Washington Hospital Center: A Review

[Anonymous]

I’ve delivered twice at Sibley - 2021 and a few weeks ago.

Pros:

- the labor/delivery rooms and recovery rooms are both nice, clean, and spacious.
- The labor and delivery nurses were phenomenal with both of my deliveries. Can’t say enough good things about them.
- Food is fine, although we mostly ordered Door Dash the second time around.

Cons
- lactation consultants are hit and miss. With my first, I had a lot of pain while nursing at first and was basically told to suck it up. With my second, i was also in a lot of pain, and an angel of a lactation consultant told me that I should never settle for pain, gave me nipple shields, and told me that there is nothing wrong with pumping or combo feeding if I continued to have issues. She was so kind.
- The recovery nurses forgot my meds until hours later a few times.
- with my most recent delivery, one of the nurses told me that I couldn’t shower until 24 hours after delivery. She didn’t say why. When the next shift started and a new nurse came in, she was baffled and said that’s not really a rule.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is a great list! Honestly I’m a little horrified by the idea of someone delivering my baby at their 23rd hour awake but I see you point about incentives!

I thought the same as you, but it's probably better than being on call. For a 24 hour shift you can prepare beforehand and know what you are going into. If you're on call, you very well could be up for 12+ hours doing something else and then you are called into another 12+ hours of delivery.

[Anonymous]

I gave birth in another region twice and was happy with my hospital. Just had my third at WHC and was not a fan.

I had the midwives and was happy with prenatal care but did not click with the midwives on duty when I was induced/in labor. No wireless fetal monitoring available. The nitrous oxide seemed very low level or something because it did nothing for me— when it was a huge help elsewhere. The midwives came and stated at me when labor wasn’t progressing much and didn’t have a lot to offer or suggest. I didn’t like the insistence on hospital gowns or the general assumption that I was bed bound. Personal preference, but it was not what I expected. I think for a spontaneous labor (what I had hoped) it probably would have felt fine.

One positive was that my older kids were able to come visit after the birth, which is not a given these days.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: I recently delivered a vaginal birth at Washington Hospital Center (WHC). Here's my review:

Cons:
-Food isn't great
-There are a TON of residents. Many are first years. Some are great, others are a bit immature.
-Labor suites aren't great. Some broken lights, uncomfortable chairs, a few blood splats on the floor (from a previous patient). Outdated bathrooms.
-Mobile fetal monitoring was not available (out for recalibration, apparently)
-Postpartum rooms are like prisons. Small, cramped, steel doors, outdated, walls painted drab white and grey. I struggled not to bang into our infant in these tiny rooms with everyone coming in/out. I was desperate to get out of there, ASAP.
-Baby friendly to the point where you really can't use their nursery.
-It's a high volume labor and delivery practice so the nurses do not always explain things that you need to know. They seem to take it for granted that you "know" things about the care of your infant.
-After 8 PM or so, you have to use the Emergency Department to get into the hospital. WHC is major trauma center so this place is packed w/ a lot of activity at night. It was a bit scary to my husband, tbh.

Pros:
-It's a teaching hospital. So, everyone is explaining out what they are doing to everyone else. Nurses are explaining things to residents. Residents are explaining your case to the chief resident. The chief resident and residents are discussing your case with the attending, etc. More eyes on you = less likely someone makes a mistake. Also, more opportunities to advocate for yourself at key decision points.
-My attending was phenomenal. When in doubt, ask to see the attending. They will come (because they have to). My attending has been doing deliveries for 20+ years.
-No pressure for c-sections. Staff kept telling me their goal is a vaginal birth.
-I found out attendings at WHC work on shifts and they all work for Medstar. 24 hours twice a week, then off. They have no incentive to push you into a C-Section. There is someone else who takes over for them after the shift is done. A nurse told me that at places like Sibley, the physicians work for private practices where they all share the on-call time. Let's say you're on call, have to go to a delivery, and your kid's got a recital in a few hours, you're incentived to get the delivery done ASAP (re: c-section).
-Nurses in labor and delivery are really top notch. Attentive, knowledgeable, and great bedside manner. Never seen anything like it. Seriously.
-WHC is a labor and delivery machine. They have everything done to a t and they have seen most everything - babies whose mothers are on drugs, extreme premature babies, complex c-sections, etc. When things get bad, they know what to do. Me and my little girl were facing some serious issues during delivery and it was clear when things got bad for us, WHC staff knew exactly what to do.
-National Children's is right next door. If things REALLY get bad, they can easily transfer your infant to Children's. They also can call in consults very quickly.

