[dooney]

<p>Our first two were born in a small hospital in Wisconsin. We moved to Colorado in June and I will be delivering at St. Mary's in Grand Junction - this place is giant! It is the main hospital in the area, like all the ski accidents are flown here from all the resorts in the mountains. I'm nervous about it, everything is going to be different! I was the only one in L&D with the first two, but I know there are tons of babies born here every day! Anyone have experience with this place in particular or with huge hospitals in general?</p>

 

[gemasita]

<p>We have a couple of big hospitals and they are totally different.  For example, one is a teaching hospital and it is TOTALLY natural-childbirth friendly, especially if you use the midwives or family practice docs.  They really keep up on the research, keep mothers and babies together, and are working towards their mother-friendly hospital certification.  The other is a like a baby factory.  They want you in and out because they are so high-volume and they have a 42% c-section rate.  I think a big hospital can be good or bad - you probably just have to ask a lot of questions to find out about them specifically.</p>

 

[soccerchic21]

<p>My first was born at a neighborhood hospital. The birthing center was fairly new but the nursing staff is horrible and I hear over 7 years later it is still the same way. They are pretty intervention minded so I didn't have my second there and didn't want to go there this time because they don't allow VBAC or trial of labor. Too bad because they are 5 min from my house. I felt more like a number there than when I delivered my second at a bigger hospital.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>My second I was risked out from a free standing birth center and delivered at what is known as a baby factory. Aside from having a needed cesarean I enjoyed my stay and didn't feel rushed out. The nursing staff was great and we felt well taken care of and even though they were busy and there are so many babies born there daily I didn't notice. </p>
<p> </p>
<p>This time we are delivering somewhere new..again.  </p>

 

[dooney]

<p>We have a tour & pre-registration coming up, but there is nothing about the facility itself on the website so I guess I will have to wait until then. They do have this thing where a nurse comes to your house a few days after the birth to make sure you're doing OK.</p>

 

[baglady]

<p>I had my first at a big hospital.  The actual birth experience was not pleasant mostly because the nurse I had was not at all compassionate and kind of mean.  When I was moved into my room the nurses were wonderful.  So my actual stay was great.  For example, they were really into breastfeeding and making sure it was going well often; no one even mentioned supplementing or pacifiers, etc.  They also treated me very kindly.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Thinking back on it I really think that a lot of it comes down to the people surrounding you.  I think I just happened to get a nurse who woke up on the wrong side of the bed that day or something.  Ask lots of questions, make a birth plan and be a self advocate.  That's really the best you can do in any birth situation.  I think the pro of a huge hospital is that they probably have experience with anything that could go wrong with you or your baby.  That would make me feel better.</p>

 

[SumnerRain]

<p>And if you get a crappy nurse, don't feel bad asking for a different one, or speaking to the nurse manager!  Easier said than done, I know... maybe let your partner be the bad guy.</p>

 

[MaddieMay]

<p>I ended up (unexpectedly) delivering my first at a big hospital.  It wasn't the greatest experience, but it worked considering the circumstances.  The one thing I really did like that they pretty much left me alone postpartum, so I got lots of peace and quiet. </p>

 

[soccerchic21]

<br><br><div class="quote-container"><span>Quote:</span>
<div class="quote-block">Originally Posted by <strong>SumnerRain</strong> <a href="/community/forum/thread/1285686/big-hospitals-pros-and-cons#post_16120131"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/community/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style="border:0px solid;"></a><br><br><p>And if you get a crappy nurse, don't feel bad asking for a different one, or speaking to the nurse manager!  Easier said than done, I know... maybe let your partner be the bad guy.</p>
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<p><br>
My DH has no problem being that person. </p>

 

[allisonrose]

<p>My first thought is that at a big hospital perhaps they've "seen it all" and will be more accomodating than a small hospital where the staff is used to patients going along with interventions. Maybe going on a tour and asking questions will help you feel better.</p>
<p>The hospital where I had my first was about medium size I'd say. They were very big on rooming in and breastfeeding. Their policy was technically against cosleeping but my first PP nurse said that some babies are best soothed that way. I've moved and there is just one small hospital in the area. They are classified as baby friendly but from what I've heard they're not very mom friendly in regards to laboring. One mom mentioned that she got out of bed to use the bathroom and wouldn't get back in bed even though they wanted her to. Very different from the hospital with my first where they encouraged movement to deal with labor. <br><br>
 </p>
<div class="quote-container"><span>Quote:</span>
<div class="quote-block">Originally Posted by <strong>SumnerRain</strong> <a href="/community/forum/thread/1285686/big-hospitals-pros-and-cons#post_16120131"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/community/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style="border-right:0px solid;border-top:0px solid;border-left:0px solid;border-bottom:0px solid;"></a><br><br><p>And if you get a crappy nurse, don't feel bad asking for a different one, or speaking to the nurse manager!  Easier said than done, I know... maybe let your partner be the bad guy.</p>
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<br><br><p> Definitely! I still remember my crappy nurse with my first and wish I would have asked her to leave and not come back. (Or sent hubby to the nurses' station to request someone new - if I'd have asked he would have.)</p>

 

[dooney]

<p>From what my MW said, it'll be just us and her for labor, unless I want someone else. I'm a bit nervous about the no vax/no vit K/no eye ointment/GBS+ stuff.</p>

 

[SumnerRain]

<br><br><div class="quote-container"><span>Quote:</span>
<div class="quote-block">Originally Posted by <strong>dooney</strong> <a href="/community/forum/thread/1285686/big-hospitals-pros-and-cons#post_16121112"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/community/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style="border:0px solid;"></a><br><br><p>From what my MW said, it'll be just us and her for labor, unless I want someone else. I'm a bit nervous about the no vax/no vit K/no eye ointment/GBS+ stuff.</p>
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<p><br>
Have you done a hospital tour?  I asked about the CBE giving the tour those questions and she confirmed at my (large) hospital, you actually have to consent to anything they do.  I still put it in my birth plan I am waiving vax and eye ointment, but consenting to Vit K, and declining an IV.</p>

 

[dooney]

<p>We are going on the 20th. I still need to finish up my birth plan! Know what's awesome? It's a worksheet the MW gives you to fill out. I know that birth plans can be kind of regarded as a nuisance when patients bring them in, but she provides them for us, I was tickled.</p>

 

[SumnerRain]

<p><br>
 </p>
<div class="quote-container"><span>Quote:</span>
<div class="quote-block">Originally Posted by <strong>dooney</strong> <a href="/community/forum/thread/1285686/big-hospitals-pros-and-cons#post_16121519"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/community/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style="border:0px solid;"></a><br><br><p>We are going on the 20th. I still need to finish up my birth plan! Know what's awesome? It's a worksheet the MW gives you to fill out. I know that birth plans can be kind of regarded as a nuisance when patients bring them in, but she provides them for us, I was tickled.</p>
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<br><br><p>So awesome!  I did mine on the mama angel earth baby website or whatever it is, but it turned out to be 4 pages, so I spent a ton of time deleting things that I felt were obvious (like being able to access a birth ball, this is just a simple request) vs. something HUGE to me like wanting to labor and or deliver in a water birth suite.  I do appreciate how seriously my MW took my birth plan, and how she told me to bring a copy, but she would fax it over so it is in my records.  She said bring an extra for the nurse, and one to keep with me.  The nurses on the tour told us to bring our plans too.  It was a nice change from my last experiences where they seemed like a birth plan was a nuisance. </p>