Maternity room-private or double?

[Desnik]

The hospital where I gave birth has all private birthing suites. I had labor and delivery in one private room. It was beautiful. Wood floors, mountain views, armoire with TV, VCR, fridge. There was a rocking chair, a chair that pulled out to a bed for DH. Lots of extra blakets and pillows. I was spoiled!! After delivery the room had similar things and was alittle smaller. Everything was private and I had my own shower/bathroom. It was a wonderful experience!

 

[Sonya]

It WAS gross. I was 3 days post and the new lady was brought in and couldn't take care of herself, let alone the toilet seat! (sorry, TMI!) Plus all the other things that women need in the bathroom.

 

[Kermit]

The hospital where I delivered Jacob and where I'll go with this baby only has private rooms. You labor and deliver in one room, and then you go to what's called the Mom and Baby Unit, where all of the rooms are private with their own restrooms. I can't imagine rooming with anyone. Breastfeeding those first few days isn't exactly modest. I wouldn't mind nursing in front of another new mom, but I would be concerned about her guests. Plus the nurses are always in there and in your business. I was mortified that the nurse wanted to watch me potty (just number one ) right after I had the baby to make sure I really did it. I couldn't do it in front of her, and I definitely wouldn't have been able to do it in front of an even bigger audience.

 

[mommytotwo]

During my first time, I was in a single because of my stillborn baby situation. During the second time, I was in a double, but luckily since the hospital wasn't busy, we had the room all to our selves, and my husband was able to stay with me.

 

[Alice28]

The hospital I delivered at had all private rooms for post-partum. (All private rooms for delivery too, but some were nicer than others). They were pretty spacious rooms that used to be double rooms- two sinks, two phone hook-ups, etc. But instead of another bed, there was a daybed where Dad could sleep if he wanted to. Also a private bathroom, but there was not a shower- there was a shower for about every 5 rooms; the nurse would let you know when it was free and it wasn't that big of a deal since I think I only took 1 shower per stay with each child.

Now, when I was waiting to get my gall bladder out (it wasn't scheduled), I had my own room for a day and a half and right when they were wheeling me out for surgery, my roommate showed up. I never even saw her, but I would have been uncomfortable with that. Here I was, feeling at my worst....didn't want to have to make small talk or listen to someone else in pain. Ya know?

 

[Alice28]

lil mermaid---

Just curious, what hospital are you delivering at? My Mom is a labor and delivery nurse manager in the Bay Area........

 

[Kimickey]

I delivered at National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda, MD this past December. All of the rooms are single (huge rooms) with private bathrooms. The maternity facilities are VERY nice made pre and post delivery very comfortable.

 

[cinmell]

I had a private labor/delivery room and private room in the mother/baby unit with my own bathroom. Very nice.

 

[Stimpy]

The hospital I delivered at, and will probably deliver at this time, only had 4 private suites, the rest are doubles. With DS, I was really lucky, my mother was an RN at the hospital and I was able to get a private room but they charged the insurance for a double. (Our insurance won't cover a private, we would have to pay the difference) Since she retired about 2 years ago, I doubt I'll be that lucky again. I already told DH that paying the difference and getting the private room would be the perfect gift for me.

I am an extremely private and shy person who hates hospitals to begin with so the thought sharing a room with someone else actually stresses me out immensely!

 

[zurgswife]

Let's see....DD12 I was in a private room on the maternity ward

DS11...After delivery at birthing center went straight home...So, I was in my own bed 6hrs later

DS10...After delivery at birthing center went straight home...So, I was in my own bed 5 hrs later

DD6...After delivery at birthing center went straight home ...So, I was in my own bed less then 4 hrs later...

Can't beat your own bed...

 

[CamColt]

Both kids, same situations...1 room for both labor and delivery, private, with a private bath. I wouldnt have had it any other way.

 

[goodstarr]

It would be ideal for all moms to have their own room after having a baby (for medical reasons-sharing a toilet after having a baby is not only gross, but can be a mode for transmitting body fluids. And those who have had ******l deliveries know that there can be areas that are not intact anymore).It can be stressful for new moms who have different rooming-in styles (contrary to popular beliefs, most new moms don't keep their babies all day and night if given the choice. At my hospital, moms are allowed to have their babies in the nursery at any time, for as long as they would like. But, that's another thread). Visitors are a big problem as well.

