Where do you plan on delivering your baby? Home, Hospital ect. & What are you looking for if you're having it at a hospital?

[slzerbst]

So I saw this post in another form and I wanted to know where everyone is planning on having your baby?  Along with that I want to know what everyone's expectations of the hospital that they are having the baby at(if that's where your choose to have the baby at).

For me it was no contest, I am going to have the baby at the hospital that I was born at 21 years ago, now there are alot of changes that have been made to it, which all of them are good!  I had the amazing oppertunity to see my brother who stayed on the ped's floor, which was combined with the labor and deleivery floor.  The room was nice, it had a pull out couch for the hubby, a nice TV, the call light and remot were all in one AND attached to the bed(you wont lose it that way!) and the nurse's were all very attentive to the needs of their patients.  Not only that, but we can have the baby in our room at any time.  They have privet rooms that you labor, give birth and postpartum stay in(which is a must for me, I don't wanna have to change rooms each time I'm at a mile stone in my child birth experance), a birthing tub and shower which are both things that may be needed if I decied to try and go natural.  All of this put together, makes for a wonderful labor, deleivery, and postpartum parts of my stay.  

[AriQueen]

I'm going to Fairfax Hospital. It's one of the best Hospitals for newborn care in Northern VA.

[cure65roses]

All hospitals in my area are 45 minutes away from my house.  But the one I plan to use has a NICU, which was literally a lifesaver (possibly) for all my 3 sons, who were born prematurely at 32-36 weeks.  

The thing that concerns me, is that ALL my labors only lasted 3 hours from start to finish.  By the time I realized I was in labor and we took off to the hospital, I seriously thought we were going to have to deliver the babies on the side of the road on the way there!  Luckily we barely made it, but only got there in time to have an epidural (quickly) once.  Which, yes,  means natural childbirth for the other two!  OUCCCCCCCCH

And with these twins, they may come even faster!  And my poor hubby, he will NOT be able to deliver a baby.  He'll freeze up.  He can not handle medical stuff like that.  He's one of those dads who will need to stay seated in the delivery room or else he'll pass out!

I'm really gonna have to stay aware of my body this time and try to catch the earliest signs of labor...

[Michele, Katy, TX]

A hospital for sure.  I delivered my first 4 kids at a hospital that I hate.  My doc has delivered at 2 hospitals forever and now delivers at 3.  Well, for baby #5, I decided to try out the other hospital and I LOVED it!  I was so mad that I didn't do it sooner.  I am sure it wasn't around when I had my son nearly 16 years ago but it was for all or most of the rest of my kids.  This hospital does everything in one room also.  You go through labor and delivery all in the same room.  They even give the baby their first bath in your room.  I only remember them taking Rebecca once for like 15 minutes for some test or something, but other than that, she didn't leave my room.  And the room is HUGE, so there is plenty of room.  The staff was wonderful and very warm.  That other hospital had horrible staff.  If you needed anything, it took forever.

[chantal21]

I'll be delivering at a birthing center. I gave birth to my son at a center and it was a great experience! I wanted to have a water birth with my son, but due to his head coming down crooked, I wasn't able to as the midwife wanted to monitor me closely. But I did have him all natural. With this baby I plan on doing it all natural again as I had a very good experience. I may try a waterbirth this time around, but I haven't decided yet. I'm not sure I want to be laying in water filled with blood and other stuff...I'm sure you get the picture...lol. I probably won't this time around. But I loved it because I was in control of what I wanted to, I also was allowed to bring snacks (like protein bars or crackers) to munch on during labor. Also, I was only there for 2 hours after delivery and got to go home and relax in my own bed. I loved that part. Also, 3 days after delivery, the midwife came to my house to check on me and the baby and I really appreciated that.
I hope to have the same experience this time around. =) But if I have to get to a hospital for some reason, there is one 15 mins. away, so that's always good, it's not one I prefer, but it will do in an emergency.

[jenntanis]

I"m having my baby at a hospital, due to my back issues, and possible needing a c-section with general anesthesia.  It all depends on how I do in pregnancy.  I used to work at the hospital (in the PACU) that I'm going to be giving birth at, so I know the anesthesiologists.  They also have a NICU in case we need it.  The hospital is about 45 minutes away, but I wouldn't have the baby at the hospital closer to me since they don't have a good reputation and they don't have a NICU in the same facility.

[NicMom]

There is a great hospital right by my house and that's what I'm going to do. They only have private birthing suites and you stay in the same room the whole time. I had given some thought to using a birthing center, but they don't really have the staff on hand to cope with a medical emergency for the baby. The hospital I'm using is also a children's hospital so it doesn't get any better than that. I can't get over how much like a hotel it is they have on demand movies and room service. It's a pretty big change from the place I had my son at 11 years ago.

[amberd5191]

Hospital! I couldn't go any other way although I do think it'd be neat. I am delivering at the same hospital where I delievered my other kidos.