WHC is nothing to call home about as an experience, but if things go bad, this is the place you want to be. My little girl is about turn 1 mo. now and is happy/healthy.

A hospital is not intended to be a 4 star hotel. You and your child received the care you needed. Personally, I would be grateful and stop complaining

I guess, but places like Inova can do both. Are you a crummy doc or nurse from Howard or united medical center or pg hospital by chance? Crummy providers love to define down expectations for pts. -nurse @ Inova

I’m a nurse at MedStar and I told my husband that if something bad happens to me in Virginia, he needs to request for me to be flown across the river to DC. I’d rather die in my own driveway than be taken to an Inova hospital.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: I recently delivered a vaginal birth at Washington Hospital Center (WHC). Here's my review:

Cons:
-Food isn't great
-There are a TON of residents. Many are first years. Some are great, others are a bit immature.
-Labor suites aren't great. Some broken lights, uncomfortable chairs, a few blood splats on the floor (from a previous patient). Outdated bathrooms.
-Mobile fetal monitoring was not available (out for recalibration, apparently)
-Postpartum rooms are like prisons. Small, cramped, steel doors, outdated, walls painted drab white and grey. I struggled not to bang into our infant in these tiny rooms with everyone coming in/out. I was desperate to get out of there, ASAP.
-Baby friendly to the point where you really can't use their nursery.
-It's a high volume labor and delivery practice so the nurses do not always explain things that you need to know. They seem to take it for granted that you "know" things about the care of your infant.
-After 8 PM or so, you have to use the Emergency Department to get into the hospital. WHC is major trauma center so this place is packed w/ a lot of activity at night. It was a bit scary to my husband, tbh.

Pros:
-It's a teaching hospital. So, everyone is explaining out what they are doing to everyone else. Nurses are explaining things to residents. Residents are explaining your case to the chief resident. The chief resident and residents are discussing your case with the attending, etc. More eyes on you = less likely someone makes a mistake. Also, more opportunities to advocate for yourself at key decision points.
-My attending was phenomenal. When in doubt, ask to see the attending. They will come (because they have to). My attending has been doing deliveries for 20+ years.
-No pressure for c-sections. Staff kept telling me their goal is a vaginal birth.
-I found out attendings at WHC work on shifts and they all work for Medstar. 24 hours twice a week, then off. They have no incentive to push you into a C-Section. There is someone else who takes over for them after the shift is done. A nurse told me that at places like Sibley, the physicians work for private practices where they all share the on-call time. Let's say you're on call, have to go to a delivery, and your kid's got a recital in a few hours, you're incentived to get the delivery done ASAP (re: c-section).
-Nurses in labor and delivery are really top notch. Attentive, knowledgeable, and great bedside manner. Never seen anything like it. Seriously.
-WHC is a labor and delivery machine. They have everything done to a t and they have seen most everything - babies whose mothers are on drugs, extreme premature babies, complex c-sections, etc. When things get bad, they know what to do. Me and my little girl were facing some serious issues during delivery and it was clear when things got bad for us, WHC staff knew exactly what to do.
-National Children's is right next door. If things REALLY get bad, they can easily transfer your infant to Children's. They also can call in consults very quickly.

WHC is nothing to call home about as an experience, but if things go bad, this is the place you want to be. My little girl is about turn 1 mo. now and is happy/healthy.

