Which Facility for Childbirth?

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Parent Q&A

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  • Hospitals to deliver in with a nursery?

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    Oct 26, 2024

    I'm signed up to deliver at Alta Bates Berkeley, and seeking recommendations about alternatives. 

     I don't like several of Alta Bates Berkeley's policies around labor and delivery. I was particularly disappointed to learn that they don't give you the option to send your baby to the nursery while you sleep or shower while recovering. I also would prefer somewhere that consistently offers wireless monitoring, and a couple of their policies aren't consistent with what I've read the latest evidence says. Switching hospitals would also mean switching providers: I've had an okay but not great experience, with the pre-natal experience I've received (via Sutter Health; it feels like an assembly line and I have gotten inconsistent advice and trouble getting fast responses).  

    I'm wondering:

    1. If anyone has an alternative non-Kaiser hospital and associated OB practice they recommend. I live in Oakland and close to home is ideal, but I'll consider anything. I've read good things about USCF and John Muir on this site, and also have Highland on my radar. I'd appreciate hearing more about those options, or hearing about alternatives.
    2. Advice about the pros and cons of switching at this stage. I'm 27 weeks pregnant. 

    Thank you so much!

    Oct 26, 2024

    Hi Nora, I'm not sure what you mean about the nursery.  I delivered at Alta Bates in 2021 and they did have the option for the baby to be in the nursery.  I feel like it's not a nursery like you see in the movies where you can peak at the row of babies, but they definitely kept and cared for my baby for a stretch of hours.  If you plan to breastfeed they will want to bring the baby back to you every 2 hours for feeding (including overnight) unless you ask for something different.  If you want to have uninterrupted sleep, make sure to ask a nurse to put a sign on the door saying do not disturb. I think someone came in to either check on me or the baby every 1-2 hours.  Postpartum nurses kept coming in to offer me Advil or Colace or take my temperature (to monitor for postpartum fever) and by the end of I wanted to be like "get the **** out I just want to sleep!" But I was too overwhelmed and tired to think to ask for a Do Not Disturb sign.  

    There may be financial considerations to switching providers at this stage - you could ask your current OB office on how billing would work if you were to transfer care.  

    Oct 27, 2024

    Hi Nora, I gave birth in May at Eden Medical in Castro Valley - it's about a 20-25 minute drive from Oakland except for afternoon rush hour. For my prenatal care, I went through Stanford Castro Valley. I saw the same doctor (Dr. Kragie) for all but one appointment - not at all the "revolving door" medical model. I had a great experience with her as my primary OB care provider, as well as with the labor and delivery team at Eden. The Labor and Delivery ward at Eden is super small, I think it's only 4 or 5 rooms.

    I didn't ask about nursery since we left the hospital ~24 hours after birth, and people were coming in every few hours for something or another anyways. 

    Oct 30, 2024

    Echoing here. I don't have any information about UCSF or John Muir (though I have generally heard good things about both), but FWIW, I had a baby at Alta Bates in 2022 and am about to have another there. You can definitely send your baby to the nursery, but you have to ask for it--they won't offer. I had an extremely long labor with my first, and before I transferred to the postpartum ward the L&D nurse made sure I knew this was an option. I was grateful to her for that. I also had intermittent monitoring during labor, and have heard from my doula that wireless monitoring is available this time around. 

    My one knock against Alta Bates was the postpartum ward. I found most of the nurses were kind of brusque (at least compared to the AMAZING nurses in L&D) and I was anxious to get home. I successfully asked for care to be bundled and and sent away nurses a few times in the middle of the night, which I'm sure I will do again. But your experience will depend on the nurses assigned to you. It's also important to know that you can ask for a different nurse--both in L&D and postpartum if you're not vibing with the person assigned to your care. 

    If switching is complicated, I think you probably can have the experience you want at Alta Bates. Wherever you end up, I'd recommend a birth plan and a doula to help! 

    Oct 30, 2024

    I delivered at Alta Bates 11 months ago and 3.5 years ago, and agree with the things you've pointed out: not having wireless monitoring had a definite negative impact on my experience during my first birth in 2021. I was lucky enough to be able to use the one wireless monitor they had, for about 12 hours, during my second birth which was really helpful. But they only had one so it was really luck of the draw if you got to use it.

    I don't remember my baby ever going to the nursery in 2021, but my baby in 2023 did a few times, but it was only when staffing allowed. A lot of times there wasn't staffing of the nursery to allow it. So again, pretty hit or miss.

