Hi all! I just moved to Villanova in January and am 33 weeks pregnant. I picked Bryn Mawr Hospital for my delivery but I just toured it and was less than impressed. Has anyone delivered there? How was it? I've heard Lankenau is great. Is it worth changing hospitals so late in my pregnancy or should I just stay the course. If you think I should change can you recommend a Dr who delivers at Lankenau? My current Dr. is Bryn Mawr Women's Health Assoc (Craparo, Burns, Abter, etc). I also don't get the warm and fuzzies from them. Has anyone delivered with this practice?
Any advice you all can give would be great. I'm really starting to get nervous that I made a bad choice.
I had my son at Bryn Mawr hospital about a year and a half ago. It was a terrible experience. After delivery I did not have five minutes alone. I could not get people to stay out of my room. They even woke me up to ask if I wanted cable! I was so desperate for sleep that I had to leave the hospital earlier then planned. They were completely impersonal. They also whisked my son away straight after delivery and washed him and gave him shots without asking. I did not get a chance to hold him or breastfeed right away and I was too exhausted to protest. Find another place while you still have time!
Call the midwives of delaware county. They are an excellent practice. If you are having a normal pregnancy and expect to deliver vaginally you must see them. They are midwives in the sense that they are not doctors but I have never had better care. My first birth was medical intervention hell. My second was calm nice (as it can be) and private. They will help you go naturally if you want to but they will also do an epidural if you need. (I did!) You have the baby at delaware county memorial hospital and that was also a great stay. The staff was nice and I had NO issues with anything during my stay.
The number for the midwives is 610-284-3300. The midwife that delivered me was Amy Nathans, She was awesome! If I ever have another one I will go the same way and I am constantly telling people they should go midwife!
I'm not originally from the area so I don't know much about the hospitals here but a friend of mine delivered at the Abington Hospital and she had a wonderful experience. I've also read good reviews on other doctors there on this site. I hope you find a doctor that you are comfortable with!
I have not delivered at Bryn Mawr but I have a friend who did. She wasn't very impressed with them either. She said that they had to share post delivery rooms; which is not something I wanted to do (this was a couple of years ago so that might have changed now). I delivered at Lankenau and loved. Their nurses were wonderful and you have your own recovery room. The recovery rooms are a little small but they are your own so I didn't care. The delivery rooms are really nice. My doctor was in broomall at mainline health center. Their practice is Lawrence Park Ob/gyn. I don't know if you want to drive that far but I really liked them. They have a man and a woman and both are wonderful. Anyway, take it for what it is worth; since I can't give you first hand advice on Bry Mawr.
I didn't deliver at Bryn Mawr, but did deliver at Lankanau and had a WONDERFUL experience. It was my first child, I had to have a C-section so I was in the hospital five days and didn't want to leave I was being taken such good care of. :) Every nurse was wonderful to me and my Dr's were awesome. I was also breastfeeding and had a lot of trouble at first not knowing what I was doing and they helped me through all of it. My Dr's were high risk Dr's so I don't know if they focus on that or are open to any patients. But I also have other friends that delivered there and loved their Dr's. I would just try to research Dr's at that hospital. Again, I would highly recommend Lankanau!
I delivered my second child at Lankenau in May, and had a great experience. They were working on a new labor and delivery floor during my stay there, so it may be open now. My practice is Women for Women, Drs. Barsoum, Manko and Porcelan are all wonderfully attentive and caring people, I would highly recommend them! Their office is in the hospital, and you can find their contact info on the Lankenau Hospital web site.
I was in a similar situation as you, and received the recommendation for Women for Women from a Labor and Delivery nurse at Lankenau, who told me they were the best group at the hospital, and I am glad I followed her advice!
Good luck!
