[Ruthe]

The CNMs at birthcare in Alexandria have rejected me due to my past medical history! <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/greensad.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="greensad"><br>
My insurance won't cover CPMs; I have too much income to qualify for a price break honestly, but no money to pay nonetheless! I'm still contemplating my options and just want to know if anyone has had a good birthing experience around here at any area hospital...I'm particularly concerned about keeping the baby with me at all times after the birth, which cannot be acheived at Prince William hospital, short of escaping immediately after birth out a window or something.

 

[MomToKandE]

I had my first at Inova Fair Oaks. This was 6 years ago so I can't swear that things haven't changed but at that time I was able to keep dd with me at all times. They did all the clean-ups and checks in the birthing room. Rooming in was encouraged and I received reasonably good bf support.<br><br>
I had my second at Loudoun Hospital. Ds stayed with me for a while after birth but then had to go to the nursery for more cleanup and checks. Dh was able to go with him though and after that he was able to stay with me at all times. I didn't really need any bf support so I can't say how they would have been.<br><br>
A good friend recently had a baby at Inova Fairfax. She had a c-section after a long stay in their high-risk perinatal unit so I can't say if her baby would have been able to stay if she'd had a more normal delivery. I can say the bf support (or lack of support) she received was terrible! I was really shocked. Even the LC seemed to have a "eh, feed formula if that's what you want" kind of attitude.

 

[Ruthe]

Thanks; that's helpful. I'll check Inova Fair Oaks and see if they still allow "no separation;" that's one of my big beefs with PWH. I'm not too worried about bf support since I've nursed 5 kids already so I'm good with that! The lac consultant at PW was pretty annoying; they are required to visit bf mothers and bug the crap out of them whether they want.

 

[kristenyostdc]

I just wanted to add that I've had all my kids at Fair Oaks and I really liked them. They did take my kids out of my room a couple of times for clean up and the PKU screening but that was it. I kept them with me at all times besides that. And they have very good LC's there. They come into your room and ask if you need help and if you do they work with you. They also have a breastfeeding class that you can take before you leave the hospital. There is no extra charge for that and it's with all the other new moms that have just given birth. And they now have all private rooms which is nice too!!

 

[danaalex]

i had heard that loudoun was a good place to be if you wanted the babe to stay with you, but i've never delivered there or anywhere else in VA. so, it's all rumors at this point.

 

[liseux]

I've been to 4 hospitals, 2 were hb transfers and 2 were sched sections. I have talked to lots of nurses about which hospitals are best in this area for rooming in/natural birth etc. They all say, Inova Fair Oaks & Inova Alexandria. I just had a boy at Alexandria last August & I loved it. I had absolutely no separation. All newborn exams were done in my room by our family practice doc. I think that helps a lot, if baby doesn't need NICU, its good to pick a place where your ped. or Fp has privileges so he/she can just come to your room & baby doesn't have to be seen in the nursery by a staff MD.

 

[ksera05]

I've heard really good things about Inova Fair Oaks and Inova Loudoun. Stay FAR AWAY from Inova Fairfax though unless you're high risk.<br><br>
Have you considered Loudoun Community Midwives? They are CNMs who deliver at Loudoun. I was with them in the beginning of my pregnancy and they were great. Ended up delivering at 24 weeks at Fairfax but that was not their fault in the slightest. <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/lol.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="lol">

 

[ComfyCozy]

I just want to ditto what the pp's said about Loudoun and Fair Oaks. I haven't delivered at either myself, but my last two clients delivered at these hospitals (February and just a few weeks ago). I was told that the nurses at Fair Oaks were very supportive of skin-to-skin at Fair Oaks, and the lactation consultant at Loudoun was awesome!<br><br>
In the end, wherever you go, just remember the phrase "I do not consent" because they are not to be taking your baby off (or doing anything, really) without your consent. You or your partner should be able to accompany baby for any tests or procedures, etc.