    Another huge affect for me was Alta Bates' blanket policy last year during the winter that no one under 6 years old was allowed to visit to reduce RSV risk, which was very unfair to postpartum parents with older kids. It meant my older child couldn't visit me or the baby when I was in the hospital for 9 days. This added a huge layer of trauma to my already traumatic birth that my older kid and I I think are still repairing from.

    Last thing: If you're looking at other hospitals, I would also ask them about their induction policy. In 2021 Alta Bates wasn't giving people medication or balloon to start the induction and then letting them wait at home for things to get started like I've heard other hospitals allow. If I could have stayed home for 2 more days instead of being in the hospital for the full 4 day induction I think my experience would have been so different - I would have been so much more well rested and capable during the actual birth. As others mentioned, once you're in the hospital they are coming in constantly to give you meds or more annoyingly to fix the monitoring every 30 minutes - you will not sleep well once you've been admitted. So if you can be home and actually sleep in the early stages of an induction I would highly recommend prioritizing that!

    Oct 30, 2024

    I gave birth at alta bates in mid 2023 and don't know if there was an option to have the baby in a nursery - they never offered. 

    During labor, I did have wireless monitoring of the baby (not sure if that's what you're asking for) -- I'd ask for it right when you get there because I was told there are only a couple units available. It was super helpful to keep walking around until I had to stay put for various reasons.

    On the last day, I did ask them to put a sign on the door because it was getting ridiculous how often multiple people came by and honestly, while the delivery nurses I had were FABULOUS, I had only one post-partum nurse who I felt comfortable with. They sent in sooo many lactation people who gave me completely conflicting advice. I don't know if this is just normal everywhere, but it was deeply frustrating for this first-time mom.

    I'm sorry I don't have an alternative suggestion, but did want to affirm some of the things you're asking about re Alta Bates and Sutter. I did love my Sutter high-risk OB, but she was in the city and in addition to my regular OB who was the Milvia office. I wouldn't switch providers just b/c of your OB, since they might not be on call when you give birth regardless and you don't have a TON of time left but that's just me :)

    Oct 30, 2024

    I had my first baby at Alta Bates, and the nursery was my favorite part.  When I had my second baby, it was at Kaiser and not only didn't they have one, they said that no Bay Area hospitals do anymore.  They all want to be designated as 'baby friendly" but why mother torturing is a part of it, no one could tell me.  If you can find one, you should do it!

    Oct 30, 2024

    UCSF Mission Bay says they have a nursery, but when I delivered there last year they were understaffed and the nursery was closed during part of the time that I needed it. I was exhausted after a long labor and in the middle of the first night was struggling to stay awake when nursing. My milk was not yet in and my baby would cry when I put him in the bassinet. I told the nurse I was fearful that I would fall asleep and drop my baby. She said I just had to make do, so I ended up asking for supplemental milk to bottle feed the baby quickly and get him safely into the bedside bassinet so both of us could sleep. It was not ideal. I did not have family or friends that could stay with me overnight, and I had discussed my concerns before hand with my care team who assured me there was nursery care always available. I sent in a complaint but no one followed up with me as to if any changes were made. If you have the resources, consider hiring a postpartum doula or someone else that can reliably help you. I'm not sure if any other places would be better.

    Oct 30, 2024

    Just to contribute some anecdotal experience - I gave birth at Alta Bates in March of 2023 and was given the option of wireless monitoring, which I used for the duration of my labor until I needed an epidural. They were also totally comfortable with intermittent monitoring - so I walked around the L&D floor freely, etc. It is possible their policies have changed since then, but I found them to be up to date with the latest evidence. 

    It is accurate that they don't offer the nursery option anymore. I am not sure what the other poster experienced, but I heard rumor of the nurses being open to watching your baby at the nurses' station. Similarly, I found the postpartum check-ups and administering of regular pain medication to be much more disruptive than my own baby. 

    You should absolutely seek out a hospital/provider that will meet your needs, and provide the level of care you want and deserve. Just wanted to share my somewhat recent experience at AB. 

    Oct 30, 2024

    I delivered in 2011 at Alta Bates and they had nursery. I delivered in 2014 at the Alta Bates and they had none, justifying that absence of nursery promotes the bond between mother (however exhausted) and a baby. It also saves costs (minor point). Best of luck for finding a hospital that still offers a nursery...

    Oct 30, 2024

    Not sure about the nursery thing, but I gave birth at Eden Medical Center in May and I highly recommend it. It's still a part of the Sutter system, but a completely different vibe to Alta Bates. The birthing room had peanut balls and yoga balls, a tub for laboring, aromatherapy, and even a galaxy light for ambiance. The nurses were so knowledgeable and supportive, helping me labor in different positions. They also had wireless monitoring that I was encouraged to use until I got my epidural. Dr. Wigginton delivered my baby and she took great care to protect my body.

