NICU ?

If you are not high-risk, is it important to you to deliver at a hospital with an NICU? I never thought about it, but I have a friend who won't deliver at a hospital w/out one, "just in case". What are your thoughts?

Re: NICU ?

That's why I wanted to be at NSUH-Manhasset - it's close to Schneider's too.

I think it depends on you....I am older and considered high-risk.

Message edited 4/8/2007 3:49:50 PM.

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hmmmm...that is a tough one...From someone who has had a child born with Down Syndrome and a set of twins born early...I didnt really have a problem having my babies at a hospital that didnt have a NICU...I delivered at Huntington and (at the time) they didnt have a NICU but a lower level "special care" nursery...as well as some very well trained neonatologist on hand...Every thing went fine...

Im older now (34), only carrying one baby, and although my history makes me high risk (I always go early) I will be delivering at Huntington again.

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I would always want to be somewhere with a the highest NICU and it has nothing to do with your being high risk - although it does put increased risk to the baby.

There are many reasons a baby could need a NICU - God forbid I hope none of them happen to any of us - but giving birth always comes with risks no matter if you give birth vaginally or by c-section.

Unfortunately no one can say that they are exempt free from having any complications - it would be so much less stressful - but while people can watch and try to predict issues until they physically have that baby in the doctors hands you can't say for sure that they won't need the NICU. I am not willing to take that risk - but this is my personal choice not everyone may agree with my perspective.

Etd to add that from my malpractice background many malpractice issues don't always come from misdiagnosing the problems - but in how the babies were treated/tested when they were born.

Message edited 4/8/2007 5:57:40 PM.

Re: NICU ?

When DH and I went for our TTC chat with the OB/GYN, he told us he prefers to deliver at LIJ b/c Schneider's is there. It is also very close to our home. Lord knows nobody ever wants to use a NICU's services, but I can take comfort in knowing that some day when I deliver a child, it is right there should it be needed.


ETA:
He doesnt deliver babies anymore but the rest of the doctors in the practice do.

Message edited 4/8/2007 6:03:15 PM.

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I am specifically going back to LIJ because of Schneiders and their NICU unit.

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I won't deliver in a hospital without a nicu. I heard if something should go wrong and the baby needs to be transfered the mother will be left behind in the original hospital. Don't know for sure.

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Thanks you guys. Which hospitals on LI have an NICU? I know SBU does, and is it NS- Manhasset? What about Winthrop? TIA!

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Interesting!! I thought they all had them. Now I find out I am more of an idiot than I orginally thought.

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Message edited 4/9/2007 1:30:05 AM.

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I never thought in a million years that my baby would end up in NICU. I wish I was a little more prepared. I delivered in Mercy and was very pleased with their NICU.

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Winthrop has a good nicu too. Really nice maternity. I delivered my son there. This time I am going w/NSUH cause that's where my new doc is.

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My SIL was supposed to deliver at Huntington, but about a month prior to her delivery, they determined my nephew had an enlarged kidney and he would need to have it removed a few days after birth, so she wound up deliverying at Stony Brook instead, but it wasnt a big deal

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Stonybrrok also has an awesome NICU. A couple of the girls on here are NICU nurses there.

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When I was pregnant with #1, my dear friend who is a dr insisted that I deliver at Winthrop if "God- forbid" I ever need the NICU as she felt they had one of the best on Long Island. Well #1 was a complicattion free delivery. However, #2 was a different story. Although I had an easy pregnancy, went full term and had a relatively easy delivery, he wound up getting very sick and needed the NICUfor 2 weeks. I thank God that she was so adamant about having me deliver there as I never would have considered it on my own.

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I delivered at Wintrop instead of Plainview knowing that Winthrop has an excellent NICU, but not expecting to need it. I work at another LI hospital and knew that I wanted to deliver somewhere with a Level 3 or 4 NICU.

With that said, I had no idea my baby was going to need to go to the NICU for almost a week and am so glad I was at Winthrop. They were wonderful with him and so helpful to me and my DH.

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It's just added peace of mind for me, knowing that our hospital has a NICU. A friend of mine went into labor VERY early (pre 30 weeks) and she went to her hospital and the baby was sent to a different hospital - one that had a NICU. She couldnt see the baby for a few days, which must have been so difficult.