 

[Ruthe]

I'm going to see what I can do about Loudon or Fair Oaks. I had my last at PWH and had no idea that parents could not accompany their newborns to the nursery for "mandatory" after birth observation, "mandatory" bath (newborns covered in amniotic fluid are a biohazard, don't you know) and that NEWBORN EXAMS would be conducted in the nursery, where I could not go!!! It was absolutely ridiculous and unreasonable, and no one apparently ever objected before, judging by the way I was reacted to. I am not going back there unless I am bleeding to death.

 

[pumpkinseed]

Another vote for Fair Oaks-they were great. From totally supporting my natural birth to pp care. Baby with me the entire time<img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/smile.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="smile">

 

[Sarahbear]

Fair Oaks is the best!! Very AP.

 

[alysmommy2004]

I had a horrible experience w/my first at Loudoun. However, they are good w/rooming in. I wasn't able to get up and around very well for a few days after delivery, but DH was always able to accompany DD in the nursery when they were doing tests. I never saw a LC there either, b/c they were all off the same couple of days. I would hope that has been resolved by now. Fortunately BFing came fairly easy.

 

[[email protected]]

I delivered in Reston, at the hospital in the town center. My baby never left the room, but they're quick to push c-sections. <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/irked.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="irked">:

 

[siobhang]

Go to Dr Tchabo at VA medical center. When I was transfered out of birthcare due to breech baby, he agreed to support my desire to birth vaginally (with NO meds). He is by far the most pro natural childbirth ob in NOVA.<br><br>
he is the head of OB/GYN teaching at VA medical center (used to be called Arlington) so has a lot of clout there. The hospital itself is not fabulous, but whatever Dr Tchabo wants, they give him.<br><br>
Rooming in is the norm, all private rooms, LC comes to your room, the baby doesn't have to go to the nursery at all (though they do want to take 'em away and scrub 'em down after birth - but they will delay vitamin K and the eye drops for the first hour if you request it).<br><br>
Anyhow get a good doula if you can (we used our birth assistant from birthcare - wendy wyatt in springfield - she is awesome) - I think a doula and a supportive doc are more important than the hospital, frankly. Good luck!

 

[GOPLawyer]

I've heard many, many good things about Dr. Tchabo. Having had two breech babies, he'll be my first choice insurance permitting.<br><br>
As for hospitals, I cannot say enough about how great Fair Oaks is! While I've never delivered vaginally (due to breech presentation), I can say that I pretty much had my wishes followed (of course, my awsome, super-cool, would-call-again-in-a-heartbeat, totally would recommend doula....aka ComfyCozy aka Celeste was a huge help in that area) to a T.<br><br>
The nurses didn't bat an eye at my no bath for DS stipulation. I never even heard an ounce of grief over my no eye drops for DS. I coslept with DS skin to skin on my chest....all I received were kudos from the nurses (same w/ the no bath...they agreed that the vernix is good for the skin!). The nurses are very pro-BF and the LC dept. is great. The hearing test and PKU were done in the room w/ me. When DS had to go to the nursery for a car seat test (he was very tiny), they had no problem w/ DH and me staying in there the whole time with him.<br><br>
And to show exactly how awsome they are about keeping a family together...DS2 almost died (dear Lord, that's hard to type) ...it took several minutes to resuscitate him. Even then, he never went to the NICU or the nursery....they simply monitored him in recovery w/ DH there the whole time (while my Doula, Celeste, kept me sane while being stitched up....even c/s Mamas should have a doula!). I could hold him/start BF as soon as I got to recovery.<br><br>
All the rooms are private and DH can stay overnight. The food is actually pretty good and they keep a stocked fridge (juice, sandwiches etc.)<br><br>
I've also been told that a couple of the nurses are doulas (or are training for doula cert. Don't remember which). They do have tubs...make sure to ask for one if you want one as not all the rooms have them.<br><br>
Hospitals to avoid...Fairfax (unless you're really high risk) and DEFINETLY Reston...they don't allow doulas.<br><br>
Good Luck...I hope you get exactly the birth you want!