    As far as changing providers, I feel like I never established a good relationship with my OB prior to delivery, and she didn't end up delivering my baby anyway. You might need to call and ask for their policies around late transfers though.

    Oct 31, 2024

    I delivered at AB in 2022 and had a horrible delivery experience.  I also had hypertension and had my blood pressure taken every hour the night after my morning delivery.  Couldn’t tell you about the nursery as my full term baby ended up in the NICU (which is excellent) due to the delivery fracas.  I was so ready to be out of that hospital that I checked myself out a day early.  However, I do remember having constant fetal heart rate monitoring, can’t recall if it was wireless.  If I could do it again, I’d deliver at John Muir. I don’t think you need to change providers to deliver there. I was also with Sutter and recall them saying that JM was an option.  Good luck. 

    Oct 31, 2024

    OP is correct for current Alta Bates services - I delivered in 2022 and there was no nursery (my first delivery was in Los Gatos where we did have a nursery and it was amazing, so distinctly asked for it at Alta Bates and received a resounding no). They will not take your baby to get rest unfortunately unless the mother is basically incapacitated. They did have wireless monitoring however, although it seemed avail on a limited basis (I did have it though!) 

    All that said, if you want to switch and do not have any health complications where patient history is critical, you still have a long way to go at 27 weeks and it may be worth it to switch if any of these things are deal breakers for you. 

    Oct 31, 2024

    I just delivered at Alta Bates (second delivery there). I love the L&D team and the post Partum nurses at the hospital.  I love the 2500 milvia practice too and have always felt in good hands. I also love that they have midwives and was seen by my ob and a midwife and mfms and they were all wonderful.  I did have wireless monitoring (but they don’t have enough units for everyone so it’s not guaranteed). And they didn’t have a nursery. They want to have baby bonding and to keep the baby in the room. Since this was our second child, I sent my partner to be with our older child and it was so hard at night. I do wish they had a nursery and would bring the baby to nurse. That said, I would deliver again at Alta Bates. 

    Oct 31, 2024

    It's not clear if you had a previous experience with a difficult recovery period, or you are just anticipating the issue, but FYI - starting in 2025, ALL hospitals in California which have labor/delivery services must either be designated Baby Friendly, or adhere to the Breastfeeding Model Hospital Policy Recommendations, which are similar.  That includes standard 24-hour rooming in, and most hospitals have already instituted that.  That said, as some have experienced, depending on staff availability, there may sometimes be the option of having baby watched at the nurse's station if you request it for a short time.  If you can possibly find a friend, family member or doula to spend a stretch of hours with you, that's your best bet for not feeling the overwhelm of complete responsibility no matter how you are feeling. And know that it's likely just for a day or so, after which I hope you'll have support at home!

    Nov 6, 2024
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  • Live in East Bay & delivery baby in SF?

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    Dec 4, 2023

    What do people think about living in Oakland but delivering in SF? I have the option to receive care from a practice I'm really excited about with prenatal care locally in Oakland/Berkeley and then delivery at UCSF.

    Has anyone else done something similar? Would folks do this? 

    Dec 4, 2023

    I would not want to be stuck in traffic on a bridge while in labor!

    Dec 6, 2023

    We live in the East Bay (Upper Rockridge / Oakland) and I received all prenatal care and delivered at UCSF Mission Bay. I just delivered our second at UCSF a week ago today! I would not have changed anything about the decision we made to deliver at UCSF Mission Bay. We had two fabulous experiences there. I highly recommend it as a delivery facility. Having the bulk of your prenatal care located in a local clinic you are excited about sounds great. Will be easier from a commuting standpoint of course, especially at the end of the pregnancy when you have more frequent visits. I discovered my preferred OBGyn at UCSF during prenatal care in my first pregnancy, so I made it a point to continue on as a patient at UCSF specifically to see that physician, despite living in Oakland.

    You would have to check with UCSF on whether they will prioritize you as a delivering patient if you are not receiving prenatal care there. You may have already looked into this. The labor & delivery facilities at UCSF are fabulous (all private suites with large, spacious rooms and bathrooms, jacuzzi tubs with lights for active labor, peanuts, exercise balls, birthing stools, mirrors... whatever you need) and we have found the nurses and physicians to be professional, kind, and extremely knowledgeable. Sometimes if they are very busy, they will be on "divert" status to send you to a different hospital due to their capacity limitations. So, you may want to have another backup hospital in mind if they are on divert. If you had to be diverted to a different SF hospital, would you still want to deliver in San Francisco? Our plan was to deliver at UCSF Mission Bay and if they were on divert, deliver closer to home at Alta Bates. UCSF will initiate a warm hand-off with whatever hospital you end up at if it comes to that, so you are set and ready to go; in your case, I assume the clinic where you will receive prenatal care would do that hand-off.

