Hi E.. I am not sure what area you are referring to but if it is DC I can help a little. Okay first you do not want to have your baby at Howard or Providence. I had children at both and I would not recommend them to anyone. Hospital Center is a really good hospital and their birthing rooms are really nice. They give tours etc along with birthing classes. So I would recommend finding a doctor who can deliver there. Now in Maryland my SIL and best friend had babies at Holy Cross. It would not be my first choice as the birthing rooms, and nurses weren't that great but neither one of them had a bad experience. You should look for a hospital that is family friendly. It sounds like that would be a given but not always. Ask questions about their policy for the delivery; number of people allowed in room, cameras/no cameras, number of nurses on staff at anyone time stuff like. oh also alot of hospitals let the baby stay with you the whole time you're there but not all of them, so if that's important to you check on that also. If you plan to nurse ask them about that. I told them that I was going to nurse and did not want the baby given bottles, everytime I turned around they were giving them bottles ( it makes getting them to latch on harder). I hope this helps.