I had my last two children at Bryn Mawr, and I had a great experience. It was hectic at times b/c I did feel like people were coming in to do different things but that's anywhere. The nurses were great and considerate both times. The only time they came in at night was to give me medicine if needed or take a shift w/the baby etc. I also go to the same practice and I like it there also. It was hard at first b/c I left a practice I was with for 10 years. Here I am pregnant and I didn't know any of the dr's. But I got to know them quickly. I ended up having two different surgeries done by Dr. Burns and felt really comfortable in her care. She also delivered my middle child. She gets mixed reviews from many, in fact a good friend of mine changed practices after meeting w/her b/c she too was expecting the 'warm and fuzzies'. Each doctor treated me well and listened or answered any questions I had or comforted me when needed. And that's the kind of care I look for, others are different. You want to be somewhere where you are comfortable. I heard amazing things about Lanenau, in fact I have a friend who works there & delivered there, if you want me to ask her for recommendations I can. Let me know.
Hi Julie,
I delivered both my girls at Lankenau and loved it. I live 1 hour away from the hospital, but still went there to because of their reputation. The staff was very nice. My daughter, who is now 10, was born at 33 weeks. She had to stay in the NICU for 2 weeks and like I said the staff was wonderful. My other daughter is 6 and was born at 37 weeks. There are two different practices I would recommend. One is Dr. Michael Belden and Dr. Peden(female) was the practice I was with when I delivered Jessica. There are 3 women in that practice. Then there is Dr. McConnell (female) who is wonderful too, she was the doctor on call when I went into labor with Jess. I hope this helps you out. It is never to late to switch. You have to feel good about your doctors and the hospital. Good luck with your decision. Jen Decembrino 35 yr. old SAHM w/ two girls ages 10 and 6. Married 13 years.
I had a friend who delivered at Bryn Mawr and she had a terrible experience. Nobody cared what she wanted or took her seriously. After that I delivered at Pennsylvania Hospital in downtown Philadelphia and it was the best. The doctors and the nurses were amazing. The nurses were knowledgeable and super helpful and I couldn't imagine a better place.
I recommend Dr Porcelan's practice as well! (I go to the Paoli office). I have been going there since I moved here in 2000 and the entire staff is excellent. They have helped me through some tough times (miscarriage, trouble getting pregnant, uncomfortable pregnancy, etc) and continue to be extremely supportive.
I had my daughter at Lankenau and it was really great. I did go into labor on a weekend and was delivered by the on call Dr. who was Maggie Peden. I would recommend her as well. The one thing about Lankenau is that it's a teaching hospital so there were 50-million people in my delivery room. It was great having that much attention and support. I never felt alone! And the food during my stay was pretty good too. :)
My best advice is to be comfortable with your Doctors. You need to be on the same page, and this is YOUR body and YOUR baby so if you are the least bit hesitant, go with your instincts. It doesn't hurt to check out your options, no one is going to be offended...
I delivered my daughter at Bryn Mawr last May and I had a very good experience. No complaints at all!
I was actually with The Birth Center, which is a midwife practice right around the corner from the hospital. Unfortunately, I had to transfer to the hospital for a c-section. Craparo actually did my c-section. I only met her for the first time 30 mins. before my surgergy, and frankly never saw her afterwards since I had a midwife.
The nurses were all very nice, they have two lactation consultants, the rooms are lovely and the security for the babies is state of the art. They were constantly checking on the baby and making sure she was ok. Although there may be better hospitals, you certainly didn't make "a bad choice."
I have heard good and bad stories about every hospital in the area, so keep that in mind if you decide to make a change so late in your pregnancy.
I had always heard good things about it, but when I toured it before my first child, I was not impressed at all! I'd look at other hospitals to find one you like. Good luck!
I delivered my first child at Bryn Mawr 16 months ago. I was less than impressed, but it wasn't horrible. My main complaint is that the nurses were not very helpful at all. I was having problems breastfeeding and was told to call a nurse in every time I tried so they could help, but whenever I did that, they made me feel like I was bothering them. They were not very helpful and basically told me on the first day that if I couldn't get the hang of breastfeeding they would have to give my son formula, which they did. The lactation consultants were more helpful, but they weren't around much so I only saw them once per day. Another complaint, although I was lucky and didn't have this happen to me, is that they do have shared rooms. So, if you deliver during a busy period for them, you may end up having to share your room with someone else. I can't even imagine that, after just giving birth!
