We are prego with #2 and I am looking around at local hospitals. Has anyone recently given birth at Community Hospital South? What was your experience like? We are planning on a natural childbirth experience, but want to be at a hospital just in case we need something. Thanks for your input!
My sister had her second baby there in February. I wasn't there for the delivery, I was at work, but I know in the thereafter the staff was very VERY nice, there is valet parking that's free (unless you tip of course), and the the doctor who delivered him was wonderful. She had a c-section, her second one, and he did a fantastic job. Can't remember the doctors name tho, sorry. The labor and delivery area was very easy to find and the rooms are huge!
I know this isn't incredibly insightful or anything, but I thought I'd share...best of luck with your impending addition!
I had my second child at Community Hospital South about 15 months ago. My first son was born at a different hospital in the area and we had a lot of complaints about how we were treated there. When I got pregnant the second time we knew we wanted to switch hospitals. We didn't know much about CHS except that my ob/gyn highly recommended we deliver there our second time around. I can tell you that the difference was night and day. All the nurses and support staff we dealt with at South were so kind and caring and KNEW their jobs. I liked that they are big on keeping the baby with momma for as much as possible. All the well-baby checks are done in your room with you present (as opposed to carting the baby off to the nursery every five minutes). My only regret is that we didn't deliver my first son there as well.
Let me first say that just being in a hospital makes it 50% more likely that you will "need" the technology there. It's just how the medical model of birth proceeds with its monitoring and needles, etc...There is nothing you could end up needing if you were at home or in the birth center that you can't get to the hospital in time to get. There are only 2 true emergency reasons for a c-section and everything else can be seen coming in advance by any good doctor or midwife which means you'd be transferred "in case" before you actually need to be there.
All that said, your experience will depend most on 2 things: your baby catcher and your doula.
I would never try to give birth in the hospital without a doula. I would also pay the extra for a private doula instead of using the Community network doulas because they work for the hospital and rarely step in when needed in a situation. I know a few private doulas who used to work for Community Hospitals and they all agree that they were more worried about keeping their jobs and having a decent experience with the doctors than making sure the mom got everything she wanted. Interview a few and figure out who you jive with. I can give you a couple names if you PM me.
As for the doctor, you have to be VERY picky. Set up interviews with prospective doctors. If they aren't willing to sit down and talk about their natural birth experiences, they aren't going to take the time to make sure you get one. I can tell you from experience, you don't want to be in labor trying to remember what you should be doing instead of letting them use a vacuum to pull the baby out, or signing waivers so you don't have to have a needle stuck in the back of your hand because it's "hospital policy" but you know there's nothing they can make you do if you don't want to.
Check with moms on indymoms.com and see who people recommend. I would go with the birth center if I were you, I haven't heard too many good things about CommSouth.