A hospital is not intended to be a 4 star hotel. You and your child received the care you needed. Personally, I would be grateful and stop complaining

I guess, but places like Inova can do both. Are you a crummy doc or nurse from Howard or united medical center or pg hospital by chance? Crummy providers love to define down expectations for pts. -nurse @ Inova

Neither. Just sick of the constant complaining.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: I recently delivered a vaginal birth at Washington Hospital Center (WHC). Here's my review:

Cons:
-Food isn't great
-There are a TON of residents. Many are first years. Some are great, others are a bit immature.
-Labor suites aren't great. Some broken lights, uncomfortable chairs, a few blood splats on the floor (from a previous patient). Outdated bathrooms.
-Mobile fetal monitoring was not available (out for recalibration, apparently)
-Postpartum rooms are like prisons. Small, cramped, steel doors, outdated, walls painted drab white and grey. I struggled not to bang into our infant in these tiny rooms with everyone coming in/out. I was desperate to get out of there, ASAP.
-Baby friendly to the point where you really can't use their nursery.
-It's a high volume labor and delivery practice so the nurses do not always explain things that you need to know. They seem to take it for granted that you "know" things about the care of your infant.
-After 8 PM or so, you have to use the Emergency Department to get into the hospital. WHC is major trauma center so this place is packed w/ a lot of activity at night. It was a bit scary to my husband, tbh.

Pros:
-It's a teaching hospital. So, everyone is explaining out what they are doing to everyone else. Nurses are explaining things to residents. Residents are explaining your case to the chief resident. The chief resident and residents are discussing your case with the attending, etc. More eyes on you = less likely someone makes a mistake. Also, more opportunities to advocate for yourself at key decision points.
-My attending was phenomenal. When in doubt, ask to see the attending. They will come (because they have to). My attending has been doing deliveries for 20+ years.
-No pressure for c-sections. Staff kept telling me their goal is a vaginal birth.
-I found out attendings at WHC work on shifts and they all work for Medstar. 24 hours twice a week, then off. They have no incentive to push you into a C-Section. There is someone else who takes over for them after the shift is done. A nurse told me that at places like Sibley, the physicians work for private practices where they all share the on-call time. Let's say you're on call, have to go to a delivery, and your kid's got a recital in a few hours, you're incentived to get the delivery done ASAP (re: c-section).
-Nurses in labor and delivery are really top notch. Attentive, knowledgeable, and great bedside manner. Never seen anything like it. Seriously.
-WHC is a labor and delivery machine. They have everything done to a t and they have seen most everything - babies whose mothers are on drugs, extreme premature babies, complex c-sections, etc. When things get bad, they know what to do. Me and my little girl were facing some serious issues during delivery and it was clear when things got bad for us, WHC staff knew exactly what to do.
-National Children's is right next door. If things REALLY get bad, they can easily transfer your infant to Children's. They also can call in consults very quickly.

WHC is nothing to call home about as an experience, but if things go bad, this is the place you want to be. My little girl is about turn 1 mo. now and is happy/healthy.

A hospital is not intended to be a 4 star hotel. You and your child received the care you needed. Personally, I would be grateful and stop complaining

I guess, but places like Inova can do both. Are you a crummy doc or nurse from Howard or united medical center or pg hospital by chance? Crummy providers love to define down expectations for pts. -nurse @ Inova

Neither. Just sick of the constant complaining.

Sounds like a troll post.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I had a c-section at Sibley. The place is hella nice. Like the PP mentioned, it did seem like the doc was itching to do a c-section which resulted in a blood transfusion.

PP who delivered at Sibley 2 weeks ago. I did not feel pushed into a C section (and didn’t end up having one). This was after multiple mentions in appointments that they would be quick to make the call for one based on baby’s head size. Maybe it depends on the provider you are with? I was a patient of CWC and not Reiter Hill, Bloom, etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I had a c-section at Sibley. The place is hella nice. Like the PP mentioned, it did seem like the doc was itching to do a c-section which resulted in a blood transfusion.

PP who delivered at Sibley 2 weeks ago. I did not feel pushed into a C section (and didn’t end up having one). This was after multiple mentions in appointments that they would be quick to make the call for one based on baby’s head size. Maybe it depends on the provider you are with? I was a patient of CWC and not Reiter Hill, Bloom, etc.

