Abbott or Mercy Birth Center Opinions

I have had 2 babies at Abbott with good experiences. I will deliver my 3rd there next month.
I use Women's Health Consultants in the Foshay Tower, downtown Mpls. They also have offices near Abbott. It is a group of about 8 women docs and they are wonderful. I have had very good experiences, and I liked being right next to Children's Hospital as well, just in case.

I delivered at Mercy and had a great experience. Everyone on the staff was very nice and treated us well. My only negative experience was with their Lactation Consultant. She was a bit harsh.

I have the BEST OB for you. Dr. John Wust - Northern Ob-Gyn.
www.northernobgyn.com

He is so fantastic. He is in private practice, and gives 150% to all his patients. His office is right across from Mercy hospital. Because he is on his own, he delivers all his own patients (except when he is out of town - even then his backup doc is great). Best part is that he spends a lot of time with his patients, is great about questions, calls, etc.

Good luck!

We live in Ramsey but I've delivered both my children at Abbott Northwestern - with good reason. I think the experience I've had at Abbott is well worth the distance. Of course, I would have gone to Mercy if there was an emergency, but with lots of planning and attention, we were able to make it to Abbott with no problem! The birthing center was wonderful and the nurses very friendly, helpful and accomodating. The facilities are really good. They walked me through each stage carefully and made sure I knew exactly what to expect and what my options were. Both my children were delivered vaginally with no problems, but the fact that Children's Hospital is right next door, gave me the extra assurance that IF anything went wrong or if my children needed extra care, they would instantly have it.

I delivered at Mercy and was very happy with the attention I received. The entire staff was very friendly and helped in any way possible. I was very pleased with the experience. My OB was Dr. Gorneau, but he wasn't on call the night I went into labor, but my delivering doctor was very nice.

I think the way Mercy works is what ever OB is on call is the one that deliveres your baby..I don't think your particular OB comes in. They suggest seeing each doctor on staff, but I kept all my appointments with Dr. Gorneau, because I had some history that he was familiar with. Although he didn't deliver my child, the Dr that did was very nice and capable.

I delivered all of my kids at Mercy. I really enjoyed it there. It helped me be comfortable there, having worked there before, but the staff is wonderful, the doctors are great. I personally used Dr. Nancy Dickerson, she is with the OB/GYN office right across the street, at the professional building. Mercy does work with a scheduled rotation of doctors. Each one takes one day, 24 hours. And if you go into labor randomly, you get who ever is on call. I had my doctor for one deleivery, And I had two differnt doctors for my other deliveries. I was a VERY high risk pregnancy with my two singleton pregnancies, and even higher risk with my twin pregnancy. I really enjoyed having the perinatologists right there as well. I live in Brooklyn Center, and drove there for each of my appointments! I found it well worth the drive!!!

A very nice thing about Mercy, is that all of their rooms are private rooms! No need to have to worry about sharing a room after having a baby!! I know to me that was huge, so that I could get to know my baby, and let my family come see them, without worrying about bothering a room mate!!!

Also, I had a 34 weeks 5 day baby, and he was VERY well taken care of in their level two nursery. They can only handle 34 weeks and beyond. Anything earlier than that, and they send you down to Abbott!!!

If we weren't done having kids, I'd be heading back to Mercy again!

Good Luck!!!

I delivered my daughter at Mercy in October of last year. I was very satisfied with the staff, birth rooms and the care my daughter and I received after delivery. Dr. Eastenson delivered my daughter but she was only in the room a couple of minutes before my daughter was born and left shortly after so I can't give too many details about her in particular. I can say however, that the nurses were very supportive and helpful and although they had a shift change in the middle of my labor I always felt well taken care of.

I don't have any suggestions for you, but I wanted to butt in on the topic of choosing a specific hospital and having your heart set on it.... In December, I had my son. Our CNM delivered at both Hudson Hospital and at Woodwinds. We chose Woodwinds, toured the place, planned on a waterbirth--all that jazz.

When it came time for me to have my son--I needed to be induced due to my water breaking and no contractions on my own--I was told that Woodwinds' maternity ward was full. They had an "ante room" that I could occupy, but it was extremely small--basically a holding cell of sorts. To top it off, my CNM had 2 other patients that were going to Hudson Hospital that same day. I had to choose between going to a hospital I had never stepped foot in OR basically giving birth in a broom closet (LOL) where my CNM may or may not be present.

The obvious choice for us was Hudson, and they were FABULOUS, as was my CNM. I can't say enough good things about them.

While I was at Hudson, one of the nurses told me she used to work for another hospital in the TC metro (forget which one) and they had to turn away people from the maternity ward on a daily basis.

If you go with a private practice OB or CNM, find out if they have a "back-up" hospital and what they do if more than 1 patient going into labor at the same time.

If you have your heart set on a specific hospital, find out how often they turn people away, and how they handle that sort of situation.