Virginia Hospital Center - Natural Birth

[Anonymous]

I delivered there about a year ago-I wasn't planning on having a natural birth. However, I wanted to wait as long as I could before having an epidural. The labor and delivery nurse seemed fine with that. She told me just to let them know when I was ready. They were open minded. Unfortunately, when i was ready for my epidural (7 cm dilation), the anesthesiologist was tied up with another patient for about an hour. At that point, labor was like torture. So my advice, don't feel like a failure if you change your mind about an epidural during labor.

[Anonymous]

Thanks much for these posts!! Does anyone else have a doula they can recommend who has experience at VHC?

[Anonymous]

These are helpful posts. FWIW, I'm working with Karen King, and our doula is Kerry Reynolds. Google her - I think her site is birthinbloom.com. They have worked together and Karen seems to think highly of her, so we're going for it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think the NICU is a level 2- it is definately not a level 3. Only Fairfax, Georgetown and Washington Hospital Center are level 3 in this area- I believe. Someone correct me if I'm wrong.

It is a level III

[Anonymous]

OP here - So this is really funny that my old thread was resurrected and I happened to see it as I am
expecting #2 in September. I had my DD naturally at VHC in march 2009 and the staff was pretty fantastic. The first nurse in L&D (for the better part of the labor) was super supportive, even helping massage my back! My dr was not very supportive & the 2nd nurse followed her lead by offering me an epi at 10 cm after I'd been pushing for 1/2 hr. It made no sense. But with all that said I had exactly the natural birth I wanted despite a lack of support from my dr. The lactation consultant was not too
impressive but I didn't have an issue breastfeeding either so we didn't have questions.

So now with DS on the way we've switched over to Karen king mainly because we can still be at VHC. I've heard mixed feelings about her bedside manner, but so far for us she's been warmer and more supportive with each visit. She's mentioned more than once wanting this birth to be even more memorable for me because although I had the natural birth I wanted last time, the lack of medical team support was sorely lacking. I have never once thought of switching practices this time as I did after almost every appt last time.

I don't have a doula. My cousin & very supportive hubby were there last time & it worked out well so we are keeping it that way again.

[Anonymous]

I'm curious for those who have given birth with Karen. Is she pretty "hands on" during labor or does she show up at the end like OBs do - right when the baby is coming out?

[Anonymous]

I haven't delivered with her yet but she has mentioned being there for the whole or most of the time, unless it is during office hours, where she would still be in the hospital, seeing appts. She said regardless, we will be communicating frequently and she would leave the office at any time if necessary. I guess we just have to see where we are and how things are progressing.