Did You Deliver at Banner Desert Medical Center?

Hi, A. -
I have three children. A 4-1/2 year old girl, and twin girls that are 21 months. All three were delivered at Banner Desert. I was very pleased with the care I received. I attended education classes at the hospital before the birth of my first daughter, and found the information helpful, and all the staff wonderful. I had some pre-testing done at the hospital prior to the birth. Again, all went well. Facilities and staff all very satisfactory. I went in for an induction with my first child in Mar. '04. I was put in a very nice labor, delivery and recovery room. It was roomy and comfortable, with a big walk-in shower if you wanted to shower while you labored. There was a fairly comfortable reclining lounge chair for my husband to sleep in. The staff was all wonderful, including making certain that my husband got something to eat over the many, many hours that we were there. My understanding is that if I had delivered vaginally, I wouldn't have been moved at all. I would have stayed in that room. Unfortunately, my labor didn't progress and I needed a c-section. Once again, all staff I dealt with were wonderful. My baby and I were well cared for after the surgery. One of things that I most liked was that they have a nursery that your baby can go to (if you like) so that you can get some rest after delivery. As I understand it, some hospitals leave your baby with you all the time, and I understand that some Mamas would prefer that. I liked being able to send the baby to the nursery to be cared for for a few hours while I got some sleep - especially after the surgery. Security is very, very tight, so that is reassuring. My twins were delivered at Banner by scheduled c-section in Jan '07. Everything great again. Both girls had some minor problems at birth that required a short NICU stay. Here again - all NICU staff great, reassuring, informative. They took excellent care of my babies and everyone came home in perfect condition in about 7 days. Sorry to be so long-winded, but based on my personal experiences with the hospital for childbirth, I can't say enough good things.
Good luck to you.

I have lived in this vacinity almost my whole life. I had a terrific experience there and know many family and friends ho have had their babies there in the new and old facility that is, =) Now- you have everything in the same room from start to finish..in a home decor comfortable atmosphere. Music playing, roll out beds or lounge chairs provided, control of the ac/heat in your room. The nurses and LPNS have all been pretty good. Especially when several people are rushing her with dumb repeated questions.LOL They give you time by yourself a lot if you want..they dont buzz over you like a helicopter unless really needed. lol Very professional with your baby id and security and such. Strict policies are enforced and grateful for nowadays. =) Anything else I have forgotten or I can answer-message me. Good luck.

I see you have already had quite a few responses but since my experience was very recent I figured I would share. Most importantly for you and baby Banner Desert is the best place to deliver if you or baby end up having any problems. They are the place you get sent to if you run into problems and you are at a different hospital. That in itself is a good reason to go there.

My experience was a little different since I had a c section but the l&d nurses were awesome and the postpartum nurses as well. My room was newly remodeled and kept clean. I got quite a bit of lactation support from a nurse named Michelle. Not sure if she was part of the lactation team but she was super helpful. You do room in with the baby but there is a nursery if you need it and I had no problem using it the one time I asked. All in all no complaints about the facility and staff! Best of luck to you!! -S

I delivered there in 7/07 - c-section so I can't say anything about the actual delivery rooms, but agree 100% that the recovery rooms are tiny. The recliners are uncomfortable and my husband was very disapointed since the TV only got about 10 channels. We were there for 4 days after delivery.

On the other hand the nurses were great for the most part. Especially the lactation consultant. My baby wouldn't latch and she was a great help. She came every day and when I left we knew what to do. I ended up nursing for 12 months, which I think wouldn't have happened if I didn't get the right help in the beginning.

I also heard that they are remodeling.

I delivered at Banner Desert. I had a good experience. The hospital is a bit older, so our post pardom room was quite small (like a closet,) but our experience was fine. I wanted to deliver there because there are only 2 level 3 NICU's in the valley & I thought I would rather deliver where they would send my child if there was an issue over transporting her there. Our first nurse after delivery was our least favorite, but they got better and better as my stay progressed. I had one nurse spend 5 hours with me on breastfeeding (my daughter was having trouble latching on correctly.) So the only negative was the small room. The L & D room was very large & we stayed there probably 2 hrs. after delivery. Hope that's helpful. I was pleased with my experience & was glad to be delivering there.

I delivered both of my children at Banner Desert. My son is 3 1/2 and my daughter is 4 months. If I would have written this before my daughter was born I would have said look elsewhere, but my sister had her son there 8 months ago and had a wonderful experience so because of that and my sentimental feelings about wanting both of my children to be born at the same hospital, I decided to give Banner Desert another chance. And boy was I pleasantly surprised! Labor and Delivery was and still is wonderful. The rooms and nurses are very welcoming. The postpartum was where I was frustrated when my son was born. I hated how grumpy, impatient and old the nurses where not to mention the small postpartum rooms. Granted the rooms are not different so they still only fit your bed and your husband's chair, but the nurses are sooooo much better! I know that they went through a lot of change in both staffing and hospital regulations and it was all positive changes from my experience. Before the nurses were invasive and weren't giving us any alone time with our new son, but with my daughter, they didn't continually invade our privacy and allowed us to ask for help when we needed it. Maybe it's different when you aren't first time parents, but I just found that my last visit to Banner Desert was enjoyable and a very good experience. I can't say any negative comments about the Labor and Delivery, and the only thing negative I can say about the postpartum experience is that the rooms are small and my husband wasn't very comfortable in his recliner so we learned to bring a twin size aerobed which was a tight fit but well worth it for him! Good Luck to you and record every moment because the time sure does fly!!!!!

