Which Chicago Hospital Do You Recommend?

Hi L.,
I love Northwestern Memorial Physicians Group at 680 N. Lakeshore Drive, #810. I am registered with Dr. Tim Garvey but they have a team of 7 doctors (all wonderful), and a team of midwives.
I also had a great experience at Rush, with my former OB-GYN Dr. Lisa Oldham of Women's Health Consultants but she no longer delivers babies (so I switched back to Northwestern).
Good luck!
A.

I had my now 2 year-old daughter at Advocate Illinios Masonic and my ob/gyn was Silvia Bicalho MD. I would highly recommend both the hospital and the MD. I had a great birth experience there. They had just re-done the L&D and mother-baby area and really everything was great. I couldn't have been happier. Also my doctor was fantastic, she always took time to discuss questions I had.

L.,
I absolutely whole-heartedly recommend RUSH hospital. The practice I go to is Women's Health Consultants. ###-###-####.
The nurses won the Magnet Award (a big deal) and I did not feel that the residents or interns were intrusive. Truth be told, I don't think there is really any privacy anywhere during delivery. You will only have surgery if you need it. They promised me this and it turned out to be true. I had a vbac and the entire experience changed my life tremendously. Also, one of their partners just left U of C. He doesn't deliver anymore, but is a very famous ultrasound expert, I'm told. His name is Jacques Abramowicz. 'Just wondering if you knew him from U of C.
Also, I had a HORRENDOUS experience delivering my first at St. Joe's in Lakeview.
Good luck.
Amy

Consider one of the midwife groups out of West Suburban Hospital in Oak Park. I'm pregnant now and find they can spend much more time speaking with me and that I have much more control over what interventions will be used in delivery. My group, West Suburban Midwife Associates, delivers out of the Alternative Birthing Center at WSH, which offers large family beds, real lactation help, choice of laboring positions, options of tubs and showers during labor and the option of water birth.

I had my first child at one of the best hospitals in the country, the National Naval Hospital in Bethesda, Md, but I think best often means a high level of intervention - constant fetal monitoring, no food/drink, episiotomy, forceps, epidural (when I wasn't even in that much pain!) I felt railroaded by all of their knowledge and experience and I really didn't want to go that way this time.

I also suggest you check out some hospital tours and maybe do some consulting visits with midwives and obs -- remember: what's great for others might not be the best for you.

Good luck.

Hi L.,

I had a really good experience with my OB's, Dr. Davies and Dr. Colgrove at Rush Hospital. I had my first baby 6 mos ago and in general, I was really pleased with the care I received from my doctors and from the hospital. I switched doctors mid-pregnancy because I did not like my first OB, so I am somewhat picky. The things I liked about my doctors are that they were open to answering all of my questions, they seemed really up to date on the recent research, and they welcomed calls outside of the office when I had problems with my pregnancy. They also have an ultrasound in their office, so I got to see my little one a lot, which was fun.

The best part about delivering at Rush was the nursing staff. They were truly excellent. I breastfed my baby in my private room, either in the chair they provided or the bed. I also met with multiple lactation specialists when I was staying there.

Good luck with your decision!

Well, I thought I loved my ob/gyne (now at Swedish Covenant) but after the birth of my twins I can tell you I don't think she provided the best care and the hospital was BELOW par. So stay away from that one. Every hospital will have good/bad qualities. My advice, get to the doctor early and keep a few other doctors on hand because if you decide during your pregnancy you don't like him/her, switch if you can. Also, ask 101 questions about the hospital/doctor and be firm and do the tours. Good luck!

L.:
Write back to me privately if you would like. Where in chicago do you live? I am a labor support doula and have worked many hospitals in the area but we need to narrow down north, south, east or west side of chicago first. U of C is very old and I don't feel the best for L&D or postpartum.

Unless you are considered high-risk, I recommend going with midwives. If you don't know if you're high-risk- midwives will let you know! OBs are great if you are not normal but will interfere and can cause more problems if you are (most of us are normal!)

West Suburban has a fantastic reputation for natural birth.
Swedish also has a good reputation
Evanston and Highland Park Hospitals
UIC is getting to have a good reputation as well

Good for you to be looking now to find a better situation. It's great to see you taking responsibility for your birth!

