Delivering at St. Catherine's

Ok, so we've had two friends deliver at St. Catherines. One of our friends (babycote) delivered 1.5 years ago and was lucky to be the only person in a 3 person room (so spacious, very clean, etc). Well, Friday night we went to see my friends baby at St. Catherine and it was 3 people in a triple. With the curtains and all, its was packed, and they only had 4 people visiting (my family is very large and I'm sure we'd have more than 4 at a time in the evening shift).

Now babycote tells me you can a 2 person room but you have to shower in the hallway (I really don't mind, I'm def. not a shy person). I would rather have the space and shower elsewhere than be totally cramped.

Now, my mom's thoughts are that time of year plays a big factor. Babycote had her daughter in November and I'm in January. My mom feels less babies are born in Nov-Feb, therefore it won't be as crowded as the other months.

So rambling done, can I request a 2 person room in advance? I know its not 100%, but I would hate not doing this after the fact.

Re: Delivering at St. Catherine's

I delivered at St Catherines and will again in October. My only complaint was that darn shower down the hall. Nobody feels like schleping down the hall to shower after you give birth I don't think you can request a type of room there. But then again it was only me and another girl (March)in one room and with our cutains drawn we didn't even see each other once.

Re: Delivering at St. Catherine's

Heres the big scoop...
Me and katie had our babies a week apart in the same hospital.
I also had my own room in a 2 person room. Reason being...look at the dates. I was Nov 26...katie I think dec 1st. EVERYONE that was in the hospital wanted out BIG time due to thanksgiving making the ward empty. I absolutely agree with your mom. During the holidays people want in and want out. I also left a day early bc I wanted out.
The shower in the hall is no biggie. Its not a shared shower but a one person stall. Bring your robe and its totally private. You can lock it.

Re: Delivering at St. Catherine's

I had the big three person room all to myself and it was great. It really is a crap shoot. i delivered in the midddle of June. I would just see what happens. My SIL delivered there too and was stuck in a 2 person room with a horrible roommate who had a truck load of people come to visit everyday. You never know what you are going to get.


I have to say though that I LOVED St. Catherines. Everyone was great and I truly had an awesome experience. GL

Re: Delivering at St. Catherine's

We're staying with St. Catherine based off our doctors (I go to Contempary Womens Care and haven't gotten rave reviews, in fact my friends who just delivered used them and raved). Going to visit our friends on Friday just put a huge dampered on the situation.

Fingers crossed its not busy. Its January, hopefully not

Thanks for all the advice. Keep em coming as I'm sure I'll have more St. Catherine questions in the upcoming months

Re: Delivering at St. Catherine's

I am delivering there and could care less really about a private room. I am concerned more with the care I recieve and the attentiveness to my demands post partum Besides, I love my Doc, Dr. Birnbaum, and would not change him for the world!!!

Re: Delivering at St. Catherine's

I love CWC! My delivery experience at St Catherines was wonderful. My only complaint was that shower. Thats a pretty small complaint for a total birthing experience I pray I get Dr Rubin again--she rocks!

Re: Delivering at St. Catherine's

Posted by BlessedMommy

I love CWC! My delivery experience at St Catherines was wonderful. My only complaint was that shower. Thats a pretty small complaint for a total birthing experience I pray I get Dr Rubin again--she rocks!

Re: Delivering at St. Catherine's

Posted by kerrycec03

Posted by BlessedMommy

I love CWC! My delivery experience at St Catherines was wonderful. My only complaint was that shower. Thats a pretty small complaint for a total birthing experience I pray I get Dr Rubin again--she rocks!

I hate to burst your bubble, but you know Dr. Rubin is out on Maternity Leave, right?

We're hoping to get McKenna. They're all pretty good there.

Thanks

Re: Delivering at St. Catherine's

I delivered there at the end of May. I had a great experience. The night I delivered, the maternity ward was packed. By the next morning, a lot of people had gone home and there were only 6 babies. My first night I had a roommate and the second night I didn't.
The shower wasnt a big deal to me at all-you can lock the door and it's private.
The care was awesome and I love my doctors-so its all a trade off!
GL!!

Re: Delivering at St. Catherine's

I will be delivering at St. Catherines for the second time in January as well - Maybe we'll be roomies! I am due the 27th, but will have a scheduled section about a week before.

I was in a 2 person room and had no roommate for the first few days, then one came in. I had no problem with showering down the hall at all. I didn't actually realize that some of the rooms have showers - I thought everyone used the hallway. I just brought a robe and my own towels and it was fine.

It is a pretty big shower from what I remember and like a previous poster said it is in it's own room - it isn't like a locker room or anything.

I really, really liked delivering there - my stay was great. Everyone from the nurses to the cleaning people were so friendly. I hope my return visit is just as good.

Re: Delivering at St. Catherine's

I have delivered at North Shore Manhasset, Huntington, & St Catherines...all in all my experiences have been about the same...

Look at it this way. You are, after all, in a hospital. It's not a hotel....The nurses come in and check your vitals, you can still hear the babies coming up and down the hall, it can be loud etc...whether you are in a private room or not...

