Best Hospital Advice

First of all - there is no bad choice here. Both are great hospitals, and I know people who have had wonderful experiences at both. My OB also delivers at both SM-UCLA & St. Johns. I asked her which see chose to deliver her 3 girls - she said St. Johns, so I went there. The staff was incredible, and I felt very well cared for, even tho I had a few complications. They were FANTASTIC - and that is my first choice. The breast feeding help there was also very good. Also, I took the breastfeeding class at St. Johns, as well before I delivered.
I wish you a happy, healthy baby - and a short labor!!!!

K.

Definitely St. John's! It's smaller, more personal, brand new and beautiful.

Hi there, I just had my first baby at UCLA Santa Monica. My experience was very different (I had a c-section was nothing "natural" about my delivery). I think as far as the delivery philosophy, it is more up to the doctor and you than the place itself. I think they will accomodate what your doctor and you decide. For what it is worth, the L&D nurses were great (I was there for a long while so I got to meet a few). Once in postpartum I did get set up with a lactation consultant. This might be important for you. In my case, there was a dif consultant everyday so I got no continuity, got conflicting advise from each one, and none of them suceeded and getting my little baby to latch on (he was pre-term so they might do a better job with you if your baby is full term). The post-partum nurses were hit-and-miss, one was very good, the others not so much. Some were just plain weird. They may be overstretched because it usually took them a long while to respond when called. On the positive side, they do place an emphasis on cleanliness and handwashing so at least that is comforting. Also, you can room-in with your baby so that's a plus when it comes to sucessful breastfeeding.

I have a 4 1/2 year old and a two year old and I delivered both my boys at St. John's. I had an amazing experience both times! The rooms were clean and beautiful and I loved the attention that the staff gave to me and my babies. The lactation consultant is also amazing! St. John's offers free breastfeeding classes if you deliver there. I found those to be a lifesaver for me with my first child who was constantly crying and inconsolable. I was able to get support from other mother's and it was the lactation consultant that realized that my son was so upset because he had a tongue-tie.
I have heard good things about UCLA as well. Take a tour and ask lots of questions.
Good luck to you!

I was torn too, when I was pregnant with my daughter two years ago. I toured both hospitals and liked them both. They both had great staffs too! The only deal breaker for me was that my best friend had delivered at St. Johns a few months prior and she had an amazing experience, so I knew first hand that this place was great. Also, the rooms are new, spacious and filled with lots of natural light. While that seems silly, I wanted to have a place that I could be comfortable in.

While touring UCLA, they mentioned that they have a lactation consultant on staff 7 days a week, where St. Johns only has one 5 days (M-F). What they didn't know is how AMAZING the St. John's lactation consultants are and that after you leave the hospital, you can go back as often as you want to have a consultation. I was at their lactation station, meeting with Elaine, the consultant at least 3 times after delivering. Her help, was seriously life changing!

At the same time, I had a friend with the same due date as me who delivered at UCLA a few days prior. She had a really challenging time BFing, as did I. Anyway, she paid tons for a consultant to come to her house, she went to the pump station and consulted la leche league. All the people who helped her were telling her how breast is best (I completely agree), but their approach was all wrong, and came across as judgmental. They would tell her that whenever she fed her baby formula it strips the insides of their stomachs and all of these other negative thoughts about formula.

Also, during that time, my consultant Elaine at St. Johns was helping me and even provided a few days worth of formula to supplement, while I pumped to bring up my supply, and breastfed to get my baby used to the breast. I can't begin to tell you how much that helped! I was so ashamed to use formula, which sounds stupid, but I was all hormonal and Elaine had no qualms about it. She was VERY positive and said that we would use this to aid and help me get to a point where my baby was 100% breastfed. Sure enough, just 3-4 days of using a few ounces of formula, LOTS of pumping, and my baby girl was 100% on the breast and has been every since. I truly believe my breastfeeding success was 100% due to the fabulous help I had after leaving the hospital at St. Johns. Oddly, everything was easy in the hospital and my problems came the day I went home. When my baby was 10 months, i got a plugged duct and Elaine helped me lots then. All that to say that I would HIGHLY recommend St. Johns to a first time parent who wants to breastfeed!

I would take a tour of both hospitals and see which you feel most comfortable with. I hear great things about UCLA. But it's all about you being comfortable. So take a tour of the three and go from there. Good luck, and congrats!

I had a great experience at UCLA-SM! Can't wait to go back in Dec when my second child is due! Unlike another person responded, I felt it was A LOT less hectic than St.Johns, more quiet and less people, which why I chose it over St. Johns. (but heard good things about both hospitals, so you can't go wrong). I had a c-section so my stay was longer. The nurses were great and the lactation nurses I felt were the reason why I was successful with breastfeeding, I even got to pump in the hospital which was very helpful in learning how to and getting my supply started. It was very clean, quiet, and had a good security system too. Overall my experience was wonderful!

I should choose St. Johns.

UCLA is a top notch learning hospital, so they get a lot of the crazy stuff which just makes the attmosphere more hectic... not what you need when delivering your baby. My OB told me to go to UCLA only if I went into labor early, as they have the best premee program.

I had my baby at St. Johns a year ago and it was a wonderful experience. They have a new maternity wing that is desinged to give you a very relaxing attmosphere. They are totally into breatfeeding and into immediate bonding with your baby. Healthy babies automatically room with you unless you ask otherwise. The nurses are great and friendly any time of day or night. The only part I did not like was the lactation consultant. They have 3 and I got visisted by the one that isn't that into her job any more... or maybe it was a long day.