Having a Baby at Sharp Mary Birch Hospital for Women

Triage
The nurse quickly gets your information and hands you a gown and a cup for a urine sample. As soon as you give you sample, you are place in a room behind a curtain in the triage area. They are very nice and clean rooms and while you can hear what's going on in the other rooms, they are private enough that you don't feel exposed to the whole hospital. Your contractions are monitored and any other conditions or pregnancy complications are discussed and dealt with. When it is determined that you are actually in true labor you are admitted to the hospital and they take you to the next floor in a wheelchair. You are given an id bracelet and your spouse or partner goes with you to your labor and delivery room.

Labor and Delivery
These rooms are much larger and more private. They have a television in an armoire, a rocking chair, a full bathroom, and are equip with everything needed for your labor and delivery. You may dim the lights if desired or play whatever music you bring with you. The labor and delivery nurses respond quickly and compassionately to all of you needs. It is obvious they genuinely care about your situation. If you would like pain medication they are quick and skilled in administering it. If you get and epidural (which I highly recommend) the anesthesiologist makes you feel comfortable and does and excellent job. It is usually over with soon and you are pain free. Once you are in your last phase of labor your doctor is paged and he/she comes in to help you push and deliver you baby. They ask your spouse or partner if they would like to cut the cord and they also offer mirrors if you would like to see the birth. They are very accommodating and want you to have a pleasant experience. They do the newborn tests and measurements promptly and then you, your spouse or partner, and your new baby head up to your recovery room.

Recovery
These rooms are smaller than the labor and delivery because they do not need so much space for equipment. But there are still extra chairs for visitors (including a chair that pulls out to a small bed so your spouse or partner may spend the night with you) , a television in an armoire, a full bathroom and a curtain around the inside of the door so when people come in everyone in the hallway cannot see whatever it is you are doing. You baby rooms in with you unless you request otherwise or unless they have to be downstairs in the NICU (neonatal intensive care unit) for low birth weight or some other complication. No small children are allowed in the rooms unless they are siblings of the newborn. The nurses check in on you every hour for the first 12 hours and after that it is about every four hours. If you need them otherwise there is a handy intercom button on the side rail of your bed that you can call over to the main nurse station with and request ice, juice, warm blankets or whatever else you need. There are great menus which do not resemble typical "hospital food" in any way. There are many choices from a french dip sandwich to fettuccine Alfredo. The doctor on call makes their rounds between breakfast and lunch usually and he asks you is you need anything and how you are feeling. When you are discharged, the nurse gives you a diaper bag stocked with a travel box of wipes, a sample of formula, some pamphlets, and a little baby t-shirt that says "I'm a Sharp Baby". You also receive a booklet about how to care for your newborn with helpful information that any new parent would be grateful for and a video to go with it. There is a photography opportunity if you wish to have your baby's picture taken and there are several photo packets you can choose from. They also sell things such as a baby's first Christmas ornament with the picture on it as well as mugs, mouse pads and other items like these.

Overall the "Sharp Experience" as they call it, is a good one. They are compassionate, efficient, and professional. Their facilities are clean, well kept, and up to date. And their locations are easy to find and parking is easy and close to the building. I am happy to say that I gave birth to all three of my children at Sharp Mary Birch and I would give it 5 stars for each time.