Has Anyone Delivered at Northwestern Memorial Hospital?

You may not get a free diner, but it is the best hospital in Chicago.

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No steak and lobster there!! Very nice nurses and enfamil freebies such as a bag and formula. Private rooms and very flexible check out times.

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M.,
From what I have heard from several friends and doulas, I would not deliver at NW--For the same reasons the MamaSource mothers have said here. I had an awesome experience at RUSH downtown. Women's Health Consultants is the practice. The hospital nurses just won the Magnet award. I had back labor and waited too long to request an epidural (which I did get,) so my experience wasn't perfect. But the staff was awesome. The residents were not intrusive and someone was always with me. One nurse stayed with me for so long (through my back labor)that I asked her how many other patients she had! Lucky for me, I was the only one at that time. I delivered my first at St. Joseph's in Lakeview. It was hell. Everything changed when I got to RUSH. I'm really not exaggerating about how happy I am with them. Good luck!
Amy A S

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Depends on what you're looking for. Prentice is also called "the baby factory". If you are looking for a highly interventive and medicated process where you are treated like a patient that is sick- then go to Prentice. Their induction rate is one of the highest I've ever heard of and they are not natural childbirth friendly. A large number of people that I know that have had their babies there have ended up with c-sections for questionable reasons. I do also know a few people who have succeeded in having wonderful natural births there (after being thoroughly prepared by taking childbirth classes).

I, obviously, am a strong believer in natural childbirth and am a childbirth educator in the area.

Know the statistics for the hospital and caregivers that you choose. These will factor in to your experience.

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Hi M., I delivered via c-section at Prentice (NW) in April and also spent some time in 2 hospitals in Hawaii while pregnant so I can probably give you a good idea of the differences you might experience. I was in Hawaii this past winter visiting my parents in Kona. I was 7 months pregnant and began to experience SEVERE right side pain. I went to the very small hospital in Kona. I was a quite scared because the hospital was so small. My pain was so severe that I started having regular contractions. Long story short, I was airlifted to Kapiolani Womens and Childrens in Honolulu. Without a doubt, the nurses in both hospitals in Hawaii were kinder and more helpful than the nurses at Northwestern. That is not to say the nurses at Prentice were rude by any means but they did not have the "Aloha" spirit that you may be used to. At NW you may have to ask for things that in Hawaii were just given to you. I found the doctors at all the hospitals to be about the same except for one exceptionally kind, sweet and professional doctor in Kona. Also, the rooms at Kapiolani are a bit nicer than at NW but nothing dramatically different. Hope this helps and I hope you have a great delivery.

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I delivered my first child at Prentice in Nov. 2003 and will again this November. My experience was v. positive. I had one intern who mostly supervised and a GREAT birthing nurse. She did all the work while my ob came in to check and then left again. Yes, the hospital is a little old (and thankfully being replaced) but the staff for the most part is great. I had great nurses, esp. on overnights when you really need them. My delivery was uncomplicated, so of course my experience was more positive. Obviously everything will depend on YOUR experiences, and most of my friends have all delivered at Prentice and have had no major complaints. That being said, if something is not going the way you expect or like, don't be afraid to say something! I would recommend that for any hospital you use. Everyone's experiences are different, but don't feel nervous about Prentice. It's a great place to deliver. And since you're on #5, you should be fine. Good luck!

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Mainly, I agree with the person who said that you're bound to get nightmare stories if you ask for them. I've delivered 3 kids at Northwestern (1 set of twins). Yes, it's old. The labor and delivery rooms are quite nice, but the postpartum area is pretty dated. Beyond that, I think it's what you and your care team make of it. I used an OB practice that is very supportive of patient's choices, had a doula and a midwife. At the first delivery, my midwife and I very clearly told the students we didn't want them there and the residents and students were respectful of that. When the twins were born, I didn't mind, especially since the couple of residents/students who came in very respectfully asked if they could stay since they hadn't had an opportunity to observe a twin vaginal delivery without pitocin. Bottom line, work with your doc/midwife and if you can, have a doula with you to help you stick to your plan. As far as steak and lobster, order in or have a friend bring it. Since you're right off Michigan Avenue, there's a lot of options....in fact, my postpartum nurses had a file of menus we could use! Freebies, pretty good...lots of formula and depending on your docs/nurses, someone might be a little more "encouraging" as far as supplementing goes. That said, they back off if that's what you want them to do. Lotsa diapers, especially if you pack up what's in your changing table. Which reminds me, if you like regular baby wipes, bring them. The hospital doesn't use them and instead provides very soft paper towels that you're supposed to wet and use since so many babies are sensitive to the soaps in wipes.

