Delivery Experiences at North Fulton Regional?

I have not been there for delivery, but for other hospital services. I love North Fulton and plan to have my next child there. I had my first at Crawford Long and loved it, but really want to try water birth for the next one and since N. Fulton is the only place that offers it, I'll be there.
Here's something interesting. Margaret Strickhouser, who was mentioned a couple times, delivered my brother 23 years ago. My mom swears by her and has already put that bug in my ear for the next baby. Keep us posted if you deliver there and let us know how it is. Good luck!

I am due any day now and i'm delivering @ North Fulton. So I can't tell you anything right this second, but will get back with you on how my experience is. Best of Luck!

From everything I've heard, North Fulton is much better. I was in the process of switching practices and hospitals (from Northside to North Fulton) for my second child, but I went into labor before I was able to switch over. I was switching because I was trying very hard to have a VBAC (vaginal birth after a Cesarean), and I didn't think my OB at Northside was going to give it a fighting chance.

My doula highly recommended Margaret Strickhouser, and midwife who practices there. (Someone else mentioned her as well.)

Anyway, from what everyone says, the whole staff at North Fulton is more supportive about your birth choices. The only firsthand account I can give you is the experiences I had with the birth preparation classes. (For my first child, I took the class at Northside, and for the second child, it was at North Fulton, and it was soooo different.)
The Northside class focused SOOO much on anesthesia and drugs, as if no one in their right mind would NOT want to be lying on their back, feet in the air, tangled up in various tubes, as long as they had that epidural. They said very, very little on the side effects of any of the meds, and NOTHING about the patient's rights to question the doctor about anything, even things that were controversial, like routine episiotomies. (This was just a few months before some research came out saying that routine episiotomies tended to cause more problems than they solved.)

The North Fulton class was taught by a woman who was an R.N. as well as a doula, and talked more about different kinds of births, waterbirth, hand-and knees, lying on your side, medicated and non-medicated, coping with pain,
and how to minimize interventions. Tthe fact that they offer a water birth option tells you a lot, even if you're not personally interested in that option.

I know that "factory feel" that one other person complained of at Northside. If it's busy and delivery rooms are in demand, you might feel the pressure. Add to that how long it takes to see a lactation consultant compared to how quickly (some) Northside nurses are to force you to supplement with formula. I had some pushy nurse at Northside barging into my room without knocking and telling me she was going to give my baby a bottle of formula if he didn't tinkle in the next hour. The kid wasn't even 24 hours old yet!

To be fair, I think Northside has a more attractive lobby with prettier art. :-0

I had my baby there(now is 4), it was great, the room was big, the nurse was great...no complains...good luck
pam

I delivered my first child at Northside and my second at North Fulton. I must say I enjoyed North Fulton better because it was a cozier experience. They have redone the maternity ward and it is lovely. I had a c-section and I was there for 4 days.

My daughter, now 24, was the very first C-Section born at North Fulton the week it opened November '83. We were the only clients that week. I also had my son there and by then the numbers had grown to over 200. Now, it is a booming place, close to all of us "north of the river". I am absolutely sure that you will have a delightful experience. I hear good things all the time from my preschool moms that deliver there.
best of luck!
Cathy

Hi M.
You are a lucky woman :o) I am a mother and a birth doula and even though I haven't birth there I been there as a doula many times and highly recommend it.
I would consider N Fulton the BEST hospital to have a baby in the Atlanta area (and probably the whole state of GA)...the key is to "hook up" with the best midwives (CNM's) there: Kay Johnson & Margaret Strickhouser...and yet another bonus: yes, Margaret just left North Point OB/GYN but is practicing with Kay again!!! You can find them at: http://www.isisobgyn.com/meet.html
North Fulton is very natural & family friendly, you can also labor AND BIRTH in the water(which is the only hosp in GA to give this option, other than having a homebirth)! They also have an awesome birth jacuzzi and they don't limit the # of family you want there with you. Meaning you can have your husband, your doula, your mother, your sister, friend, etc all the same time!
Call them (hosp) and sign up for their free maternity tour, that way you can see it for yourself :o)
For birth classes I recommend: http://www.babystepsonline.net/

I delivered both of my babies(ages 16 months and 13 weeks)
at N. Fulton. We decided on North Fulton because they offer water birth. I also used the midwives at North Point however, the best midwife there, Margaret Strickhouser, just left the North Point practice.
I strongly suggest this hospital because it is not a "baby factory" like Northside and you can have your baby your way.
You can eat during labor and do whatever you like.
Honestly, it is a wonderful place if you are wanting to have a natural birth.

Good luck to you.

I have a friend who has delivered her four kids (including twin boys)@ North Fulton. (I delivered my daughter @ Northside.) She loves the Labor and Delivery unit there. It's small and seems to be less busy. The only thing I can remember as being negative when her oldest was born was a roach on the wall in her postpartum room, but they moved her very quickly. I think everyone has their favorite hospitals, but I'm sure you will be in good hands at North Fulton!

I changed hospitals and practices at 36 weeks (from Northside to N. Fulton). Best decision I made. I loved it there and used a midwife from North Pointe - Robin Sherrod. I had a really great experience and they offered me mobility. No iv's or confinement to the bed. I live about 2 miles down the road from Northside and the drive up to North Fulton was worth it. I hope you have as wonderful of an experience.

Best wishes!