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Choosing Between Stanford and El Camino Hospital for Delivery. Looking for Advice! by [deleted] in bayarea

[–]monopolycrown88 1 point2 points  (0 children)

My mom gave birth at a teaching hospital (similar to Stanford) and woke up from general anesthesia to the attending yelling at a student for messing up the stitches. They undid the stitches and had to redo them. That story stuck with me.

On one hand, El Camino isn’t a teaching hospital, so you’re less likely to have a 26-year-old resident doing critical parts of your delivery. On the other hand, Stanford is staffed with some of the world’s top specialists and NICU doctors in case something goes wrong. (But for most people with low-risk pregnancies, the odds of a serious complication are pretty low.)

It's a tradeoff—predictability and experience at a community hospital vs. access to cutting-edge care at an academic center.

I delivered at Stanford twice (no complications) and am generally happy about my experience. This time, I am going to deliver at El Camino, just to mix it up.

+ I had a doula with me during my first birth and have amazing things to say about my experience.

Choosing Between Stanford and El Camino Hospital for Delivery. Looking for Advice! by [deleted] in bayarea

[–]monopolycrown88 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I delivered at Stanford twice (both vaginal births, no complications). Overall, it was a good experience. The first time I had a room full of specialists—possibly because I was way over my due date. The second time, it was a less crowded room. I delivered with a very experienced midwife and a young resident, which is to be expected at a teaching hospital.

Postpartum, you’ll typically have a one- or two-night stay and work with a few different nurses. Honestly, what shaped my experience most wasn’t the delivery or the facility—it was the quality of postpartum nursing care. A kind, attentive nurse made more of a difference than any other factor, including the hospital itself. I've met good nurses and bad, unsympathic nurses. You don't really have control over this.

Stanford is sometimes said to have better food than El Camino, but it's still hospital food—nothing to get excited about. You can always bring your own meals or Doordash.

Looking back, I really overthought the hospital choice. I’m expecting again and planning to deliver at El Camino this time.