    Finally, one of the things people brought up to us often re: delivering at UCSF and living in Oakland was our ability to get to the hospital promptly if needed. We never found this was an issue. For my first delivery, we were door-to-door in 19 minutes from our house to L&D triage at 3:00am. For our second delivery last week, we were door-to-door in about 35 minutes from our house to L&D triage at 5:30pm. You will want to be mindful of the fluctuations in traffic but barring a precipitous labor, the transit time should not be too much of an issue as long as you have planned for it.

    Good luck and enjoy!

    Dec 6, 2023

    I would probably not make this choice, given the good options in the East Bay, because being stuck in rush hour traffic on the bridge with a baby ready to be born is my worst nightmare. But, if you feel strongly about the practice, plenty of people in this country live an hour+ from the nearest hospital, and they manage ok. 

    Dec 6, 2023

    I would go with UCSF. I live in Oakland and was sent there because of a rare complication,  but I actually switched insurance so I can get all care there going forward. It is excellent, far and away best care I’ve ever gotten. It’s also not that bad a drive if you can avoid commute traffic.

    Dec 6, 2023

    We live in Berkeley and delivered in Walnut Creek. In hindsight, that was risky considering commute traffic. Luckily I went into labor at night. While I think UCSF is great, I wouldn't risk the traffic situation. Contractions in a car are pretty terrible. 

    Dec 6, 2023

    I was only 3 miles away from my birth center for my first kid's birth, and that drive while in labor was BRUTAL. Every turn, every stop sign. Can't imagine the drive being longer than that. For me there would have to be a VERY good reason to go through a longer drive than necessary, like some very specific specialty that they only have at UCSF.

    Dec 6, 2023

    I delivered at UCSF for both my babies. We lived in Oakland for the first and Berkeley for the second. My prenatal care was also at UCSF Mission Bay. It was definitely a trek for all of my appointments, especially towards the end of the 3rd trimester, but I love UCSF and the Mission Bay facilities are outstanding. I was a little nervous about labor, especially with my first, and the uncertainty of timing, traffic, getting to the hospital in time, etc. However, there are so many factors beyond our control and I decided my medical care at UCSF was worth the potentially extra commute/logistical challenges.

    My first delivery took hours. My water broke at home and I ended up taking an Uber to the hospital. My husband was working in SF at the time and met me there. My second delivery was much, much faster and I ended up giving birth within 20 minutes of arriving at the hospital. Both birth experiences were great and I would choose UCSF again in a heartbeat. 

    Dec 6, 2023

    I delivered at UCSF while we lived in Oakland. As such a big research hospital, they were able to mobilize a lot of resources for us very quickly when I started to have complications around 36 weeks. I’m not sure any East Bay hospitals could have done quite the same, so I have no regrets about the frequent commutes to SF (I received prenatal care there as well, and then my son was in the NICU after delivery). I’m just grateful for the happy, healthy result and would definitely choose UCSF again.

    Dec 6, 2023

    I did it for both my babies. It was totally fine. The labor was loooong for the first baby so we had plenty of time. I had a shorter labor for my second but we still got to SF in under an hour. It didn't stress me out, although I have seen other posts on this forum where people would never think of doing it. I think it depends what you feel comfortable with. 

    Dec 6, 2023

    I live in Oakland and got referred to UCSF for delivery due to complications, I would absolutely deliver there again. I got excellent care, nice facilities, and they have world class specialists if any issues arise. The drive is really only terrible during morning commute hours. Parking is expensive though. We actually took the ferry from Oakland and then Uber when I was admitted and that worked well (if you have the time).

    Dec 6, 2023

    I lived in SF when my first baby was born at UCSF Mission Bay and had a good experience with the care teams there both for prenatal care and for my (very long) labor and delivery. When we moved to Berkeley I really wanted to stay with the same care team for my second pregnancy so I opted to stay at UCSF and just deal with the commute into the city for prenatal appointments. It really wasn't bad, and was worth it to me to have the guidance of the minimal intervention midwifery practice at UCSF. I was very nervous about the idea of driving from Berkeley to UCSF while in labor, because I remember the relatively short drive from our home in Hayes Valley to Mission Bay being very painful and uncomfortable when I was in labor with baby #1. Our initial plan was to head to my in-laws' house near City College at the first signs of labor, since that would get us a lot closer to UCSF. Laboring at my in-laws' house was definitely not something I wanted to do, but seemed preferable to potentially sitting in traffic on the Bay Bridge while in labor. Maybe you know someone in the city who you'd feel comfortable enough asking to do something like this? As the end of my pregnancy got closer we decided to schedule an induction at 39 weeks for a few different reasons, but the traffic and logistical concerns (esp with a toddler who would need to be cared for) were definitely a factor. It worked out well and I don't regret a thing, especially because there were some complications during delivery that could have been a lot more scary if we didn't have one particular midwife and a top-notch care team there with us.

