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Bethesda expectant mom curious about delivering at Shady Grove or Holy Cross
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Anonymous
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I am currently scheduled to deliver at Sibley Hospital (where my current doctor has privileges) but was less than impressed on my tour with the post-partum set up and the added expense for a private room. Sibley seems out-dated and seems to be the only area hospital where you have to pay extra for the private room.
I live in Bethesda (River Rd/ Mass. Ave area) so I am wondering whether anyone who lives in southwestern Bethesda has given birth at Shady Grove or Holy Cross. Are they just too far? Sibley is obviously much more convenient, especially during rush hour (I work in DC), but that's really the only plus for me now. I know that all hospitals have their pluses and minuses so I am interested to hear about people's experiences at these hospitals and whether it is worth the hike. I am currently using a large OB practice and am not sold on their services (I was already pregnant when I had to pick an area provider). If you did use either hospital and had a good experience, I'd love a doctor recommendation as well. TIA. |
Anonymous
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A name you will never forget:
Dr. Anders Apgar. Location 1 9715 Medical Center Drive, Suite 330 Rockville, MD 20850 V  301) 424-1696
F 301) 424-7135
He has privileges at Shady Grove. He's excellent. |
Anonymous
| How about using Midwifery Care Associates? (www.midwiferycareassociates.com) You will love them. They have info sessions either once a week or once a month (can't remember) but if you go to the info session you will be able to ask any and all questions before you decide to hire them as your care provider. All prenatal appointments are at their office in Bethesda, but all deliveries are at Shady Grove, where there are great big tubs that they allow you to labor in all the way up until the moment your baby comes out (or until you decide to get an epidural). They are skilled at helping you move and cope with pain, and very skilled at getting your baby out without the use of a cesarean (they have a 10% c/section rate - phenomenal compared to other DC providers). Shady Grove is really nice, too, and has a new maternity wing that opened last year with all private rooms and the tubs (as I already mentioned). Yes, Shady Grove is a little bit of a drive but honestly, first time labors take forever and you will have PLENTY of time to get there. |
Anonymous
| I've heard great things about Shady Grove and less than great things about Holy Cross. A friend of mine who is a Certified Nurse Midwife called Holy Cross somewhat of a "baby factory" without a lot of personalized attention. FWIW. |
Anonymous
| I loved Holy Cross. Guaranteed private room - large, too. |
Anonymous
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Hi OP,
I am in Bethesda too and wondering the same thing. For the moment, I am sticking with Sibley b/c it's so much closer and I am scared of potentially being stuck in traffic when having to go to the hospital. Also, I heard that the best nurses are at Sibley and that's why Sibley has a great reputation. Don't know if it's true but that's what I heard... |
Anonymous
| I also had a very good experience (two, actually) delivering at Holy Cross. As one PP noted, all private and pretty-newly renovated L&D rooms. The delivery nurses were really top-notch too, in my experience. My only gripe about Holy Cross (though from what I understand this isn't unique to Holy Cross) is that it was difficult to see a lactation nurse, as they were just too busy for the consultation I needed. I ended up going to their lactation clinic across the road though so it all worked out. |
Anonymous
The nurses rock at Shady Grove as well, FWIW. Sadly, I've been a visitor, mom, and patient there probably 10 times over the past 2 years, in various units. From labor & delivery, to NICU, to Pediatric ward, to oncology ward, to the ER, the nurses are great. Now, I have no idea how they compare to Sibley, never been. Just saying. 
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Anonymous
| I delivered at Shady Grove and had a great experience. The facilities were comfortable and the nurses were really nice and competent. I toured both and compared to Sibley, Shady Grove seems much more modern and inviting. It was worth the much longer drive for me. |
Anonymous
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I delivered my first at Sibley but will deliver my second next month at Holy Cross becuase there are some potential problems with the baby and we needed to deliver at a hospital with a higher level NICU than Sibley. I had great L&D nurses at Sibley, the nurses in the maternity ward were ok, which seems to be what I hear about most places. I have several friends who delivered at Holy Cross who were happy with it, and it is nice that you don't run the risk of getting a shared room. I got the last private room available when I delivered at Sibley and was charged extra for it. I had trouble getting the lactation consultants to come by at Sibley when I was waiting to check out, I needed to rent a breast pump and that held up my check out for a little bit. My new OB, who delivers at Holy Cross, is Dr. Darryn Band - he's with one of the Capital Women's Care offices but it's in Silver Spring so not sure that would work for you. I really like him, and the office is about 100% better administratively than my former OB's office - I have experienced very little waiting time for appointments and they are great about following up after testing etc.
Good luck - I think you'll be happy with any of those three hospitals. If all goes well you really won't be there long and the Labor & Delivery nurses are the most important part, in my opinion. |
Anonymous
Didn't you have to pay though to see the lactation nurses at the clinic? I didn't see a lactation nurse while at HC and when I called the clinic and explained this, they said that they were sorry about that but in order to see one at the clinic it would cost $ - whatever their rates were, which was something like $100+. I found this upsetting. |
Anonymous
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Richard Footer at Holy Cross. I delivered there with him twice. We unexpectedly needed the NICU for a few days with #1, so it was lucky that we were there. The second time around I ended up with an unplanned c for breach, so I feel like I have tried out just about every relevant part of that hospital.
Nurses are hit or miss. Had some less than helpful ones and had some fabulous ones. It's just a matter of standing up for yourself. The new private rooms are really nice (I delivered once pre-renovation and once after). My post-op nurse after the c was marvelous. I can't say enough about her. Some of the nurses on the floor (post-delivery) were also really kind and caring people. I had a small issue with one nurse (who kept telling me I ought to be done in the NICU with our baby even though I had pretty serious complications and lost a lot of blood). Another nurse the next shift came and told me that if I didn't take care of myself I wouldn't be able to take care of the baby, and that's what I needed to hear. The really good ones far outweighed the one slightly bad one. If I were having another one (which I am NOT), I would go back again. |
Anonymous
| Have you considered Georgetown? It's just a few miles down the road from Sibley. Private rooms only, fairly modern, good NICU, and not generally as busy as other area hospitals. It is not very natural-birth minded though. |
Anonymous
| I delivered at Holy Cross recently. The L&D nurses were very short with me, but the post-partum nurses were very helpful. Nice facility! |
Anonymous
| Recently went to SG for preterm labor and had a D&C there last year. Nurses so friendly. Beautiful facility. |