best hospital for new baby on the way? (Raleigh, Durham: chapel, transfer)

[dragoninla]

Hi all,

I recently moved to the area around 2 months ago and just received great news of a new addition to the family! We live between Brier creek and Rtp so location is nice but everything seems to be close proximity to us.

I have read some good and bad about the area hospitals (rex,wake med,duke med) and just wanted some opinions. We are planning to go see a doctor and would like to stick with the one we choose.

Thanks!

[UNCMetsGal]

I gave birth at Rex and was extremely happy with the care I received.

[urbywan]

I know someone who had plans for the baby at the best hospital in NYC and gave birth to a son by a Port authority policeman outside the Holland Tunnel in a snowstorm!!

[lamishra]

I've given birth both at Rex and Durham Regional. I was happy with both of them.

[dcgrl]

I think it depends on what kind of birth experience you're looking for. If you're at all interested in a natural childbirth, avoid Duke.

[raleighjayne]

I was very pleased with Wake Med. They are very good for high risk pregnancies.

[J_Lurk]

Congratulations!

I gave birth at UNC - Chapel Hill. Though my baby was full-term she had complications and wound up in the NICU. Her care was second to none (and she's fine now). For that reason I chose to go back there for my second child.

Different hospitals have a different birth experience, but my bias is for the best pediatric care, which is at UNC, Duke or Wake. If I had given birth at Rex she probably would have been transferred to UNC (similarly, Western Wake transfers to Wake and Durham Regional to Duke). In that moment, it meant a lot to me not to have to deal with having my baby transferred. Of course, my experience was unusual.

[VaNC]

You are right to think about this as various practices have priveleges at certain hospitals. I had all three kids, even a shaky twin delivery, at Rex and couldn't have been happier with my care at Rex. I have heard that in Raleigh, Wake Med reportedly has the premiere neonatal, but that is only important if your kid has an issue at birth or is expected to. If you are worried about that, or just want to be prepared for it, you could choose a doctor that "goes to" Wake Med. I remember talking to my dr. before the twins, since there was a good chance my twins would end up in NICU, and they convinced me that there was nothing that they had at Wake MEd that they didn't have at Rex. I am sorry I don't remember the specifics.

[mdp_az]

My son was born at Rex and we had a great experience. I really haven't heard much at all bad about Rex, and it almost always gets glowing reviews from new parents.

[toot68]

We used the midwives practice at UNC and were extremely happy with them. All the attention of using a midwife vs an OB/GYN, but with the advantage of being in the UNC maternity ward and having immediate access to an epidural or advanced medical care if something goes wrong.