Where to Deliver? Downtown Harris Methodist or New Baylor Saints Downtown?

Not that you are expecting complications, but Harris is connected to Children's. So if the baby needs any special care it's easy to take them right there.
Harris is also better equipped to care for newborns with issues.
We had preemie twins at Harris and we had friends who delivered a micro preemie (under 1 pound) at Harris, the baby was immediately transferred to Children's. I cannot say enough good things about the care all 3 children received.

To be fair, i don't know anything about BAS... but I should mention that my husband was a Baylor employee (Baylor in downtown Dallas).

2 of my 3 deliveries were at Harris Downtown, the other was at Medical City. I LOVE Harris and will never go anywhere else again. With both pregnancies we had preterm labor among other complications. They were all born early and had to do NICU time. The 2nd was twins and the specialists were amazing. I remember having the same nurses over and over again there. I kinda of liked having to go to triage 1st just so I knew everything was ok immidiately. My last delivery I went into labor at 1:30am and when we got to Harris at 3 I was complete. Since I'd had 2 c-sections already this was of course going to be another. They were going to let me go ahead and deliver since I was complete and 2 days before baby had been head down and everything. Having to go to triage 1st I was carefully monitored and my son was having decels. Turned into and emergency c-section..he was not only breach but cord around the neck x's 2. Had I delivered vaginally it's very unlikley he would have survived. I have no doubt the triage nurses played a huge part in our happy ending.
The NICU and lactation program is amazing as well. The lactation support were extremely helpful to me..my 1st born at Med City was horrible. I would suggest touring both and seeing what you think will work best for you : )

I have friends that work at All Saints some times (they normally work with me at Baylor Grapevine - but float over there sometimes) - they report it is a beautiful state of the art facility however - I don't know what Harris does - but Andrews Women's Center has separate nurses for mom and baby - and not all of the nurses are lacatation educated well enough to help you. At Grapevine we do couplet care and are all breastfeeding educated to help our moms and babies. My friend was in the nursery at All Saints and she was pulled out a lot to help with bf. Tour the facility and ask questions!!! I do know they were full last weekend - so lot of ladies are choosing to go there!! Hopefully you will get some feedback from some ladies here who have gone there.

Funny you should be asking this....I had the same conversation with my OB & nurse last Friday. I have the opportunity to have my baby at Harris downtown, or All Saints. I'm a high risk patient so my perinatologist can deliver at both. Anyway, I asked my OB & nurse which hospital has better in terms of care. They agreed that both were about the same. Then I asked which had the nicer delivery rooms and in unison, they both said All Saints! All Saints it is!!!!! GL & congrats!! Let us know where you deliver at when you do! My baby isn't due until May so I have a while!

Baylor All Saints new Andrews center looks very glitzy and new. They have some wonderful new gadgets. When you get down to what makes your stay great however you want to look beneath the surface. Ask your Dr which staff they prefer to work with. The typically prefer the more experienced staff members that are sharp on thier skills. Most hospitals have 8 hour postpartum shifts, some have 12, but if you love your nurse you will want her to stay for at least 3 days. On the other hand if you get a nurse that you just don't communicate with 6 hours would seem too long. Lactation at Harris is excellent and the nursery will work with you, for all of thier updates the nursery at Andrews is struggling to change thier policies to be as lactation friendly. The new rooms at Harris are more comfortable for the dads and I think the food is pretty comparable in both places, hospital style. We can always eat good food, but getting good care is another story.
I hope this is helpful.
K. @ The Nestingplace

I had my 8 year old at Harris and was treated very well. The nurses were great and very attentive to anything my baby and I needed. I recommend it highly. I know very little about Baylor so can't comment on that.

I may be a little partial (I am a NICU nurse at Baylor All Saints), but here is my opinion on the two hospitals. A lot of things I will tell you I have learned from the Harris nurses that have come to work at BASH since the new Andrews Women's hospital has opened last spring.

L&D - Since the remodel, BASH has much better rooms than Harris. Each room has a Murphy bed for the father to sleep in, flat panel TV’s, a privacy curtain so if something happens you don't have to kick the visitors to the hall for privacy. The food is okay, but it's still hospital food. You can always bring in food after the birth. Everyone has to come in through triage. The only times you get to skip triage is if you come in for a scheduled c-section or induction, then you go directly to a room.

