Pregnant, Have Toddler, and Possibly Moving to Boston; Need Advice

Hi!

I live in the Watertown area and had my baby at Newton Wellesley Hospital in April. It couldn't have been a better experience! I highly recommend this facility and it is known for excellent maternity services.

I'm in Natick and delivered both my children at Newton Wellesley Hospital. I can't say enough good things about the doctors and nurses there! They were very supportive of our choices, and so helpful and kind during delivery and after. They recently renovated their maternity wards - the rooms are spacious and very nice. I've also heard some wonderful things from several friends and work colleagues about Mt Auburn, which is more local to you.

I live in Arlington and have for 4 years now. I met my husband here actually, in 1997, when we were both teaching in the Arlington schools. I now teach in the Bedford schools, but I have to say, I LOVE this town so much more! The people are friendly and down to earth, and diverse, which is awesome. Arlington feels like an urban atmosphere with the benefits of a smaller town, but so close to Cambridge and Boston. Anyway, you already knew this! As far as your questions... I had both my kids at Mt. Auburn Hospital in Cambridge, about a 10 min. drive from Arlington. I would not hesitate to go there again for any medical reason. The maternity staff is amazing - helpful and respectful of your needs and wishes as a mother. Everything there is top notch and the food is decent too! My OB is affiliated with Mt. Auburn and is located in Watertown. Let me know if you want her number and name. I know many women who have delivered there and have different insurance than we do (we have BCBS of MA) so I don't think that is an issue.

My girls are 3 and 5 now and I finally just got around to joining the Arlington Family Connection! I'm a full-time teacher so I'm a little bummed that I joined as I will only be able to use it on the weekends, but it looks amazing and I can't wait to go on some of the outings. All the surrounding towns here have that type of resource. There is also Isis Parenting/Maternity in Arlington Center where there are tons of classes for babies and toddlers. I highly recommend that place, they also have lactation help and sell supplies you need when you have small kids. There is really no end to what you and your kids can do... there is the Boys and Girls Club, the Rec Dep't, and private places that have swim, gymnastics, cooking, art, and other classes for kids. That is a great way to meet other moms too. I have actually met a lot of friends, moms and non-moms, at my gym (Gold's)!

My kids didn't/don't do preschool in Arlington but there are two preschools that I know of that people rave about locally. The public schools here are very strong, but have gone through budget and financial issues like every other town I know in MA. There have been cuts, but none so dire that we lost gym or art or anything like that. The class sizes are bigger than I'd like to see (my daughter's K class will have 21 in it, and the other elementary classes have around 25 kids per class from what I hear) but it's like that even in the wealthier towns. The parent committee is very active and has been so welcoming to us as a new family in our neighborhood school. I feel very positive about her starting in a week!

I hope this helps you. The only negative I have about living here is that I don't like winter... last winter was mild and very easy and I'm hoping that is the case again! I just don't like how it can drag on and on until the beginning of April some years, though it honestly hasn't been as bad in recent years. Good luck!!!

I am also a West coast transplant and although I don't love the weather in the winter, I can't see raising my son anywhere else.
I live in Woburn but I work in a Real Estate office in Arlington (with a sister office in Cambridge and Belmont) and I have to say, an investment in the Arlington area is a wise one. The only negative is that you don't get as much for your money as you do in other areas of the country, I have heard this many times from 'transplants' but you make it work. The people are so diverse, the restaurant scene is fantastic (a nice mix of date night with family style), the culture is what you would expect much closer to the city, and my favorite part is spring thru fall Farmer's Market (the best around!). The public transportation system will take you from pretty much anywhere in Arlington to pretty much anywhere you want to go - fun places like Harvard Square, downtown Boston to visit Mrs. Mallard of Make way for Ducklings etc. etc!
As far as hospitals go, I had a wonderful experience at Winchester Hospital giving birth and beyond. It was very 'boutique-y" in that it is a smaller hospital with a SPECTACULAR nursing staff! When I was 8 months pregnant I fell and broke my jaw so after surgery I stayed in the maternity ward. I went into labor that night and when I tell you, the quick response of all the nurses and my doctor was impressive. They ended up stopping the labor (my decision) and I came back a month later to deliver my healthy and bouncy baby boy. We have since been back on a few emergency room visits and I couldn't be happier with our hospital.
As far as insurance goes we have a very good plan thru blue cross blue shield. I found my mom's group on meet-up and it is a very small get together for cocktails type (with a few over nights even) of a group but there are many groups in the area that are active, just depends on what you are looking for!
My son attended Hammond Square Preschool in Woburn which I chose because the preschools are not public around here (BIG ChaChing) and the school was very reasonable, the classroom size was small and the teachers were young and energetic with the learn thru play teaching style (teaching things like yoga along with letters). My son is now going into first grade as a calm, gentle, and very smart little boy which makes me very happy with my preschool decision.
I'm pretty sure that I hit on every question that you posted so I will leave you with this thought - the smartest decision that I ever made was to move out here and embrace this area as my home!
M

