Recent experiences at Sibley?

[Anonymous]

I am newly pregnant and beginning to look at obgyn practices. I live 5 minutes from Sibley, so have been looking into the various practices that deliver there, but a recent round of emails on my neighborhood listserv has me concerned. Multiple people mentioned being turned away (usually sent to Georgetown) when they arrived in labor because Sibley was full and had no beds available. It was difficult to tell how recently this occurred, but it seemed at least one experience was within the last year.

Can anyone shed any light into this? Is this still a common occurrence? If so, any insight into how this comes about? It seems so incredibly stressful to have to go to an unfamiliar hospital with unfamiliar doctors at the very last moment, and it’s making me look more seriously at practices at other hospitals. Thanks in advance for any insight.

[Anonymous]

I think this could happen at any hospital. When I gave birth at a different hospital 2 years ago, my doula warned me that women in labor had recently been turned away because the delivery ward was full. Luckily that didn’t happen to me then, or at Sibley this past fall for my second birth.

[Anonymous]

Hmm diversions can happen but I honestly wouldn’t worry about that. There are far more things to worry about during pregnancy that this isn’t one. Try to compartmentalize and sign up for prenatal yoga! So many things with pregnancy is out of our control which is practice for parenthood which is also similar!

[Anonymous]

This is. It something to worry about. for all you know, you’ll have a planned induction at 42 weeks. It’s a very nice hospital. Go to gw if you want poor people in the room next to you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is. It something to worry about. for all you know, you’ll have a planned induction at 42 weeks. It’s a very nice hospital. Go to gw if you want poor people in the room next to you.

It’s not something to worry about.

[Anonymous]

I had a baby at Sibley a couple months ago, and I’m pretty sure someone (a nurse? My doula?) told me that they had briefly been on diversion within the last few days. I agree that that would be stressful, and I’m glad they had space for me. FWIW, I thought Sibley was great—I would choose it again if I had a second kid, even with the (probably pretty small) risk of being diverted to another hospital!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is. It something to worry about. for all you know, you’ll have a planned induction at 42 weeks. It’s a very nice hospital. Go to gw if you want poor people in the room next to you.

Poor people?! Jeez, pretty insensitive and rude. Many “rich people” prefer gwu over other hospitals for many reasons.

Also there’s no practice in the dc area that will let you close to 42 weeks let alone 40 weeks.

[Anonymous]

Delivered at Sibley summer 2023- great experience especially compared to GW. At time they had 13 of 20 rooms occupied so it felt like a ghost town in a good way. Great medical care, nurses were always available and nursery was amazing (they would keep baby from 11 to 5 and just bring to me to feed during these hours). They also tried to coordinate medicines and temp checks so it was least disruptive. When I delivered at GW they were always coming in and no coordination. Sibley felt like a hotel and food was delicious- I enjoyed shrimp teriyaki when I was there 😀

[Anonymous]

Delivered at Sibley in 2021 and 2023. It’s a very nice hospital and I received good care.

On diversion - my OB’s practice had me call them when I was in labor so that they could notify Sibley that I was on the way. I imagine I would have found out about diversion at that point, but it wasn’t an issue.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is. It something to worry about. for all you know, you’ll have a planned induction at 42 weeks. It’s a very nice hospital. Go to gw if you want poor people in the room next to you.

Poor people?! Jeez, pretty insensitive and rude. Many “rich people” prefer gwu over other hospitals for many reasons.

Also there’s no practice in the dc area that will let you close to 42 weeks let alone 40 weeks.

People have no idea what they are taking about. I’ve had 5 babies at sibley, 4 of which at 42 weeks. Last one was 7 months ago - that was a 39 week induction. Never been turned away. It’s the best hospital, hands down. Go there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is. It something to worry about. for all you know, you’ll have a planned induction at 42 weeks. It’s a very nice hospital. Go to gw if you want poor people in the room next to you.

Poor people?! Jeez, pretty insensitive and rude. Many “rich people” prefer gwu over other hospitals for many reasons.

Also there’s no practice in the dc area that will let you close to 42 weeks let alone 40 weeks.

People have no idea what they are taking about. I’ve had 5 babies at sibley, 4 of which at 42 weeks. Last one was 7 months ago - that was a 39 week induction. Never been turned away. It’s the best hospital, hands down. Go there.

What practice do you go to?

[Anonymous]

This is OP - thanks so much for the info and reassurance! This is all pretty new to me, so I was taken aback to see multiple emails about it. I’ll continue to explore the practices there. I appreciate it!

[Anonymous]

I delivered there in 2021 and again last month. No issues, great rooms and care, decent food. I would definitely go there again.

[Anonymous]

I've had 2 babies, both were intended to be at Sibley. My first (in Summer 2019) I was supposed to be induced but my induction was pushed because Sibley was on diversion and then pushed again and then my water broke naturally and they were still on diversion so I went to Georgetown. It wasn't ideal but it was fine. My second (winter 2022) I had at Sibley which wasn't on diversion at that time. I was concerned about the risk of diversion and was told that it happens intermittently and can last a few days at a time, so its not a huge risk but it is a risk. They have enough beds but have insufficient nursing staff to staff all the beds.