BIDMC Or LGH?

I had all my babies at LGH and had an amazing experience with each one. The nurses were so lovely. For my second child, my night nurse's shift was over. She left to bring her daughter to school and then came back to the hospital to help deliver my son. That's dedication! I'm not sure why you're uncomfortable with LGH. I hope its not because its in Lowell. As they say, there's a lot to like about Lowell. Maybe you should give another chance. I can't recommend it highly enough!

I delivered three babies at LGH. You don't say why you are uncomfortable there, but the maternity ward has won awards apparently (I don't know which ones). In any case, I LOVED the nurses at LGH and had a wonderful experience all three times. The nurses were very accommodating about whatever I wanted to do during the birth and afterward -- whether I'd use any intervention for pain or not, what positions I wanted to be in, and whether they would take the baby to the nursery or I would keep the baby in the room, for example. I had horrible back pain with all three deliveries, and during the first one a nurse showed my husband these amazing pressure points that made the pain so much more bearable. I think they were on my wrists or someplace not even close to my back. When my husband had to take a break to go get food, the nurse took right over pressing on the pressure points and my lower back. I also had a terrible OB the first time around, and the nurses even stood up for me when my OB was making rude comments to me (seriously). They were so encouraging and supportive. Subsequently I switched to the midwives at Harvard-Vanguard and had a great experience there. But the LGH portion of all three deliveries and stays was wonderful.

I delivered my first daughter at BIDMC (living in Somerville at the time) and my second daughter and son at LGH (we moved to Chelmsford). I found a lot of the maternity ward BIDMC nurses worked part time, so I saw them once, then not again during my stay. LGH nurses seemed to work more shifts, so I developed a nice relationship with some of them. They were all super friendly and very nice. At LGH I definately felt a more personal touch. I was nervous going to LGH and I also asked around before having my second and third child. Everyone said their birthing center was great. BIDMC was a long drive and since my first child came quickly I was worried about traffic and the long bumpy drive down to BIDMC for the second and third births. I would recommend either, but I did especially like LGH. By the way, LGH are currently building an extension to their hospital and there will be a new birthing ward, not due for completion until 2012. Some of their maternity ward rooms overlook the construction (some don't) so after delivering my son in December 2011 once I was settled in my room there was some noise from the construction as I had a room overlooking the building site, but not enough to keep me or my baby awake, and they don't build during the night! Hope this helps.

Can you go to Newton Wellesley? One-word. Awesome!

I birthed my first child at LGH, and had a very positive experience. The nurses there did not push interventions, and pretty much let me do what I wanted. They didn't make a fuss over not following their policies because my doctor had left orders with them. My second was born at home with a midwife, and was definitely my favorite of my 3 births. My third was born in the front seat of my car in an empty parking lot with my husband catching after a little over an hour of labor LOL. We had planned on birthing at The Birth Cottage in Milford NH, which I loved. I have experience attending births at Emmerson but not at BIMDC. One of the things you ought to look into is the hospitals' standard policies about births, interventions, induction, and who is allowed in the room, as well as their caesarian rates. Feel free to message me if you have any specific questions you want me to put to the Massdoulas list and get back to you.