    I did have to go to Alta Bates for some NST monitoring towards the end of my pregnancy because of some high BP readings, and I did feel I got excellent care there, but for me personally I'm still glad I was at UCSF for the delivery. 

    This is becoming a long reply but I want to mention one more thing... you didn't say why you're considering a different care team for your prenatal care than for your delivery, but at UCSF they always said that the midwife who you see for your prenatal care is not guaranteed to deliver your baby. That was the case for me both times and I didn't mind at all. I had met some of the other providers during my prenatal visits, and everyone at UCSF, especially the incredible nurses, are really wonderful. My midwife did come check on me and the baby a few times after delivery which was really nice. And if you have a great doula or partner you can rely on during labor, they can truly be the most important people in the room for you! Congratulations and good luck with everything!!!

    Dec 6, 2023

    Absolutely! I moved from SF to Oakland at 5 months pregnant with my 1st baby, and kept my OB in the city and delivered at CPMC. I ended up being induced post-dates, so "rushing to the city" never became an issue, but to be honest, it never worried me anyway. Especially if it's your first baby - the odds of a precipitous (super fast) labor are so low. I think the priority should be getting taken care of by the practice and providers you want, and delivering where you want. And of course UCSF is awesome for L&D! Good luck! 

    Dec 6, 2023

    This sounds amazing to me! I delivered at UCSF after transferring care many times (I was very high risk), and would make the decision again a thousand times over. I am really curious about you are partnering with to receive prenatal care on the East Bay! Best of luck navigating the decision.

    Dec 6, 2023

    I did this twice! UCSF is a great hospital to deliver at and I did it because I loved the practice I was getting my care from. If you are worried about getting to the hospital with urgency, generally you might want to talk to your practice about leaving a bit earlier in your labor cycle, but I had very very fast labors and didn't have an issue either time.

    Dec 6, 2023

    I did something similar, although I also received my prenatal care at UCSF. Basically, I worked with UCSF's fertility clinic while I lived in SF, moved to Berkeley, and then ended up going with UCSF for prenatal care as well. Partly because the Mission Bay campus was VERY close to my old office, and I convinced myself that I was going to be at work when I went into labor (this didn't happen).

    I don't regret doing this. I really wanted to labor in a tub, and UCSF has this option. It wasn't an issue to get there for me, mostly because I was able to labor at home until after rush hour calmed down. Happy to answer more questions if you have them!

    Dec 6, 2023

    We moved to Oakland when I was 4 mo pregnant and under the care of an OBGYN in SF with delivery at CPMC Van Ness. I didn't want to change providers, and heard much better reviews of the new CPMC facility than Alta Bates, so chose to stay with them. We had a plan B to go to Alta Bates if there was an emergency, or ridiculous bridge traffic. We ended up having to leave for the hospital on a weekday afternoon and frankly cut it a bit close, but it worked out for us. I'd talk with your provider about what emergency options in the East Bay they'd recommend.

    Also, I ended up having to do almost twice a week antepartum testing towards the end, which had to be at CPMC Van Ness in case they needed to admit me. Just something to keep in mind that you might need to be prepared to make the trek more often than you think. Again, it worked for me, and planning to do the same for #2. 

    Dec 6, 2023

    I did something like this. We moved from SF to Berkeley when I was 8 months pregnant. I was determined to birth my baby in the SF hospital I'd done my prenatal care with (CPMC Mission Bernal), mostly because it was a brand new hospital at the time. I played out a lot of emergency scenarios in my head (heading into SF in rush hour, getting a police escort, etc.) I ended up being induced on Christmas night, when i was 10 days after my due date. We drove in that night and had the baby in SF with no problems. Like all things associated with birth, it could have gone a billion different ways. I just reassured myself at the time that if the baby came early / suddenly / at rush hour, I would have gone to the nearby Alta Bates hospital to deliver (that's also where I did my fetal monitoring in the last 2 months). Good luck! I hope it goes well for you both!

