Delivering at diff hospital than planned

My doctos and the hospital they are affiliated with are approx 45 min to an hour from home (I used to live out that way and really like my docs so I kept with them). The closer I get to my due date, the more I am questioning delivering so far away. It just complicates things with work, DH and his work, our dogs, my parents being there, etc. There's a local hospital I'm perfectly happy to deliver at - my doctors obviously won't be there. Is anyone else doing this? Any pros/cons you can think of? May sound bad but I honestly don't care who delivers me. The way I see it, my regular doc may not be on that day at their affiliated hospital anyway and I could have someone I don't know/don't know well deliver me. Just looking for additional thoughts on this. TIA!

Re: Delivering at diff hospital than planned

I would choose my dr. over the hospital. You will have plenty of time to get to the hospital. I would be concerned if somehting went wrong you wouldn't have your doctor for guidance or they would not know your history as well.

Delivering at diff hospital than planned

I delivered at a different hospital then I planned - I delivered in Boston instead of LI - I was 3 weeks early and had not dropped before my water broke

Had I been home my doctor was on call and would have delivered me. However I had a great experience at MGH where I had my son. The doctor and the resident had plenty of time and took things slowly - even massaged oil to help prevent tearing. I started my care at MGH but they did not have the paperwork from things like the AIDS test and Strep B, but my doctor gave me the information to give to them and once my doctor's office opened they faxed an updated copy of the records over so my son did not get any extra tests because they had my history.

MGH generally uses laborists - doctors who just deliver so if I had stayed with my intial practice I would not have had my doctor.

Just do what is comfortable for you

Delivering at diff hospital than planned

If you are considering delivering at a different hospital I would start looking into it now so you are prepared. The policies at every hospital vary so I would want to take a tour and find out the policies about rooming in, visitors, labor coaches, etc. I would also obtain a complete set of medical record including all testing done from my doctor(s). Additionally, find out if the hospital has any special requirements for testing- the hospital where I am delivering requires a type and cross match sent directly to them and a third trimester HIV test- I am sure in an emergency they will draw the blood and run a stat type and cross
Match but if you can plan ahead it is helpful.

Re: Delivering at diff hospital than planned

Also, take your insurance into consideration. Many times they set up a prior authorization for the hospital your Dr tells them you'll be delivering at, and the hospital does a pre-registration. You would probably have to notify your insurance if you decide to change hospitals.

Re: Delivering at diff hospital than planned

My hospital is a half hour away and my second dd came very quickly so I was afraid I would be delivering at a different hospital. We just made it to ours but my doctor wasnt there in time. The hospital doctor was fine but I have to say I would have much preferred my own doctor. After I had the baby it took them forever to stitch me up and I just felt they didn't know me and were not as good as my doctor was with my first. In a way the nurses are more important but I would still absolutely choose my doctor over the on call doctors at some other hospital that is closer. To me they did not seem as experienced or as good as my doctor or the other doctors in the practice. It was a teaching hospital so that could be part of it. It was fine but if there were any complications it would have made me nervous and afterwards I just wanted to hold my baby and ot seriously felt like it took forever.