Help me Decide Va Hospital Center or Fairfax Hospital

[Anonymous]

VA Hospital Center
all postpartum private rooms
OB practice is o.k.
Would need to be transferred if there are high risk complications.

Fairfax Hospital
LOVE the OB practice but there's no guarantee I can get a private room after delivery.
Higher level hospital if there's a complication

[Anonymous]

Bump

[Anonymous]

Do you expect any complications?

I would prefer to have a private room, but that's just me.

What is limiting you on finding a good OB practice at a hospital you like?

[Anonymous]

Virginia Hospital Center.

[Anonymous]

While I would absolutely prefer a private room, I am way too anxious of a person to put that ahead of having the best NICU care available. My first visit with my OB he even said, "We deliver at Fairfax because it is the best." Even if I am stuck with a roomate, it is only for a few days (hopefully!). Just my two cents.

[Anonymous]

I was SO paranoid about having to share a room with someone when I first got pregnant (love my OB practice and would never change and they deliver at Fairfax). I had 5 friends who had delievered there and asked people at our prenatal classes and just sitting in the OB office. Not one had to share a room when the time came. I delivered on what the nurses were calling a "super busy" night and I didn't have a problem either. In the end, I would rather share a room for a few nights than have to worry about not having the highest level NICU I could..just in case.

[Anonymous]

VHC has a new (last three years I think) NICU unit that is supposed to be amazing. If I had a real complication, I would want to go to Georgetown if I had a preference.
I chose VHC because I also liked being in a smaller hospital. Can you say with OBGYN practice at VHC? I love my OBGYN there but if for some reason she left there are several terrific practices to choose from.

[Anonymous]

Fairfax. The OB practice and the NICU are much more important to me than whether I have a private room. If per chance something does happen are you really going to care that you have your own room when your child is at another hospital being treated? Plus, as others have said, it's far from a foregone conclusion that you will have to share at Fairfax. And there are lots and lots of OB appointments during pregnancy and labor can go on for a while - wouldn't you prefer to have someone you really like for all of that?

[Anonymous]

Fairfax - they are the best - god forbid something go wrong, but if it does happen, you and your baby are right there, in capable hands.

[Anonymous]

Fairfax. No question. I delivered my twins there. There were complications with them and me and I thank my lucky stars we were where we were. In the days immediately following the birth I was in different rooms due to my issues and honestly can't tell you when/if I even had a roommate during that time. But I believe most people who want a private room can get one. My babies are about to turn one and how much privacy/space I had after their birth literally is not even a blip on the screen.

[Anonymous]

I would like to assume that the hospitals here are very capable of handling emergency situations, regardless of where you go.

[Anonymous]

I have delivered at both and much preferred VHC. They do have a new NICU that is equipped for the majority of potential issues. The hospital is smaller, but has great staff. Many of the doctors in Peds are also on staff at Georgetown.

If you don't like the practice at VHC, maybe you can change. There are multiple great practices who deliver there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have delivered at both and much preferred VHC. They do have a new NICU that is equipped for the majority of potential issues. The hospital is smaller, but has great staff. Many of the doctors in Peds are also on staff at Georgetown.

If you don't like the practice at VHC, maybe you can change. There are multiple great practices who deliver there.

What did you prefer about VHC?

[Anonymous]

I actually had the same concerns as you OP and delivered at Fairfax. In terms of a private room, my ob told me that she has not had a patient in over 8 years who did not get a private room when asked for. It's such a big hospital that chances are you will get one.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have delivered at both and much preferred VHC. They do have a new NICU that is equipped for the majority of potential issues. The hospital is smaller, but has great staff. Many of the doctors in Peds are also on staff at Georgetown.

If you don't like the practice at VHC, maybe you can change. There are multiple great practices who deliver there.

What did you prefer about VHC?

I thought the nurses were friendlier and the L&D nurses seemed to be more creative in how to help me get comfortable and moving around (during pushing) to have a successful vaginal birth. I had some issues with DS1 at FFX that made vaginal delivery second time harder. Also, the monitors and equipment at VHC were set up so that they were less intrusive and not in my immediate line of sight. I did not think about it until later, but it madefor a better birth experience, because I was more focused on myself instead of watching monitors.

I also liked the smaller feel of VHC - just seemed less sterile than FFX. I had private rooms at both hospitals and do not remember a negligible difference. I thought food at VHC was slightly better.

I loved my practice and also would have been comfortable with any of the other practices who shared call. That was a big factor. I felt like I was pushed into more interventions at FFX, but could have been the practice.

Both hospitals are fine, but I will definitely be going back to VHC if I have a third.