delivering at Good Sam in Suffern?

[murphysaangel]

hiya. I'm going to be trying a VBAC after an attempted home birth 9 months ago. I am using a great hospital-based midwife this time but I'm really nervous about delivering at Good Sam because I haven't heard great things about the birth center there. I am worried that I'm going into this with the deck stacked against me and I'll just end up with another c-sec. is there anything anyone can tell me about the hospital, nurses and whatever that can help me? Unfortunately there's not much choice up by where I am in Orange County and I'll be traveling 1/2 hour to Good Sam as it is. Any info would help. Thanks!

[mama24-7]

Do you have a doula? If not, that may help you since they know different things you can do to help labor along & help you deal.

The other rec I see often here is wait as long as you can to go to the hospital. You didn't say why you had a sec the first time, but staying home is one way to avoid the cascade of interventions.

Good luck!
Sus

[murphysaangel]

Originally Posted by mama24-7

Do you have a doula? If not, that may help you since they know different things you can do to help labor along & help you deal.

The other rec I see often here is wait as long as you can to go to the hospital. You didn't say why you had a sec the first time, but staying home is one way to avoid the cascade of interventions.

Good luck!
Sus

thanks, but I am more looking for people's experiences at this particular hospital. I am definitely going to do everything I can on my part to be successful. Also, I have heard you can't be guaranteed a private room???

[NJ*Doula]

Has your midwife delivered there? What does she have to say about it? It might also be a good idea to schedule a tour. You could ask about the rooms, and get a general feeling for the nurses (often a nurse will give the tour).

[murphysaangel]

*bump!*
hoping for a reply...anyone with experience at Good Sam???? Please!

[Kates779]

I have't delivered at Good Sam. I had my first at Nyack and my second at home. From what I hear, people prefer Nyack of Good Sam, and Good Sam just isn't great... I had specific examples relayed to me, but can't for the life of me remember them.

As for the private room thing, at Nyack you go into a room first, with one other person, where they assess your situation and decide if they are admitting you or not. When the do admit you, you get your own delivery room. I think this is pretty standard, I have never heard of two laboring/delivering women being in the same room. Then after that, no, you aren't guaranteed a private room. You could be roomed with one other woman and child, which to me just seems so weird. Two new moms, two new babies, two completely different schedules, two families trying to adapt, two new dads - more than likely sleeping in the room as well... over crowded if you ask me.

Sorry to be "debbie downer", like I said, I don't know if GS is like that, I only know Nyack. This reason, on top of a million others, were reasons I went with a homebirth.

Good luck to you and your vbac, I know you can do it!!

[NJ*Doula]

Originally Posted by Kates779

two new dads - more than likely sleeping in the room as well... over crowded if you ask me.

Most hospitals will not allow dads to sleep in a semi-private room. If you end up in one, dad will almost certainly have to go home overnight. That's part of the reason so many hospitals are trying to phase out semi-privates on Maternity.

[Chamsia]

Hi there. I can't speak first-hand, but a friend of mine had a great experience at Good Sam this fall.

She had a planned ceserean (first birth) due to a wacky breech position and other medical complications. They waited for her to go into labor, though, and she had a great experience overall. The doc--who came in on her day off for the birth--talked to my friend about VBAC right away. She loved her midwife. I know she felt great about the whole experience and looks forward to a VBAC there someday.

So it's not all gloom and doom!

[murphysaangel]

yeah, I keep thinking about the semi-private room thing, and I'm so not looking forward to that. Especially trying to bf new baby (when you totally shouldn't be concerned with modesty) and the woman next to me has sketchy Uncle Johnny there visiting, peeking through the curtains...? Nice. Not to mention (I'm not sure if this is true with vaginal birth but it certainly was with my c-sec) all the "TMI" stuff that happens, say, when you start walking around and your pad is leaking?

Well I did get to unload a bunch of questions on my midwife today, and she said that I might get a semi-private for "recovery" before they transfer us into the post-partum room, but that you DO eventually end up in a private room. Probably. They've just been super over-full lately. They just build the damn place a few years ago, you'd think they would have added on a few (dozen) extra rooms to accomodate. Oh well.

And thanks, Chamsia for adding a few positive notes!

[frogautumn]

Good luck, murphysangel. And you know, provided you're feeling well enough, you can always check out early!

[EmsMom]

I can't speak as to Good Sam. I have not heard too much about it. I can vouce for a decent (although not great!) experience at Nyack, though. The first time I delivered at Nyack, they were very respectful of my birth plan, etc. I used a team of mid-wives and there was always one of the mid-wives on call at Nyack so I was more or less guaranteed the mid-wife delivery. The second time there were intense, life-threatening complications after the delivery but in general I still felt fairly well supported in my choices (bf, etc.). Maybe Nyack Hospital would be a better option for you based on some of the responses you are getting? It really isn't much further along the Thruway than Suffern.

[murphysaangel]

Unfortunately I had a bad experience at Nyack Hospital (totally unrelated) once so I'm not super confident there. I'm trying to deal with having to go to Good Sam but I am also considering Phelps in White Plains and Hudson Valley Hospital. Much farther, unfortunately, but it might be necessary. I've met 2x with the midwives who deliver at Good Sam and I'm not super impressed. I know I've been spoiled with an amazing hb midwife but I really didn't think that I'd be THIS disappointed in a hospital-based midwifery practice. I'll have to seek a few others before I make any type of decisions. Any advice would be greatly appreciated, as far as good experiences with other midwives in the area (Orange/Rockland/Westchester/NWNJ).

