New to MD/DC and looking for OB/Hospital feedback

[Anonymous]

We just moved to Kensington, MD from San Francisco and are expecting our first. I'm 34 and work in DC. Looking for feedback on highly recommended OB's and hospitals that are supportive to natural birth (although I might change!). I have done some research through my insurance, and notice docs and clinics tend to limit their hospital affiliation to one or another, ie. Holy Cross only or Sibley only. That's too bad. I'm interested in a comparative analysis and would love to hear about people's experience with OB's and hospitals in MD and DC. Thank you.

[Anonymous]

I wouldn't say any of the local hospitals are "supportive" of natural birth. They all have policies requiring you to be hooked up to fetal monitor and IV, and they all forbid you from eating and drinking. None of the hospitals have policies that actually HELP natural childbirth. That said, within the hospital there are some nurses and doctors who are personally more supportive than others, so some will be more helpful than others (ie, more lenient with the rules!).

If you want a natural childbirth, your best bet is to find a midwifery practice who will agree to the things that will help you acheive it. There are two midwifery practices that work in hospitals in DC: Midwifery Care Associates, whose office is in Bethesda and they deliver at Shady Grove, and The DC Birth Center, the offices/birth center is in NE DC, and they deliver at Washington Hospital Center. They are both very good practices, and will be thrilled to help you with your natural birth.

Holy Cross and Sibley are very "popular" hospitals, they are nice and clean and in nice neighborhoods, but they do have some of the highest c/section rates (nearing 50%) in the area, and they are not particularly helpful when it comes to natural childbirth.

[Anonymous]

Search the archives...you'll find plenty of opinions.