Sibley vs Holy Cross: low intervention births

[Anonymous]

Hi everyone! Would love some feedback from mamas who have delivered at either Holy Cross or Sibley Memorial - particularly for moms who tried for low-intervention births. I like the thought of medication/interventions being right there and readily available, but I would like to try to progress as far into labor as possible with minimal medication.

We're leaning toward Sibley, but is it true you absolutely have to give birth on your back in bed? I like the thought of moving around and birthing in whatever position feels most natural in that moment (again, barring any complications). We have a doula and I'm 8 weeks along. A lot to learn, but trying to find the place we'll use for prenatal care.

Thanks in advance!

[Anonymous]

First lesson of birth - you very often can’t control if your birth needs interventions.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:First lesson of birth - you very often can’t control if your birth needs interventions.

Absolutely - which is why we want to give birth in a hospital setting versus at home. I just meant that if all is going well, I'd prefer not to have Pitocin "just to speed things up," etc.

[Anonymous]

My experience at Sibley was that birth decisions were entirely between my doctor and me. The hospital didn’t dictate any treatment and the nurse I had during active labor was more a coach. If you are worried about interventions it’s a conversation to have with your OB. It may be that your OB isn’t a good fit.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My experience at Sibley was that birth decisions were entirely between my doctor and me. The hospital didn’t dictate any treatment and the nurse I had during active labor was more a coach. If you are worried about interventions it’s a conversation to have with your OB. It may be that your OB isn’t a good fit.

+ 1 million

Louder for the people in the back, YOU AND YOUR DOCTOR ARE MAKING MEDICAL DECISIONS. The hospital provides space and nurses for your care as you labor and deliver. Hospitals may have higher or lower csection rates, but that’s because of the doctors who deliver there.

If the doctor you like delivers at Sibley, I would go there after having a really crappy experience at Holy Cross (including infection) with nurses who were meh. But if the doctor you love delivers at Holy Cross, it’s worth putting up with subpar nursing (as I did at the time)

[Anonymous]

Totally agree with PP. I delivered at Sibley. Its C-section rates reflect its population (older) and their needs and preferences.

[Anonymous]

Sibley has a high c section rate because a lot of older women deliver there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My experience at Sibley was that birth decisions were entirely between my doctor and me. The hospital didn’t dictate any treatment and the nurse I had during active labor was more a coach. If you are worried about interventions it’s a conversation to have with your OB. It may be that your OB isn’t a good fit.

Mine as well! Also I was induced electively at 39 weeks, but water broke after cervadil overnight and I never even needed pitocin. I was able to walk around the room to labor for as long as I could tolerate, but then elected for an epidural bc I couldn’t take the pain. Loved all my nurses at Sibley and especially the one who was there for my delivery. Truly was like a coach like the PP said.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:First lesson of birth - you very often can’t control if your birth needs interventions.

Absolutely - which is why we want to give birth in a hospital setting versus at home. I just meant that if all is going well, I'd prefer not to have Pitocin "just to speed things up," etc.

I think you will find that the narrative that the doctor is just going to push tons of unnecessary medical interventions on you for their convenience is generally, at major DC hospitals, untrue. While it sure does sell plenty of doulas and natural childbirth classes, it’s just not accurate. Maybe with a handful of providers, but most of the OB groups in town are not like this. They give you pitocin if things aren’t progressing, not just so they can make their tee time. There are timelines they adhere to because they know outcomes are poor of things don’t occur in certain timeframes.

[Anonymous]

I gave birth three times at Sibley in the last seven years. One without pain meds, one with epidural, and an unplanned c section. Agree that doctors are making the decision, with me. The L and D nurses were incredible and supportive. With one of my vaginal births, I feel like I was monitored very closely and labored for a LONG time before baby came. Doctor never even mentioned a C section.

[Anonymous]

i delivered at holy cross with an epidural only. doctor tried to break my water without telling me, but i stopped him and then he got annoyed. some great nurses and one really rude one who literally yelled at me for bleeding when i stood up. i think the doctors would have been a lot pushier if i hadnt had a doula.

[Anonymous]

I think it depends on your doctor. The nice thing about holy cross is a doctor from your practice will handle the delivery rather than a resident. I had two deliveries at holy cross. One was with my regular doctor and it was very low intervention, but it was also a short and uncomplicated labor. I got an epidural but delivered the baby a few minutes later. The second time, I didn’t want any medication. I had a different doctor who very early wanted to speed things along with pitocin, which I didn’t want to do. I felt rushed and stressed. I was able to walk around the room until it was time to push, but then I definitely had to be in the position they wanted me to be in. The doctor was fine and caring in the end, but there was just a lot of unnecessary stress along the way, and I didn’t feel listened to. I did feel like I was in good hands overall if anything were to have gone wrong. The nurses were very kind both times. If I were to do it again, I would consider switching to shady grove midwives as I’ve heard good things, and I want to be at a hospital, but without someone trying to speed me along.

[Anonymous]

I had a natural birth at Sibley. The nurse wrote “healthy baby” on the pain meds section of my board and no one mentioned an epidural or pitocin to me. I requested intermittent fetal monitoring so that I could labor in the shower and move more freely and that was fine. Only had a hep lock, but did get IV fluids post delivery. I had a doula who was great and made sure I had space to consider any interventions, but all that was ever suggested was breaking my water at 7cm.

But like previous posters, the most important factor is finding an OB you trust to make medical decisions with you. I was rotating around a large practice, and realized I wasn’t really asking the right questions when I reached my third trimester. I really wanted to go into labor on my own so that I could avoid pitocin, and many of the doctors were pushing a 39 week induction for mothers over 35. So in the end, there were only two doctors I would see in the final months of my pregnancy who supported my goal for spontaneous labor, and I was lucky to get one for delivery.

This time around, I did my research in the first trimester, found a doctor who supports my goals, and sees and delivers her patients all the way through.

And importantly, I trust her if anything goes wrong and I need all the interventions.

[Anonymous]

I delivered at Holy Cross last year bc that’s where my doctor delivers. Had a great experience despite it being the early days of COVID. Nurses were caring and helpful. Smooth process. I was induced and did have an epidural.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I had a natural birth at Sibley. The nurse wrote “healthy baby” on the pain meds section of my board and no one mentioned an epidural or pitocin to me. I requested intermittent fetal monitoring so that I could labor in the shower and move more freely and that was fine. Only had a hep lock, but did get IV fluids post delivery. I had a doula who was great and made sure I had space to consider any interventions, but all that was ever suggested was breaking my water at 7cm.

But like previous posters, the most important factor is finding an OB you trust to make medical decisions with you. I was rotating around a large practice, and realized I wasn’t really asking the right questions when I reached my third trimester. I really wanted to go into labor on my own so that I could avoid pitocin, and many of the doctors were pushing a 39 week induction for mothers over 35. So in the end, there were only two doctors I would see in the final months of my pregnancy who supported my goal for spontaneous labor, and I was lucky to get one for delivery.

This time around, I did my research in the first trimester, found a doctor who supports my goals, and sees and delivers her patients all the way through.

And importantly, I trust her if anything goes wrong and I need all the interventions.

PP: do you mind sharing which practice you attended for your first birth and which one you switched to for your second?