Whats the best hospital for having a baby in the metro area??

[COCUE]

Totally agree with central austinite and riaelise... choose a hospital close, essentially find an OB that you like but make sure he or she delivers close by. Believe being in labor and panicking about getting to the really far away hospital is nothing to be recommended. I live in far north Austin in Avery Ranch and I just had a baby a few months ago in Cedar Park regional hospital. It's a nice hospital. It's a pretty nice place as hospital go and the rooms are nice and spacious. My OB is at ARC.

I delivered my older kids in pretty nice and swanky hospitals in other states and frankly, they are all pretty similar. What mattered to me was my OB during each of these experiences.

Having said that, if you are having a high risk (not just because you are AMA:-)) pregnancy and know before hand that your baby may need additional help in NICU, may make sense to choose a hospital with a level 4 NICU or at least a level 3 though chances are of needed, your baby will get to where they will be well taken care of.

[Austin97]

it is mostly determined by where your ob gyn has privileges. All three of ours were born at seton central, but I definitely envied the nice rooms at st davids.

We wanted a doula, not all OBs are ok with a doula.

We wanted to breastfeed, some places might push formula

We wanted to control things like the temp of the room, walking around, being hooked up to monitors, and administration of drugs.

Make sure you have an OB and a hospital staff that is supportive of whatever your birth plan is.

[eirenecat]

No hospitals push formula these days, Austin97. In fact it is quite the opposite. If you want to use formula you'll be pressured in all sorts of ways by just about everyone not to. The Breastapo are everywhere! You're a terrible, bad mother if you aren't able (or god forbid, unwilling) to breastfeed.

I had my second child in 2014. I had to use formula for medical reasons (which I knew before I delivered) and while the nurses and my OB were all very cool with this (it was my OB's suggestion, based on my personal medical issues) at St David's North a lactation consultant still came to my room *who wanted me to clear all of my family members and my doula out of the room* in order to speak to me. I refused.

I also thought it was EXTREMELY weird that this person wanted everyone out of the room. Perhaps it was for HIPAA, but when I described this to the hospital staff when they called to give me the post-labor survey once I was home, they said they had never heard of such a thing and did not know who/what would have done that. I was unable to stand on my own at that point and was not in any frame of mind to have someone I didn't know in the room alone with me and my daughter, when I was unable to speak very coherently for myself and unable to get up if I needed to. I was sort of left wondering who the hell that person was if the hospital said it was not something one of their lactation consultants would have done.

Other than that we had a good experience at St Davids. I was in labor for three days and I had some of the best nurses imaginable. I can't say I would choose my OB again, but having a doula was lifesaving. I LOVED mine and she was invaluable.

[riaelise]

Originally Posted by eirenecat

No hospitals push formula these days, Austin97. In fact it is quite the opposite. If you want to use formula you'll be pressured in all sorts of ways by just about everyone not to. The Breastapo are everywhere! You're a terrible, bad mother if you aren't able (or god forbid, unwilling) to breastfeed.

I had my second child in 2014. I had to use formula for medical reasons (which I knew before I delivered) and while the nurses and my OB were all very cool with this (it was my OB's suggestion, based on my personal medical issues) at St David's North a lactation consultant still came to my room *who wanted me to clear all of my family members and my doula out of the room* in order to speak to me. I refused.

I also thought it was EXTREMELY weird that this person wanted everyone out of the room. Perhaps it was for HIPAA, but when I described this to the hospital staff when they called to give me the post-labor survey once I was home, they said they had never heard of such a thing and did not know who/what would have done that. I was unable to stand on my own at that point and was not in any frame of mind to have someone I didn't know in the room alone with me and my daughter, when I was unable to speak very coherently for myself and unable to get up if I needed to. I was sort of left wondering who the hell that person was if the hospital said it was not something one of their lactation consultants would have done.

Other than that we had a good experience at St Davids. I was in labor for three days and I had some of the best nurses imaginable. I can't say I would choose my OB again, but having a doula was lifesaving. I LOVED mine and she was invaluable.

I have to agree. My wonderful (now retired) OBGYN never pushed anything - how you fed your baby was your choice, as long as she was thriving. I was planning on breastfeeding anyway, but it was nice to know that she wasn't judgmental. As for breastfeeding, I don't really want to wade into that muddy pool of water, but your situation reminded me of my own with our second child. She couldn't latch to save her life and when she did it was like being bit by a piranha. She started losing weight instead of gaining because her latch was so inefficient. After watching my almost 10 pound baby shrink to 8lb9oz, we decided to formula feed and she started to gain. Eventually we weaned her off formula and ended up exclusively pumping for two years, but I was so happy that my OBGYN was non-judgmental and caring. The traits one wants from such a professional.

[mesmer]

St. Davids North. I'm not going to give a long drawn out spiel, but everyone I've known who delivered at both St Davids and Seton has a story about some way or ways in which St. Davids was better.

[asubram3]

Originally Posted by eirenecat

I had my second child in 2014. I had to use formula for medical reasons (which I knew before I delivered) and while the nurses and my OB were all very cool with this (it was my OB's suggestion, based on my personal medical issues) at St David's North a lactation consultant still came to my room *who wanted me to clear all of my family members and my doula out of the room* in order to speak to me. I refused.

I also thought it was EXTREMELY weird that this person wanted everyone out of the room. Perhaps it was for HIPAA, but when I described this to the hospital staff when they called to give me the post-labor survey once I was home, they said they had never heard of such a thing and did not know who/what would have done that. I was unable to stand on my own at that point and was not in any frame of mind to have someone I didn't know in the room alone with me and my daughter, when I was unable to speak very coherently for myself and unable to get up if I needed to. I was sort of left wondering who the hell that person was if the hospital said it was not something one of their lactation consultants would have done.

So did you have to clear all your family members and doula out of the room, or did he allow them to remain? We are planning to use St. Davids this year as well, just wondering about your experience.

[Trainwreck20]

We had two kids at St. David's North (although it has changed names since then) and used an OB from the Women's Renaissance Group, although the OB has since retired.

In any case, SDN was great, although I don't really have experience anywhere else. The nurses were wonderfully patient and helpful. The first delivery turned out to be long/high-risk for a variety of reasons, but all turned out well.

As for nursing, a lactation consultant (who was a nurse on-staff, iirc) assisted. Our first child had (and has) developmental issues and was not able to nurse well, in addition to being severely jaundice, so we used a significant amount of formula to supplement. Our second, no help was needed. In any case, no room-clearing or crazy stuff like that.

This was 8 and 11 years ago, though, so not sure how relevant .

[mark311]

Two good experiences at St. David's North as well. Both were over 6 years ago.

Home :: St. David's Women's Center of Texas

[eirenecat]

Originally Posted by asubram3

So did you have to clear all your family members and doula out of the room, or did he allow them to remain? We are planning to use St. Davids this year as well, just wondering about your experience.

I wouldn't clear anyone out of the room, and thus, the lactation consultant wouldn't speak with me. I didn't need/want their services anyway, but even if I had, I wouldn't have cleared my family out of the room at that point.

[Sydney123]

The closest one...