I was frustrated to find out that the hospital I'm delivering at has only 2 private rooms and the rest are semi-private. Now I'm going to feel super self concious. Everyone I know had their own room...
If you get a semi-private room, are you allowed to keep baby with you all the time? That is the biggest thing for me - I wanted the new baby to be with me the whole time, and I wanted DH to be able to stay with me. With DS, I labored at a hospital that had LDR suites and private postpartum rooms. The suites were great and huge, but the postpartum room (while private) was really small and DH had a really hard time sleeping on the tiny couch they provided him. This time around we're in a different state and I chose to deliver at a hospital 45 minutes away from our house, because it is more baby friendly (i.e. baby stays with you the whole time) and they have private LDRP suites. They also will allow DS to stay with us in the hospital :)
Do you have any other options for hospitals? To me, a private room is really important, but I'm curious to see how other people have done with semi-private.
My Charts
DH Me, and
Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, and faithful in prayer. ~Romans 12:12~
We also had separate LDR and postpartum rooms. We ended up with a private room by chance, though the hospital we deliver at is fairly small and doesn't get much "traffic". Even if we hadn't had a private room, I would have INSISTED on rooming in, no exceptions.
The idea of not having a private room afterward does creep me out a bit, now that I think of it. I can't imagine being in a room with another family. Hopefully we will get lucky again this time.
9/30/2009
1/15/2012
I've delivered at two different hospitals and I've always had a private room. At the 2nd hospital, I didn't even have to change rooms after delivery. The firts hospital had separate delivery and recovery wards ... but all the rooms were private.My biggest issue with a semi-private room would be having to share a bathroom with someone else. This is not something I'd want to do immediately PP.
- 5 years ~ - 3 years ~ - 1 year ~ Brand New!
With ds#1, I had a L&D room that was private and was then moved into a private PP room after delivery.
With ds#2, same thing.
With ds#3, I never had a L&D room because I didn't have labor first, and then my PP room was shared. I hated it. The girl I shared with was on the phone all of the time, arguing with her ex-boyfriend to come down and see the baby (he never did.) Her friends and family came and they were really loud and spent their visits complaining about the ex-boyfriend. I really learned a whole lot more about that situation than I ever wanted to know. My baby did room in with me, and this other woman actually complained about his crying during the night. Seriously?? Her baby cried a lot, too...don't all newborns? Whatever. Luckily, because she had a VB she went home 2 days earlier than I did and so I only had to share for 1 day/1 night. After that, the room was all mine.
With this baby, I have toured the hospital and every single L&D room and PP room is private. Yay!!! I will actually be in L&D for a short amount of time this time because this hospital requires monitoring on L&D before the scheduled c-section. After surgery, I'll go to recovery and then straight up to PP. Labor & Delivery is on one side and Maternity is on the other, so that is nice. Hubby is allowed to stay with me the entire hospital stay if he wants, though he will not be - someone has to take care of our boys...get them to/from school, be home with them at night, etc.
June 13, 2011: BFP on 12dpo! 40 months in the making. chart: http://www.fertilityfriend.com/home/16c283
3 amazing sons, Natalie Grace arrived 2/12/2012 at 2:18 AM. 6 lb 13 oz!
This is my third time, third hospital, all of them have not have private rooms. HOWEVER - with my first, I was there 3 days, 2 nights and I only had to share the room on the third day. It was a little awkward, but it was a HUGE room and we were getting ready to leave anyway... With my second, it was a "shared room", but we didn't have to share at all. This time around, I've heard that typically you don't have to share - only if they have a heavy load. I think that's common - the rooms are not fully private - there's a curtain down the middle - but you won't have to share unless they have a heavy load at the time.
Susan - 30 married to Chris - 32
Catherine Anne born via c-section June 30, 2008
Rebecca Marie born naturally April 18, 2010
John McNary born naturally January 9, 2012
I had DD and will have this one in a smaller-ish hospital, compared to several others in the area. You labor, deliver (except a c-section is done in the OR) and recover in the same room and it is private all the way! There are two wings of rooms and seems fairly large. The rooms aren't huge, but they accommodate nicely, however, DH had trouble sleeping on the uncomfy couch provided. DD stayed with me most of the time, but there is a nursery the baby can go to if you want to rest. After reading the other ladies' posts, I can't imagine having to share a room, especially after hearing some of the women who came and went next door to my room. I think I was really spoiled!