 

[BethanyF]

When I was checked in to labor and delivery, I was given the option of a private post-partum room (if one was available). They told us we would get a bill for $50 per night since the insurance doesnt cover private rooms. DH said yes faster than I could.
As it turned out I delivered by c-section, so I was very grateful for the private room. Many of the new moms chose to have the baby room with them, in double rooms, and I chose to let Sam sleep in the nursery. I think if I had been sharing with a mom and baby I would have gotten annoyed.
The other thing I was noticing was all the visitors, that too would have drove me insane. I was very crabby and uncomfortable for those first few days and I barely wanted to deal wit my family, let alone someone elses family.
We never did get a bill for the private room. I have no idea why not, but we would have gladly paid it. The room was small, but I had my own bathroom, chair, rocking chair and so on. It was worth choosing to go private.

 

[Kitty 34]

DS #1......I was in a double and stayed two nights. However, I was back in the hospital within 48 hours after leaving with a terrible uterine infection. That time I had a Single because I was in isolation!! I was right down the hall from the nursery and all the babies crying made me constantly cry for my son. I couldn't be with him for three days until I got better!!!

DS #2.....Had Michael at 11:00 in the evening, spent that night and came home at 6:00pm the next evening. He was 19 hours old!!! I did have a roommate but hardly remember her because I wasn't there very long.

DS #3.....got lucky and had a single!! Had Danny all to myself for two days before taking him home to the other boys!!! It was a very nice two days!!!


btw.....had all three of my boys at different hospitals!

 

[Princess Dot]

I worked at a hospital in NYC that not only had double bedded rooms, but some 3 bed rooms! My grandmother told me that when she delivered it really was a maternity "ward" with one large room and rows fo beds. She thought it was great because she got to chat with all the other moms! LOL, that was in the day where you stayed in bed for a week after delivery!

Now, having stayed in and worked with double rooms, it seems fine when its just the moms. The problem comes with "rooming in", when one mom keeps a crying baby with her all night and the other mom wants to sleep. As the RN, I always made sure the bathroom was clean and that all the moms were instructed in proper hygene.

Where I work now, it is only private rooms in the whole hospital. I laugh when the moms complain about noise from crying babies coming from other rooms! Imagine that, crying babies on the maternity floor! Patients now seem to expect a hotel, not just a hospital.(Sorry, small rant stuck in there!)

 

[Talking Hands]

First DD I was in a private room first because I had preeclampsia for 2 weeks before and then after because my daughter had to be moved to the NICU in another hospital. Hospital choice because they had rooming in and didn't want me in with a Mom with a baby since I didn't have mine.

Second DD in a semi-private with the roommate from hell. She got angry with me for feeding my baby at night ( I was nursing). She wanted her fed in the nursery with a bottle because I was disturbing her. My doc told her if she didn't like it to pay for a private room.

 

[wdwnutze]

With DS(almost 20) I had a double room but never got a roommate in the 5 days I was there. With DD(11yo) I requested and paid a small fee for a private room(ins. wouldn't cover all the cost but I thought it was money well spent). With my 3rd baby(DD 5yo) I had a private room but could only have a private room if I had her in the room with me all the time. If I wanted her to sleep in the nursery I had to share a room to be on the floor with the nursery. I definately think private is the way to go.

 

[Toby'sFriend]

Private rooms with all 3 of them.
I agree, I wouldn't want to be sharing a bathroom then.

When I had my last baby a year ago, I was the only Mom on the floor the entire 48 hours I was there. I could have had my choice of rooms.

 

[Lynn CC]

A double, I didn't know enough to ask for a private room.
I bet the lady next to me wishes she had one though, I cried all night...I had no visitors she had a ton.
I was going through my blues...DH's great grandfather died the same day DS was born (he wanted to see our DS so badly), and my family were all on vacation far away. I didn't even know that I could have went and got DS out of the nursery..that would have cheered me up. I can't believe how dumb I was in my 20's

 

[dcgrumpy]

Originally posted by Toby'sFriend
Private rooms with all 3 of them.
I agree, I wouldn't want to be sharing a bathroom then.

When I had my last baby a year ago, I was the only Mom on the floor the entire 48 hours I was there. I could have had my choice of rooms.

OMG really? LOL

when I had DD there were over 20 babies born that day . Some of the moms had to be put on another floor. I guess I'm lucky they didn't make us share beds. LOL