I'm a doula and have attended births at Holy Cross. I think that it's true that they aren't used to seeing a lot of non-epidural births. However I have found that with second (or more) time moms who have given birth previously without medication, it is somewhat of a different story. They know you can do it and have done it before, and generally they seem to just assume you're going to be able to do it again. I haven't seen a lot of second or more time moms given a hard time about laboring without medication -- it happens a lot more with first time moms unfortunately.

That said, I don't think Holy Cross is really set up to support unmedicated birth, and depending on your provider, their protocols could make it more difficult or uncomfortable to achieve -- for example if the practice tends to induce often, or wants a lot of monitoring. HC does not have tubs (which for many women really help with comfort). Not sure about WHC. However I've attended several unmedicated births at Holy Cross -- it can definitely be done, and the fact that you've done it before makes it a lot more likely I think. A doula certainly couldn't hurt (but obviously I'm biased in that regard).

I do think that generally, hospitals where midwives work tend to have nurses that are more familiar and comfortable with unmedicated birth, and who have more skills to support it. And they are often more flexible with protocols that may make unmedicated birth more manageable -- they are used to women requesting things like a saline lock, intermittent
monitoring, etc.

My thoughts are "Why so many ................ on the thread title?"

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I actually had a pretty good experience when I delivered at WHC, but I delivered with midwives, which I think made a difference. I think the care provider matters more from the location since I've heard both praise and horror stories from friends who have delivered at most area hospitals. Most people I know have had pretty good deliveries and then issues with the post-partum nurses no matter where they were.

This was the case with me but at Washington Adventist. Anyone know why this is so common? Very strange.

Sorry, I've always had the opposite experience. Mean L&D RNs, then nice post partum ones. I delivered at Shady Grove and Fairfax.

OP, how did you know your baby has a cleft lip? Was that found at the 20 week ultrasound?

Holy Cross has a level 3B NICU and Children's is a bit higher at level 4.

If you're looking for a natural birth at Holy Cross, I would definitely suggest hiring a doula. If possible, it would be wise to labor at home as long as possible.

Second op here. thanks all for your replies. A few things to think about, though my inclination is to just go with HC because it is closer. I've "toured" WHC virtually, and it looks nice but again, everyone has their own experience. The difference in the online comparisons between the 2 hospitals that appealed to me was that WHC seemed a bit more "natural" friendly as well as because there are midwives on staff though i don't know if i would have any access to them. We could hire a doula potentially as well.
Really in the end it seems to come down to the nurse or nurses you have and then the doctor comes in at the last minute for the delivery. Maybe it really doesn't matter all that much the location after all (which was my original thinking) though i still want to make a good choice...

I delivered at FHBC 3 years ago, but we toured WHC at the time so that we could be prepared in the event that we risked out of the birth center. Back then, I seem to recall that all rooms were private, but their website now says that "most" are private. You can do a "virtual" tour online at:
http://www.whcenter.org/body.cfm?id=486
(sadly, it's just a pdf doc with a bunch of photos)

HC advertises itself as being the largest NICU in Maryland, but not sure how it compares with Children's.

I've known people who have had pain-med free deliveries at both hospitals, although HC seems to have a reputation of being not particularly friendly to the non-epidural crowd.

I delivered twice at WHC with the FHBC midwives. My experiences the first time are probably irrelevant now since it was 3.5 years ago, and I ultimately ended up with an epidural. But that was entirely my choice; I'm the one who brought it up not any staff. When I delivered in January, my birth preferences were already in the system and the nurse just confirmed I wasn't getting an epidural even though I was being induced. This nurse did turn out to be annoying in that she was pretty incredulous that I wasn't getting an epi for an induction, although my midwife said it's really common for FHBC clients to go without an epi if they are being induced. So it shouldn't have been a surprise for the nurse.

WHC requires the nurses to ask you periodically about your pain level, but mine never got above a "4" until I was in transition, and I had a different nurse by that point. No one ever suggested an epidural.

I believe you can always ask for a natural-friendly nurse.

I think unmedicated births at Holy Cross are few and far between. That's not to say that you won't be able to do it, but I think the nursing staff is accustomed to women having epidurals in labor.

It's probably a similar case at WHC, although with the presence of midwives and the FHBC's connection at that hospital, the nurses probably have more experience with it.

bumping this thread

Any new thoughts? I also have Kaiser and have these 2 choices. Holy Cross is closer to us, but we also know our baby has for sure a cleft lip and possibly palate, hopefully nothing else, and the MFM noted the proximity between WHC and Children's which got us thinking. My friend delivered at WHC and hated it. However, i also see there is no guarantee of a private room following delivery, and that would blow.
This is #2 and i had a natural birth with #1 in a hospital and hope to do this again but i would like to hear, if this was what you wanted, how the respective nurses from WHC and HC responded to the idea of a "natural" birth. I mean, i'm flexible and ultimately want what's best for the baby but i don't want to be pressured. Because when i met with a former nurse of HC and said i would probably skip epidural, she looked at me like i was crazy.

The staff neonatologists are top notch @ holy cross. I work @ children's, I'm delivering @ Holy Cross.