Me (30) DH (31)
(2)
-EDD June 17
Very early (4 weeks 3 days)
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http://tcoyf.com/members/britta/charts/default.aspx
yes, i had a private room that also had a cot for my husband. I agree with the PP that i wouldn't want to share a bathroom with someone immediately postpartum. but also, my entire experience was out of the realm of normal and i wouldn't want someone else in the room when i was making medical decisions for myself and/or my baby. i understand your problem with this.
The hospital I deliver at does not have private rooms, but they all told me over and over that they try very hard to not double book... and they didn't. We had two beds, but DH got to sleep in one, and baby stayed with me the entire time. I hope that's the case for you!
Jennie, 27 DH, 29
My Baby Boy - Matthew born April 6th, 5:52 am 6lbs 15 oz and 19 inches
When I had DD1, all of the rooms at the hospital were private. I'll be at the same hospital this time. I'm glad; I can't imagine sharing a room with someone. Hopefully, you'll end up with a private room!
Johanna DH 10-23-04
I called up the hospital today to verify this room in business and privacy of rooms. No need to really stress out more than I already am. The other person I spoke with must not have known his stuff too well. I have the option of a private room if I choose and baby has the option to room in. Since it's a midwives group, they are affiliated with a hospital that lets the patient be free to choose natural birth and breastfeeding. They also have a birthing jacuzzi, aromatherapy, birthing ball/stool, nurses trained as doulas.
I did, and it hadn't occurred to me until now that there was the option of a shared room. I actually just called to see if all the mother/baby rooms are private at my hospital. They are, thank goodness. Hopefully you don't have to share with anyone.
At the hospital where I delivered, all L&D rooms are private, but PP rooms are shared, unless you pay an additional hefty sum of money (not covered by insurance) to get a private PP room.
Me = 31, DH = 33, together since 2000, married since 2005.
Where I delivered you stayed in the same room you birthed and they are all private.
For my first, there was not an option of a private room. For my second two, private was an option for an additional $300 per night.
I have had the full range of experiences with room sharing. With my first, I ended up in a room with a woman who had an unclassified infection. Seriously. They pretty much had all of infectious disease coming by to visit and to top it off, the woman had just entered the country and they couldn't find an interpreter (I still don't know what language she spoke -- this was NYC, you figure you could find anyone to speak anything, right?) Anyway, though I found the experience horrifying, I felt powerless to do anything about it. In retrospect, I should have gotten myself and my newborn out of that room.
Pregnancy #2 I room shared. My poor first roommate was an easy vaginal birth and someone who had requested a private room. Instead she got stuck with me for my first 12 hours postpartum, during which, I pretty much puked the whole time from the anesthesia. They moved her before I really came to, but then I got a second roommate. I was feeling better by then and she and I got along great. Since DH couldn't be around much, it was nice to have the company. I was actually happy to be sharing that time. Neither of us were first timers, we had fun talking about our kids, new babies, etc.
Pregnancy #3. I can't believe this could happen twice, but it did. This was during the height of the H1N1 scare two years ago. They seriously put me in a room with a woman who had H1N1. At the time, I didn't know that, I just knew she was really, really sick. We both had babies in the NICU which is why they put us together. Well, having dealt with this before, I didn't dally. I never used the bathroom once. As soon as I was able to get myself up and into a wheelchair (about 4 hours postop), I called the nurse to "go see my baby" and as soon as I was out of earshot went ballistic. Needless to say I never went back to that room and for my troubles I got a private room 'on the house.' It was later in the NICU when I saw that mother in full on anti-infection gear that I found out she had H1N1. Rest assured the hospital received both written and verbal feedback from me on that situation.
I just found out that the same hospital has all private rooms now. I wonder if I had something to do with it! I'm happy to have the private room, but I would say that with the exception of infectious disease issues, sharing wasn't as bad as I thought it would be. They have the curtains and all and most people are tolerant of each other and polite. I certainly was given ample privacy to nurse, etc. If you have a vaginal birth, you are only there for a day or two anyway. I considered coughing up the $ for a private room, but at those rates, I would rather take a weekend away with DH.,
Laura
(6), (4), (2), born May 16, 2012!
The shop is closed. Our perfect family is complete
Hehe, I must have been high on the endorphins of birth and a new baby, but I shared a teensy room with a pretty annoying woman and didn't really mind it at all. She had had a c-section and they divided the room so that the bed and bassinet barely fit on my side...when people came to visit, they had to sit on the corner of my bed. Needless to say, DH did not stay over. We both actually liked this. I got to have one very special night with my new daughter, just the two of us. He got to go home for a few hours, shower, clean up the house, and feel normal in the morning for the merry-go-round of visits.