I’m a Foxhall patient and really thought I was going to have a c-section but at every step of the way every doctor was confident I didn’t need one. During labor at one point I was like I can’t do it anymore and again was convinced it was going to be a c-section. The doctor coached me through and delivered the baby—at 5am when she got off at 7 I think.

Foxhall has a schedule of who is on and what day so they also know someone is coming to relieve them. But I would be
more upset if my doctor was helping with a delivery and then the clock struck xx and peaced out.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: I recently delivered a vaginal birth at Washington Hospital Center (WHC). Here's my review:

Cons:
-Food isn't great
-There are a TON of residents. Many are first years. Some are great, others are a bit immature.
-Labor suites aren't great. Some broken lights, uncomfortable chairs, a few blood splats on the floor (from a previous patient). Outdated bathrooms.
-Mobile fetal monitoring was not available (out for recalibration, apparently)
-Postpartum rooms are like prisons. Small, cramped, steel doors, outdated, walls painted drab white and grey. I struggled not to bang into our infant in these tiny rooms with everyone coming in/out. I was desperate to get out of there, ASAP.
-Baby friendly to the point where you really can't use their nursery.
-It's a high volume labor and delivery practice so the nurses do not always explain things that you need to know. They seem to take it for granted that you "know" things about the care of your infant.
-After 8 PM or so, you have to use the Emergency Department to get into the hospital. WHC is major trauma center so this place is packed w/ a lot of activity at night. It was a bit scary to my husband, tbh.

Pros:
-It's a teaching hospital. So, everyone is explaining out what they are doing to everyone else. Nurses are explaining things to residents. Residents are explaining your case to the chief resident. The chief resident and residents are discussing your case with the attending, etc. More eyes on you = less likely someone makes a mistake. Also, more opportunities to advocate for yourself at key decision points.
-My attending was phenomenal. When in doubt, ask to see the attending. They will come (because they have to). My attending has been doing deliveries for 20+ years.
-No pressure for c-sections. Staff kept telling me their goal is a vaginal birth.
-I found out attendings at WHC work on shifts and they all work for Medstar. 24 hours twice a week, then off. They have no incentive to push you into a C-Section. There is someone else who takes over for them after the shift is done. A nurse told me that at places like Sibley, the physicians work for private practices where they all share the on-call time. Let's say you're on call, have to go to a delivery, and your kid's got a recital in a few hours, you're incentived to get the delivery done ASAP (re: c-section).
-Nurses in labor and delivery are really top notch. Attentive, knowledgeable, and great bedside manner. Never seen anything like it. Seriously.
-WHC is a labor and delivery machine. They have everything done to a t and they have seen most everything - babies whose mothers are on drugs, extreme premature babies, complex c-sections, etc. When things get bad, they know what to do. Me and my little girl were facing some serious issues during delivery and it was clear when things got bad for us, WHC staff knew exactly what to do.
-National Children's is right next door. If things REALLY get bad, they can easily transfer your infant to Children's. They also can call in consults very quickly.

WHC is nothing to call home about as an experience, but if things go bad, this is the place you want to be. My little girl is about turn 1 mo. now and is happy/healthy.

A hospital is not intended to be a 4 star hotel. You and your child received the care you needed. Personally, I would be grateful and stop complaining

I guess, but places like Inova can do both. Are you a crummy doc or nurse from Howard or united medical center or pg hospital by chance? Crummy providers love to define down expectations for pts. -nurse @ Inova

Neither. Just sick of the constant complaining.

Yeah if only women would shut up about subpar facilities while their insurance pays thousands for the delivery, that would be great? What a weird take.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: I recently delivered a vaginal birth at Washington Hospital Center (WHC). Here's my review:

Cons:
-Food isn't great

Are there any area hospitals with decent food? Genuinely curious. I've delivered at both Holy Cross hospitals and Shady Grove, and all of them had sucky food. But I was on a liquid diet due to having to be induced, and so as long as it was FOOD, I didn't care, I was going to snarf it down in milliseconds as soon as I got the all clear to start eating. That gross hospital pizza might as well been manna sent from heaven after a 48-hour induction and labor! At least Shady Grove was close to better food options right over in the Fallsgrove Shopping Center.

