Pennsylvania Hospital vs. Montgomery Hospital

[MaryandTim07]

Hey! I have a new question for you all now. You were all so generous with your responses before....so here goes.

As this is our first baby, My husband and I have discussed it and we plan on having a natural birth in a hospital setting as opposed to a birth center. I just think I may be overwhelmed and inexperienced! Lol.

This is what I want for sure:
1. midwife
2. allowed to have doula
3. No 2 person in room limit
4. jacuzzi tub

Here's what I would like but not a deal breaker:
1. single room
2. other natural birthing accessories (ball, etc)


Montgomery is about a half hour from my work and home. Pennsy is less than 10 minutes from work and half hour from home.

If anyone has any specific midwife recommendations for either location that would be great! Doula recs also welcome!

Thank you so much!
Mary

[amymaew]

I personally hate Pennsy.  I have never had a client actually get to use their natural birth suites, and every experience I've had with the mws they've been bullies.  I won't go there anymore.  That being said, I've heard that there aren't any midwives at Montgomery hospital anymore b/c of issues with their collaborative agreements, but I'm not positive about that.  I've heard good things about the HUP midwives, and I personally have had great experiences with the Chester Co OB/GYN group at Chester Co Hospital in West Chester - they haven't batted an eye at my clients who wanted a natural birth and actually supported them.  I don't know if any of that is actually helpful lol.  Why do you want to be in a hospital?

[candace123]

Kathy Hindle with midwifery traditions delivers at Montgomery hospital.  I called them a few days ago to verify that.  Montgomery doesn't have any tubs from what I hear though.  The receptionist at Midwifery traditions said that Montgomery allows birthing pools to be brought in.  But I have heard conflicting information from other midwifes about that though. 

The Valley Birthplace told me that they deliver at Montgomery hospital as well.

Montgomery Hospital is going to be switching to Einstein medical at the end of September.  The new location is on Germantown pike in East Norriton. I called them on Monday to find out their if the policy for birthing pools are the same as Montgomery and the woman I spoke to wasn't sure, she said she would call me back within a few days and let me know.

I'm not sure about their policy regarding how many people will be allowed in the room. If your delivering before September 29th, call Mongtomery and ask them.  If your delivering after, you can try calling Einstein and asking them. 
 

[candace123]

Oh and if you go with Einstein, the rooms are private and from what the website says very nice! 

[candace123]

Montgomery will be closing labor and delivery on sept 29th, and all patients will go to Einstein medical center.

If your delivering after sept 29th then you might be interested in knowing this.  Einstein medical center just called me, and the woman I spoke to said she asked the director of the OB department about their water birth policy.  They are 100% on board with it! 

Good luck!!