3princes' story reminds me of my roommate, actually...She barely had her baby in the room with her at all, and was on the phone pretty much the whole time, trying to figure out how to spell her child's name. No joke. Then she started freaking out becuase her daughter had a possible infection for which they wanted to keep her a few days, meaning the mother would stay in the hospital too. The lady started ranting about how she wanted to go home...with or withOUT her baby! What??
Anyway, the room share wasn't that big of a deal. It was for a really short time, and I was so happy that nothing really could bring me down.
Me (35) DH (36) =
TR (2)
TTC #2 since June 2010
December 26, 2010 @ 7 weeks
Due May 2012 -
My chart
Is that for labor and post delivery or both? hahaha... I'd love to have seen what they would have done with my first 40hr labor. I refused all meds and couldn't stand to have anything touching me so I think the last 18hrs or so I was buck naked stomping around the room making those lovely primal labor sounds. Let me tell you, a buck naked, hugely pregnant lady with yucky stuff coming out of all orifices while she makes the most awful noises is not something that should be shared with anyone but someone who is getting paid a LOT to be there and people who lover her so much they will go through anything for her.
The shared bathroom during the post-partum time there would also bug me. I remember the trips to the bathroom especially the first day after delivery. I couldn't stand up and change underwear/pads without the whole place looking like a crime scene. I kept having to apologize to the cleaning staff for the mess. That is not something to be shared. So. Not. Glamorous.
I guess it is late in the game for you to change venues, but is there any way to pay for a private room? I sure hope you can get some privacy and have a positive experience. Good luck!
Oh, I've never heard of anyone sharing a room for L&D... THAT would be insane!
Calladona: Oh, I've never heard of anyone sharing a room for L&D... THAT would be insane!
Ditto! That would not fly and I would have thrown a fit!
Tortuga, you have gone through a lot with that hospital, and that's a ridiculous amt to pay. Taking advantage!
My hospital, they predict a 2 night stay and charge an extra $92/night... which isn't bad right? I went ahead with it. I've dealt with a lot of pains and aches this pregnancy, it's the one small request I have to be comfortable. Midwife said ppl I should have with me in the room are positive, "you can do it" ppl... and ppl u wouldn't mind pooping in front of. WHAT?! She said every woman slips a little and of course you're super exposed... exposure, no biggie... pooing eek! Not too sure about my close guy friend being their as male support now. My DH is a soon to be ex, my stepdad- no ty... mom isn't gonna make it either. My aunt will be there and a gf. Would have been nice for the male support tho.
Mrs_FitChick: Midwife said ppl I should have with me in the room are positive, "you can do it" ppl... and ppl u wouldn't mind pooping in front of. WHAT?! She said every woman slips a little and of course you're super exposed... exposure, no biggie... pooing eek! Not too sure about my close guy friend being their as male support now. My DH is a soon to be ex, my stepdad- no ty... mom isn't gonna make it either. My aunt will be there and a gf. Would have been nice for the male support tho.
Midwife said ppl I should have with me in the room are positive, "you can do it" ppl... and ppl u wouldn't mind pooping in front of. WHAT?! She said every woman slips a little and of course you're super exposed... exposure, no biggie... pooing eek! Not too sure about my close guy friend being their as male support now. My DH is a soon to be ex, my stepdad- no ty... mom isn't gonna make it either. My aunt will be there and a gf. Would have been nice for the male support tho.
He can always just stay up by your head! My SIL had my (and her) MIL in the room with her. My MIL hates blood, etc. but basically got stuck in the room somehow (still not sure how that happened). But she stayed by her head and was able to not see anything.
I always had a private room. At the hospital we went to, you use the same room for labor, delivery and recovery. (I had to leave for my c-sections obviously!) But they were private and the baby roomed in (unless you wanted to send them to the nursery for a bit - we actually wised up with #2 and sent her at night and had them bring her back for feedings because we weren't getting any sleep when we got home, so we might as well get a couple hours in the hospital!) All the hospitals I know of around here have private rooms, but I'm not sure if they are all set up so you stay in the same room the whole time. I can't imagine being PP and having to share a room with someone else and their baby and crazy family!
FWIW, I would totally pay the $92 a night to get a private room. I think it would be worth it. But I guess if I didn't have the $ it would be a different story.
Good luck. It sounds like things have been a little crazy for you recently (with the soon to be ex) and I hope your delivery goes smoothly.
Debbie (31) DH (28) (4) (1)
My Chart
TTA indefinitely...