If I were to have any more kids, I'd still go to Northwestern. I have heard great things about the midwives at Swedish Covenant though, if that's convenient to where you live.

Good luck!

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Hello -

I had my first at NWM Prentise Women's Center in Feb. 2006. No Steak and Lobster dinner - but the nurses are the best! And the Dr.'s are some of the best in the Country.

Local takeout is wonderful! Your close to many great restaurants that will deliver (my husband saved me from Hosp. food by bringing in or ordering out for mini-feasts). The nurses station had a collection of menus.

The best thing about my stay - the nurses. They are kind, helpful and will load you up with freebees - - don't be shy about asking for extra diapers, pacifiers, formula, bottles, etc. They'll load you up with everything but linens / baby clothes. I also had the use of a lactation consultant.

While I was thrilled to be a new Mom, the nurses at NWH only made it better - I think the hospital is a good choice.

C.

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After 4 children, don't you know better than to ask about labor & delivery stories?? There are always tons of horror stories, and each time is different--you know that. I delivered my first at Prentice last year and it was fine. It's all in the preparation. Take a tour or the Great Expectations class and really discuss everything with your doctor before. It is a teaching hospital, but I didn't see a single resident the 12 hours I was in labor. I did get lots of freebies and the lactation consultants I had were great. They also have a lactation hotline that was helpful even two weeks after I came home. (It must've worked, cause I'm still breastfeeding at 8 months!) Yes, the building is older, but still comfortable--my worst thing was that the TV in my labor room had no sound---not really a big deal. I think it really comes down to your doctors. The nurses are important too, but they folllow the doctor's lead. My doctors were so hands on and in charge, I wasn't going to be ignored. Good luck with your first delivery on the mainland!

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Hi M., I have three children -- delivered the 1st and 3rd and Rush but the 2nd at Northwestern. My experience at Northwestern wasn't good. I found the nursing staff to be generally unhappy with their jobs and unpleasant with each other and me.

I asked for something to eat after my delivery and was told I had to wait until lunch which was "only in another hour and a half" - that was of course a lifetime for me. I learned later there's a fridge with yogurts and snacks that the nurses can access anytime.

I was also given a sitz bath system - not sure how you spell that - but it's a bag of fluids that you are to hang in the bathroom with a tube and nozzle on the end to rinse your vagina area. I was told to do it was very important to do this 3x a day while in the hospital but when I asked where to hang the bag the nurse(s) couldn't help me. There wasn't anywhere in the bathroom to hang the bag and operate this system. It was very confusing and upsetting.

My doctor normally delivers at Rush but affiliated herself with Northwestern so she can deliver there when a patient requests. Her opinion is that they deliver such a huge volume of babies that it's just by numbers that so many things "fall through the cracks" in labor and delivery.

I wouldn't ever deliver at NW again. Why, when Rush is so close, has a NICU and the nursing staff wins awards every year for being so wonderful.

I truly believe your experience is only going to be as good as the nursing staff.

Good Luck with your decision! You've probably already thought of this but in case not, consider taking a tour of a couple diff. hospitals and as you're walking through, check out the nurses - the look on their faces will tell you a lot.

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Hi M.,

I delivered my daughter August '04 at Prentice. I had a great expereince with the delivery nurses! They were excellent, kind and funny! The nurses when we got to my regular room were hit or miss. Some were awesome, some gruff. Still overall, no complaints.

Unfortunately, my regular OB was not on call that day so I had another Dr. from the practice. She was very rude and unaccomidating. However, that is not the hospitals fault.

I didnt mind the students since there were very few and I do understand they have to learn somewhere.

I liked the private room but I felt the room and bath were dirty. If you find the same problem you just need to talk to someone.

After reading all the other responses I just may consider going to RUSH if I have another baby!

