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Ladies who have birthed at Pennsylvania Hospital
Ok, I had a major heart attack yesterday at the OB and didn't realize they operate on a labor system of 18 doctors. I knew the likelihood of my doctor actually delivering me was slim, but since there were 6 doctors in the practice, I specifically chose the practice I did assuming it would be 1 of the 6. I figured I'd rotate through, get to meet everyone at least once. Yeah, totally not the case. Only 3 of the 6 actually deliver at my practice (PennCare OBGYN) so that means there are 15 doctors who I will never have any face to face with at all. That scares the life outta me! I guess this is the norm at any hospital in the city and I find comfort knowing it's a great hospital with a level II NICU (really important to us with twins) but I guess I was just thrown for a loop.
Did this bother anyone who delivered at Pennsy or should I not be worried?
For any Mom's who delivered at a different hospital, did you know who delivered you? Did it even matter?
Re: Ladies who have birthed at Pennsylvania Hospital
This is a new integration of sorts and I remember it happening right before I had T3 however something similar was in place when I had T2 as well so it wasn't a huge shocker to me. Honestly, to me, I didn't really care who delivered me as long as they got the baby out safely and the baby and myself were healthy. Granted, I was not high risk, it was not twins and it was not my first birth so I understand your concern. I was also not one to care about meeting all the docs in the practice because of this. I was happy with my doc and would have preferred all my appts be with her and then need be the day of, if it had to be someone else it was what it was.
With T2, Dr Elias (the other awesome doc there before the awesome Dr Paige) was not on call, my water broke on an early Saturday morning, she was probably home enjoying her coffee and family. Pretty sure the doc that delivered JD was the resident doc on call and I have no memory of his name or what he looked like but pretty sure I remember kissing him and thanking him when it was all done and over. With T3, I was set up for an induction so we conveniently scheduled it when Dr Paige was available and beginning her shift, however had I not delivered by the time she was done, I would have been transfered to the next doc on duty.
I won't tell you not to worry because if it is a reasonable concern for you. However, keep in mind the nurses do most of the work during labor, the doc swoops in at the end to play catch and stitch up. Unless there is an issue, you won't see the doc that often during all the pushing and dialating process. I will say that the nurses I had for all three deliveries were amazing, I showered them with wine and goodies before we were discharged. Hope this helps ease your worries a little bit!
Jonathan Dean 4.5.08
Anna Capri 5.4.11
I too am going to deliver at PA Hospital. It sounds like we may be at the same practice. I have always seen my own doctor every single appointment, except one appointment when she was on vacation and I saw the NP. I was already prepared based on discussions on this board that you could have any doctor that day which does kind of freak me out a bit, but I guess it is what it is.
When we went for our maternity ward tour, the guide told us you can even decide that day you want a natural delivery and they will set you up in a birth suite with a midwife even even if you treated with a doc the whole time or vice versa.
I see Dr. Paige too! She is awesome. Love her.
I had DS #1 there and was really happy with everything. The laborist model didn't bother me...when it came time to have the baby, I could care less who delivered him.
I can't say enough good things about the NICU too. I think it's actually a level III. DS was a few weeks early and had respiratory distress....he was in the intensive care nursery for a month. The docs, nurses, and lactation consultants were great.
Not at Pennsy but- I was high risk and only saw my doc the entire pregnancy. I trusted him and didn't feel like dealing with the regurgitation of facts every appointment and someone who looked at my file for 32 seconds before they came into the room.
When DS was born I came in for lack of movement (Thurs night) and dealt with 3 docs while they were monitoring and inducing me. By sheer luck, my doc came on call Friday night and handled my emergency csection. I was super excited that it worked out that way.
Honestly, out of the 3 other docs I saw they were all good. I gave the first one the buisness because I wasn't being taken seriously and after DS failed his BPP miserably she actually apologized. Other than that, there were no issues and they were all compentent. They even did a conf call for a second opinion with a high risk specialist in the room w me so I could hear all of the options.
I don't mind the set up but I really did value having my chosen doc as a constant through my pregnancy. I liked that he really knew the ins and outs and knew me.
See, this is why I love you gals. Such great advice! I was a little too dense to realize that the doctor is really only such a small part of the delivery. Duh. I have such limited knowledge of delivery, you guys are so right. I'm just a nervous nelly knowing that there are so many what if's with my delivery but I guess I just have to suck it up and deal. I'm not the first woman to be having twins. Shocker!!
::goes back to la la land in my narcissistic corner::
And Dr. Paige is my doc too! I chose her based on the recommendation of the fabulous KelDel
She is pretty awesome. After IVF, I should be used to various different people up my vajay! I've just had too many horrible doctor experiences in my lifetime, so I just worry about having that experience while in major pain and scared outta my mind.