[sacredma]

i have heard some good things about hudson valley hospital

[Chamsia]

Several friends of mine have birthed at HVH, including vaginal, cesarean, and a VBAC, and I've heard no bad reports. My friend who did VBAC there had a wonderful experience. She even got special permission and was able to eat some of her placenta to avoid PPD.

[rclaz]

hey there I called Good Sam yesterday and spoke to a maternity consultant. She told me that the hospital was very vbac friendly. She said that it had to be cleared as "ok" by an OB. She said even if you're vbac, it is not necessarily continuous fetal monitoring. That it depends on your doctor's orders. But, that if you do have to have it, that you are still able to use the squatting bar, and ball. She said all the post partum rooms are private and dads/partners can room in. I'm going to schedule a tour and see. Good luck!!!

[murphysaangel]

Originally Posted by rclaz

hey there I called Good Sam yesterday and spoke to a maternity consultant. She told me that the hospital was very vbac friendly. She said that it had to be cleared as "ok" by an OB. She said even if you're vbac, it is not necessarily continuous fetal monitoring. That it depends on your doctor's orders. But, that if you do have to have it, that you are still able to use the squatting bar, and ball. She said all the post partum rooms are private and dads/partners can room in. I'm going to schedule a tour and see. Good luck!!!

Yes, let me know what you found out. My friend did a tour last month and they were told that you aren't "guaranteed" a private room because it can get busy. My current midwives told me that you might be placed in a semi-private recovery room, but after that you *should* be getting a private room. She also said that they would do intermittent fetal monitoring, you don't have to get continual. I was actually a bit reassured, but like I said I am having a not-so-great experience with the midwifery practice. I just called to request my medical records and because I said I was looking at other practices they were kind of giving me a hard time. I have a feeling I'll have to push back my appoinment with HVOB/GYN because they're not exactly going to rush getting all 2 pages of my records to me.

If you are interested in going with a OB/GYN, not a midwife, my hb midwife from my last pregnancy told me that Laurie Solomon is VBAC friendly and she delivers out of Good Sam.

tc
Meghan

[rclaz]

Hi Meghan,
I found a midwife, Olive Crone, who delivers at Good Sam. My doula told me about her. She is partnered with an OB, Dr. Tennenbaum. There is no guarantee that you'll get one or the other. But, I think that if the OB and midwife are partnered, it's highly likely they share the same philosophy on birth. I'm not sure, of course, so I have an appt there too. I think I'd like to make one at HVH too. Do you know if there is a specific midwifery practice that births there? I have my tour of Good Sam next friday. I will let you know what I find out!!
R

[murphysaangel]

Hi Rebecca

Yes, the midwifery practice is HV OB/GYN which has 2 midwives and 2 OB's, with the same sort of "you get who you get" philosophy. I think any hospital birth would be with some sort of dual ob-midwife practice. I have MY appointment with them on Tuesday, so I will let YOU know how THAT goes ;-)
I hope to tour the hospital there too but it will have to be a different day. I forgot to ask where you had your c-section with #1?
I have heard good things about Olive Crone, not sure where, possibly on this forum. Hopefully we'll find what we're each looking for! TC
Meghan

[rclaz]

Hi,
I had my c/s at Hackensack. As far as c/s goes, it went fine. I had a complete placenta previa with my daughter, so there really weren't options. I tried visualization, etc. The placenta moved some, but not enough. Anyhow, I ended up with a high risk OB, due to the PP. The surgery went beautifully, and they really did make efforts to make it special for us. They called my husband over as soon as she was born, wrapped her and he brought her over to me. My arms were down, but not tied down. I was able to move the one to touch her. As soon as I was sewn up, she was on me and we went to recovery and a nurse was right there helping me breast feed. When they wheeled me to the Post Partum room, DH went with DD to nursery for the weight, measurement, etc. They were back in the room with me in no time and we weren't separated again. The nurses were very supportive, friendly, etc. I healed beautifully, with no issues at all. Plus, as far as hospitals go, it's really done nice. It was practically like staying in a nice hotel. DH roomed in. I don't, however, think they are VBAC friendly. I'm pretty sure no midwives either. I'm not 100%, but I recall my OB telling me to come back to him when I had #2, unless I wanted VBAC.

Yes, good vibes to us both in finding what we're looking for!!

[murphysaangel]

UPDATE!

So I had my consult with Sue Cavanaugh of Hudson Valley OB/GYN and I was THRILLED with her and the practice. She and the rest of the staff (2 OB's and 1 other midwife) are very pro-VBAC and treat them like any other birth. She recommended I tour the hospital which I wasn't able to do today, but she guaranteed that the nurses and entire staff are also VBAC friendly and very natural-birth oriented. She said I could labor and even birth in the tub if I want. She also told me that I'd have a great chance at a VBAC since I got up to 8 cm (the other place just said it was "so-so" because of the FTP diagnosis I'd gotten at the hospital - though they never read my records!) which collaborates with what my HB mnidwife had originally said. Anyway, I really liked her and just kinda "gelled" if ya know what I mean! The ONLY thing I wasn't super thrilled with is that her practice will not allow anyone to go over 41 weeks. The other practice it was 42, then they automatically section you. With Sue and HVOBGYN, they induce at 41 weeks, but she said Pitocin would be the LAST resort and we'd try all natural methods 1st, then stripping membranes, then AROM, then pitocin. It does concern me because I was 41 weeks + 4 days with my son and it'll be likely I go past my edd with this one too. She did take a look at her handy pregnancy calendar-thingy and said we could stretch my EDD from 9/1 to 9/3 to give me a few extra days. And who knows, maybe my next u/s will give me a few more. She seemed really willing to do whatever possible to avoid induction, but it isn't something she can control, yk? I'll be visiting the hospital within the next few weeks but I'm pretty sure this is the place for me!