Hi there,

We moved to Arlington about two years ago when I first son was 1 1/2. We had lived in Brookline about 5 years before, but were moving back to the States from China and had to decide on a house very quickly. Arlington was a place we didn't research very well before moving there, but it was the very best dumb luck we have ever had. We LOVE it here. We live close to Arlington Center and it seems like every house on our block has young children. A previous poster mentioned the Arlington Family Connection (www.arlingtonfamilyconnection.org) and Isis Maternity (www.isisparenting.com). Both of those groups have wonderful resources for those of us with young kids. I'm a stay-at-home mom and am always meeting new people at parks and just walking around town.

I recently gave birth to our second son at Mt. Auburn and had a great experience. All the hospitals in the area are top-notch but I liked Mt. Auburn because it is a little smaller and more relaxed (as opposed to a place like Brigham and Women's which is one of the best hospitals in the world but much busier). I saw only the midwives while I was there and have no complaints at all. I would definitely go there again.

My son goes to a preschool in Arlington Center at the Arlington Children's Center We found out about it when our pediatrician told us about it and said that he and his wife would pay any amount of money for the experience/education that his kids have received there. My oldest son just finished his first year there and I have to agree. It's an amazing program. I think the wait list for that program and many in the area (for fall 2011) will open up in the next few weeks, so if you are interested, I would start looking now. They are very competitive and we nearly didn't make it on the list even though we started calling minutes after the were officially taking calls (had to hit redial 115 times before we got through!). I've heard very good things about many of the programs in the area, so feel free to contact me if you want any specifics.

Good luck with the move!

Hi,
I grew up in and now live in Lexington, which is in the same general area. We were living in Cambridge and decided to move here for the schools, which are really great and well-regarded. I was supposed to have my daughter 2 weeks after we left the old house, but ended up being induced 5 days after the move(!!). We have many great preschools, a nice recreation and skating center, lots of educational programs.
When I lived in Cambridge, I went to a great mom's center at Henry Bear's Park toy store, which also has a shop in Arlington. Arlington has much better restaurants than Lexington, too! :)
Arlington and Lexington are also connected by a beautiful bike trail that extends from Cambridge all the way to Bedford on the other side of Lexington.
We have Tufts insurance, which has doctors all over the place and you have a wide range of choices; usually doctors are associated with one of the major hospitals. I had my kids at Massachusetts General Hospital, which was fantastic. This area is known for its fine medical care, and I don't think you can go wrong with any of the hospitals mentioned here. My pediatrician is at the Harvard Vanguard center in Somerville (you don't have to be a member of HV, another insurance group) and we liked them so much we kept going there after the move, even though it's not very convenient to our present location. It's very close to Arlington, however.
It does snow here though! :)

Good luck with your move!!

I recommend Mt Auburn Hospital midwives in Cambridge and to get yourself a 'doula' also.

Hi my name is K. and I live in Medford on the Sville line. I have a 4.5 and a 3 yr old. A great resource is the Somerville Moms Yahoo group. You have to join the group to get emails but it has tons of info in the archives and moms are happy to answer a plethora of questions from their experience. Your questions come up from time to time. Some women also started a new mom group to help new moms with meals and care just after giving birth.

I gave birth at Brigham and Womens and Mt. Auburn. Beth Hardiman is a fantastic OB at Mt. Auburn but she is very popular so you have to try as soon as possible to get in. The labor and delivery staff were really great and I had a very good experience there. Plus my room overlooked the Charles and had a fantastic view! They also have a team of midwives there if you prefer. The midwife I met was not very savvy. I've heard Cambridge hospital's Birthing Center is fantastic and I wish I knew about it for my first. It's like giving birth at home. It's with midwives and Cambridge hospital is the building next door if you need more care. If you've had a c-section they wont' take you.

Brigham and Womens is a fantastic hospital and I go there for everything but I didn't have a great birth experience there. They took good care of me but some of the people who mattered were too gruff while others were fantastic.

