It's not just GW, and it depends on the day, and, in normal times, time of year. (More births in Sept. than in Jan.) I labored for a while in triage at GW in 2017 waiting for a delivery room to open up (which one did), but got a delivery room immediately in 2019 and apparently only one other delivery room was occupied at the time. I wouldn't choose a provider based on this alone.

Anonymous wrote:Anecdotally, I have heard about GW being overcrowded and women being stuck in triage during most of labor.

I heard this five years ago, where one friend was actually sent away and had to deliver elsewhere!

I also heard the same from a friend who delivered there a few weeks ago, so, it seems the problem isn't gone. It's making me consider switching, although I have few options, mainly WHC which is fine but I don't really want to go there again, or rather I don't know what OB I would use; I was with their midwives previously who I liked but I had a bad experience with them during my miscarriage.

Have you also recently had problems at GW? Firsthand accounts preferred.

I get the impression that a lot of women on this board don't realize there is no labor and delivery ward in DC EOTR. Not one. Every pregnant woman has to be transferred after 20 weeks, and GWU is metro accessible. Covid nurse shortages might figure in at the margins, but overcrowding at GWU should be expected.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I was supposed to deliver at WHC and got diverted to VHC because it was too crowded. So, switching to WHC is no guarantee

Wow. When was this? Were you with an OB practice there or Midwives?

Sorry, PP here, just came back and saw the follow up question. November 2020, OBs (Kaiser).

Just wanted to add, it's a good idea to talk to your OB and know what your backup is (maybe have 2), regardless of where you intend to deliver. I had the experience of having to make that decision while in labor - not ideal.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I was supposed to deliver at WHC and got diverted to VHC because it was too crowded. So, switching to WHC is no guarantee

Wow. When was this? Were you with an OB practice there or Midwives?

Sorry, PP here, just came back and saw the follow up question. November 2020, OBs (Kaiser).

I just delivered in Denver and half my nurses were travelers. That wasn’t the case when I delivered at the same hospital three years ago. Definitely a nursing shortage.

Bottom line is, you can't really tell in advance, and on any given day this could happen at just about any hospital.

I had two kids at GW. My first was a regular weekday. I ended up scoring the last available L&D room that morning and several women ended up giving birth in triage (nurse told me about it)
My second was due a couple of days past a holiday weekend. I'd always heard holiday weekends are really bad with hospitals being understaffed and hoped I'd go till my due date. Of course I went into labor right on that Monday morning. I needn't have worried though, I didn't spend a minute in triage and had a great L&D experience.

This is an issue at all the hospitals.

Even before COVID this was a problem. I was diverted from Sibley because they were "full" (which means insufficient nursing staff) and ended up delivering at GW. Its fantastic to call your doctor in labor to be told to find a new hospital.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:FYI: there is such a large nursing shortage all over the country. I overheard a charge nurse requesting diversion-sending patients to another hospital Bc there was not enough staff members. This was at Georgetown. I was discharged home. Still waiting for this baby to come out. Hopefully, it will settle as COVID goes down and more get vaccinated.

Maybe at Georgetown they’re refusing to be vaccinated or what? Can’t imagine that at GW but who knows. Most ridiculous thing ever.

Unfortunately it’s part of what’s happening at hospitals all over the area, including GW (my good friend is a nurse). Also you can make ridiculous money right now as a travel nurse so lots of people are quitting to do that.

But I’m glad if hospitals aren’t allowing unvaccinated staff, that went into effect now right?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:FYI: there is such a large nursing shortage all over the country. I overheard a charge nurse requesting diversion-sending patients to another hospital Bc there was not enough staff members. This was at Georgetown. I was discharged home. Still waiting for this baby to come out. Hopefully, it will settle as COVID goes down and more get vaccinated.

Maybe at Georgetown they’re refusing to be vaccinated or what? Can’t imagine that at GW but who knows. Most ridiculous thing ever.

Unfortunately it’s part of what’s happening at hospitals all over the area, including GW (my good friend is a nurse). Also you can make ridiculous money right now as a travel nurse so lots of people are quitting to do that.

Anonymous wrote:FYI: there is such a large nursing shortage all over the country. I overheard a charge nurse requesting diversion-sending patients to another hospital Bc there was not enough staff members. This was at Georgetown. I was discharged home. Still waiting for this baby to come out. Hopefully, it will settle as COVID goes down and more get vaccinated.

Maybe at Georgetown they’re refusing to be vaccinated or what? Can’t imagine that at GW but who knows. Most ridiculous thing ever.

FYI: there is such a large nursing shortage all over the country. I overheard a charge nurse requesting diversion-sending patients to another hospital Bc there was not enough staff members. This was at Georgetown. I was discharged home. Still waiting for this baby to come out. Hopefully, it will settle as COVID goes down and more get vaccinated.

Anonymous wrote:I was supposed to deliver at WHC and got diverted to VHC because it was too crowded. So, switching to WHC is no guarantee

Wow. When was this? Were you with an OB practice there or Midwives?

I was supposed to deliver at WHC and got diverted to VHC because it was too crowded. So, switching to WHC is no guarantee

Anecdotally, I have heard about GW being overcrowded and women being stuck in triage during most of labor.

I heard this five years ago, where one friend was actually sent away and had to deliver elsewhere!

I also heard the same from a friend who delivered there a few weeks ago, so, it seems the problem isn't gone. It's making me consider switching, although I have few options, mainly WHC which is fine but I don't really want to go there again, or rather I don't know what OB I would use; I was with their midwives previously who I liked but I had a bad experience with them during my miscarriage.

Have you also recently had problems at GW? Firsthand accounts preferred.