Covid Birth Experiences @ Washington Hospital Center
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Anonymous
| Title says it all - I am giving birth to my 1st here in December. Any recent experiences? Good bad and ugly? |
Anonymous
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I had a great experience. I was induced so had a covid test 2 days before. No test for partner. We wore masks when we could but I didn’t when labor got hairy and we would forget in the middle of the night, but no one said anything. All staff in masks of course. The nurses and doctors were wonderful. Panera available but I was glad we brought snacks. Postpartum room was small and older but perfectly serviceable and we just wanted to get out of there anyway.
I think they said you can have two visitors now but don’t quote me. |
Anonymous
That’s right, at the moment you can have partner and doula (for example). I don’t have other insights because I’m due in January. Interested in others experiences though! Could partners get food brought to the room, or do they need to go to the cafeteria? |
Anonymous
| Had an interminable induction there at the beginning of the month but great experience at the hospital. Labor and delivery rooms are big and comfortable and I felt all my nurses and doctors were excellent. All wore masks. Husband brought Panera back to the room but we also brought our own snacks. Post labor rooms small but totally fine. |
Anonymous
Iirc they brought trays for my partner in L&D but not postpartum. Panera was open. Can also get delivery. The trays they brought were not only kind of gross but also I was shocked by how unhealthy they were. You might want to bring healthy snacks. |
Anonymous
We were reminiscing about my first birth at WHC and I asked "was any of the food from the cafeteria good?" and he said no. We'll go the Panera/snack route again, though it is nice that they bring partners some food. |
Anonymous
They brought my husband food in postpartum. This was July 30-Aug 1. The food was absolutely repulsive. Bring food/go to Panera. |
Anonymous
| 11:05 PP here—also don’t expect much from Panera. Everything we ordered was slightly off from the product description. Hopefully you’ll be freed from the hospital quicker than we were. |
Anonymous
| They did say we could do Uber Eats as well. But Panera was fine. |
Anonymous
|
I delivered in the end of May at WHC. I had a test upon arrival but it took probably two hours to get back; I was already moving into transition and wearing a mask was difficult. It was a physiological urge to rip it off to breathe through contractions. The midwife and nurse hurried to get into their PPE so I could take off my mask, which i really appreciated.
The postpartum experience was no different from my first birth there in 2015, except that staff were masked and my husband couldn't leave and come back. That last rule was super annoying since we have another child at home. Not sure if they've relaxed that rule now. For us, it meant my DH spent the first 24 hours there with me after the birth, then left and I spent the second 24 hours solo. (We would've been discharged sooner, but I tested positive for GBS.) The food wasn't great and there was no Panera option back in May, but they fed me and my DH, kept me well hydrated and brought crackers and PB when I was snacky between meals, so it was fine. I'm also not very picky - if I'm hungry, food is food! |
Anonymous
| Quick question - I'm due in a few months and I need to register at WHC. Is there an easy way to do this online? Not seeing anything clear on the website... |
Anonymous
I got a preadmission form with my welcome packet, you can either mail it in or call the Admissions Department (I think). |
Anonymous
Wait but how did you get the Welcome Packet? That seems like my first step.... |
Anonymous
NP. I got it at my first midwife appt. I really think nothing will happen if you neglect to preregister. They’ll just ask you the questions when you get there. |
Anonymous
Yup, got it at my first visit with the midwives. If you’re due in a few months I’d just ask at your next appointment. |