Delivery Experiences in Cleveland Area

I highly highly highly recommend Dr. Mitchell Reider!!!! He is with UH.

I think most hospitals now have vallet for women in labor or being induced. i delivered at UH and loved it!! I had to be induced but still got to use the vallet. Good thing b/c we had to bring a lot of stuff like pillows and suitcase for clothes and stuff. Lots of luck to you. I highly recommend UH

There are tours available at most of the hospitals in the area. check a few out. With the closure of the Maternity ward at the main campus of the Cleveland Clinic the surrounding suburbs have added on to their wards.

I strongly recommend NOT going to Fairview Hospital!!!!!!!!! I hated everything about my experience. They did not put my epidural in right so I felt ALL the pain and if that wasn't horrible enough they didn't believe me!!!! They did not call my dr in time so she missed it! They gave me an episiomity with no pain medicine!!!! So my second daughter was born at Lakewood Hospital and it was wonderful!!!!!! The nurses were AWESOME!!! My sister in law likes Southwest Hospital also. Good Luck:) I was also told it is a teaching hospital so maybe that's why my epidural didn't work.

K., first off congratulations! I live down toward Akron but you mentioned Akron so I will throw in my experience. To make a very long story short, I was supposed to give birth at Akron General but they were "closed" because they were totally full in the maternity ward. So, I unexpectedly had to go to Akron City (Summa). I had not heard one good thing about City hospital and was scared to death but I had no choice so we went. Other than not knowing exactly what door to enter from the parking garage everyone we encountered from the nurses smoking in the garage on break to the registration staff to the delivery nurses and the post delivery nurses - everyone was awesome. I really felt safe in the hospital and felt that they had a great security system in place for the infants and everyone followed procedures. Having been to Akron General on several occasions for classes and passing beside the maternity ward there doesn't seem to be as tight of security for the infants as I would like but I have never given birth there. All I can say is that I was pleasantly surprised at the wonderful care and treatment at Akron City Hospital and would go there again for another birth. Good luck with whatever hospital you choose!!!

I just delivered a baby a few months ago at Hillcrest and it was a wonderful experience. I had to be induced due to going past my due date and I was so scared, but really, it was the easiest labor and delivery thanks to the nurses, doctors, and the facility in general.

It's not a huge hospital campus, so parking is so easy. My husband and family appreciated also that there is so much around that area in terms of restaurants and such. It's right off the highway, so easy to get to.

For a doctor, I highly recommend Dr. Ken Rao. I was new to the Cleveland area too when I found out I was pregnant and everyone I asked gave me his name. Everyone has wonderful things to say about him--even the nurses--and I was 100% pleased with the care I received from him. He practices out of the Cleveland Clinic's Beachwood office, which is right off 271 and in a very safe area, next to the Beachwood Mall.

Good luck with everything--let me know if you need any other info!

S.

Hi!

I delivered at Southwest General Hospital in Middleburg Heights. I was VERY happy with my experience. I love my OB/GYN, and the staff there was very caring and attentive. My cousin is a lactation consultant at Southwest. She started out as an OB nurse there, and she also delivered both her children there.
If that hospital doesn't work out, I've had many other friends/family deliver at Fairview. They were all happy as well!
If you have any other questions, let me know! Welcome to the area! :-)

I had both of my children at Metro. The only reason is that it is the closest hospital to my work and I didn't want to travel far in case I went into labor at work or on the way home. I was getting my prenatal care at one of their satelite clinics, the brooklyn medical group. I still go there for my children's pediatrician. The nurses are great and their call-back time is reasonable. Upon delivering I had a very positive experience. It's not fancy but you get all the care you need.

You said south suburbs which would put in the area of Marymount Hospital and Parma General Hospital. I've had my kids at both and never felt unsafe. I live in a low crime south suburb so I am guessing I understand what you are looking for. Marymount has fast access off of 480. Parma is all side roads. I know I had the option of going to Hillcrest but it was in my opinion too far(Mayfield). But after all those worries about distance only one child came without help. I never considered any other hospitals and I am paranoid about safety.

My ObGyn is Marjorie Greenfield. She practices with UH. I have been with her for many years and she delivered my daughter. I do not know what other hospitals she practices at but she is great. The main UH hospital in downtown Cleveland is in a decent area and I would feel comfortable going down there by myself. Please feel free to contact me if you have any other questions.

Hi K.:
I highly recommend Parma Hospital if you're in the Southwest suburbs. It's got a great small community hospital feel (vs. the big impersonal corporate feel of the larger hospitals). The staff seems extremely experienced and they go out of their way to be very attentive and respectful of my birth/baby care plans.
Some of my friends have given birth at the bigger hospitals (UH, Akron, etc.) and have had terrible experiences because of the high-volume of patients, shared rooms and overall lack of care.
Plus, at Parma, there's no parking fees and the lot is right next to the door. My OB/GYN, Dr. Hudock, is chair of the department; he and his staff are absolutely wonderful.
Good luck...

Most people I know have delivered at Fairview including myself, it is very comfortable there, they have new rooms and you will most likely get your own - which I loved! It is supposed to be the best for L&D and NICU. I have also heard good things about Parma Hospital.

Welcome to the area! I have lived in Cleveland my whole life and know that although the immediate vicinity around a hospital is usually very safe and always patrolled, getting to it could be a little nerve-racking.

So, my recommendation is Fairview Hospital. The area is safe and there are plenty of different ways to get to it.

I delivered both of my sons there via scheduled C-section (both large and breech) and it is awesome!! The rooms are nicer than many hotels, the staff is friendly, the food is pretty good, and the care is TOP NOTCH!