    Dec 7, 2023

    I live in Oakland and delivered at CMPC California Street so waaaaaaay the heck over there. Getting stuck on the bridge while in labor was my husband's worst nightmare. It was my first kid so I figured we'd have time and wasn't too worried. But then things like the bridge got shut down for 4 or 6 hours for a protest happens and I'm grateful we ended up being a scheduled induction. I delivered my second at the new CMPC in the city but she was a scheduled C-section (since my first ended up coming that way and i just went with it) so again, not an issue. I LOVE my dr so I would do it again but we're done with kids. 

    Dec 13, 2023

    I delivered my first at UCSF while we were living in SF and I loved the experience. I started care for my second at UCSF with the OB who runs the high risk team while living in Berkeley. She’s been at UCSF forever and said she’s never had anyone give birth on the bridge. I ultimately wound up switching to deliver at Alta Bates because I didn’t want to be too far from our first born while I was at the hospital. Even though Alta Bates is a much, much older facility I found the staff to be amazing and really love my experience there too. I had my prenatal care at Sutter Milvia. I don’t think there’s a wrong answer!

    Dec 13, 2023

    I have done this, I was certain about the team I wanted for delivery in Redwood City, but I lived in the East bay and had my obgyn care in the East bay. I just had a backup hospital in the East bay just in case. I have Kaiser insurance so it was easy to go to any Kaiser hospital. I ended up going into labor before midnight so traffic wasn’t an issue. 

    Dec 14, 2023

    That’s awesome you found prenatal care that you are excited about. For me my delivery hospital and team was top priority since I previously had a traumatic 1st birth. I chose to deliver at UCSF even though I live in the EB. I used to live in SF so was familiar with the care there already. Our doula was super helpful in helping us plan for how to labor on the way to the hospital, what to pack, positive affirmations etc. 

    I hope you are able to go with the best options you’re comfortable with!

    Dec 14, 2023

  • UCSF v Alta Bates/Sutter v John Muir for childbirth

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    Oct 30, 2022

    I delivered my first at Alta Bates. The L&D nurses were overall fantastic, but the facilities were not (nor were the nurses’ jobs as we heard over and over). My OB was at Sutter and I want to get out of the Sutter system for a variety of reasons - always late, practicing cookie cutter medicine, wrong diagnosis from the MFM team causing serious trauma in the third trimester, etc. 

    We are considering John Muir but have heard they are overall more interventive than Alta Bates. I’m over 40 and it’s an IVF pregnancy and MDs tend to like to intervene in such “geriatric” pregnancies despite that my first was no issues (other than the misdiagnosis). 

    UCSF seems to get the highest marks from folks who would probably tend to lean towards pure midwife care (like me) but can’t bc of age+IVF - great OBs, a Midwife practice, good facilities, Centering program, etc.

    My question to the community who have gone to UCSF - in your experience, is it worth the commute from Richmond not for L&D but for the weekly (maybe daily) appointments at the end? 

    Oct 30, 2022

    I live in Oakland and had an incredibly high risk pregnancy. I ended up transferring from Alta Bates to UCSF and it was the best decision, would make it again in a heartbeat.  The facilities are wonderful, the nurses and physicians seem to have a lot of respect for one another, I felt I was treated with dignity, care and compassion. I transferred in my third trimester, but I understand UCSF will do as many appointments as possible virtually, which helps with the visit trekking. Maybe it is changing, but a year ago UCSF seemed to be very selective about which patients they would take on, and required a referral. 

    Nov 2, 2022

    Was pregnant last year (also an IVF pregnancy and had our son in March 2022) and moved from SF to the East Bay in January 2022.  We had started at UCSF, loved our greater OB team and as one of the best rated maternal fetal programs we decided that it wasn't worth it to change practitioners or where I planned to give birth.  Yes, took some planning to get to early appointments on time and wasn't always my favorite to drive to SF for what would end up being a quick check-in, but was 100% worth it to me.  And while my son's birth didn't quite go as I had hoped, I felt so supported by my team who made sure that whatever could be accomplished in my birth plan and keep me and baby safe they made every possibility to do and always asked my permission before doing anything (which I know should be standard practice, but from the stories I've heard from so many  always the case at other practices/hospitals).  If we are lucky enough to have more children and are still in the Bay Area I will still have my pre-natal and L&D care be through UCSF.

    I will say though, if having a consistent care team throughout pregnancy is important to you, UCSF is likely not the place to be.  As they are a large academic hospital, I very rarely saw the same doctor/midwife/NP/etc. for any appts.  I never had a bad experience so for me it was fine, but I know the consistency in who is at each check-up, ultrasound, etc. is important to some people.