Hi L. -

Let me second (third/fourth!) the Women's Health Consultants practice at Rush. I am due next week (!!) and have been very happy with my care there. We were originially seeing doctors at Northwestern last year for prenatal counseling, etc., and we just were not happy. We felt like that hospital was unfriendly, especially the support staff in the offices, and we disliked having to go from building to building for different tests/procedures. Our experience at Rush has been very warm and friendly.

Good luck!

C.

L.-
I highly recommend Northwestern (Prentice) to deliver. I lived downtown when I got pregnant and have now moved and will still use go there next time. In fact the new Prentice Womens Hospital will be opening this spring 2007 and it will be a plush top notch place to deliver at.
My OB Group is fantastic. www.northwesternobgyn.com Phone ###-###-#### 680 N. Lake Shore Drive Suite 1200, there is very easy parking and it is discounted.
I see Dr. Marc Feldstein but like everyone in the practice. I had a high risk pregnancy (twins) and they took really good care of me. I have 3 freinds that go to this practice as well all who are very happy there, they see Dr. Abby Roth. Goodluck.
K. Quarta

Hi L.,

I recommend Prentice Women's Hospital, it's at 300 East Superior in downtown Chicago and it's part of Northwestern Memorial Hospital. My OB/GYN was also wonderful, however, I have since heard that he gave up his practice due to the extremely high insurance rates.

I can recommend Dr. Abbie Roth, her office is at 680 North Lake Shore Drive, Suite 1200 and her office number is ###-###-####.

Sincerely,

J. Penfield
Stayin Home and Lovin It!
www.juliepenfield.com
###-###-####

We recently delivered at Swedish Covenant and LOVED LOVED LOVED it. Our son was premature and he was in the the NICU there for just about 3 weeks, so we spent a lot of time in the L&D part of the hospital. (Not to mention that we were there 5 days before they induced me so we got to meet many of their nurses during our stay). We had not had a chance to take our Breastfeeding class or our Birthing Class, and our L&D nurse was so supportive. I have been with my OB since we moved her maybe 9 years ago, and she has switched pratices and hospitals 2 or 3 times due to now having children of her own and working less hours. She is amazing and I would highly recommend her. She just moved into a practice at Swedish so you can get a good feel for the hospital if you go and do a consultative visit with her. Her name is Dr. Maura Brennan ###-###-####

S.

I just delivered last week at Swedish Covenant with the Midwives of Swedish Covenant Medical Associates. It was a great experience. AT the delivery was just my husband, midwife and one nurse. You can use the jacuzzi - and deliver in whatever position works for you. They took lots of time to talk to me during appointments, and were very supportive of my decisions. I have also seen Dr. Maura Brennan and Dr. Teresa Wos part of the Swedish Covenant Medical Associates when I was pregnant 2 years ago at Illinois Masonic. I switched from their practice, which I loved, to one at St. Joe's because I did not want to deliver at IMMC after hearing some horror stories.

I had a good experience at St. Joe's - liked the LDRP rooms, had a good nurse for labor and delivery. But I did find the postpartum nurses a little frustrating. I did enjoy the support of the Maternal educator Ruth Kollums Gross and the Lactation Consultant. Good Luck

NorthWestern hasexcellent care. The telephone # ###-###-####
675 North St. Clair Suite 14-200
www.nmfff.org
This is for high risk mothers, by check them out anyway.

I used the midwives at Swedish Covenent and had an amazingly wonderful experience!! It is not a teaching hospital (unlike UIC, U of C or Northwestern Prentice) so no one is going to come in with 10 24 yr old interns and ask you to spread your legs for them mid-labor. The delivery floor is just for that, very private, comfortable and LOCKED! I had wonderful follow up care from the nurses and my daughter was with me every single second!

But keep in mind what kind of delivery you want. Northwestern and U of C have a reputation for being on the cutting edge of technology so they perform many difficult deliveries. This gives them the mindset of epidurals, episiatomies (sp?) and C-sections as just part of the delivery day. If you want a more natural birth and choose to go to one of these three hospitals (though UIC now has the midwives from U of C after the new hospital president kicked them out 2 yrs ago) make sure you have a doctor that supports your birthing choice and KNOW what you want. I have heard way too many birthing stories from women that went to Northwestern Prentice that were not assertive enough and nurses just pushed them around and told them they HAD to have the episiatomy, drugs etc.

