Need San Antonio hospital recs

[krepanie]

My little sister is 6 weeks pregnant and lives in SA. This is her first baby, and I wanted to get some hospital recs for her. I know she doesn't really know where to start with looking for a doctor or hospital (and I don't think there is a chance at all that she would go to a MW).

Anyway. Any mommy/baby-friendly hospitals in the SA area?

[HarperRose]

I actually have had good care at St. Luke's in Medical Center. I homebirthed & UC'd my youngest 2 (oldest was born at the hospital in Fredericksburg) but during my last pregnancy I had to be hospitalized twice for Hyperemesis Gravidarum. St Luke's was very good to me there.

[Emmeline II]

Maybe she would consider a birth center, or midwives that have homepages that she can read.

I was going to use this birth center in New Braunfels http://www.midwifenewbraunfels.com/default.htm, but had a hb instead; the bc is 5min from the hospital. Amber wasn't my mw but she was closer (mws were in Austin for the day) so my mw called her to come to my house. Too bad there isn't a picture of the center, it's so cute.

Stacy and Joi were my midwives:
http://www.texasmidwivesgroup.com/index.html

It seems like they have taken up the monthly meetings/luches again; if your sister was interested she could meet them in a group situation with their other current/former clients.

Also, I think LoneStar Midwives have a good rep and they deliver out of St. Lukes's Baptist Hospital:
http://www.lonestarmidwives.com/

[HarperRose]

Oh yeah, Stacy & Joi ROCK! OMG, I love them.

[sbroglie]

I second St. Luke's Baptist Hospital for a good birth experience (I haven't heard as good of things about some of the other hospitals...it would probably depend on your OB). At least at St. Luke's you are more guaranteed a good experience if you get a good OB/midwife there. I had my first there and was very pleased. I used the Lone Star OB/GYN & Associates. (The associate part is certified nurse midwives). Any of the OBs will be good from Lone Star too if she wants to go the OB route.

BUT...she might be really interested in the CNMs that delivery at a hospital. They are labor & delivery nurses that get their masters in midwifery. They are 100% back-up supported with OBs, so there is no issues there. You can whatever type of birth you want with them...drug-free, epidural, labor tub, etc. They are very flexible. Some of the OBs in the group probably have a similar philosphy as the midwives too and won't push inductions unless you really want to be induced.

On a side note: There is also a new birth center in the medical center (right near the other hospitals like St. Luke's) with CPM midwives Holly and Alisa.
http://www.birthcentersa.com/
I just delivered my second child there on Saturday and I have to say it was an awesome experience. I got to have a waterbirth!!!!

[NaturalTXMama]

I had a homebirth with Alisa Voss, a midwife at the new birthing center in San Antonio. She is INCREDIBLE! And the new facilities are beautiful. Your sister might feel better birthing there because you can literally see the hospital from the parking lot.

If not, I have heard nothing but good things about Lone Star OBGYN.

Blessings!

[krepanie]

Thanks for all the replies. I really appreciate it!

She *may* be interested in a CNM at a hospital, but that would probably be the extent of it. I would be shocked if she chose to birth in a BC...seriously, shocked. She thinks DH and I are pretty weird for choosing a HB with our last one.

Now to get her some good books on childbirth!

[Emmeline II]

Originally Posted by krepanie

Thanks for all the replies. I really appreciate it!

She *may* be interested in a CNM at a hospital, but that would probably be the extent of it. I would be shocked if she chose to birth in a BC...seriously, shocked. She thinks DH and I are pretty weird for choosing a HB with our last one.

Now to get her some good books on childbirth!

You could give her "Obstetrical Myths vs Research Realities" if you think she'd receive it well.

At least with Lone Star she'd be exposed to the "other side" a bit.

[Georgetown HB Mom]

[QUOTE=Emmeline II;12145887]Maybe she would consider a birth center, or midwives that have homepages that she can read.

I was going to use this birth center in New Braunfels http://www.midwifenewbraunfels.com/default.htm, but had a hb instead; the bc is 5min from the hospital. Amber wasn't my mw but she was closer (mws were in Austin for the day) so my mw called her to come to my house. Too bad there isn't a picture of the center, it's so cute.

QUOTE]

Hi,

I am Amber's apprentice at the birth center in New Braunfels. Here is the link to that site so you can see the birth center: http://www.birthcenternb.com/. Amber is great and you might suggest your sister at least interview some midwives and really address what her concerns and fears are. We work with a lot of first time moms. Also, another great book for her to read is The Thinking Woman's Guide to Better Birth by Henci Goer or any book by Sheila Kitzinger.

Lisa

[sbroglie]

I love Henci Goer's book "The Thinking Woman's Guide to a Better Birth". It is the best researched book!!!!

[hbmomma86]

I had my first daughter w/ Holly at home in a labor tub. I always knew that natural birth was what I wanted, but a really good book that Holly recommended I read since it was our first child was Creating Your Birth Plan: The Definitive Guide to a Safe and Empowering Birth by Marsden Wagner . It's completely unbiased, and if I hadn't already had my mind made up I totally would have chosen a natural birth after reading that book. It's written by an actual dr. so she won't be able to say it's one sided. Also it is EXTREMELY informative about everything so that you can make choices you are comfortable with, and the last chapter actually goes over how to approach your health care provider with your birth plan. I am happy to say that we are expecting our 2nd child, and decided that with a toddler at home we're going to be delivering at the San Antonio Birth Center. The facility is lovely and homelike, and like someone else already mentioned you can literally see the hospital from the parking lot....