Nursing - Both hospitals have 12-hour shifts 7a-7p. The perception may be that there is a revolving door of nurses in or out, but the shift times are the same.

Dr's - Most of the same dr's deliver at both hospitals. A lot of the docs from Harris have started to deliver at BASH because of the nice new digs.

NICU - BASH has just tripled the size of the NICU. We offer the same level of care as Harris, we send babies to Cooks if we don't have the facility to care for them just like Harris does. The same transport team comes to BASH to pick up the babies as Harris does to go to Cooks. The same neonatology group staffs the NICU at Harris, BASH, and Cooks.

I don't know if this addressed all of your concerns, but I hope this helped a little. Feel free to email me if you have any more questions.

L. Robb, RN

First thing is to check with your doctors office to make sure that he/she still delivers at both b/c alot of doctors have privleges at several hospitals but will only or prefers to deliver at a specific one.I've only delivered at Baylor Grapevine but my sister just delivered her baby at Baylor yesterday and the staff was great, she had a few complications and they kept us informed about everything that we needed to know, but the room she is staying in didn't seem to have room for her husband to sleep (it had a small chair and a bench). My friend delivered at HMFW and Baylor (both before both of the hospital remodeled) and preferred Baylor. Both are really nice hospitals but if I had to do it again I would choose Baylor All Saints. Hope this helps.

I delivered my son at Baylor All Saints downtown in January. I also delivered my daughter there almost 12 years ago. I loved it then and I loved it even more this time. They have done alot of upgrades and everyone was remarkable and went out of their way for me. I have not experienced Harris Methodist, so I can't comment on them.

T.

C.,
Why does it look like you are going to have a c-section? If you had a vaginal birth before, there should be no reason to have a c-section. It takes more time to recover from a c-section than a vaginal birth. Don't do it if you don't absolutely have to. Because you want to deliver early or your doctor wants you to is not a reason to go through something that traumatic for your body and your baby. Most c-setions are not necessary.Consider what I have told you and research it for yourself. C-sections make the doctors more money. Be aware. Good luuck and many blessings.

Hi C.,
The new hospital is Andrews's Hospital. I think it is a beautiful hospital. I am planning on having my baby there in May. One of the labor and delivery nurse said they have a no VBAC policy at Andrew's Hospital. Of course, check with your doctor to be sure. I would love to have a VBAC but have already had 2 c-sections. The new hospital has great parking and beautiful rooms. Nice area for dad's to stay in as well.
You've got to tour the hospital. Very impressive.

Hi C.,

Congratulations! I am also going for my VBAC in December. I joined the ICAN International Ceserean Network here in North Texas. The website has lots of information about C-section and VBAC. Also, the women in the group helped me to choose a health care provider and can answer any questions you may have about birth, c-sections and the risks.

Having a doula raises your chances of having a VBAC. My doula is Camron Dearing. If you want to contact her, just email me. She is awesome and has had a VBAC as well. I think she had her VBAC at Baylor Dallas with Lindsey Stevens Certified Nurse Midwife.

Please feel free to contact me anytime for questions!

Praying for your VBAC,
S.

I am sure you are inaundated with responses but heres my two cents...I delivered #3 at HMFW and HATED it. I had such pleasant experiences with my girls and this one was so unpleasant-I do have to say though, I had him on a holiday weekend(Labor Day) and so the nurses were not the greatest. My BF is a nurse at another hospital, not on my ins., and she said that the nurses with the most experience were probably on vacation for the holiday so I got who I got. There were language barrier issues and incompetence issues-it was difficult and unpleasant the whole time, I couldn't wait to go home. I don't know if you will have to worry about this but I just wanted to share my experience. HTH

A friend of mine just had a VBAC baby at Baylor downtown a few months ago. Their maternity wing is brand new and there is a twin size pull down bed in the rooms that appeared to be at least more comfortable and roomy than a fold out chair that most rooms have. I would check it out. They had a wonderful experience.

