Giving Birth -- Calvert or AAMC?

[Chesapeakebaybe]

I'm 6 months pregnant and live in Norther Calvert. I was all set to give birth at Calvert Memorial, but when I did the hospital tour I was underwhelmed. Among other isses, they seem to have some staffing and resource problems.

Additionally several neighbors told me they have a bad reputation and recommend the new state-of-the-art birth pavilion at Anne Arundle Medical Center. However, the change would involve switching doctors. Wondering if it is worth it. Did anyone deliver at either of these facilities? What was the experience like?

 

[SoftballCrazy]

I'm 6 months pregnant and live in Norther Calvert. I was all set to give birth at Calvert Memorial, but when I did the hospital tour I was underwhelmed. Among other isses, they seem to have some staffing and resource problems.

Additionally several neighbors told me they have a bad reputation and recommend the new state-of-the-art birth pavilion at Anne Arundle Medical Center. However, the change would involve switching doctors. Wondering if it is worth it. Did anyone deliver at either of these facilities? What was the experience like?

I delivered at Calvert 2 wks ago - no problems or complaints. Staff was great, informative & helpful, everyone was very nice. Love my Dr, so I wouldn't have switched hospitals.

 

[tes218]

I delivered at Calvert 2 wks ago - no problems or complaints. Staff was great, informative & helpful, everyone was very nice. Love my Dr, so I wouldn't have switched hospitals.

Can't wait to meet her! Send more pictures!!

 

[citysherry]

I'm 6 months pregnant and live in Norther Calvert. I was all set to give birth at Calvert Memorial, but when I did the hospital tour I was underwhelmed. Among other isses, they seem to have some staffing and resource problems.

Additionally several neighbors told me they have a bad reputation and recommend the new state-of-the-art birth pavilion at Anne Arundle Medical Center. However, the change would involve switching doctors. Wondering if it is worth it. Did anyone deliver at either of these facilities? What was the experience like?

I don't think that Calvert has a NICU, so if there are any complications with your baby, Calvert sends your baby to another hospital. I would want to deliver in a full service facility.

 

[nicole_M]

I delivered all three of my children [the last 2 are twins] at AAMC. I had a wonderful experience with the hospital and staff. They do have a Level III NICU so, god forbid, anything happens to the baby, he/she stays @ AAMC.

Good Luck!! You are only 20-25 mins from AAMC in Northern Calvert, well worth the drive IMO.

ETA: I used both Annapolis OB/GYN and Women OB/GYN and both are fantastic groups.

 

[Chesapeakebaybe]

I don't think that Calvert has a NICU, so if there are any complications with your baby, Calvert sends your baby to another hospital. I would want to deliver in a full service facility.

Good point. One of my neighbors also brought that up. Would I really want to be stuck in Calvert while my baby was whisked off to AAMC or vice-versa? I am a low risk pregnancy but that is also something I'm uneasy about. I'm also relatively new to the area and Prince Fredrick feels so remote to me. Don't get me wrong it's come a long way since I moved here, but I suppose I'm more accustomed to urban life.

 

[Ashleyscove]

No problems with calvert

I'm 6 months pregnant and live in Norther Calvert. I was all set to give birth at Calvert Memorial, but when I did the hospital tour I was underwhelmed. Among other isses, they seem to have some staffing and resource problems.

Additionally several neighbors told me they have a bad reputation and recommend the new state-of-the-art birth pavilion at Anne Arundle Medical Center. However, the change would involve switching doctors. Wondering if it is worth it. Did anyone deliver at either of these facilities? What was the experience like?

I have 4 kids and all were born at calvert and I had no problems with them at all. the staff is wonderful and caring. Good luck in the desision making.. GOD BLESS

 

[lbreder]

I had my oldest son at CMH and was happy with the nurses but NOT happy with my doctor. She walked out on me 3 times while trying to deliver my son. She wasnt happy with the way I was pushing. Anyways, my son was born took 5 hours to come tell me my son had a heart condition and no where to be seen was my doctor. Some man told me about my son and he had to be flown out. I signed myself out of CMH to go to Childrens to be with my son. You dont have to stay and they cant make you. I was told they havent dealt with a child with my sons condition. You need to go with your gut and do whats best for you and you baby! Whatever happens YOU have the final say.

 

[MrX]

AAMC hands down.

 

[SAB]

AAMC is great!

 

[CalvertNewbie]

Good point. One of my neighbors also brought that up. Would I really want to be stuck in Calvert while my baby was whisked off to AAMC or vice-versa? I am a low risk pregnancy but that is also something I'm uneasy about. I'm also relatively new to the area and Prince Fredrick feels so remote to me. Don't get me wrong it's come a long way since I moved here, but I suppose I'm more accustomed to urban life.

I also live in Calvert & chose to go up to AAMC (I'm now due in 1.5 wks, March 3rd!). Like you, I'm fairly new to the area. I've lived in NY & DC, where most hospitals have what you need right there. I had started a thread a while back, asking for opinions. Many people had great things to say about CMH but I got a few PMs that made me want to check out AAMC as well. We checked out both hospitals & we decided to make the drive up to Annapolis because they have a NICU & Calvert does not. You hope to never need it but you just never know. They won't deliver in Calvert if you go into labor before the 36 week mark. So I didn't feel comfortable going somewhere for all my prenatal care to possibly be sent away if the baby decided he wanted to come a month early.

