My children are 16 and 13 and were born in Flint MI, the only reason I had them at the hosital I did was because of the outstanding OBGYN that I had, I would have went anywhere he went to have him deliver my children.  I know some women are having them at home and women centers but I trusted the good hospital and my Dr. My son took 36 hrs of labor and daughter only 4 but she had a bowl movement, he knew and took proper action. SO good DRS should bring women to hospitals, that and lower cost

mawbrock Nov. 25, 2007 at 6:41 PM

The hospital my son was born at is the hospital that I work at.  It was nice knowing everyone and we have been voted #1 hospital for child birth in the area.  My doctor has now moved to another hospital but if I have another baby and he will not come to mine I will find another doctor because my first birth was a wonderful experience and I would not want to take a chance going anywhere else.

GARMom Nov. 25, 2007 at 6:44 PM

I think amenities are important, but the questions you need to ask:  what is the ratio of L & D nurses to laboring patients.  Is there plenty of anesthesia available so when you want or need that epidural, they get there fast.  How often is your ob notified of your labor progress?  Do you have backup OB if your OB can't make it on time(yes this happens).  This is just a view from a L&D nurse.  I think I should have only one laboring patient at a time, not two.  I have had two and I felt that I didn't give the kind of care I wanted to give.  So the L&D unit should be equipped with enough nurses so there be a one to one care.

Susan Skinner

ksskinner Nov. 25, 2007 at 6:45 PM

1. Choose the doctor and find out where s/he practices, then check out those places.

2. Find out how they handle visitors during labor and delivery. If you don't want someone in there, will they back you up? If you want the whole famn damily, will they allow it?

3. If you need a c-section, will they bring you the baby in the recovery room if baby needs to feed and you decide to breastfeed?

4. (This was a deciding factor for me) If you have a section, what are their practices on pain control? I had Duramorph (long lasting morphine) injected into my spinal column along with the anesthetic. It lasted 24 hours and I had very little pain. The hospital I had originally planned to deliver at does not do this, moms have to either ask for pain meds or use a PCA pump.

5. (MOST important) What is their policy for babies who are born in trouble? Do they have a NICU? If not, which hospital do they transfer their in extremis babies to? Check out that hospital and find out how good their NICU is.

Tiredbattleax Nov. 25, 2007 at 6:47 PM

I would want to know the rate of c-sections, episiotomies and interventions. If they were all high, I would not go to that hospital....

Elfsmom Nov. 25, 2007 at 7:22 PM