I had all five children at Harris downtown and would never recommend anywhere else. I understand the need for comfort for your hubby and good food but really, you're only going to be there 48 hours at the most. Isn't it more important to go where your baby will be better cared for. That is Harris. Of course, since I haven't been anywhere else, I have to through in my sister-in-law's experience at All Saints. She had four of five at Harris and her last at AA and it was awful. They told her that he had a heart murmur (which I am told be my pediatrician some babies do have and its normal) and kept him in ICU for 6 WEEKS, and told her that she had to go home. Turns out, he was fine but after that had several attachment issues bc he couldn't bond with him mother at birth. So.... my suggestion would be Harris. The nurses are great and work on 12 hour shifts. The nursery is not open for security reasons and I'm completely okay with that. It's all about the baby, not the visitors. Good luck with your delivery... hope all goes well!

I delivered my last baby a couple months before the new Baylor opened. There is still a revolving door on nursing shifts, the food still sucks, and the remodeling did not improve much. I delivered all three of my kiddos at HMFW and the only change between the time that I delivered my 5 year old and my baby is that now you are guaranteed your own room and they have flat pannel tvs in the rooms. Other than that, I have not seen how the remodeling has changed.

I saw a news report on tv when the Baylor women's center opened and it looked AWESOME. They had pull down beds for the hubbys that were a little bigger looking and comfy looking than the fold down couches that are still at HMFW. They had wireless connections, etc. and from what they showed on the tv, the room in general looked more like a swanky hotel room than a hospital room.

Whatever way you choose, good luck and congrats!!

I LOVE Harris!!!!!!!!!!!

I did my LDR all in the same room at Baylor of SW Ft worth and loved it. I did have a different nurse every 12 hrs but thats because of the shifts but they are from 7a-7p and the nurse who I had at 7a was there the whole time and was wonderful and she was there when I delivered my son and was there till 3 hrs later. I also enjoyed the knowledge of the lactation nurses since this was our 1st child and they made both my husband and I more at ease since we were trying to rush and started to panic that I wouldn't be able to breastfeed. My husband had a petty confortable bed that was a chair in the day and they brought him pillows and blankets and made him feel just as comfortable as I was. However we did take our own since we didn't know. Our room had its own personal thermostate, so I wasn't freezing since we delivered on DEc 29th 2007. If we are blessed to have a second we'll be going back so long as the insurance covers it. Good luck with the VBAC, I hope it works instead of another C-section. Congrates on the baby girl!!!

I love Harris downtown. They are so helpful including the lactation consultants. They actually have a store downstairs and are even helpful after you leave the hospital. I had my first baby there and plan to have my second baby there in Nov. All of the staff is great. The food is good and the rooms are nice and big. I know in the birthing room they even have a bathtub in each room. I too had a c-section and that staff was great so was the anesteologist. He was very nice and calming. I know that Harris is a really good hospital for the newborns as well. They are right next to Cooks in case your baby needs additional help. Harris is awesome and I highly recommend it!!!!!! Good luck to you.

C.,
I will be delivering at Baylor All Saints-St Andrews Hospital this Wednesday..and all I can say is go and take a tour and you are going to just fall in love. THe L&D rooms are HUGE..with a totally seperate area for your family to wait in the room but with a curtain...their area and yours has a flat screen tv...it is so nice. You mentioned the bed..yes, they have a pull down bed from the wall for your hubby that is a real bed. The whole place is beautiful and they really seem to focus on the needs of the woman...I have never been to the other hospital that you've mentioned. Good Luck!

I delivered my son at Harris 3 years ago and my daughter at Baylor last month. I had a great experience with both, but your complaints of Harris are still true at Baylor. The nurses still change shifts quite frequently. You still have to go to triage first. The food is still hospital food. Although here are some things I liked at Baylor. The parking garage is free to everyone, so your visitors dont have to pay. The nursery windows are open instead of closed like Harris. As far as Dad goes, they have a bed that pulls down from the wall as opposed to the shelf at Harris. I know Harrris has remodeled so they may have fixed that problem.
I don't know anything about the other special facilities because we did not need them this time, but the NICU at Harris was absolutely WONDERFUL.

I had a baby boy in March at Harris Downtown. I also could deliver at either hospital. Toured both. If you don't want triage, got to Baylor. Harris will have you in triage. Both places looked uncomfy for the hubby. Harris is better if you plan to breastfeed, as they have a Breastfeeding resource center right in the hospital. (Baylor doesn't far as I know). The resource center was very helpful to me-I rented a pump, cause I had problems w/engorgement and baby not latching on. Of course you can always go to the center even if you deliver at Baylor. Overall, Harris was good.

