Having Baby in a Military Hospital vs. Civilian Hospital?

[Nay1983]

Hello Ladies,

I was wondering if any of you have experienced having a baby in both a military hospital and civilian hospital...or even if you have had your baby in a military hospital if you can share your experience.  I had my daughter in a civilian hospital and it was a good experience but this time I will have this baby at Camp Lester (Navy Hospital).  Ive heard both good and bad from just a few people around here but I dont know too many people yet since we just arrived in Okinawa in February.

Thank you all :)

[armybratmom612]

Them*

[Diatech12]

I had my first at Blanchfield AMC at Ft. Campbell. It was terrible. They didn't believe I was in albor, saying "its your first your probably not in real labor". I was a week over due and had been laboring at home for the last day and a half. Only went in because I didn't want to have baby in the car lol.
When I finally got in the delivery room(which was actually nice) not one word was spoken to me, . The midwife(not my doctor) came in did her stuff and walked out with out a word. When I was pushing I told the nurse I was going to throw up and she tossed an emesis bucket at me like it was an inconvenience.
When I was moved to the recovery room I got no help from the nurses, then I got moved again to a room next to where they were working on the roof and I got to hear hammering all 3 days.

My second I had at Madigan AMC at ft.lewis. it was good. Delivery room was nice. I went with family practice doctor. She was there because I was induced at 41wks 4days. Got awesome care from all the nurses even when I was having complications. My doctor agreed to let me leave at 24hrs. When I was moved all the nurses were awesome, they even went on a speical search for a hat for my son since his head was to big for the hospital ones lol!!

[lindsay122001]

It depends. In Germany where I had my daughter they warned me that I might end up at the German hospital if they ran outta room. Depending on how many women go into labor at the same time. 8 women gave birth the same day I did. I had my daughter and they shoved me outta that room literally 5min after delivery to move the woman in so she could stay and not be sent.... Everywheres different.

Quoting TippyD:

i think since you are overseas you dont really have a choice.. from what I understand:)

[lwalker270]

Both my boys were born at Bethesda Naval.  I don't have anything else to compare it to, but we had a great experience both times.  

[newmom_007]

Idk because i downgraded to standard to see an off base doc. Ive heard nothing but bad things about the docs at eglin afb. And from my own personal experience some were just incompetent and i wasnt going to risk being delivered by one of the wannabes. But i think i made the right choice because my new doc is the best!

[bara86]

I gave birth at a military hospital(NH Jax) and it wasn't bad at all. The only downside is it's a big training hospital, so when it was to deliver my daughter the room filled up with corpsman! So I had a crowd of young guys staring at me while I'm pushing her out! Other than that, the doctors were great and it was FREE! 

[stephy_85]

Both of my kids were born off post. My oldest was born prior to us being a military family and I pretty much bullied them into signing off on my referral to see an off post doctor with our youngest. If we have another baby I am just going to switch to Standard and go to a birth center. The ob/gyn department at WINN seems to be ran by a bunch of idiots and the misinformation they have given pregnant women makes me cringe.

[katy7980]

I had my son in Camp Lejeune,NC and I thought it was great. My sister had here daughter in San Diego, Balboa and she hated it.

My friend had here daughter at Lester about 3yrs ago, she has nothing but nice things to say about the nursing staff.

Good Luck