[Anonymous]

I appreciate the review-- not sure why others are so hostile.

But, I'm sorry, WHC gives me ick vibes. At least the parts I've been in did (not L&D, I admit). It felt dirty and overrun and dated, like a Greyhound bus station.

[Anonymous]

If things go bad, you want to be at WHC.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: I recently delivered a vaginal birth at Washington Hospital Center (WHC). Here's my review:

Cons:
-Food isn't great

Are there any area hospitals with decent food? Genuinely curious. I've delivered at both Holy Cross hospitals and Shady Grove, and all of them had sucky food. But I was on a liquid diet due to having to be induced, and so as long as it was FOOD, I didn't care, I was going to snarf it down in milliseconds as soon as I got the all clear to start eating. That gross hospital pizza might as well been manna sent from heaven after a 48-hour induction and labor! At least Shady Grove was close to better food options right over in the Fallsgrove Shopping Center.

I haven’t been to a hospital other than Sibley as a patient. The food was fine though the hours were inconvenient so we did a lot of Uber eats.

But I will say that I was also induced and my doctor told me to eat anything. When I called to order food they had me on a clear liquid diet order but I told the doctor and she quickly had it changed so I could eat.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: I recently delivered a vaginal birth at Washington Hospital Center (WHC). Here's my review:

Cons:
-Food isn't great
-There are a TON of residents. Many are first years. Some are great, others are a bit immature.
-Labor suites aren't great. Some broken lights, uncomfortable chairs, a few blood splats on the floor (from a previous patient). Outdated bathrooms.
-Mobile fetal monitoring was not available (out for recalibration, apparently)
-Postpartum rooms are like prisons. Small, cramped, steel doors, outdated, walls painted drab white and grey. I struggled not to bang into our infant in these tiny rooms with everyone coming in/out. I was desperate to get out of there, ASAP.
-Baby friendly to the point where you really can't use their nursery.
-It's a high volume labor and delivery practice so the nurses do not always explain things that you need to know. They seem to take it for granted that you "know" things about the care of your infant.
-After 8 PM or so, you have to use the Emergency Department to get into the hospital. WHC is major trauma center so this place is packed w/ a lot of activity at night. It was a bit scary to my husband, tbh.

Pros:
-It's a teaching hospital. So, everyone is explaining out what they are doing to everyone else. Nurses are explaining things to residents. Residents are explaining your case to the chief resident. The chief resident and residents are discussing your case with the attending, etc. More eyes on you = less likely someone makes a mistake. Also, more opportunities to advocate for yourself at key decision points.
-My attending was phenomenal. When in doubt, ask to see the attending. They will come (because they have to). My attending has been doing deliveries for 20+ years.
-No pressure for c-sections. Staff kept telling me their goal is a vaginal birth.
-I found out attendings at WHC work on shifts and they all work for Medstar. 24 hours twice a week, then off. They have no incentive to push you into a C-Section. There is someone else who takes over for them after the shift is done. A nurse told me that at places like Sibley, the physicians work for private practices where they all share the on-call time. Let's say you're on call, have to go to a delivery, and your kid's got a recital in a few hours, you're incentived to get the delivery done ASAP (re: c-section).
-Nurses in labor and delivery are really top notch. Attentive, knowledgeable, and great bedside manner. Never seen anything like it. Seriously.
-WHC is a labor and delivery machine. They have everything done to a t and they have seen most everything - babies whose mothers are on drugs, extreme premature babies, complex c-sections, etc. When things get bad, they know what to do. Me and my little girl were facing some serious issues during delivery and it was clear when things got bad for us, WHC staff knew exactly what to do.
-National Children's is right next door. If things REALLY get bad, they can easily transfer your infant to Children's. They also can call in consults very quickly.