    Nov 2, 2022

    I didn't love UCSF.  My pregnancy overlapped with the start of the pandemic, which probably contributed to a general sense of disorganization and seeing a different provider almost every time (I tried to see a midwife but this wasn't always possible).  When they told me I would need to be induced at 39 weeks due to the baby measuring small, it was basically impossible to get a straight answer on how this would work -- some people at USCF told me I could go in to get the Foley and go home until labor started, but I ultimately learned that due to the reason for my induction, I would be hospitalized and monitored from the start of the Foley insertion.  For delivery itself, I specifically requested a midwife but my mom (a former Labor & Delivery nurse) was chagrined when just five hours after the Foley insertion, when I was already on Pitocin and ~5 cm dilated, the midwife pressured me to break my waters to speed up labor (which in my mom's opinion was already going pretty fast for a first-time mom).  I ultimately needed a C-section due to potential fetal distress and while the surgery went fine (baby and I both did well), I did see the downsides of a teaching hospital, as I had a resident straight out med school (July birth, which is when the new resident classes start) doing much of my operation and I could hear the attending chastise the resident for things she was doing during the surgery (e.g., "Don't press on that muscle -- you aren't listening to me!!") which was a bit unnerving!  (This same resident told me that I was fully dilated after examining me a few hours earlier, which was nowhere close to true...)

    That said, I also had a *terrible* experience at the Alta Bates ER where they misdiagnosed me when I had appendicitis and then I didn't get surgery until more than 72 hours after my initial ER visit, which led to all sorts of complications due to a ruptured appendix and an unpleasant hospital stay in a small room with a challenging roommate.  So I'm really negative about Alta Bates too.  If I ever had another baby, I just don't know where I'd want to go in the Bay Area.  I had another hospital stay in the Chicago area that was amazingly better than either of my California experiences and also less expensive...

    Nov 2, 2022

  • Birth at Alta Bates Summit or CPMC?

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    Jun 15, 2022

    I gave birth to my first at CPMC in SF as we were living in the city at the time. We are now in Berkeley and pregnant with our second. I love my OB in the city that delivered my first and I am very tempted to stay with her and just make the trek for visits and deliver at CPMC again. But just wanted to hear what others thought about delivering at Alta Bates Summit? I know my husband would appreciate the switch since it’s basically walking distance from our place. 
     

    Is Labor & Delivery section and rooms nice at Alta Bates? Has anyone experienced both hospital L&D? One question- does Alta Bates change your rooms after delivery? That is one thing I did not enjoy about CPMC- a nice big room for L&D and then switch to small tight Recovery room. 

    Jun 15, 2022

    Overall I was pretty happy with my experience at Alta Bates. only 1 kid so no points of comparison. 

    To your specific questions:

    • They do switch rooms after delivery. 
    • Personally, I didn't think the recovery rooms were nice. Obviously, nice is so relative. I thought the rooms were small but the bathrooms are what I really disliked. I was also there for like 4 days (which felt so long) due to C-section and jaundice that needed a NICU stay.  If I have another baby, I will probably go to John Muir (I am in Orinda)

    Jun 22, 2022

    Alta Bates is an old hospital and the rooms are not as nice as what you'll get at CPMC or UCSF. However, all of the staff I interacted with at Alta Bates were so amazingly kind. I preferred my second delivery at Alta Bates over my first at UCSF, even though UCSF had the nicer facility. I made the trek from Berkeley to UCSF for the first half of my pregnancy, but I realized it was silly and as the appointments got closer together it was downright exhausting to travel into the city each time. I also didn't want to be so far away from our first kid while I was away delivering the second.

    I've never heard of a hospital *not* switching rooms after delivery. There are specific delivery rooms and postpartum rooms and you'll most likely be switched unless you go to a birthing center.

    Jun 22, 2022

    I delivered at Alta Bates in Nov 2020. I had a great experience. The rooms are not fancy but totally fine and I had a room to myself (as did others I heard from) so my husband had a hospital bed to himself post-delivery. We had great nurses both in labor and post-delivery. 

    We had a small private room for labor (with a couch for my husband to sleep on) and a private bathroom, then a bigger room with a private bathroom (with the two hospital beds) after delivery. 

    Jun 22, 2022

    I gave birth at Alta Bates in 2018 and at CPMC Van Ness in 2021 and lived in east bay for both. Alta Bates did move me to a new room after giving birth. While I very much liked my doctor and convenience of Alta Bates, CPMC was a better experience for me.

    Pros:

    CPMC is in much better condition and the facility is actively being invested in vs. Alta Bates. The delivery and recovery/postpartum rooms were cleaner and more comfortable.

    I personally had a better, more consistent experience with the nursing staff at CPMC.

