I just had my baby at Baylor Dallas 2 and a half weeks ago. So let me first explain why I love Baylor so much. At Baylor, they really want you to take control of your labor and delivery as much as possible. Yes, you can have an epidural if you would like, but they do not at all push the issue. They offer many things to help ease the discomfort of labor and they offer many diffrent ways in which you can have your baby. While laboring you are encouraged to walk around, get in the shower or tub, use the labor ball, etc; whatever helps your comfort level. When giving birth, you can give birth leaning over the bed, they have squatting bars, your support person can be sitting behind you, the beds go from laying flat on your back to sitting up and the bottum half drops down so that the bad actually becomes a birthing chair. I gave birth on my side. So there is a lot of freedom for you to take control of the birthing process. They also do what is called "kangaroo care", which means that when the baby is born they do not whisk the baby off only to leave you alone for 2 hours or longer wondering, "what is going on with my baby". Everything they do to the baby, they do it in the same room as mom. You go to the postpartum room with baby in arms and baby stays in the room with you. If you would like for them to care for baby in the nursery while you rest between feedings (which I did at night), that is completely fine too. They also assume that all babies will be breastfed. Of course if a mom chooses not to breastfeed, they will bottle feed, but if you do plan on breastfeeding and if, for instance, the baby has a difficult time latching on, they are not quick to cry formula. They want breastfeeding to be a success and they do all they can to help. Not to mention, Baylor has countless awards for their superb care.
As for an obgyn, I have dealt with three, all with Women's Health Alliance. I have dealt with Mary Plank, Rachel Kurian (both of whom are OBs) and Susan Akins, a certified midwife. I would not recommend Dr. Plank. She is very knowlegable, but is very controlling. She kind of has a way of making you feel that you are below her level of understanding, so if you are someone who wants answers, she will sugarcoat and not be honest. You get the feeling that she knows what is going on, but feel that you are being left in the dark. I really love Dr. Kurian and Dr. Akins. They both have terrific bedside manners and are both very easy to talk to. Of course midwives are traditionally known for helping people achieve all natural labors and deliveries. I heard that Dr. Akins was moving, that could have been a rumor. If she is, I know there is another midwife in the practice, and I would fully trust Dr. Kurian with a natural labor and delivery.
I hope this has been helpful!
K.