Comments on: Bad News for Giving Birth at Reston Hospital

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Wed, 10 Oct 2007 18:07:12 +0000

Unless things have changed, I’d advise not to delivery at Reston hospital. I gave birth at Reston hospital in 2006. The delivery experience went well and the staff on the delivery floor were very nice. However, the recovery floor was an awful experience. The day after birth I mentioned to one of the nurses that my son looked yellowish. She just shrugged her shoulders and left. It wasn’t until we were checking out that the doctor told us somehow he missed seeing our son and he just performed the checkup. He said our son was 95% jaundice. I asked if they could put him under the blue light since we wouldn’t be leaving for a few hours. He said no, that we could put him in the sun when we get home and address the issue to our pediatrician. There were several other discomforting issues I experienced on the recovery floor. The list could go on. For example, I had problems urinating and the nursing staff was anything but compassionate to my pain. They never came to my room when I called and I had to beg to be put on a catheter. I felt both my baby and I were neglected on the recovery floor. I only hope that things have changed there since then.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Wed, 26 Sep 2007 17:18:20 +0000

I both my kids at Reston, 1992 and 1996. My son was a c-section because he was laying on the cord andthere was no way to move it. My daughter was a v-bac(vaginal birth after c section). Both times I was asked when I wanted the epidurals. Both my husband and myself were allowed to take the babies when we wanted. The actually slept in my room. Both times nurses and lactacion consultants sit with me for over an hour in the middle of the night to help me nurse. My son and sister were allowed into the room to see his sister 15 minutes after she was born. I didn’t even get the epidural for her until after he left the night before because I wanted to wait. Nobody pushed me to do anything I didn’t want to do.

By: jacqueline

jacqueline — Sat, 15 Sep 2007 14:22:01 +0000

ihad my daugther in july 2006 i can tell everything went out right the nurses were very nice and very helpful. ihave avery good experience.

By: Catherine

Catherine — Tue, 17 Jul 2007 19:19:14 +0000

Although I have never given birth at Reston, I have read the comments with some interest. I am both a doula and a lactation consultant. To cover all areas, my “paid” job is a NICU specialist. Any birth should belong to the baby and the parents. In this fast paced and litigation crazed world, the patient or a loved one has to be the advocate. Don’t be intimidated by the medical personnel. Although they are overworked, stressed and understaffed, you have the right for the care that not only are you paying for, but that you morally deserve. Ask questions, be informed. The birth process is an exciting, once in a lifetime (for that child) experience.

By: ray

ray — Wed, 23 May 2007 20:16:44 +0000

But to clear up the air a bit, we had 2 kids in the reston hospital over the last 4 years and both were delivered vaginally.

The high rate of c-sections can’t be attributed to the hospital but to the various (private) doctors who deliver there.

Our doctor didnt push for the c-sections even when the goin was tough (for our first child).

I agree with the hospital’s decision not to allow doula’s and mid wives as sometimes they are more of a distraction than help (many a times they argue with the doctors/nurses, right or wrong…, and create a chaotic environment).

Yes, they do not allow family in the nursery and why should they. We have enough bozo’s out there that will do stupid things in the nursery and potentially cause harm to other kids there. Also there is the issue or legal risk stemming from the above.

So in a nutshell Reston hospital is just another hospital in the area and I wouldnt badger it.
If it is closer to you than fairfax or Loudoun hospitals then go ahead and use it.

Overall I would rate it at a B+.

By: Marie Boyle

Marie Boyle — Mon, 16 Apr 2007 12:23:47 +0000

Some of what you say is true and some is overstated. My daughter recently gave birth at Reston H. Out of nine or so births that day she was only one of two naturals. Yes, epidural was given early, but she could move and feel some pain.

It was the doctor who started to talk, C/S after only 5 hours on pit. My daughter was pre-eclamptic. No I did not want her to have the births I had, but I did feel the doc was pushing C/S too early. I expressed my discomfort. They internally monitored the baby and increased pit. The baby was delivered naturally after 12 hours of labor. Of course, with the increase, the dilation went from 3 to 10 CM in one and one/half hours; and she delivered one half hour later.

The nurses were superb. One stayed on her off hours.
They coached like champs.

I did feel the doc entered the scenario a tad late.

I also feel if if was a really busy day with short staffing; I would have seen a C/S.

Her experience though in L&D was positive.

Post partum was another matter.
Their lactation expert should be retrained. The baby was not latching and caused extreme pain for my daughter. The Expert never corrected the matter. I retaught her when we came home. There was very little care on the floor. The night nurse asks “Would you like to give your suppository to yourself?” Quite a trick when you are in so much discomfort.

Yes, I am an RN. I do not believe in home births or doulas. Why? I was eclamptic and hemmorhaged. I was a placenta abruptio. My daughter was delivered emergent, and they cut her forehead going in. She has the scar, her little badge of courage, to this day.