Mercy or St Luke's to Deliver?

Updated on June 01, 2009
C.S. asks from Cedar Rapids, IA
5 answers

I am due in Aug and can not decide where to deliver. I had my daughter 6 yrs ago at Mercy and had a wonderful experience. But have heard some negative things about Mercy lately. Everyone else I know goes to St Luke’s. Any comments are appreciated.

What can I do next?

  • Add yourAnswer own comment
  • Ask your own question Add Question
  • Join the Mamapedia community Mamapedia
  • as inappropriate
  • this with your friends

More Answers

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

M.H.

answers from Cedar Rapids on

Hi C.,

I was also torn with my first daughter as to where to deliver but had just figured that I would deliver at St. Luke's since most of my friends had gone there. Once I started asking people, though, I heard over and over to go to Mercy for a number of reasons. The most common reason being that it's so much quieter and the maternity ward seems more private and peaceful. I decided to deliver at Mercy with her and I had the most wonderful experience (she is 2 now). I am also due in August and didn't even consider St. Luke's this time...my experience was such an awesome one at Mercy that I can't imagine delivering anywhere else. I don't think you can go wrong either way but if you are still unsure, you could always tour each place and see whether you get a strong feeling either way on which one feels more comfortable for you. Good luck...maybe I'll see you at Mercy in August!

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

C.L.

answers from Cedar Rapids on

I delivered both my daughters at St. Lukes. The reason we chose St. Lukes was because of their NICU - we really liked that there were private rooms for each child so you could spend more time with your baby, if it needed to be there. Luckily neither of our daughters spent any time there. That being said, I think your experience depends tremedously on what ever nursing staff/doctor is on at the time you are in labor, and less on the hospital itself. With my older daughter the nursing staff was fine, but the dr who was on call was TERRIBLE. Her attitude/bedside manner was terrible and she was trying to push me into getting an epidural. Now with my second daughter, I had WONDERFUL nurses, and a great dr with a great attitude that helped me get the delivery I wanted and deserved. (No heplock for an IV, no meds, no interventions. This may not be the birth you are looking for, but the point is that they respected my wishes). Also, I am a patient at OBGYN associates, and they told me that because they are interfaced with St. Lukes my dr could pull up my readings while I was in labor from his office if he needed to. This I also liked a lot. If you haven't re-toured both the birthing centers I suggest you do so. And good luck in your decision!

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

J.E.

answers from Cedar Rapids on

Hi C.-
I delivered both my sons by emergency c-sections at St. Lukes. With my first I had planned on going to Mercy because I had heard that they were really nice plus I had toured there and I had tons of stress tests and my ultrasounds there. However, when it came down to it and my 5-year old was going to have to come early (I was on bedrest in the hospital first) my Mercy associated ob doctor (at that time)told me it would be much safer at St Lukes because they have a great NICU in case anything went wrong. I didn't want to and I was very upset but it turned out they were AWESOME! AND it was for the best because my son had to be in the NICU for a week. With my 2nd son, who is 10-mos old, I was unaware that Mercy had acquired a much better NICU. My ob doctor this time was at OBGYN Associates and so I just went to St Lukes because I had a great experience the first time. This 2nd time I was on bedrest again and once again he came early - even earlier than the first. Luckily my 2nd didn't need to be in NICU but he did have to be admitted to the pediatrics floor for his first weekend due to high bilirubin levels (jaundice). Experiences for both children were wonderful - nurses and doctors. Truth be told - my regular health doc from Mercy was the absolute worst downer of the whole 2nd experience. As far as pregnancy goes I would choose St Lukes again. However, emergency rooms are a different story. St Lukes has the worst emergency room staff & treatment ever! I will always take myself & my children to the Mercy emergency room (hopefully that won't be necessary very often!)
J.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

L.J.

answers from Cedar Rapids on

I went to Mercy with my first. 2nd at St. Lukes, I liked St. Lukes so much better. If there is a potential for delivery problems St. Lukes has a outstanding Neo-natal, or tour both, ask doc's thought's. Either hospital is good after having a child in each I would say I like Luke's much better. I guess it al depends

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

A.M.

answers from Cedar Rapids on

Hi C.!
I delivered my son Cesarean at Mercy almost one year ago. Had a wonderful experience there. All the nurses were so great! I toured both when I was pregnant and found that the facilities are nearly identical. Mercy gets a bad rap because for many years, they did not have a neonatal unit for babies 32 weeks or more. Now they have a full neonatal unit and can handle a delivery 28 weeks or later, I think that is the number anyway. St Luke's is the same. If you delivered 28 weeks or less, you would have to go to U of I. I just recall that because I really grilled them for answers on their differences based on rumors I had heard and they set the record straight for me.
My husband and I felt very at home at Mercy and like they were more attentive to him and his role in the process.
Let me know if you have any other questions about Mercy. Though I have nothing to compare it to, I thought it was just fine there and kind of liked that it wasn't such a busy labor/delivery hospital.

For Updates and Special Promotions
Follow Us

Related Questions

Related Searches