WOMENS-HEALTH Messages for November, 1998: Re: Choosing a Doctor and a Hospital

Re: Choosing a Doctor and a Hospital

From: anonymous@obgyn.net
Thu, 12 Nov 1998 10:58:28 -0600 (CST)

Messages sorted by: [ date ][ thread ][ subject ][ author ]
Next message: Anne: "Opinion on ultrasound results?"
Previous message: Sharon: "My question about conception."
In reply to: Heather: "Choosing a Doctor and a Hospital"
Next in thread: AJ: "Re: Choosing a Doctor and a Hospital"

Heather,

I had my first baby at a relatively small hospital in a small town -- they delivered an average of 100 babies per month. They didn't have a NICU, but they did have at least one respirator so they could stabilize a baby for transport.

The Good: -- I was the only one in L & D the last 2-3 hours before my son was born, so I had the undivided attention of two nurses when the going got tough. -- There were only 3 or 4 babies in the nursery while we were there so I wasn't worried about my baby being ignored or overlooked. -- The post-partum nurses weren't hopelessly overloaded, so they were able to help me some.

The Not-so-good: -- The nurses in the newborn nursery did not recognize that my son was horribly jaundiced before they sent him home. -- When my son had to be admitted for phototherapy, insurance required him to go back to the same hospital. He could not go back to the nursery, so they put him in a regular pediatric room. The pediatric nurses were less than expert in dealing with a newborn and there was no newborn resuscitation equipment in the room (or even on the floor). My mom is a NICU nurse and she was appalled that they did not have him on any sort of monitor and basically left me responsible for him while he was in the hospital.

Bottom line: The smaller hospital had fewer patients which allowed for more attention, but it also seemed like the staff had less experience with events and procedures that are not completely normal. Of course, this is just my experience and other people might have had completely different experiences.

I would find out from your doctor what provisions he has in the event that your pregnancy turns high-risk, or you or your baby need more care than his hospital can provide. Does he at least have privileges at a larger hospital with more services? Most doctors here who deliver at the smaller hospitals also have privileges at at one of the large hospitals in case they need it. How far is it to a hospital with a NICU?

Most likely, you wouldn't be taking much of a chance -- most babies never need the NICU, but I personally would not choose to deliver at a hospital that did not have basic neonatal life-support equipment to stabilize the baby for transport if needed. And if you are at high-risk for pre-term delivery, I would seriously consider making sure you can go to a hospital with a NICU.

Andrea

At Wed, 11 Nov 1998, Heather wrote: >
>I just found out that I am pregnant and my husband and I are thrilled.
>We have chosen a doctor, however he delivers in a hospital that friends
>of mine say is not that great?? It does not have a neonatal unit because
>it is a smaller hospital. They are basing their opinion soley on the
>lack of the neonatal unit. My friends keep stating that we should'nt
>take the chance. Are we taking a chance? Should we consider changing
>doctors?
>
>--
>Heather
>

Next message: Anne: "Opinion on ultrasound results?"
Previous message: Sharon: "My question about conception."
In reply to: Heather: "Choosing a Doctor and a Hospital"
Next in thread: AJ: "Re: Choosing a Doctor and a Hospital"

Women's Insurance Checklist from Auto Insurance Quote

use when must restrict search to only the women's health forum...
Enter search keywords:
	Returns per screen: Require all keywords: