Hospital - Pittsburgh,PA

Hi E.,

Honestly, I have heard the same things, and I am always surprised. My experiences at Magee were WONDERFUL.

I was actually hospitalized for asthma complications in my 39th week, and was back 3 weeks later for what ended up to be several days due to an unplanned c-section.

Both experiences were very positive. I felt very well cared for and the security at Magee is top notch.

Additionally, while I hoped I wouldn't need them, I know that Magee is THE place to be if something should go wrong, and for me that meant a lot.

Not sure this is really what you are looking for, but thought I could maybe present the other end of the spectrum.

C.

I delivered at magee 2 years ago and will be delivering there again in september, and am fine with it. I had a good experience, and my husband (who works at children's hospital and sees a lot of sick sick children) likes how they take charge and are ready for anything, if there is a need. A lot of women, like my sister, first delivered at magee and then another hospital (because of change in insurance)and may prefer the other hospital. She and her husband said it everything was more calm and laid back, but I'd rather have someone else advising me and being prepared-her dr. almost wasn't there in time.
good luck!

Hi E.. I had both of my kids at forbes and was very very happy with the nurses and the hospital. When I was pregnant with my son who just turned one, the maternity ward was getting totally revamped. It was finished one week before I went into labor. I loved that I was able to stay in one room for everything and the room was huge. I have a large extended family and we all fit comfortably. Beautiful room with hardwood floors and flat panel tvs. It felt more like a hotel room then a cold sterile hospital room. The doctors and staff were amazing. They treated my husband so well and were concerned about him as well as me. We went in around 3 am and after a few hours the nurses offered my husband snacks from their personal stash!!! Take a tour and make it your call but I loved it

My cousin delivered in Forbes but that was several years ago (her youngest is almost 6). I delivered my youngest child (almost 10 months old) at Magee. He was a planned c-section. My previous 2 had been delivered at Shadyside Hospital before UPMC consolidated the Labor and Delivery departments to Magee. I had a wonderful experience at Magee. There are a few things to remember if you decide to go there. The nurses carry hospital phones on them. Make sure you get the extension of your nurse for each shift. On the few occasions I didn't have it and had to call the nurse's station, it took quite a while for them to give my nurse the message if they gave it to her. The nurse's are pretty much on top of things (other than relaying messages from the nurse's station). I liked the doctor's I saw as well.

Another option depending on your insurance is West Penn Hospital. My sister-in-law delivered there (and works there). She had a good experience with their Labor and Delivery.

Good luck with your new little one.

Hi E.. Before I had my kids I had heard the same things about Magee being a baby factory and you are treated like a number etc, but I had no choice because my doctor only delivered there and I refused to switch doctors over hospital privliges. Like you I also live very close to Forbes (Trafford just across a bridge from the east end of Monroeville)and knew a number of people who deliverd there and loved it so I was a little apprehensive. I absolutely LOVED it. I would never use a different hospital. The nurses were wonderful and the food is good, the rooms are very nice the comfort of knowing that they can take care of any emergency with mother or baby is so comforting. I had gestationsl diabetes with my first and high blood pressure with my second and I knew they could handle anything that happened. Please don't worry about the hospital. I don't know anyone who has anything bad to say about it except the women who never delivered there and went to Forbes instead. If you're interested contact me and I can teach you alternate routes to Magee besides the parkway east incase it's rush hour. That was my only real concern with my second and it did happen.

I have had two babies at Magee, and would go there again.

I think it probably depends on the experience you want. I had 3 munchkins at Magee between 2003-2007. They were completely different experiences, but they turned out just fine. Magee's Labor and Delivery is a big operation so there are pros and cons to that. They do have many policies for just about everything. The nurses tend to do their thing as usual, but if you speak up and talk with your doctor about your wishes (ahead of time as well as while there!), there may be exceptions or alternatives that the nurses aren't necessarily offering openly. I found that it's important to make sure your doctor is going to be on your team and advocate for you if you have specific wishes.

On the flip side, they are extremely well equipped and handle emergencies both with mom and baby.

The rooms are fine - not as homey as a midwife center but not super sterile hospital either. It can get noisy at night, but I'd imagine that could be true anywhere. We always left asap -- never understood the folks that recommended drawing your stay out as long as possible. We always rested better at home even with all of the munchkins.

Good Luck

I had my second 2 children at Magee (the 1st was born in Erie) and I didn't have any complaints about Magee. But, I also have a little insight because I'm a hospital pharmacist and can see nurses running around doing 50 things and realize how busy they can be. Maybe some of the negative things you've heard are about the nursing staff. With this being your second child, make sure (wherever you go) that your needs are still being met by speaking up (politely, of course). I've had a couple of OB nurses tell me that they pay more attention to 1st time moms because they're the ones that can be so overwhelmed. My friend delivered both her girls at Forbes and didn't have any complaints, either, so make your choice based on convenience and/or where your doctor feels is better. Good luck, and congratulations on your growing family!

I have had both of my children at Forbes. My first was born 13 years ago and my second was born 9 months ago. I truly would not have had them anywhere but Forbes. Honestly i know a few people that have had their babies at Magee and I wouldn't go there. My friend had a baby there in May and it was really bad for her. She even wrote a letter to the head of the hospital complaining of everything that went wrong. I had fantastic experiences at Forbes both times. They could not have been nicer there. I could truly go on and on about Forbes...if you live in Monroeville...I say go to Forbes.

E.,

I delivered my first baby at Magee in October. I didn't have any problems. We thought everyone there was very friendly and kind. I cannot say a bad thing about Magee. Best of luck to you!

Hi E.! Welcome to the area! I too am from another state. I had all my kids before we moved here, so I really can't say much about Magee...a friend of mine had a baby there a little over a year ago and didn't have any problems. I have however used Forbes many many times in the years since we've moved here and have found it to be a great little hospital and medical community. I've been a patient there and the nurses and staff doctors were great. I've taken my kids there for x-rays and have used their Er, labs, and diabetic center as well. I've never had a problem or complaint with their care or staff at anytime. It is my first choice in hospitals in this area. Hope this helps. Good luck and Congrats!!

I worked at forbes for almost 2 years and was there when they changed from a medocre L&D unit to an awesome state of the art facility. I know a lot of people that delivered at both places and have found that most prefered Forbes while many did not care for Magee.
Hope this helps and good luck.

Hi E.,

My name is D.. I am a SAHM of a very active 18 mo old girl and I delivered at Magee. The experience was a positive one on the hospital side of things. And if my husband and I ever decide to have another one I would prefer to deliver there. I liked how they were equipped to handle anything and also how close they were to children's hospital if anything happened that they couldn't handle. I also liked how they let my husband and I to be with the baby at all times. my email is ____@____.com and I live about 20 minutes from monroeville if you ever just want to talk. I don't know if you know anyone in the area or not. Good luck with whatever you decide.

Forbes is great -- and Magee is a haul from Monroeville if you're having contractions 3 minutes apart! Magee is known to be a baby factory but really a lot depends on your care provider. I have had one terrible and one amazing birth experience at Magee.

Hi E.,

I had heard a lot of negative things about Magee when we were making our 'hospital to deliver in' choice. We had initially chosen Mercy hospital. But unfortunately I had a lot of complications during the pregnancy, so it was recommened I deliver at Magee. I had a wonderful experience there! The staff was amazing. Very attentive during labor and delivery - and the couple days following. I haven't heard anything about Forbes, but wanted to let you know that I was very pleased with Magee. I don't know if things were different because I was high risk or not, but even after it was determined that everything was fine, the care did not change. I hope that helps :)

~B.
PS - the turkey and stuffing was really good too!

E.,

I can tell you from experience that Magee is definately better than Forbes. I had my first baby at Forbes and second at Magee. Magee is sooo much cleaner, staff is nicer overall a better birthing center. I will be delivering my 3rd at Magee in the next few weeks, I live in N. Versailles which is close to you and the trip to Oakland is well worth it in my opinion. Good Luck!!!

D. T

Hi E.! Welcome to Pittsburgh!
As far as your question about Magee, I had both my Daughters there and couldnt imagine having them anywhere else! Magee is A GREAT hospital I dont know who youve been talking to but every Mother I know in the Phg area wouldnt dream of having there baby anywhere else (atleast all of my friends feel that way). Plus It is a Womans Hospital so that right there should make you feel a little bit more comfortable. And as for the nurses there, WOW they are the sweetest, kindest most caring nurses Ive ever come accross! I have a 4 month old so It wasnt too long ago that I was theere and I remember i didnt want to leave! They are so kind, thoughtfull and they help you tremendously! And I think my favorite thing about Delivering at Magee with my second child was they redecorated and the labor and delivery suite is so nice and comfortable! Its like giving birth in you livingroom (well with the hospital setting of course!!) And at Forbes you labor in a small room then when your ready to deliver they take you into a steril "operating"type room that from what I hear is "cold" and 'unwelcoming".
Well I hope this helps you in maikng your decision also I suggest going to both hospitals before you choose and they will give you a "tour" of the rooms youll be in and what will happen theyll show you the nursery. Maybe seeing will help you feel more comfortable in your decision as well instead of going off of what others say, because in the end your the one who needs to be happy with your choice, it will affect you and your family not those people who are telling you negative things!
All the best and GOOD LUCK!
J.
and if you would like someone in the pgh area to talk to about anything you are more than welcome to enail me any time!! ____@____.com or ____@____.com

I'm just going to echo all the good things about Magee. I delivered with their midwives (whom I love), and my experience was great! My son had to go to the NICU for a few hours, and Magee is where you want to be if your child needs such care (which I certainly hope s/he doesn't). That I was right there was a huge comfort.
Congratulations and good luck.

E.,
First off congrats on your impending birth and welcome to the area. I have not delivered at either hospital so i can't comment on that part... sorry.
But what i can say is that going to each hospitla and doing a Labor and Delivery tour is your best bet. I did it when i delivered both of my girls (at two different places) and was very happy i did so. Not only does it give you an idea of what the hospital and staff are like, it also helps give you a lay of the land so your not confused when you get there and your in labor. Good Luck.

I delivered at Magee last year and had a wonderful experience. I felt that the rooms were very big and clean, the staff was friendly and helpful, and the food was excellent! I would definitely recommend this hospital to anyone I know and I plan to have all of my future children delivered there.

Hi E.,

You would be very happy with Forbes - they have a brand new, wonderful, state of the art maternity section. My suggestion is that you call the hospital and ask for a tour. They aslo do a great series of age appropriated classes for siblings of new borns. Hope you have a great experience...good luck...everything will work out just fine.
D.

Both Facilities are going to have good days and hectic or off days and they will never fit everyones expectations.

That said -- I was told long time ago forget the bedside manner you want the Drs. with the grades and the equipment.

Magee and West Penn are both AAA class neonatal facilities.
If I were delivering I want to be in a facility that can handle the extremest of extreme emergencies.

Forbes might be pretty, feel nice but does not meet the grade. Just my two cents.

I delivered all three of my children at West Penn prior to the merger with Forbes.

Ya know, the is a birthing center in the Strip to also consider. :)

I will echo what the other moms have said-- Magee does have a bit of a "factory" feel to it, but if something goes wrong (God forbid) it is the place to be. I personally loved Magee-- great food, beautiful rooms, nice nurses,etc. Oh, and use the nursery-- get some sleep while you can. Seriously. :-)

I've delivered at both Magee and at Forbes. I had a much better experience at Forbes. The nurses on the Labor and Delivery floor were wonderful at Forbes. East Suburban OB Gyn is a wonderful group of doctors that will deliver at Forbes. They also have an office right there at the hospital too. Good luck with everything!

I delivered both of my children at Magee and would not go anywhere else. Other hospitals might be okay with routine deliveries but if any complications arise Magee is equipped and ready to handle them. I would not leave anything to chance.

Best of luck!