 

[wearbaby]

I know Culpeper is probably pretty far out, and while I wouldn't exactly say the doctors are FANTASTICLY cruncy, they probably lean towards more natural practices. But they get my vote hands down for nursing/BFing care. The director is a LC and has been working towards official "baby friendly" status for a while. Absolutely rooming in, and never separating mom/baby unless absolutely necessary. Even though I had an unnecessary (snowball induction) c-section, and was very disappointed with the doc, the nurses allowed me to recover IN MY ROOM, and I breastfed then and got AMAZING BFing support throughout my stay. All that said- I'm planning a HBAC for this babe <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/wink1.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="wink1">

 

[ktbug]

I heard Tchabo was more of a high-risk OB? That he's very good, but he doesn't much bother with the routine stuff? Anyway that's what I heard.<br><br>
Physicians and Midwives has privileges at INOVA Alexandria; that's where and with whom I delivered last August as well (what's up, liseux? <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/orngbiggrin.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="orange big grin">). They didn't have a problem with rooming-in/no separation; they put ds on my tummy and let him nurse immediately after birth; there is an LC on staff and a shop with resources if you need them ... ok, that's where my positive experience with them ends. I had some problems, and I was extremely routine (shouldn't have been at the damn hospital to begin with ... but that's another thread). The L&D nurses were condescending and unaccommodating to my wishes (i.e. don't turn the pitocin up ... oh well if you insist <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/irked.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="irked">: at least TELL me when you're turning it up ... oh you're not gonna do that either) and they pushed interventions pretty heavily despite my telling them repeatedly that I didn't want them.<br><br>
Some of the MWs at P&M are awesome; some of them are very medical. I recommend Gina and Patrice - they rule. P&M is a good compromise for someone who wants the option of a physician but is mostly more comfortable with a MW - the mw's do all the work, basically.<br><br>
I had another problem with INOVA Alexandria and a very VERY pushy nurse and doctor concerning circ ... if you're anti-circ and you're having a baby boy, you better bring a magic marker and be prepared to scrawl DO NOT CUT all over yourself and your son. That's all I'm saying about that.<br><br>
I hear much better things about Fair Oaks ... though all in all I didn't really have a problem with my prenatal care at P&M (I just had some problems with Alexandria Hospital.<br><br>
Good luck and happy birth!!

 

[LilMomma83]

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<div>Originally Posted by <strong>ksera05</strong> <a href="/community/forum/post/7967149"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/community/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style="border:0px solid;"></a></div>
<div style="font-style:italic;">Have you considered Loudoun Community Midwives? They are CNMs who deliver at Loudoun. I was with them in the beginning of my pregnancy and they were great. Ended up delivering at 24 weeks at Fairfax but that was not their fault in the slightest. <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/lol.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="lol"></div>
</td>
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I did not use them for maternity care (b/c I live in MD now - although I did consider it as I work in NoVA and was not sure where DS would decide to make his apearance!) But I've talked to people that have had good experiences with them...and I used to see them as a teen and really felt comfortable with them. I know you said you don't quallify for a price break either...but they always gave me one and never asked how much money I made.

 

[egoldber]

<div style="margin:20px;margin-top:5px;">
<div class="smallfont" style="margin-bottom:2px;">Quote:</div>
<table border="0" cellpadding="6" cellspacing="0" width="99%"><tr><td class="alt2" style="border:1px inset;">I heard Tchabo was more of a high-risk OB? That he's very good, but he doesn't much bother with the routine stuff? Anyway that's what I heard.</td>
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He's not just a high risk OB. He does routine OB care too.

 

[liseux]

Hi Ktbug!<br><br>
I am sad that they pushed you at Alex about circ. I had a great experience pp at Alex, but my doctors office (receptionist!) was soliciting circ at every prenatal visit. It was so maddening to me, I plan to write to them about it. At the hospital I told the very first nurse that checked me in that I didn't want anyone at anytime to bring up circ or I would talk their ear off. The minute I was brought back to my room, my dr brought it up & the nurse immediately told him never to mention that again to us. Over the next 3 days every nurse and dr who came in my room brought it up only to tell us they agreed with us, they all hated it. It depends who you get, but it can't hurt to make a no circ onesie, we did. <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/smile.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="smile">