I am pregnant with my third child and although I would love to go to a birthing center, I am looking into doing a hospital birth with a midwife to save money. My husband works for HCA so we have weird rules about what they cover. I have had a vaginal hospital birth with an OB at both Centinial Medical Center and Medical Center of McKinney. To get the most coverage we need to deliver at either Medical Center of McKinney, Medical Center of Plano, or Medical City Dallas. I'm wondering if you have any imput on which of these would be better to deliver at. Medical City Dallas is my husbands choice because he works there, but it's also the farthest away so I want to make sure I'm really getting a better experience before I risk taking 1 1/2 hrs to get there (if I go in labor in rush hour trafic). Medical Center of McKinney is our closest choice (15 min. no matter the time of day). I guess I'm looking for opinions of people who have delivered at one or more of these hospitals and also for recommendations on midwifes who deliver there. Most of the info I can find is outdated. I'm looking to deliver with no epidural and be allowed to move around (and even possibly do a water birth). Any help is very much appreciated!! :D
***Edited to add: We have Aetna insurance and yes they will cover other places. Our problem is because my husband has a job in the HCA network, they have special rules. I found this out the hard way when I delivered at Centennial. They only covered 25% even though it is in network with Aetna. Because there was an HCA facility within 30 miles it knocked our coverage down from 85% to 25%. When I delivered at McKinney (an HCA facility), they covered it 100%. HUGE difference. I will look into seeing if I can get them to make an exception for the birthing center, but since they have 3 HCA facilities within 30 miles of us, they more than likely wont make an exception.
I agree, the recovery rooms at Medical Center of McKinney weren't anything special, but they weren't enough for me to not go back for. I definitely liked the recovery room at Centinnial better. However, they didn't even keep me a day at McKinney, so I guess that's why I didn't really pay that much attention to them.
No, I don't have a midwife yet. I will look into her.
Anyone know any midwifes who deliver for Medical Center of Plano or Medical City Dallas?***
In terms of identifying a midwife. . . I would call the hospital's physician reference line or simply call the hospital itself (you'll want to talk to who oversees privlidging) they can tell you who has privlidges to deliver at their facility and if that includes midwifes and if so which ones.
Hope that helps! Congrats and good luck!
I delivered both of my kids at Medical Center of Plano and had a great experience. I would go there again if needed.
Do you have a midwife already? If not, Aliza Chkaiban is a midwife who delivers at Medical Center of McKinney (as of early 2010). You'll have to ask if she still does. She works under Dr Lawrence Pierce @ Allen Presby
1105 Central Expwy #380
Allen TX 75013
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I did try a water birth at Allen Presby with her. Ended up delivering on the bed though since I felt I didn't get enough traction in the tub.
I delivered at Medical City Dallas in 2008 and 2010 and thought it was great. I just had the regular recovery room, which was fine because I didnt have many visitors - some people pay extra for a "suite" where more people can fit in.
I thought my little room was great. I LOVED the food there! I ate a TON because I loved the food so much - three big meals a day! The deserts are delicious!
The baby nurses in the nursery were great, too. I will remember one for the rest of my life - she was so sweet with my little baby - treating her just like a precious little doll. You can either chose to keep the baby in your room with you at night, or send it back to the nursery after feeding.
I wasnt crazy about the lactation consultants - one came in and said I was doing fine and everything was great, and then the next came in and said I was doing everything wrong and then I was worried my baby would starve. With the second baby, one kept coming back in while I was trying to sleep and asking me all these questions, even though I told her I though I had everything under control. I'm sure it was just the hormones, but both times I delivered there, the lactation consultants made me crazy.
Congratulations
I had my baby at Medical City Dallas and had a great experience. One other good thing if you're interested but Medical City Dallas is the only hospital in the area that will do cord blood banking donations to the public cord blank if you elect it.
I don't know much about your area, but good for you for looking for what you want despite the insurance!
A great resource for real life info on caregivers and hospitals is www.thebirthsurvey.com--it started up a few years ago and collects detailed information from moms who had babies in the last three years. So you can find out if your doc/midwife is one of those people who says they support unmedicated birth but has a crazy high c-section rate. Same with hospitals.
Also, contact a Bradley Method instructor--even if you don't take their class, they're usually great people who want to help out. They have all their students' experience to draw on, so they usually know the real scoop.
BTW, I had two unmedicated births in two different hospitals--it's hard but so worth it! HTH!
I had my second child with help of a midwife at Medical Center Mckinney - in short, if I had it to do again, I would NOT go to Medical Ctr. McKinney. The Labor rooms were okay, but the recovery room (where you hopefully spend the most time) were really ugly, dark and small (in 2007). I also had issues with a lactation consultant who blabbed on and on immediately following my delivery, and who pestered me about my milk not coming in (despite it being Day 1 of delivery!) Really, I felt rushed by the rest of the staff, too. No, wouldn't do that again. If I had to choose now, it would be Plano.
I am a midwife. In Texas by law your insurance company has to pay the provider of your choice. A midwife can ask your insurance company for an exception if they are not a preferred provider. Basically if the insurance company does have a birth center as a preferred provider within in so many miles of your home they have to make an exception.
If you must deliver in the hospital have a very detailed birth plan, ask for a natural birth minded nurse when you go into labor and hire a doula.
Take Care,
Lisa
I delivered #1 at Medical City Dallas over 8 years ago, before they made some upgrades. I had a really pleasant experience. I delivered # 2, 5 years ago at Presby Plano, and it is, hands down, a nicer facility. Although, this comparison is based on Med City Dallas before their remodels. I've been inside Med Center of Plano several times and was not impressed. Can't weigh in on McKinney...
Best of luck and congrats!
C.
I delivered at Medical Center Plano and had a great experience. I wanted to take my nurses home with me. They were great!
I delivered both my children at Medical Center of Plano. My last delivery was in December and it was very busy. They are doing construction and several of the rooms were not working. After I delivered I was moved to another delivery room since all the formal recovery rooms were full. The first night I was there I could hear a woman screaming from having a natural child birth at 3 in the morning, my TV didn't work, and when I woke up the next morning I couldn't take a shower because there was no hot water. Once I was moved to the newly remodeled recovery rooms it was very nice, but I could hear the construction all day at the end of my hall. The last day I was there I wanted to take a shower before I went home, but the water was brown from the construction. So if they are done with the renovations then the facility is great, but if they are still in the process of renovating you may want to consider McKinney. I will say the nursing staff at Plano is wonderful and were very accommodating.