Figure out what you want in your labor first and then do research on the hospitals to find out if you are going to the right place. They all have their c-section, epideural, etc. rates and should give them to you when asked, if not, I'd take that as a red flag. Find out how they measure to the national and state averages (I've seen baby books break this down, I even saw one that is specific to Chicago but I don't remember it's name). If this is your last child, get what you want, not what someone wants you to have because the shift is going to change.

Good Luck,
L.

Palos Community Hospital in Palos Hts., Il is excellent. The L&D ward is excellent, the hospital is not over-crowded and the family environment that they conduct is superb. There is one set back, if you plan on having a tubal ligation or if you have a high-risk pregnancy you likely will not be able to have your baby there.

I recommend Rush University Hospital in Chicago. I had my last baby here and also work here. The nurses on the labor and delivery floor are so sincere and caring, every single one of them, and I think that is important since its the nurses who take care of you the most. I had my first baby at MacNeal in Berwyn, and they were also good, but not all the nurses were nice. At Rush almost every room is single. I had a planned c-section so I didn't see the labor and delivery rooms, but my friend just had her baby here and said they were really nice. They have couches and tvs for your husband and family to relax while you labor. My Dr. was with Rush Associates in Womens Health at 1653 W. Jackson Blvd. Dr. Robin Jones, but every doctor there is nice. Their number is ###-###-####

Hi L.,

Our Ob and our delivery were both at Lutheran General in Park Ridge. Dr's Carson, Webber and Weiss are and all female practice and I can't speak highly enough of them. Their practice is Associates in OB Gyn. I do know Dr Carson has been written up over the years in one of those "Best of the Best" type articles. Dr Webber delivered my daughter and despite the fact that she was about to go in to labor herself, she did a fantastic job. The Resident Dr that assisted and nurses were all very good. I did have one after delivery nurse briefly that I didn't realy care for but I think you'll find that anywhere. I also have friends that have delivered at Northwestern and were happy there. Hope this helps.

I just had my daughter a month ago and had the most positive birthing experience at Illinois Masonic. I saw the midwives rather than an OB through the entire pregnancy and delivered with a midwife in the Alternative Birthing Center. It's a couple of rooms that are more like a hotel room than a hospital. There is a queen size bed, dual head shower, rocking chair, lamp lighting... it's more personal and warm feeling. The midwives and nurses there were all REALLY encouraging, accommodating and caring. I never dreamt that labor and delivery could be so relaxed. I would recommend the midwives and the Alternative Birthing Center at Illinois Masonic to ANYONE!!! It was so wonderful!!!

I am so shocked to read your message. My OBGYN is affliated with UofC. I am in Munster and delivered at Community Hospital in Munster...great hospital! My OBGYN is the best! I can't imagine him agreeing with these practices! Have you written any letters with this information?!?!? I am definitely going to mention this to him and see what he says. He speaks so highly of the university hospital. I know that my sister in law uses an OBGYN out of the hospital in Park Ridge, a few blocks off of 294. She really likes that hospital.

GOOD LUCK!

I gave birth at Uof C last september and had no problems. I know their Triage area can be a bit unfriendly (no support person allowed in if other laboring women are there), but other than that, my experience was ok - the nurses were GREAT. Dr Harth delivered my baby and she was fantastic. She seemed rather flighty when I saw her for my appointments (I only saw her twice before I delivered), but I have only ever heard good things about her.

You might want to bear in mind that UofC is building a new state-of-the-art maternity unit next to the Comer CHildren's Hospital. It is due to open in Spring 2007.

I agree with a couple of the ladies below Rush Hospital Rocks!!as well as the doctors at Women's Health Consulants. They specialize in high risk pregancies as well so you are covered from all angles. I had moved to Chicago when I was 5 months pregnant and Rush and the staff were wonderful. I went in for a scheduled c-section and ended up having an emergency one. They were truely on top of things and the nurses on the maternity floor were wonderful. It is so worth checking into.

Wish you the best.