I delivered my twins at Banner Desert because and had a positive experience. I had a c/s but I was in a L&D room overnight, they had a cot for DH to sleep on and it worked just fine. After the c/s they gave us a really big room which was nice since we had two babies and lots of visitors. My nurses were really nice for the most part, maybe 1 or 2 weren't my favorite but I was there for 4 days so I saw a lot of nurses. They didn't give DH a cot in our room, all they had was a chair that reclined and he had a hard time getting comfortable in it. I would say bring a pillow from home for DH, maybe that would help. The LC were very nice and helped me with nursing my twins as often as I requested. They also had a nursery as mentioned before that could take the girls in between feedings so I could catch up on my sleep. Overall it was a good experience, good luck!

delivered there in may 08. L&D for 2 days, moved me about8 to 10 hrs after delivery. L&D huge room very spacious but a little run down. The recovery room was tiny, although I understand they are in the process of redoing a number of the rooms and updating the facility. The nursing staff, doctors and care were wonderful.

It's been 3 years, but I delivered at Banner in '05. I delivered at Good Sam in 2001 and found Banner much more responsive and comfortable. I LOVED my Drs. from my gyn. However, you do have to be your own advocate and ask nicely for things, or put in nice reminders when they forgot - like ice packs, extra washcloths, etc.

I give Banner a thumbs up for L&D. However, one comment, I had a very nice, large room for labor and delivery, then was taken to the older section and put in a closet (ok, that's how it felt!). But in truth, it was just fine, but small. PM me if you have any questions I can answer.

Hi A.,
I delivered my daughter at Banner Desert a little over a year ago. I had the most amazing nurses. They were the best. The delivery room was big and nice. There was a recliner for my husband but not much for him to sleep in. After delivery I was sent to my hospital room. It was very small and the sleeping wasn't great for my husband. He ended up going home to sleep. I guess they do have some cots that you can request and some of the rooms are bigger I think I just happened to be in a small one. I would say my experience was very positive except it would have been great if there was a bed to sleep in for my husband. Good luck!

I wasn't in L&D for too long but I thought the room was really nice. It was spacious. I got there at 330am, had my baby at 1030am and we were up in recovery just after lunch-ish. The recovery rooms were tiny, if your husband is going to sleep there you might want to bring a sleeping bag or floor mat. There is the 1 bed and a recliner type chair and not much room for anything else. There is a food room nearby where your husband can fetch snacks for himself or you.

I thought the staff was wonderful.

I delivered my daughter at Desert back in 2005. They were very friendly and my delivery nurse even stayed late so she would be with me the whole time. I can't even remember the room to the room - I was up for almost 48 hours before I delivered and the whole memory of delivery and day after are a bit vague.

We were in our own room, they leave the baby with you the entire time - baring one time they took her for a test, of which the area was viewing distance from the room. The area is completely secure with only allowed personnel inside. They were very helpful and I had to give them credit for that since I just wanted to go home but my daughter need to be in the hospital overnight for observation.

--- When we had to take my daughter back less then a year later because she had a high fever and wasn't breathing well - they were awesome as well. Very helpful, warm, caring, and willing to answer your questions.

I liked the hospital and staff.
The delivery part was great. The rooms were big the staff was nice, helpful and supportive.
In recovery the rooms are tiny and there wasn't a place for my husband to sleep, there was a recliner but it was uncomfortable. Typically the baby stays with you, but they do have a small nursery if you need it. My husband was near the end of a long interviewing process so wasn't able to be there the whole time and my baby wouldn't sleep, I just felt so bad, was tired, frustrated and crying. So I called them to take her to the nursery. The nurse I spoke with made me feel bad for wanting them to take the baby. I really needed that couple hours of sleep, and afterwards I felt great. But it did upset me that they would make me feel bad for trying to take care of myself for a little while. But over all the staff was great in recovery too, and the lactation consultant was great, helpful and understanding.

I delivered my second child at Banner Desert in March of 08 (my first I delivered July of 06 in Utah). The L&D rooms are huge. There was plenty of room for more people than I had there (only my husband was there). I enjoyed my nurse, and she was polite and helpful and helpful at getting my (relatively) easy labor completed. After I delievered they told me I would be moved to the mother/baby unit within 2 hours, although with me it was more like 4 hours. (I also had an aunt deliver there in August in the middle of the night and they didn't move her until the morning- about the aunt thing, my mom is one of the oldest and I am her oldest child, yes a little weird, but nontheless, it is fun! My aunt is older than me). Once I moved upstairs, the rooms are very small. My husband could have stayed the night if had of wanted too, but it wouldn't have been very comfortable. There was room for visitors, but not very many at one time. The nurses upsatirs were quite nice also. I did prefer my daytime nurse to the nighttime one, but it could have been because I was more awake during the day. Congratulations on your newest addition!! Good luck and I hope that this helps!

I can't give you personal testimony, as we do homebirth, but a friend of mine delivered at Banner Desert and was very pleased with the experience and the nurses. She just asked for a nurse who favored natural birth and got great support.