Big vs. Small Hospitals...

[GinaRae]

Would you rather deliver in a hospital with a "birthing suite" and boasts the highest rate of successfully breastfeeding moms, whom delivers 45 babies a month and works in conjunction with a good NICU......or would you rather deliver in a small town hospital that delivers maybe 7 a month but still has private rooms and rooming in with baby?

I don't know why I am asking! There are obviously going to be other variables. I am just desperate for a direction.

The first is a wee bit far away. And the second is small which reminds me of the first hospital I delivered in (SO MUCH BETTER than the bigger one with my last son that totally traumatized me).

I wish I could fly home to New York and birth in my old hospital.

[Googy]

Hmmm... I think I'd need more info to make a decision on that one. You mention that the second hospital allows rooming in--does that mean that the first one doesn't??? That's almost unheard of these days and doesn't seem to "mesh" with the rest of what you said about that place. Does the first hospital have private rooms too or just the second?

I don't think its big or small that determines the quality of the hosptial, from my experience. It really depends on the culture of the place. Also, I think what place is best for you depends on what you need. For example, for us I don't need a birthing suite that looks pretty or has fancy amenities. I DO need a hospital that will be supportive and excperienced with meeting the needs of my natural, unmedicated VBAC, and with my medical history I need a place with top-notch medical care for me and a level 3 NICU for my baby in case there are complications. So, I chose a hospital that met my needs. If I were you I would figure out what your needs/priorities are and what if "fluff" for you, and then pick the place that is the best match.

[LittleLlama]

I think I'd lean towards the one that could take care of themost, should you need it rather than have to transfer.

The hospital I'm going to is the one I picked last time based soley on the low c-sec rate. I didn't really know much about NCB, but I knew that cutting was bad and I wanted to be able to go natural (I didn't even know what a birth center was!) The fact that it had a DRASTICALLY lower c-sec rate was telling- my OB is the chief of staff there and all the Docs at the practice ONLY deliver at that hospital. The nurses and other staff at the hospital are not only supportive but encouraging towards NCB and no-circ and a host of other suprisingly wonderful things for a hospital.

Now, if the small hospital had staff like THAT, I'd probably go there.

[melissakc]

I agree with Googy. It's hard to say without more info. My gut is the smaller community hospital, but that's just bc I know so many bad stories from women who used the "baby factory" in town, the hospital that brags about this that and the other fancy schmancy thing but really has yucky, businessy attitudes and outdated birth practices.

I think you should tour them both and ask them the hard questions that are tormenting you.