I loved my experience at St Catherines and the close proximity to my home (Nesconset) was priceless. Dr Paone delivered DS....long story short I am very happy with the way things went and Im sure you will too...

It's a good hospital and they are great doctors. No worries at all....

Re: Delivering at St. Catherine's

Posted by BlessedMommy

Posted by kerrycec03

Posted by BlessedMommy

I love CWC! My delivery experience at St Catherines was wonderful. My only complaint was that shower. Thats a pretty small complaint for a total birthing experience I pray I get Dr Rubin again--she rocks!

I hate to burst your bubble, but you know Dr. Rubin is out on Maternity Leave, right?

We're hoping to get McKenna. They're all pretty good there.

Thanks

Yep I have until October. She promised me she'd be back to take care of me McKenna is lovely but that guy has got a pair of mitts on him His hands are HUGE!

Re: Delivering at St. Catherine's

Posted by kerrycec03

Posted by BlessedMommy

I love CWC! My delivery experience at St Catherines was wonderful. My only complaint was that shower. Thats a pretty small complaint for a total birthing experience I pray I get Dr Rubin again--she rocks!

I hate to burst your bubble, but you know Dr. Rubin is out on Maternity Leave, right?

We're hoping to get McKenna. They're all pretty good there.

Thanks

Re: Delivering at St. Catherine's

I'm not sure if they have delivering rights at Stony Brook. We're def. going to St. Catherines, I just hope its empty in January (OF COURSE IT WOULD BE COOL SEEING SOME LIFERS THERE TOO!!)

Re: Delivering at St. Catherine's

Re: Delivering at St. Catherine's

I delivered there twice. The first time I was in a double room and had one roommate, my whole stay. It wasn't bad.

The second time I delivered I started in a three person room that only had one person in it. Well she had spread out through the whole room had stuff in the closets on my side. Just opened the curtain to come in and get it. She had her 2 year old with her from 10-8 it was none stop. The kid was spent, and I don't blame the baby but when she started banging my newborn in the bassinet I started getting upset. The final straw was when the nurse was examing me she told her husband to go get her robe and he just opened the curtain and walked into my area. Yes, they knew the nurse was in there, she closed the curtain.

That was it I told the nurse she was to get me out of there ASAP and I was put into the private room. The next day she got a new roommate that never had less than 15 people with her and she was now shoved into the corner with all her stuff the way she had done to me and I was now in a private room- karma.

Both my experiences there other wise was great. Barbara my OR nurse was AMAZING!!! We loved her and Donna my nursery nurse was so great. Even the second time around she taught me stuff.

Re: Delivering at St. Catherine's

Posted by SweetTooth

Posted by kerrycec03

Posted by BlessedMommy

I love CWC! My delivery experience at St Catherines was wonderful. My only complaint was that shower. Thats a pretty small complaint for a total birthing experience I pray I get Dr Rubin again--she rocks!

I hate to burst your bubble, but you know Dr. Rubin is out on Maternity Leave, right?

We're hoping to get McKenna. They're all pretty good there.

Thanks

I heard she will be back in August.

I have to discuss this whole delivery thing with them. Don't they also have admitting rights at Stony Brook?

I love all the doctors there.

Re: Delivering at St. Catherine's

Re: Delivering at St. Catherine's

I delivered there in December. I had a 3 person room, the first night I had a roomate but then she went home and I had the whole room to myself! It was great!

And I didnt see showering down the hall as an issue really.

Re: Delivering at St. Catherine's

Dr McKenna told me they wont do stonybrook unless the woman is hi risk or is thought to have some type of emergency situation. They do St Catherines hospital with all other cases.

Re: Delivering at St. Catherine's

I delivered there 11/28/06 and I was in the 3 person room. I was in the corner bed and someone was on the big side of the room but the 3rd bed was empty. The last night i was there we got a 3rd person and I got so hot and claustrophobic that I threw all my visitors out. This time around (im having a c sec on 8/15) I actually ASKED if I could have that big room but be on the big side and the nurses told me that they cant HOLD it for me beforehand but when I arrive that morning I can ask them to hold it until Im out of recovery. My friend just delieved there last week and had the whole room to herself. Its def nice having that shower in the room. It seemed cleaner that the hallway ones. I was there 2 times in the last 2 months (dehydration and a kidney stone) and I had to use the hallway ones bc I was in L&D.

Re: Delivering at St. Catherine's

Posted by BlessedMommy

Posted by kerrycec03

Posted by BlessedMommy

I love CWC! My delivery experience at St Catherines was wonderful. My only complaint was that shower. Thats a pretty small complaint for a total birthing experience I pray I get Dr Rubin again--she rocks!

I hate to burst your bubble, but you know Dr. Rubin is out on Maternity Leave, right?

We're hoping to get McKenna. They're all pretty good there.

Thanks

Yep I have until October. She promised me she'd be back to take care of me McKenna is lovely but that guy has got a pair of mitts on him His hands are HUGE!