liked forst and then picked a doctor. Good luck with your descion:) Sorry if im rambling all over the place, I hope you can understand what im trying to say(I need sleep) sometimes I dont understand myself...........
BTW- I didnt know they still did the whole sharing rooms thing in the hospital maternity ward, wow, I thought they changed that every where.

[SoCalTricia]

If it were me - and I wasn't too attached to my current MD - I'd switch doctors and deliver at a hospital you like. It makes a huge difference, IMO. My friend delivered at a hospital with two to a room. Her "room mate" always had a slew of people there, and not only were they loud...they crowded the room and took all the chairs. So any of her visitors barely had a place to stand, and no place to sit. A private room is wonderful...especially if you already know you'll be at the hospital for 3-4 days. I'll be delivering at the same hospital I had my son at - private rooms, fold-out chair for the spouse, and baby rooms in. IMO, those things make the experience much more positive.

[tiredbuthappy]

hmmm... it's a toughie.

When i was pregnant the first time, I wanted to deliver in the hospital closest to my home. My doctor did not use them. At that time, it was much more important to me to have a good doctor I trusted. He had helped me through so much, including helping me conquer a severe needle phobia. I trusted him more than anyone else, so I went to his hospital.

i LOVED the hospital I delivered at last time, so I am quite happy this time around knowing what's waiting for me. Having experienced a c-section, I will tell you why this hospital appeals to me so much
~very large private rooms. I was allowed to have DH stay with me the whole time. They even have a place for hubbies to sleep in each room. i was allowed as many guests as i wanted 24-7. One day I had 15 people still in my room at 10 PM! Since most of my visitors worked and some came from further away, this was important. Baby was allowed in the room whenever (although I admit she went to the nursery at night- this time around I think baby will stay with me). TV and internet was important since i was there 5 days. The TV was nicer than mine at home- giant plasma. I was awake most of the night and had entertainment.
~I may sound spoiled, but I cannot imagine sharing a room with a stranger during such a magical yet trying time. Those special moments with DH and baby... and those awful moments as your body starts to function again. My baby wasnt nursing so i was pumping every 2 hours. Need privacy for that. Peeing for the first time... omg i wouldn't want anyone around, even if it were on the other side of the door. The first bowel movement... forget it! And of course the wonderful gas that comes post surgery. Need I say more?? I am a VERY light sleeper so every noise would've woken me. My cr@p was strewn all over the room. I was in pain- a lot of pain. I was so greatful to have my own space. By the way, i NEEDED dh there, especially at night. There are many things he had to do for me that we never imagined he would. And even the little things that you wouldn't bother a nurse for... to get a drink, reach the phone, find the remote, etc... Those first few days I could barely move. I couldn't lift or carry the baby, so I need him there to hand her for me. He changed the diapers, etc...

[Dani711]

I lived in AZ for years and can understand why with so many hospitals you would want to deliver in one that you know and like.  I lived in Mesa for a bit (moved from Tempe, to Mesa to Chandler to Ahwatukee) so I understand what you are talking about.  I personally have a dr. here and am not particularly attached and if that is the case with you, I see no reason why you couldn't try to find one that you like that will deliver where you want.
I also know from experience that different hospitals have a different staff.  I went to my local hospital here with spotting in the begining of my pregnancy and I was diagnosed with a blighted ovum miscarriage!  They just don't have the staff that other hospitals have.  
The most important thing is thinking where you will be the most comfortable!

[YvetteY]

I'm sorry I didn't mean for anyone to take offense. I am not looking down on medicaid.  I just meant that I have decent enough insurance that having the baby at a hospital of my choice should be an option, especially since we pay enough through the nose for premiums.  So this time when I need insurance I want it to work for me.  

As far as the comment about the hospital being contracted with every private insurance and Medicaid translates to this hospital having a high census (people that are inpatient) in the hospital, therefore this would more likely  a chance at having of having a roommate. I also think these hospitals need to get people in an out quickly because they need the room and that they are understaffed...which translates into the patient being herded in and out like cattle.  

I work in healthcare and to be honest if medicaid and Medicare didn't exist, I wouldn't have a job right now.   In fact I envy people who have Medicaid because the pay $0 in copays for prescriptions and doctor office visits and premiums for that matter.    I on the other hand pay dearly through the nose.   When I was in college, I had small children and they were on AHCCCS (Az's version of Medicaid) for about a year while I was working part-time.  

I meant I have great insurance in that I don't have a $2000 deductible to meet....there are crappy insurance plans out that like that.

That is all I meant by stating that I had decent insurance.  I don't believe I used the work remarkable.   Thank you for you comments however.

[drmwvrjean]

in my opinion, this is a very personal choice, and you should do what you think is best for you and your family!!

my very first baby, our son, was born in kingman, az and at that time they did not offer private rooms.  i shared a room with another woman who had just had her baby, and although not ideal at first, it was not bad.  they did allow me to keep my son with me, and we managed just fine!

with my daughter, who was born here in montana, i did have a private room, which was nice and again, they allowed me to keep her with me in the room.  my personal choice was having a private room versus a shared, but like i stated above, we managed just fine with a shared!!  honestly, the other family were more concerned with their baby than mine and vice versa.  

the only part of your post that i found snobby was the insurance part...i had very remarkable private insurance with my first 2, but this one, i am currently on medicaid.  DH and i can't afford private health insurance at the time being, but i do not think that this makes us low brow or bad people, just people that in our current situation are struggling.  please do not look down on those who have state assisted medical care/help!!

as i first stated, this is a personal choice, and you need to do what is best for you and your family...good luck and best wishes!!