I was planning on switching OBs and delivering at Paoli with my second, but things happened quicker than expected and I am now 27 weeks pregnant, still with the same OB and planning on delivering at Bryn Mawr again, only because I never got around to switching and now I feel like it's too late.
I delivered both my boys at Lankenau. One actually 3 yrs ago today! I was very high risk and spent a lot of time there. I also had to deal with Bryn Mawr since they are partners. I feel they were pretty much the same. If it were just the hospital I'd say go with geography. However, since you're not a big fan of your OB then I LOVED my OB. Maybe because he saved my life and my baby.
His name is Dr. Rudolph Laveran, he also works with Dr. Sharon Rudo (who's a tiny little thing that delivered my 3 yr old). He's at Lawrence Park OB/GYN 610-325-1350. They took excellent care of me and I have 2 happy healthy boys now!
Neither Lakenau or Bryn Mawr have 5 star accommodations, they are pretty much the same. Bryn Mawr may be a little better actually. They both have level 3 NICU's (which was important to me).
If you have any other questions I'd be happy to help. Good Luck!
Why not consider the"Bryn Mawr Birth Center"? It is not affiliated with the hospital but has privelages for all its midwifes in case of the need to transfer to the hospital. It is a wonderful homey environment that is very woman and child focused. I have birthed 2 children there and have many friends who have also birthed their children there as well. It is definitely worth a tour and a talk to their staff.
I delivered both my girls at Lankenau due to a personal matter I have with Bryn Mawr. I loved the nurses labor and delivery nurses at Lankenau. The after care was also a very pleasant experience. I also had surgery on my nose at Lankenau too and again was impressed with all the staff. They are consistently friendly and provide great care. My OB is Dr. Scott Bailey and I will NEVER go to another OB/GYN ever again. I feel like I won't get better care anywhere else. The other thing is that I heard 2 separate stories from women who had life threatening conditions and they all said that he saved their lives.
I delivered both my kids at Bryn Mawr, with Bryn Mawr Women's Health Associates. Both times were perfectly fine! Dr. Craparo delivered my dd, and Dr. Burns(yikes!) delivered my ds. I found the nurses to be fine. I think it is more important to be comfortable with you doctor (and then deliver at the hospital where they are affiliated) than to pick a hospital for it's ammenities. It is your and your baby's health that should come first in your decisions.
I had my first daughter at Bryn Mawr Hospital with my doctor's coming from Bryn Mawr Women's Health Assoc. It was the worst experience ever. So much so I switched to Dr. Rudolph Laveran at Lawrence Park OB/GYN 610-325-1350 to deliver my second daughter at Lankenau.
Highlights
Through my whole 9 months no one at Women's Health remembered my name or that I was having a girl or anything. I would have to wait for over an hour to be seen ever time. When I had an appointment they were short and acted like they didn't care.
When my labor stated I called spoke to a rude Craparo who told me that I should come to the hospital. Once there, they said the rooms were over crowed and I was not moving fast enough so they sent me home. Called back two and half hours later saying it was time to come back. They said I was good to stay at home because first babies take a long time. My husband said forget that put me in the car and we went back. I was at 8 cm when I returned! Tried to give me an epidural and ended up paralyzing me from the neck down for 3 hours stopping my labor. When my daughter did arrive, she had swallowed some of the meconime. They cleaned her up and took her away. Rolled her into my room about 2 hours later and my husband looked at her and said she looks a little gray. So they took her back to the nursery and didn't come back for 2 hours. The whole time we are in a panic. Finally someone came in and told us she was in an oxygen tent in the NICU. She stayed there for a week. (Nurses in there were great!) She is fine now but what a day.
So needless to say I switched both hospitals and doctors. I love my new one. Everyone knows who I am and my daughter. I never wait for more than 10 mins in the office. Just the best!