Any recent labor and delivery experience at Sibley?
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Anonymous
I don't calculate risk with my life or my baby. They don't have what an OB would need in a worst case scenario. High risk or not, I wouldn't do it again. I say this after many years if working with OBs that educated me on why they choose to not accept bribes to go to sub par hospitals (that's really a thing). |
Anonymous
You can't compare it to driving a car but you can compare it to driving a car rated not great for safety versus one rated high for safety. I just don't understand why you would take a risk with your child when you don't have to? There are so many hospitals to choose from with high level NICUS. There is 0 reason to choose Sibley. If it was the only hospital in a 20 mile radius it would be more understandable. |
Anonymous
OP, ignore this person, unless you are a higher risk patient or have underlying anxiety reasons. So you think everyone needs to give birth at a hospital with a level 1 NICU?? We aren’t exactly talking about homebirths here, Sibley is part of Johns Hopkins?? This isn’t some podunk hospital. I mean this kindly but do you have postpartum anxiety? Because this isn’t remotely rational. Would you also not get an epidural because of the 0.000001% chance of something bad happening? |
Anonymous
| I had two wonderful experiences at Sibley in the past few years (most recent was January, which I’m realizing is likely outside of your “few months”). I never made it to my due date with two early babies (38 and 39 weeks) but there was never a talk of induction on my due date. My doctor did say that at 39 weeks, we’d schedule an induction for 41 weeks in case it was needed, but never made it that far. |
Anonymous
I actually felt that Sibley was safer because it is less busy than the other hospitals and therefore the nurses and doctors are less busy (not to say they are not busy, just not completely overwhelmed). Also, unlike Holy Cross, our alternate option which has a level III NICU, Sibley is not a "Baby-Friendly" hospital. That means that at Sibley the baby won't be denied formula when baby is hungry, and mom can rest after giving birth instead of being forced to room-share (it's shown that room-sharing in the hospital leads to babies getting dropped. also it doesn't help with breastfeeding. no thanks). |
Anonymous
According to this logic, no OBs would deliver there, but plenty do, including some of the most highly rated in the region. OBs are arguably among the most risk averse medical professionals given their high exposure to and liability for malpractice suits (I understand their insurance costs are astronomical). Better to seek advice from your OB on risks than a random stranger on the internet. FWIW, I’ve delivered 3 times at Sibley, all AMA, twice induced (one at 41+2 and one at 40w) and one spontaneous (at 40w+1). All three experiences were excellent. I know many women who have delivered there - induced and spontaneous, medicated and unmedicated, natural and c-section, and none have had serious problems. |
Anonymous
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I delivered a 36-weeker via emergency c-section (breech) at sibley this spring and had a wonderful experience. I was not a high risk pregnancy and felt 100% confident in Sibley. The doctors and nurses were fantastic, encouraged formula (baby had some glucose issues at birth) for the health of the baby but also provided great breastfeeding resources and support. The staff was supportive and competent, I never had a concern or regret. My baby had some very minor issues due to being slightly premature and I felt like the care I received at Sibley was exceptional and perhaps that was because the staff was not overwhelmed with babies who really are in need of a high level NICU.
And for people who are calling it crazy to deliver there: If you are not a high risk pregnancy, I encourage you to consider that every hospital has a limited number of beds, including those equipped with a high level NICU. That means it might not be there for someone who truly needs it. Georgetown is down the road and there were several doctors in the OR at Sibley whose scrubs said Georgetown. And as a PP pointed out, it is a Johns Hopkins hospital, not the only podunk county hospital for 100 miles. My heart goes out to people in [rural] America (let alone in developing countries) who don't have the luxury we have in DC to CHOOSE which EXCELLENT hospital we'll deliver at. |
Anonymous
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Private practices ONLY deliver at Sibley in DC. So if you're with a private practice (aka, not the docs affiliated with GW, GU, and WHC) you deliver at Sibley. There are a handful of solo or dual practices who have privileges at Georgetown, but that is only for cases that Sibley can't handle.
OP, assume all the practices you're interested in deliver at Sibly and only Sibley inside the city (they likely also deliver at other nearby MD and VA hospitals). |
Anonymous
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I actually felt that Sibley was safer because it is less busy than the other hospitals and therefore the nurses and doctors are less busy (not to say they are not busy, just not completely overwhelmed). Also, unlike Holy Cross, our alternate option which has a level III NICU, Sibley is not a "Baby-Friendly" hospital. That means that at Sibley the baby won't be denied formula when baby is hungry, and mom can rest after giving birth instead of being forced to room-share (it's shown that room-sharing in the hospital leads to babies getting dropped. also it doesn't help with breastfeeding. no thanks). Thanks good advice. Also new to the term "baby friendly." |
Anonymous
This is why I chose Sibley as well. "Baby friendly" isn't necessarily safe. If I had a high-risk pregnancy, I would have considered switching to a Georgetown OB, but I also know people with a whole range of risk and outcomes who delivered at Sibley - and all ultimately did well. Also, I met with the Sibley MFMs just as a precautionary measure when something came up and was quite impressed. They also bring in specialists from Johns Hopkins and Childrens. Basically, I feel like Sibley is baby-safe, well-equipped to handle a lot and knows when to transfer or call in outside help. |
Anonymous
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Sibley is truly wonderful. I've visited friends who delivered at GWU, and while I don't doubt they received excellent care, Sibley just felt so much more relaxed, peaceful and luxurious compared to the always-rushing vibe of GWU with tiny rooms and too many docs.
I've had all three children at Sibley. Two vaginal deliveries, one C-section. Always received excellent care, L&D nurses are fantastic, postpartum care is great, food can be better of course but what are you going to do. Regarding high-risk deliveries, my last baby came just after 34 weeks and they've managed it very well - the baby NICU is so well run and the nurses are very skilled. They managed to get my 34-weeker to take a bottle - which needed the patience of an angel. In short, would not hesitate to recommend Sibley to anyone. It's a Club Med of hospitals in DC. |
Anonymous
Sure, if what's important to you is being in the "club Med, luxury" hospital then Sibley is great. Some of us have other priorities. |
Anonymous
By all means, stay out! More room for me! |
Anonymous
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I am one of the PPs who delivered at Sibley. I think the natural birth/doula community has issues with Sibley which they could tell you more about. My doula attended a birth right after mine at Sibley that she said did not go well, and she generally feels there is a culture of not respecting laboring women who want unmedicated births there. Not in terms of forcing women to have epidurals (plenty of women will tell you they had unmedicated births at Sibley with no issues), but it's true that despite having this beautiful new building they do not have birthing tubs or nitrous oxide (most hospitals don't). I also hear they are not huge fans of doulas, though I did not personally witness this (as far as I could tell my doula was not prevented from attending or doing her work during my labor).
L&D was ok for me. No major complications so could not speak to that. I did not love the Kaiser OB who happened to be on-call or my L&D nurse. I was glad I had a doula just to have a friendly face in the room since I was pretty miserable (the epidural did not work - not anyone's fault as far as I could tell). Beyond that though the postpartum care was excellent. I got two visits from lactation staff (this was on the weekend) that really helped with breastfeeding, and felt very supported in sending baby to the nursery overnight so I could get rest (they brought her back for feedings). No hospital is perfect but personally assuming it's not a high risk pregnancy I'll take Sibley over a Baby-Friendly hospital any day. |
Anonymous
| Sanctimommies gonna be sanctimonious I guess. |