Washington Hospital Center

[Anonymous]

I found a midwife that I love that only practices at WHC. I've not heard much about their facilities, nursing staff, etc.
Does anyone have any insight or ideas on how I can check them out a bit more?
Thanks!

[Anonymous]

WHC is a very nice hospital with decent nursing care. In fact, it is very similar to other area hospitals such as GW, Holy Cross, Sibley, etc. I think historically it has more of a bad repuation than these other hospitals, and that may very well be because it is in a poorer section of town and serves more minorities. However, having attended births all over the city, I think labor & delivery is pretty much the same at most of these places. The one thing that will really make it a better experience for you is your midwife. The midwives I know of who work at WHC really try hard to help women have the birth they want, even though they are in a hospital with protocols. Who is your midwife?

One thing I will say is that postpartum care is kind of mediocre at WHC. Many of the nurses don't really know much about breastfeeding, and if I remember correctly most rooms are shared. YOu will definitely need to advocate for yourself in postpartum; though hopefully if you have a low-intervention midwife attended birth there, you will be home within 24 hours anyway.

Good luck!

[Anonymous]

I would like to first say that WHC is a very good hospital for labor and delivery. I have served many of my clients as a labor doula privately and through FHBC. The nursing staff that I have worked with are open to not only the midwives from Unity Care, FHBC, and Whitney Pinger but to the doulas that are hired by those families who have them.

I would agree that the postpartum care is kind mediocre but I do know that there is a lactation consultant on staff and that ALL of the nurses are trained to assist in breastfeeding but a little lazy at it.

With response to the following comment "I think historically it has more of a bad repuation than these other hospitals, and that may very well be because it is in a poorer section of town and serves more minorities." I am a woman of color, a life resident of the District of Columbia and find this comment INSULTING. WHC is NOT located in the poorer section of town. It is northwest of the city and serves not only low income but ALL income level families with the neighboring communities such as Brookland, Woodridge,Columbia Heights, LeDroit Park and the Shaw areas. WHC is top rated and is the ONLY hospital in the area with a MEDStar unit. Howard University Hospital and Greater Southeast Hospital serves mostly lower income families. WHC is also a teaching hospital with Georgetown Medical School so the medical staff works with interns.

[Anonymous]

Thanks for the feedback - Whitney is my midwife and I really like her so far so I'm hoping that I can make the logistics of WHC work.

[Anonymous]

OP, I gave birth with a midwife at WHC last summer (June 07), and basically agree with what the 2 PPs said (although know nothing about the hospital's reputation in the community). My midwives (from FHBC, better known as DCBC) were fabulous and enabled me to have the birth I wanted. My first L&D nurse was not great, but there was a shift change soon after I arrived and the one who was there from then until the baby was born was great. My first postpartum nurse was very good, the rest were pretty much phoning it in. The one thing I will say is that, at least as of last summer, access to lactation consultants was sporadic. I did not see one while I was there despite requesting it more than once. Apparently at that time (don't know if it's different now), they only had volunteers and so there wasn't always one there. The nurses *supposedly* knew about breastfeeding, but they really didn't know much more than I did after having read a few books and taken a class at the Breastfeeding Center. This turned out not to be a problem for me because my son had a good latch, but I definitely had some tense moments at the hospital when I would have liked to have gotten some reassurance from someone with lots of knowledge.

After touring both Georgetown and WHC, I would say the facilities seemed about equal to me. WHC has almost all private rooms, which was great, and husbands/partners are allowed to stay overnight. Rooming in is allowed, and all procedures except for weighing can be done in the room with you (my DH went to the nursery with him for the weigh-in) -- this was important to me. The nursery is available if you want to get some sleep, though. One other thing: although YOU can be released after 24 hours, they will not let the baby out that soon (at least they wouldn't with me). I gave birth Monday night and left the hospital at noon on Wednesday, which was the soonest I could get them to release the baby.

If I have another child, I will definitely go back to DCBC and would give birth at WHC again.

[Anonymous]

With response to the following comment "I think historically it has more of a bad repuation than these other hospitals, and that may very well be because it is in a poorer section of town and serves more minorities." I am a woman of color, a life resident of the District of Columbia and find this comment INSULTING. WHC is NOT located in the poorer section of town. It is northwest of the city and serves not only low income but ALL income level families with the neighboring communities such as Brookland, Woodridge,Columbia Heights, LeDroit Park and the Shaw areas.

