Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here: thanks so much. It's very helpful to get a sense of places. Sounds like GW or WHC would work well for us. I'll check out the recommendations people made of doctors/practices that deliver those places, but additional recommendations of doctors/practices would be great. Especially if they have early morning hours and are convenient to downtown. I prefer a doctor to a MW practice.

WHC is a pretty awful facility, FYI. GW is probably your best bet.

Why do you say that?

I had an amazing experience at Sibley with Dr. Malcolm DeSouza- he was supportive, available ( he picks up his personal phone at all hours, I felt like I had amazing access to him), and even after a VERY long labor did not push intervention. Congrats and good luck!

I’m impressed and delighted by how objective many of these posts are. Usually these threads are like “GO TO SIBLEY ONLY IF YOU WOULD CHOOSE A SMOOTHIE CART OVER A PEACEFUL BIRTH” or “DONT GO TO GW, THEY REGULARLY FORCE WOMEN TO GIVE BIRTH IN THE PARKING LOT”

It’s nice that people are acknowledging that many of our hospitals are strong and have different aspects that appeal to different people.

FWIW I went to GW and will go there again - great medical care, loved that midwives and OBs work closely (though I was with an OB), and love that teaching hospitals tend to be more evidence based and up-to-date on new recommendations and practices. That said, if I wanted a more comfortable postpartum experience (not one of GW strong suits) or if I didn’t want a bunch of residents around, I’d go to Sibley. And I have literally never met anyone who didn’t love their experience at WHC.

Firstly, we are so lucky to have so many great choices. I have three children and was high-risk. I have delivered at both Sibley and GW (twice).

Sibley:
-community hospital, not as evidenced based as whc or gw.
-if you are 31.6 or less they will send you to Georgetown or GW based on the situation.
-It is a lovely new hospital that caters toward middle to upper class
-many practices are risk adverse and will not allow vbac, breech, tola2c, twins to labor (some not all) so please ask. Ask if they do these. If they say yes, ask how many. If they give a number, ask if all the providers agree. It is awful, to start a twin (ceph/ceph) induction and then told with the next shift that “they don’t labor twins” and must have a cd. (This happened to my friend)
- fewer deliveries then whc and GW so pp will give you more attention
-no metro access
-limited food (the hospital food was just ok) its food and I didn’t have to make it so I’m happy.

GW (tola2c success)
-teaching hospital with many faces but they are lovely and all willing to engage you in the conversation
-I agree that Lesko and Jamshidi are amazing! I also loved Keller, Sheth and Madkour.
-the LD nurses are “kind ninjas” amazingly supportive but when the an emergency happens they are swift and quiet and just get things done. Actually, the whole team is that way.
-pp: they were nice, there was a nursery, there was a Lactation even at night
-I was told parking was expensive and a Pía, we used the metro and unbered home.
-many more food choices

-I received exceptional care and I delivered there recently. It’s really busy with umc and Providence closing but, I chose to deliver there again. It was outstanding.

Take home:
-be thankful there are choices
-if you are low risk go to Sibley
-if you are high risk (not ama or obese) but really high risk multiples, diabetic, heart condition, multiple prior cds etc go to Gw

My tube

Anonymous wrote:Highly recommend finding a doctor that delivers at Sibley. It’s a community hospital that specializes in labor and delivery. The hospital was just rebuilt so everything is nice and new. And yes, contrary to another poster, it does have a NICU. I know because my first kid spent two weeks there. Their NICU takes babies born at 32 weeks or later. Any baby born before 32 weeks will be transferred to Georgetown. I wouldn’t want to have delivered at Georgetown for anything. You don’t want a huge teaching hospital to give birth. Way too chaotic.

Sublet has a NICU but’s it’s not level 3 or 4. The level of the NICU is an important thing to consiser

Anonymous wrote:GW does not have a nursery. Sibley does. I’d pick an OB practice that delivers there. People will tell you that the hospital is very pro section and epidural but that wasn’t my experience at all. I never felt pressured to get an epidural, but then I’m not the sort of person who interprets being asked about epidurals as pressure to get one.

GW brought the nursery back

Another vote for Dr. Lesko at GW. She's calm and straightforward.

Also, WHC is the only hospital in D.C. that offers nitrous oxide for pain relief (I think just through the midwife practice) if that matters to you at all. It wasn't something I was looking for, but I've come across people who felt strongly about having that option.