[texmati]

The hospital nearest me is Allen presbyterian. It's where I'm currently set to deliver. It's a 'baby friendly' hospital, which mostly means that they are in support of breastfeeding, rooming in ect.

I toured the hospital, and I liked their baby centered policies. I'm wondering now about birthing there.

I was wondering if anyone has delivered there? I'm trying to be respectful of the new policy on MDC about healthcare reviews, so if you need to pm me with 'negative' information please pm me.

Any help would be appreciated.

 

[lilmom]

Well, I didn't have my baby there but I did see an LC there, and she was amazing and they put me in a room that was one of their birthing suites for my consult with her. I thought it was all really nice and I had a good experience with the LC. She was really, really encouraging about BF'ing and it seemed like the staff were all helpful.

Wish I had more info for you. I had DS at Plano Presby though.

 

[texmati]

Thanks for responding!

I guess I'm just wondering if they are all that they are cracked up to be-- they have natural birthing posters on the wall ect.

I'm glad the LC was helpful, though!

 

[BeachBearMama]

A good friend of mine had a natural, drug-free midwife birth at Allen Presby and had a great experience. I don't know any more than that, but I do know she was very happy with how everything turned out.

 

[Blythe #1]

I had my third child at Presby Allen. I'm going to PM you due to the rules on MDC.

 

[texmati]

Quote:

Originally Posted by BeachBearMama A good friend of mine had a natural, drug-free midwife birth at Allen Presby and had a great experience. I don't know any more than that, but I do know she was very happy with how everything turned out.

BeachBearMama, do you know how long it's been since your friend had her birth there? It sounds like the midwife/policies have changed in the last year or so.

 

[BeachBearMama]

Quote:

Originally Posted by texmati BeachBearMama, do you know how long it's been since your friend had her birth there? It sounds like the midwife/policies have changed in the last year or so.

I think her little one is 3 - 3 1/2 or so, so it's possible that things have changed.

 

[noodlegirl]

I have not heard about the new rules so I guess I better go check on that since I give my opinion all the time on that stuff! But I have good things to say about Presby Allen. Though like all hospitals or birthing centers no one is going to hand you the birth you want on a silver platter. It will take work on your part to communicate your desires and to make sure your birth team is on board with what you want. This hospital is just more likely to get on board than some!

 

[texmati]

BeachBearMama, Noodlegirl, thank you so much for your replies. From my understanding, only one midwife works out of that hospital now for the last year.

I've done a lot of soul searching, and I really belive that a home birth or a birthing center is just not a good fit for me and dh right now.

From what I've been hearing, out of the hospitals in the area, I think is the one that has the most patient- friendly practicies.

 

[AllieFaye]

Texas Health Allen (new name) advertizes it's Level II NICU, but it's really just for small or mildly ill babies. They have a much higher transfer rate (and that would be to Texas Health Dallas, formerly Presby Dallas) than others in the area. Also, if you have a very serious medical emergency, (say, needing a neurosurgeon) then you'll be transferred out of their system to either Children's (at Parkland) or Medical City Dallas. If the choice against birth center or homebirth is due to medical issues, then that's something to consider. Allen is not equiped to handle those more serious emergencies.

 

[texmati]

AllieFaye, thank you for your response. Luckily, (so far) our baby hasn't show signs of any problems.

We have been warned that we'd be sent to presby dallas if we had a sick/premature baby. Basically, are you saying that this would not be teh case for some of the other smaller hospitals in the area-- Centenial hospital, or medical center of mkinney? I've been warned to stay away from the plano hospitals.

 

[AllieFaye]

Centenial Hospital has the only Level III hospital in the northern suburbs. They only need to transfer in the most serious cases (i.e. pediatric neurosurgery.) Medical Center of McKinney has a Level II, but has a much lower transfer rate than Allen. It's a larger unit with more nurses, beds and neonatologists. If you do need to transfer out of McKinney, then even the most serious cases are still within their system, since they are affiliated with Medical City Dallas (the hospital that does the cojoined twins separation surgeries.)

I've heard good and bad about Plano hospitals, but only from people with healthy babies. Texas Health Plano is part of the system with Allen, but the one on 15th street is affliated with McKinney and Medical City Dallas.