As for Belmont and Arlington, they are both very nice towns. I don't know much about them. I hear more about daycares and classes and events for kids in Arlington than Belmont but that might be because not a lot of Belmont moms are on the lists I'm on.

My kids stayed at home with a nanny who speaks my husband's language. My son went to a wonderful family daycare in Sville until my daughter was born. I work full-time and it's been really tough for me to meet other moms. My son just started mid-K at the International School of Boston (French) in Arlington.

Also each town has a family services, ie Medford Family Services, that offer free playgroups and other services/events.

So that's my scoop. Good luck. Feel free to email me at ____@____.com,
K. K

I have lived in Boston my entire life. First I would suggest Brigham and Woman's hospital. It is a great hospital. I just gave birth to my third there in July. Also, there is a bridge to Boston's Children Hospital. We had a problem with my son's hear beat when he was born and the hospital was great and doctors from children also saw him and ran tests on him. It was very comforting.
I'm not sure about toddler programs in Belmont or Arlington. The only thing I can suggest is not to move into one of the town of Boston itself. Although I LOVE the city, we are looking to move out because of the schools lottery system. This is just for Boston schools,(Roslindale, West Roxbury, South Boston, Dorchester, etc)
Good Luck!
I hope this helps.

Hello!!!
First, not sure how to answer your question re: whether to move "before or after" #2. Personally, if I were making the huge decision to relocate from the west to east coast, I would want to make sure, the hubby already has a job. Once that is secured, you will learn what insurance he has for the family and make your decision(s) then about hospitals and Dr.'s, etc. Frankly, you cannot beat the choices in and around the Boston area. We live in-town (yes, downtown Boston), and my OB is affiliated with MGH. They have a great team and it's a teaching hospital as well (Harvard primarily). All the other hospitals mentioned in the prior response have great reputations, and I've had friends deliver at all or about to ;); Mt. Auburn (would be closest to you if you lived in Belmont or Arlington); Beth Israel; Bringham and Woman's. Given you will be in the 'burbs, you will have to travel (more than across town for the delivery), but perhaps you can find a great OB and/or Pediatrician in your area that is affiliated with one of the larger hospitals to lessen the burden/stress of traveling when pregnant.
Second, I'm a mom with a toddler; daughter will be 3 at the end of Nov. She goes to preschool in-town, but I'm certain you will find other wonderful programs in whatever town you decide. If you are strongly considering the move, I would research this aspect asap! There are often wait lists and many require deposits. You should not wait until you get here to do this or you will likely have to wait. I work full-time, so I'm unable to participate in many of the weekday "mommy and me" type of activities, but they are most certainly out there... depends on the activity you wish to partake in.
Third, think about long-term. In just a few short years, your son will be entering kindergarten. Both Belmont and Arlington have great public schools (as does Bedford ;)).

Good luck in your decision!

S.

I agree, although I'm biased because I've lived here almost all my life. It's a wonderful place to raise kids. To answer some of your questions -

I had two wonderful experiences at Beth Israel Deaconess. All private rooms, one to one nurse to patient ratio in delivery, etc. I also ADORE my OB, if you're looking for someone affiliated with that hospital. Private message me for his info, if you'd like it. For insurance, I think it's pretty much like anyplace - read the fine print. It's all doing to depend on what's offered. Because my husband has switched jobs a lot, we've had a bunch, but have liked Blue Cross and Tufts, which we have now.

There is so much to do with little kids, especially in the belmont area. There are tons of great indoor playspaces for the winter, and Boston itself offers so much to do in the summer. There are lots of moms groups in the area (I'm a little farther out). I recommend isis maternity in brookline - they set up a lot of great stuff.

If you have other questions, feel free to ask. But seriously, come here! It's wonderful!

This area is an amazing area for families! There are SO many mom's groups, organizations, activities, and opportunities to meet other mom's and children. I delivered at Beth Israel (both kids - I have a 5 and 3 year old) and it was wonderful. I have friends who have delivered at the Brigham and Newton-Wellesley, and I honestly have not heard any complaints.
We have Blue Cross Blue Shield and haven't encountered any problems and we have a son with asthma and a peanut allergy and go to many doctors!
It is an area with many educational, musical, interesting, unique, and kid-friendly things to do. I am in the early childhood field - I am a children's performer and have met the most amazing children and families here.
I think preschools can be a little competitive and you must get on a list on the early side to get a spot if it's a school you love and there is high demand.
Hope this gives you some help! Feel free to message me if you have any other questions!

S.