Review of the Palomar Birth Center in Escondido

Both of my children were born at Palomar Hospital's Birth Center in Escondido, my first daughter in 2000 and my son in 2006. Despite the excruciating pain of labor and delivery, both experiences at the birth center were wonderful from start to finish.

The birth center at Palomar Hospital in Escondido, California features private labor and delivery rooms. From the moment of admission to delivery of the baby the family stays in the same private room. The rooms are tastefully decorated, giving the appearance more like a nice hotel than a hospital room. The laboring mother lies in a typical hospital bed while a chair and a table are provided for guests. A private bathroom and shower is in the room as well. The expectant father is encouraged to stay for as long as he likes, the chair even folds out to form a small, albeit uncomfortable, bed.

Don't let the amenities fool you though. This is a fully operational birthing room filled with medical equipment, monitors and computers. Should something go awry, Palomar Hospital has a neo-natal unit on site. Fortunately, I've not had to go there.

Nurses and a variety of hospital staffers whisked in and out of the birthing room, taking blood pressure readings, blood samples and bringing in forms to fill out. Each person I encountered during both hospital stays was incredibly friendly, polite and conscientious.

In 2000, I had to time getting the epidural to when the anesthesiologist was available. This time around, I found out that Palomar's Birth Center now employs an anesthesiologist full time, around the clock. This meant that I could order the epidural at will rather than waiting several hours.

After having the epidural, and proclaiming my undying love of the anesthesiologist, I cruised through labor. I was stuck in the pushing stage with my daughter for 2 ½ hours with the nurse by my side the entire time and the doctor on call. My son was a different story, just a few pushes and he was out. I hardly got to know the nurse this time around.

Both times, we were able to stay in the birthing room until the effects of the epidural wore off. Afterwards, they moved us to a smaller recovery room. The recovery room also featured the nice décor, a fold out bed for the father and a private bathroom and shower.

Once again, a parade of birth center and other hospital staff came and went, regardless of the time of day or night. The one thing they all shared in common was a consistent checking of ID badges. They made sure to double check my identity and compare it to the bracelet on the baby.

No hospital review is complete without a review of the hospital food. Let's just say it was hospital food. Actually, two of the best meals I've ever had were the meals I received just after giving birth. Now I'm not dumb enough to think the food was any good but my body appreciated the nourishment.

Between the nice accommodations, the friendly staff and the cute babies, the birth center at Palomar Hospital is about as good as it gets.