You are taking offense to something that is not offensive. In my post, you will notice that I said I thought the hospital was comparable to the other hospitals in town. However, I do notice that many wealthier people I interact with (I am also a doula) tend to think of it as a less desirable hospital - much like they think Sibley is a better hospital. Let me clarify that I think they are WRONG. There is nothing bad about WHC, and there certainly isn't anything special about Sibley (I personally would choose to deliver at WHC with a midwife *any* day!). But people do have these attitudes, and I think that is because of where the hospitals are located and the populations they have historically tended to serve. And yes, Brookland, Woodridge, Columbia Heights, LeDroit and Shaw are indeed poorer (though quickly gentrifying) sections of town when compared to Georgetown, Dupont Circle, Spring Valley, etc. Even though I myself think the neighborhoods you mention are great, there are plenty who live in "upper" NW who don't share that opinion. I encounter this all the time when the people I meet refuse to even check out WHC. Instead, they want to stay with Sibley or Georgetown because of the mistaken belief that they are somehow better.

OP, sorry to derail from your original question. You are in great hands with Whitney. I think you will have a fine experience at WHC, as it is a great place to have a baby. Many of the nurses there have had birth center births themselves, and are happy to work with the midwives. I would do everything you possibly can to get you and your baby discharged early though - in most cases you can sign your baby out AMA if you want, but it has to be something that you feel strongly about or else that option might be scary.

[Anonymous]

I actually did the maternity tour there before I conceived because we really wanted to find a dr. that worked at a hospital we liked. We ended up deciding to go with Holy Cross because it is closer to home, but I _loved_ the OB nurse who did the tour, and she was also a lactation consultant. She was super helpful and even recommended some Dr's. The rooms looked nice and the facilty seemed modern....

[Anonymous]

Thanks everyone for the feedback! I'm going to do a tour with Whitney and check out the facilities next month.
For those of you that are doulas or have used doulas, how does the doula/midwife/nursing staff interact during the delivery?
Is the Doula primarily for pre-natal assistance or are they present for the birth? Mostly dealing with mom while midwife deals with baby?
Do any Doulas stay on afterwards and help with things like lactation, etc?
Thanks again!!

[Anonymous]

Whitney has an apprentice who is also a doula. She should be able to provide perspective on the role of the doula when working with a midwife.

[Anonymous]

I delivered at WHC. My husband works there and my OB only delivered there. I had a really good experience. The delivery nurse was excellent. The postpartum nurses were really great too. I do think that some of the nurses lactation knowledge was not the best. However, I requested the specific lactation nurse come to my room and she was unbelievable. Her mission was to make sure that I got the hang of breastfeeding by the time I left and she made it happen.

[Anonymous]

Hi - I am a fellow mom and a writer working on an article which among other services/professionals, will talk about and explain the role of
a doula. I would love to speak with a mom who has used one, preferable who has had a positive experience. If you are a mom who I could interview
(to help educate other moms), please contact me at [e-mail].

thanks for your help! Jessica

[Anonymous]

Pretty much all of the yuppie types I have come into contact with who are delivering in DC are going to / have gone to Sibley or Georgetown, but I have no idea why. I was born at WHC, my stepson was born there, and I'll be delivering there as well. The facilities seem fine. Most of the rooms are private, and I believe unlike at Sibley they don't charge you extra for a private room (which they don't guarantee you'll get anyway).

I am a bit concerned about all the comments I've read about a lack of lactation consultants, but honestly my health care plan doesn't give me much choice about what hospital or what Dr to deliver my baby anyway. Plus there are lactation consultants through my health plan and the breastfeeding center to go to afterwards.

My Dr says good things about the midwives there. Not that I'll be using one primarily, but apparently they are willing to "pitch in" with other deliveries when they're not busy.

[Anonymous]

Hi. I'm thinking of delievering #2 at WHC. Does anyone have any more recent feedback? Can anyone confirm whether the post-partum rooms are private or not? Any other insight would be very welcome.

TIA!