As a side note, I live in Garfield Heights so it took me a good 25 minutes to get to Fairview. But, that is how much I loved it. I have a hospital nearby that I could walk to in 5 minutes, but will NOT go there.

Good luck!

I delivered my baby at akron general and akron childrens is like #5 in the country. It is phenemal hospital.

M. in medina

Hi K., you have received a lot of great information but I just wanted to say that UHHS (University Hospitals Health Systems) I think is very good. I had my 2nd job at UH and it was a very good experience. However, I have known many women that utilized Hillcrest that had awesome experiences. Wish you the best!

HI K.,

My name is A.. I am a stay at home mommy to our 14 month old son working just a few nights a week waitressing. We live in Broadview Heights. I had the most amazing experience with my OB/GYN and delivery that I want to tell everyone about it! My sister also delivered both of her two daughters in the same hospital and too had a wonderful experience. Our OB/GYN is at Oak Tree Women's Health at Southwest Medical Center. They have offices at the main hospital on Bagley Road in Middleburg Heights and also an office in Strongsville on Pearl Road. Here is their website: http://www.otwhobgyn.com/index.asp?p=l
Both offices are in very safe areas. The hospital, where you would deliver is a wonderful facility. I had to stay a full week after I had my son because he was jaundice. The nurses made me feel as comfortable as they could. What a special group of women!

My sister and I both have Dr. Johanna O'Neill and LOVE love her. I have some other girlfriends that also go to Oak Tree and have other physicians and like them just as much. Best of luck to you! I hope you have a wonderful experience. If you have any other questions feel free to contact me!

--A.

I delivered at Fairview. The experience was wonderful. Their Jacob's Women's Pavilion is brand new and the private rooms are like hotel rooms. There is a day bed for hubbies and family as well. My OB is Lizabeth Brooks. She's located in North Olmsted. She's wonderful!

South suburb where? I am south and live in Medina Ohio. Medina Hospital has a full floor for baby stuff!!! My 15 year old daughter is pregnant and the Dr.s are on the same floor that she will deliver on. I hear a lot of good things about Medina Hospital. Good luck to you!!!!!

I had two wonderful birth experiences at Southwest General Health Center with my sons ages 4 and 2. Southwest is located in Middleburg Heights, Ohio and I always felt safe going to appointments alone and while in the hospital. They have a new facility and everything was joyful for myself and my large family. My mother teaches nursing and she also loved the hospital and staff

Welcome to the area!! I delivered both of my kids at Parma Community General Hospital. The mother/baby floor is warm and comforting. The staff is supportive. We used to live in Parma, but now live in Brunswick, and a SAHM. My GYn is Dr. Paul Hudock out of Parma, our pediatrician is Joanne Brewer out of University Hopsitals (Office on 303) in Brunswick. Good luck!!!

Hi K.!

I had all 3 of my kids at Hillcrest. It's in Mayfield hts which is a very safe area. It's not a huge hospital so you won't get lost, lol, and everyone there was very nice and helpful. My OB/GYN is Dinkar Rao. ( the older one, there's 2 a young one w/the same name and him)he's WONDERFUL! I wouldn't want to go to anyone else. His office is in the Atrium which is attached to Hillcrest and he lives very near the hospital so when you go he'll be right there. He also has THE BEST beside manner!

S.

I loved my doctor(Dr.Stacie Jhavari) and the nurses at Fairview. The ward is extremely safe but I don't know about kids visiting, I think there is some sort of policy, I think siblings are allowed but I don't recall the details. I wanted to go natural but had to have an emergency c-section and the nurses in the maternity ward were so helpful and attentive. Also, my husband stayed with me in the room and he's a diabetic and they made sure his insulin was kept safe in the employee refrigerator(doesn't sound like a big deal but it was very nice of them)

I had 2 at University downtown. I currently live about a 5 minute walk from there. The very large area around there is safe. It is not only a very large hospital on a large campus, but also the campus of Case Western and all the museums are there as well.

There is valet parking so all you do is pull up to the front and they take care of you from there. They park your car and make sure you are able to get to the maternity ward.

One thing I love is that it is connected to one of the best children's hospitals in the country. Most births everything is fine, but if there is a problem you are at the very best place around for you new baby to be taken care of. I read some other responses that people claim other hospitals in the area have the best, but I was confused. I have never seen that anywhere, and I couldn't find it when I looked. Do a little research on the best children's hospital, and the only one you will find in Cleveland area is Rainbow.

I should add perhaps that I have arrived at UH by myself. It was for an emergency D&C. My husband was out of state and my parents were with my boy. I got there just fine, they took care of my car, the staff was sympathetic and did what they could to make me comfortable and feel secure. They explained everything until I really felt like I knew what was going on. This was of course a bad situation, but I must speak highly of them on their care, and I arrived alone, which you expressed is of concern to you.

Best wishes

http://health.usnews.com/usnews/health/best-hospitals/sea...;

I have delivered twice at Fairview. Level III NICU which is great (hope you won't need it but is nice to know it's there just in case). They just remodeled their birthing center rooms and they are really nice. You have a private room and they have the alarm tag on the baby's belly button so no one can take your baby. Also it is affliliated with the Cleveland Clinic, one of the best hospitals in the world. Safe area.

Good luck,
L.

Hi! I delivered at St. John Westshore Hospital and loved it. You have a private room and stay in the same room from checking in to discharge. An alarm is attached to the child's umbilical cord so no one can leave with your child. It is also located in a really good area of town (Westlake). My doctor's name is Jeffrey Christian - ###-###-#### if you would like to talk to him. He also has several women in the practice if you prefer a female doctor.

Good luck in preparing for a new one. I hope you find a doctor and hospital that you love!