I just had my baby at Baylor Grapevine, and had a WONDERFUL experience. I had to have a csection too. If I had to choose between these two, I would pick Baylor. Everytime I ever had to go to the hospital for anything I always went to a Baylor facility. Definitely take a tour of both. Good luck! I hope you have a safe delivery and a great, memorable experience at whatever hospital you choose.

I had both of children at harris and they were so nice to me and very accomidating of my needs being a first time mommy they were very helpful. I can say this about baylor that i was not pleased with a friend of mine had her daughter at baylor and she said the whole time she stayed the nurses were very rude and took almost 2-3 hours from when she asked to bring her daughter. I just feel baylor is not very attentive to a mothers needs especially when its your first child.

Wow! What a great mommy you are to be working toward a VBAC. VB is sooo much healthier for you and your baby than CS. Both of these hospitals will be a challenge for a successfuly VBAC, but certainly not impossible. The important thing is that you and your OB or MW are on the same page of allowing your body to healthily birth your little one. It is also important for you to be informed about your rights. For some great information on hospitals, birth plans, etc. I would really recommend you look into ICAN - International Ceserean Awareness Network. There is a local chapter here in north Texas.

They both have their pros and cons.
Just remember to take everything you can especially the diapers they are awsome the line on the front turns blue when they are wet. Also your husband can get food when you get food we asked and one person told us he couldn't then we asked someone else and they hooked us up for the rest of our stay. Nurses make or brake your stay. I delivered at both but the Southwest/Hulan ones. The Baylor nurses were nicer and they weren't as crowded so I wasn't shoved out like Harris. However, they switch you to a tiny room after you deliver and none of your guest can fit. And I don't know about the Baylor dt but the southwest one is a learning hospital and I had people in and out all day which is normal for hospital but they would have three people in at a time and when they did my c-section the I felt like a science experiment. If I could have seen what he was talking about I probably would have learned a lot.
I was reading some of the responses and please please don't feel guilty about having to have another c-section you do what is best for you and your baby. You and your doctor know if a v-bac is an option. I wasn't for me, and I still deal with the guilt of it. I think some people aren't made to have babies naturally If it weren't for my doctor my first son and I would have bleed to death. Also the recovery time is so much easier with a planned c-section verses an emergency one. If you are able to have the v-bac I know it sounds stupid but I wish I could have experienced natural cb but it wasn't right for me. Please don't let others make you feel like a bad mom bc you had or are choosing to have a c-sec esspecially if they haven't had to make a decision like that.
I hope that helps. Congrats on your new journy I know you're a mother already but one is not two. But we wouldn't trade them for anything!

I was going to have a VBAC, but ended up with a scheduled c-section. WHen considering the VBAC, I was told that on occasion, emergency c-sections will not be able to be performed as quickly at Harris, compared to Baylor. I delivered at Baylor and had a VERY positive experience and found the nursing staff there so nice. EVERY nurse I had was kind and helpful and not one was rude, or mean. They all seemed to love their jobs, which made my stay so much nicer. I haven't heard of any negative experiences at Baylor, but I have heard of some friends having negative at Harris. I scheduled an appointment with the lactation consultants at HEB, when I was discharged as I love all of the LC at HEB. I delivered my first child at HEB and had a good experience there...my experience was even better at Baylor,

Congratulations!!! It's important to consider that if anything (God-forbid!) goes wrong, you really shouldn't underestimate the importance of a great NICU and the relationship Harris has with Cook Children's. The two facilities work really well together and are right next door to each other. The nursing staff at Harris will take great care of you and your child will be in the best hands nearby--at the hospital when all goes well or at Cook Children's if necessary.

Something I didnt think about was the NICU...I was so fortunate to have delivered at Harris downtown because I had my baby 3 1/2 months early. I was suppossed to have her at the new hospital but gave birth before it was opened. I would definately check into both just in case. The nurses at Harris were caring, wonderful, and amazing. They nursed my precious daughter that was just 2 pounds back to life. It was a very slow and painful process, but when I was pregnant, I didnt even consider that to be an option. So take my advice, see which NICU has to best doctors, what level their NICU is and so on...Ask questions....Good luck..I think both hospitals are wonderful