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M.,
I just read what the other people had wrote about Prentice. I had my baby one year ago there and it was wonderful! Everyone was super nice and helpful and caring. I could not get my baby out and my doctor gave me the choice of what I wanted to do... keep pushing, forceps or c-section. The percentages for c-sections in the US have gone way up, not just at Northwestern, though I did not end up having a c-section. Ultimately, it is you and your doctor's choice for a C-Section, it has nothing to do with the hospital.
I had one student doctor come in with a resident while I was in the post-partum room and that was it.
Yes, as others have said the building is older and the new women's hospital will be ready in a year, I'm waiting to have my next one there.
My doctor was awesome and the resident from the hospital was also great. My nurses were even better except that I was there for 3 different shifts. I still keep in contact with one of my post-partum nurses. Who obviously was incredible or I still would not keep in contact with her. Every time I hit my call button, I got service right away.
Yes, I did get the freebies as others said but also no steak and lobster dinner. I think Highland Park hospital actually does that.
One of the most important things to remember is that the medical capabilities are the best around, and in the top rankings in the country, in case something should happen to you or your baby.
I would never consider delivering anywhere else. I have MANY friends who drove from over an hour away to deliver at Northwestern.

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Hi M.,
I delivered in Northwestern (Prentice) and I was happy with it. Yes it's a teaching hospital so you may have a student in your room. But the truth is you're asked if you agree with having student during your labor and delivery.

Students have to learn somehow to become a doctor, yes ? :) I didn't mind it as truthfully at this point into labor I didn't care who is looking LOL.

No steak and lobster there. But if you ask you will get breast pads, breast pump parts for medela, cream for breast, some diapers, samples of formula, simple diaper bag too. So there are some perks to get from Prentice :)
Oh my nurses were very supportive. Lactation consultant was very, very helpful first time around. Second time around another lc was terrible! I knew something was not right and yet she was telling everything was good. I ended up having to hire lc when I came home.

J.

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Hi M.! Well, you won;t be getting a steak and lobster dinner anywhere around here (!) but I delivered my first baby (a boy) in April at Northwestern's Prentice Women's Hospital and I LOVED it. THe building is a little dated (they are building a brand enw gorgeous glass one next door where I plan to have my SECOND baby someday!), but the service is exceptional and the nurses and doctors are all top-notch, I received excellent care there and plan to go back for my second child. As for extras, they gave me a ton of free diapers, snap shirts, and formula, diaper bag, etc, but that stuff isnt' that important to me it's the care I got that made the difference. I was breastfeeding after a c-section and my nurses were EXTREMELY supportive of me, helping me out, giving me tips without being too intrusive, and followed MY desires as to what happened to my baby (rooming in, nursery, no pacfiiers, etc). It has a highest-level neonatal intensive care unit jsut in case, and I also believe I read it's one of the top maternity hospitals in the country. good luck! L.

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I loved Northwestern. I delivered in 2003 and had a great experience. First of all, it isn't so much the hospital, but it's the doctor/midwife that helps make the experience a good one. If you doctor is an idiot, it doesn't matter where you deliver!

I like the fact that it's a teaching hospital...that fact never bothered me. I loved my nurses. Everyone was professional. I had problems breastfeeding, and honestly, the nurses and doctors encouraged me to continue instead of just handing us a bottle. I even wrote my nursing staff a 'thank you' note after I was discharged because I felt so good about my care.

As for the facility, since it seems to be THE place to have a baby--it's busy, and the building is a little dated. So what? A new one is being built currently and will be open in 2007 (I think). One of the mamasource moms suggested that it was "dirty" and that there were "bums" outside the hospital? (I've never seen these things). The hospital is steps away from high end luxury living and shopping. It's a city hospital! It's sad to see that this person was bothered by the homeless.

All in all, you need to take a tour for more information. Everyone is going to have their own experience. However, I'm certain that there are more good than bad ones out there.

Good luck!

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Dear M.,

I don't know about the perks but you better go in to Northwestern with a solid birth plan and the nerve to back it up!! If you want a more natural childbirth I wouldn't pick this place. They are famous for c-sections, epidurals and episiotomies. They are known for handeling difficult births which is probably why they are so gun-ho on procedures other than just letting the woman actually "birth" the child.

I had my daughter at Swedish Covenant Hospital. Unlike Northwestern, Swedish is NOT a teaching hospital so you wont have 17 students standing around you staring at your vagina while you have a contraction. They were respectful, the rooms were great and they did a terrific and professional job.

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Hi M.,
My OB at Northwestern Prentice was absolutely great. However, before she arrived there were a bunch of residents (doctors in training)poking at me. The worst part was when a resident was trying to use this gadget to induce labor (ironically it was called the E.Z.). The resident was inexperienced ... she did not know how to use it. And, she would not give up even after five attempts. It was so painful - it felt like torture. So you may want to mention that you want the student doctors time with you to be limited to simpler tasks. Hope this advice helps.

If I ever have another baby, I'm going to Hawaii. There are no perks here.
D.

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