WHC is nothing to call home about as an experience, but if things go bad, this is the place you want to be. My little girl is about turn 1 mo. now and is happy/healthy.

A hospital is not intended to be a 4 star hotel. You and your child received the care you needed. Personally, I would be grateful and stop complaining

I guess, but places like Inova can do both. Are you a crummy doc or nurse from Howard or united medical center or pg hospital by chance? Crummy providers love to define down expectations for pts. -nurse @ Inova

Neither. Just sick of the constant complaining.

Yeah if only women would shut up about subpar facilities while their insurance pays thousands for the delivery, that would be great? What a weird take.

Sorry, but I agree with PP. Reviewing actual care? Of course. Food and rooms? Whiny.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: I recently delivered a vaginal birth at Washington Hospital Center (WHC). Here's my review:

Cons:
-Food isn't great
-There are a TON of residents. Many are first years. Some are great, others are a bit immature.
-Labor suites aren't great. Some broken lights, uncomfortable chairs, a few blood splats on the floor (from a previous patient). Outdated bathrooms.
-Mobile fetal monitoring was not available (out for recalibration, apparently)
-Postpartum rooms are like prisons. Small, cramped, steel doors, outdated, walls painted drab white and grey. I struggled not to bang into our infant in these tiny rooms with everyone coming in/out. I was desperate to get out of there, ASAP.
-Baby friendly to the point where you really can't use their nursery.
-It's a high volume labor and delivery practice so the nurses do not always explain things that you need to know. They seem to take it for granted that you "know" things about the care of your infant.
-After 8 PM or so, you have to use the Emergency Department to get into the hospital. WHC is major trauma center so this place is packed w/ a lot of activity at night. It was a bit scary to my husband, tbh.

Pros:
-It's a teaching hospital. So, everyone is explaining out what they are doing to everyone else. Nurses are explaining things to residents. Residents are explaining your case to the chief resident. The chief resident and residents are discussing your case with the attending, etc. More eyes on you = less likely someone makes a mistake. Also, more opportunities to advocate for yourself at key decision points.
-My attending was phenomenal. When in doubt, ask to see the attending. They will come (because they have to). My attending has been doing deliveries for 20+ years.
-No pressure for c-sections. Staff kept telling me their goal is a vaginal birth.
-I found out attendings at WHC work on shifts and they all work for Medstar. 24 hours twice a week, then off. They have no incentive to push you into a C-Section. There is someone else who takes over for them after the shift is done. A nurse told me that at places like Sibley, the physicians work for private practices where they all share the on-call time. Let's say you're on call, have to go to a delivery, and your kid's got a recital in a few hours, you're incentived to get the delivery done ASAP (re: c-section).
-Nurses in labor and delivery are really top notch. Attentive, knowledgeable, and great bedside manner. Never seen anything like it. Seriously.
-WHC is a labor and delivery machine. They have everything done to a t and they have seen most everything - babies whose mothers are on drugs, extreme premature babies, complex c-sections, etc. When things get bad, they know what to do. Me and my little girl were facing some serious issues during delivery and it was clear when things got bad for us, WHC staff knew exactly what to do.
-National Children's is right next door. If things REALLY get bad, they can easily transfer your infant to Children's. They also can call in consults very quickly.

WHC is nothing to call home about as an experience, but if things go bad, this is the place you want to be. My little girl is about turn 1 mo. now and is happy/healthy.

A hospital is not intended to be a 4 star hotel. You and your child received the care you needed. Personally, I would be grateful and stop complaining

I guess, but places like Inova can do both. Are you a crummy doc or nurse from Howard or united medical center or pg hospital by chance? Crummy providers love to define down expectations for pts. -nurse @ Inova

Neither. Just sick of the constant complaining.

Yeah if only women would shut up about subpar facilities while their insurance pays thousands for the delivery, that would be great? What a weird take.

Sorry, but I agree with PP. Reviewing actual care? Of course. Food and rooms? Whiny.

Definitely. Women have no right to demand comfortable accommodations or decent food. Who do they think they are????