I've been going up to Annapolis OB/GYN (at the hospital) for all my prenatal care & they've been amazing. Not once have I had to wait to be seen, they always get me right in at my scheduled time. The staff is wonderful. I'm about to be a first time Mom so I've had questions & concerns along the way & they've always returned calls quickly, never made me feel like a burden. We took the birthing class/hospital tour a few weeks ago and were very impressed with the facility.

Good luck with your decision & with the birth!

 

[CalvertNewbie]

I delivered at Calvert 2 wks ago - no problems or complaints. Staff was great, informative & helpful, everyone was very nice. Love my Dr, so I wouldn't have switched hospitals.

Congrats on the little one!

 

[nicole_M]

I also live in Calvert & chose to go up to AAMC (I'm now due in 1.5 wks, March 3rd!). Like you, I'm fairly new to the area. I've lived in NY & DC, where most hospitals have what you need right there. I had started a thread a while back, asking for opinions. Many people had great things to say about CMH but I got a few PMs that made me want to check out AAMC as well. We checked out both hospitals & we decided to make the drive up to Annapolis because they have a NICU & Calvert does not. You hope to never need it but you just never know. They won't deliver in Calvert if you go into labor before the 36 week mark. So I didn't feel comfortable going somewhere for all my prenatal care to possibly be sent away if the baby decided he wanted to come a month early.

I've been going up to Annapolis OB/GYN (at the hospital) for all my prenatal care & they've been amazing. Not once have I had to wait to be seen, they always get me right in at my scheduled time. The staff is wonderful. I'm about to be a first time Mom so I've had questions & concerns along the way & they've always returned calls quickly, never made me feel like a burden. We took the birthing class/hospital tour a few weeks ago and were very impressed with the facility.

Good luck with your decision & with the birth!

I LOVED Annapolis OB/GYN. Dr. McDonough delivered my 1st son. Dr. Nguyen and Dr. Guckes delivered my twins.

Best wishes to you!!!

 

[Geek]

I popped one out at Civista and the other at Calvert. Civista was nicer. More free stuff, sweet romantical dinner. About 10 nurses holding up parts of my body. It was wonderful.

In Calvert, I was not given an epidural, screamed like a monkey on fire and got yelled at a lot.

 

[edisspecial]

I delivered back in November at Calvert with Dr. Estes, whom I love. It was an okay experience. There were some nurses that really made me feel like an inconvienence, which I didn't appreciate. I think if you're worried about delivering there you should switch somewhere with a better reputation that's better equipped for emergencies or complications. You should do everything you can to put yourself at ease, because it's your body and your baby. Congrats by the way!

 

[CalvertNewbie]

I LOVED Annapolis OB/GYN. Dr. McDonough delivered my 1st son. Dr. Nguyen and Dr. Guckes delivered my twins.

Best wishes to you!!!

Thanks so much, we can't wait! I'm now to the point that I'm not nervous about the delivery, I'm just ready to have our little boy. I love Dr. Guckes too, I'd be ecstatic if he was the one to deliver our baby. I've been seen by almost every dr up there & there's only one who I'm not too thrilled with. Maybe he was just in a mood the day I spoke with him but he wasn't exactly personable. Then again once it gets to that point, I doubt I'll care who the heck delivers our son as long as they know what they're doing which they all do.

 

[kom526]

Tough decision to make after 6 months of pregnancy. Aren't a lot of women really sensitive about choosing the "right" MD. but to then change mid stream?

That being said, my wife's Dr. practices at AAMC and both of our sons were delivered there and I don't think that is a better place to deliver IMHO. But back to the changing your doc during your pregnancy, man that is a toughie.

 

[nicole_M]

Thanks so much, we can't wait! I'm now to the point that I'm not nervous about the delivery, I'm just ready to have our little boy. I love Dr. Guckes too, I'd be ecstatic if he was the one to deliver our baby. I've been seen by almost every dr up there & there's only one who I'm not too thrilled with. Maybe he was just in a mood the day I spoke with him but he wasn't exactly personable. Then again once it gets to that point, I doubt I'll care who the heck delivers our son as long as they know what they're doing which they all do.

Dr. Guckes is hysterical...

I'm sure you are ready to have him! Good luck

 

[cgwife]

I have 3 children......all of which were born premature (32 weeks, 30 weeks and 29 weeks). I delivered the 1st two at AAMC......I was at AAMC with the 3rd but had to be transferred to Johns Hopkins when I went into active labor as the NICU at AAMC was full. I HIGHLY recommend AAMC over Calvert. The Labor and Delivery Staff was absolutley WONDERFUL and the NICU Staff was equally WONDERUFL!!!!! IThe drive may be a little farther but in my opinion, it is WELL worth it. It is my understanding that Calvert will not transfer to AAMC NICU (if the baby needed to go to a NICU for any reason), they transfer to Childrens. Not that there is ANYTHING wrong with Childrens, they are a wonderful hospital as well.......just the location and drive would be alot worse.

I used Womans OBGYN in Annapolis for all 3 pregnancies and would recommend them to anyone.

Good luck to you. I am sure whatever hospital you choose to use will be a wonderful experience.

 

[Speedy70]

I had my son at Calvert in 2007. I had a wonderful experience there, and my nurse Sheila was great. There were no other ladies there giving birth when I was so I got my pick of birthing rooms (which was great because the first room they put me in had an air conditioning problem).