I wrote you back via email but I did want to say I do the same thing with my dr. at Abington - on the days we go to Abington I try to make sure I see the same person. Even though she's obviously not delivering them its easier to talk to her and like someone else sad..not go through the same conversation with someone new every time.
As for who delivers - I've only met one OB at CHOP but I don't even care. As long as they get them out safely, I'm happy!
My little nuggets
Yeah, the nurses at Pennsy are really what is more important -- when i say the midwife just caught DS2, I mean she had on one glove and still was wearing her rings. It was that quick.
I delivered at Jeff, but they do a laborist system as well. It was a bit different in that I was guaranteed someone from my practice, but I had never had one appt with the dr that ended up delivering Charlie and Sam (somehow I got the same dr both times)
She was great! I found out later she is considered the best in the practice, which is why I never had an appt with her. But ditto everyone else - the nurses are what really made the experience great
I am in a completely different situation now - my new OB does 90% of his deliveries. But if I am in the 10%, it's no big deal
DS 3.12.08
DD 7.11.09
DD 8.01.13
Like all the other ladies said... The Dr who delivers the baby is just a tiny piece of the actual delivery.
When we were getting ready to leave the hospital with DS (Lankenau), one of the nurses asked about our stay... and the conversation ended with her saying... The first time you deliver you come to the hospital for the doctor, the next time you come for the nurses... and she was absolutely right.
I'm gonna go against the grain a little bit here and say that it was important to me who delivered me. I didn't deliver in Pennsy though. My practice had 4 docs and 1 midwife doing deliveries. I saw them all but had one primary doctor. My labor was very long - enough so that I saw all of the practitioners while I was in labor.
I ended up with an unplanned c-section and it was really scary for me - esp once dh left to go with the baby. I was lucky enough that my doctor was the one on duty at the time b/c it was near midnight. I was very comforted knowing that she was in there with me.
The girls here are right though. Once you're in labor the nurses make a huge difference. You'll end up spending more time in L/D with them then your doc.
I'm not saying this at all to scare you. Everyone's labor and birth are different. You aren't the first person to have twins but this is the first time YOU are doing it. It's ok to have questions and concerns about who you're going to end up with. Go with what you feel comfortable with. If you have a concern, talk to your practitioners and see if you feel comforted by their answer.
Talk to them about your specific circumstances - i.e. having twins, any risk factors you personally have. Though they're doing more vag deliveries of twins you might end up in a position where they want to do a csection - see if you could possibly pick your date and doctor if that's the case.
Prepare as much as you can for different types of birth - I was completely unprepared for a csection and it made it much harder on me both during and after my daughter's birth.
Thanks LD. Makes me feel better knowing I'm not insane for being a nervous nelly. My OB did say that if I didn't go by 38 weeks they'd schedule induction and should we need to schedule a C, that I could schedule her. So that was comforting. Ill probably ask more questions next time and should probably educate myself a little more on L&D so I have specific concerns to address with her.
Did anyone else get birth panic around 15 weeks?!? I've suddenly went from I can't wait to be pregnant to OMG. This is happening!
OMFG you are 30 weeks!!!!!! 30!!!! This is blowing my mind right now!!
::record scratch:: Whaaaat! Madness!
DUDE....I KNOW!! When the hell did that happen? In the past two days especially I keep looking in the mirror and thinking "how did I get here?" ha. Realllllly hoping I have at least 8 weeks left. Fingers crossed.
Back to your main question - I agree with LD too about asking about twin births and what their concerns/expectations are. Chop went over that with us with out us asking and it was slightly scary but at least we know!
My little nuggets
I'm also going top put in my little plug here for hiring a doula. They aren't just for crunchy hippies! If you want someone by your side the entire time who knows everything about you and everything about births, its totally the way to go.
The right doula is about supporting your birth --- med free, meds, c-section, via the vag. Whatever.
I knew there was something else I wanted to suggest in my email and then for the life of me it was gone and this was it. Then you know for sure at least one professional who will be in the room to help you.
I was all about this in the beginning and if we were delivering at Abington, I totally would have hired one.
My little nuggets
My mind is blown. Didn't I just catch that you had a virgin pina colada like...yesterday?
haha..right? Part of me feels like that was years ago and then part of me is like..are we sure that wasn't last month? It's seriously scary!
My little nuggets
ok next on the list, doula. I'm kinda crunchy anyway, so it's all good ;-) this would probably benefit me a lot knowing I'd have an advocate. Amy, did you use one in the city?
I sent you a Facebook message!
TY! Huge help! DH is like, pavilion or doula choose one! Umm yeah no. I best be laid up in the pavilion. I'm making him read the reviews.
I'm using Amy's doulas too, they mentioned that they usually get to go in the OR at pennsy for csections.
As horrifically small as those rooms are, I can't imagine sharing with one baby let alone two!
Plus, you get chocolate cake in the Pavillion and it is amazing.