    While I hope this is never anyone’ s situation, should your baby need surgery shortly after being born, CPMC NICU does that on site and they have nice rooms for parents visiting their babies who are staying in the NICU. I moved from Alta Bates to CPMC because we thought my baby may be born with a condition requiring surgery shortly after birth and an extended NICU stay. Had he been born at Alta Bates and needed surgery, he would have been transferred to Oakland UCSF Children’s Hospital, and while that is a fantastic hospital, a transfer would have added risk to his condition at only a few hours old and would have meant we would have recovered in two different facilities. I was not ok with the possibility of being in a separate facility from him while he had surgery and recovered, so that made my decision where to give birth very easy.

    We were incredibly fortunate that my baby ended up not needing surgery or a NICU stay, but we did stay at CPMC for several days due to jaundice and the pediatricians were wonderful and staff very accommodating, so I was still very happy with my decision to give birth and CPMC.

    The drive to and from the city for appointments was A LOT especially at the end for my twice per week antepartum tests. Tolls and time spent driving ultimately adds up and felt physically taxing at the end. My husband went to only a couple appointments with me in the city since the drive was so much. It ultimately comes down to what is most important to you.

    Jun 22, 2022

    I delivered at Alta Bates in November. The nurses were really great and attentive. Food is bad (but lots of delivery options nearby). Delivery rooms are small, dark and old, but our recovery room was very large and spacious with tons of natural light. Seemed like new construction. Personally I think the convenience of being close by outweighs seeing a specific doctor, but that is a very personal decision. 

    Jun 22, 2022

    I had a great experience delivering at Alta Bates after a birth center transfer. I was nervous but felt it was the ideal hospital experience all in all. 

    I did get transferred after delivery (which I believe is standard) but found the room comfortable and spacious enough for our 48hours of antibiotics! Please feel free to reach out with any other questions! 

    Jun 23, 2022

    I delivered Twins at Alta Bates August 2020 £.2120. You do have to switch rooms after delivery. The rooms for recovery are really nice, large with two beds and a bathroom and big windows. The nurses were pretty great,A couple of them are kind of annoying. I felt like we all got excellent care there.

    Jun 24, 2022

    You got plenty of responses about Alta Bates but nobody has been real in detail yet, so I will add my two cents. I delivered my first at Alta Bates in 2019. The L&D nurses were renowned and lived up, mostly, to their reputation. I loved them all except one who in my mid-labor rage I requested to leave. The transition to postpartum nurses was JARRING...nearly traumatic. I went from feeling like I was in a cocoon of attentive, loving, collaborative care to...I don't know the proper analogy, but a word cloud might include: cold, bleak, dark, disconnected, etc. There WERE kind nurses but nearly all were ESL so the communication wasn't as intimate. The care FELT (not saying it necessarily was in reality since how much competence is required to come in and hand me meds, check my pad, etc.) half-hearted, haphazard, disjointed, just ugh. Not warm & fuzzy like L&D AT ALL. So however, I DO think this is a common experience based on what kind of skill & talent is represented by those two different nursing departments (obviously L&D is a pretty elite team, while postpartum felt like I was being babysat begrudgingly), so not sure this is unique to Alta Bates. 

    Jul 17, 2022

    When we were there in October 2020, the L&D rooms and nurses were great and energetic and everything you could want. The postpartum experience was horrific, though. Old, small rooms with no air conditioning during fire season (so the windows couldn't be opened) during a pandemic. The postpartum nurses seemed worn out and tired and unhelpfully suggested "keep the door open" to everyone, so everyone was treated to crying from all the other rooms. Just a suboptimal experience. This would all be fine if they've renovated the postpartum unit by now. If not, I couldn't really recommend--especially in the summer--if you have better options.

    Jul 20, 2022

  • Recommendations for Birthing Hospitals near Oakland/Berkeley

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    Dec 9, 2021

    Hi parents,

    This is my first question on the group. Do you have any recommendations for good non Kaiser hospitals and Obstetricians near Oakland/Berkeley area? I'm pregnant with my second and while I went all the way to UCSF for my first I would like to be closer home for the second one. 

    Some names that come up are Alta Bates in Berkeley and Highland Hospital. Did any of you all had your babies there? Did you love it or hate it? 

    Thanks so so much in advance! 

    Dec 9, 2021

    I delivered in Alta Bates in early June and was very happy both with my OB care throughout pregnancy (I primarily saw Dr. Madhavan, but also had appointments with Drs. Taub and Kadri). I also had a very positive birthing experience there. All of the care providers were exceptional, from the doctors to the nurses. The facilities are dated and the food sucks, but I would highly recommend delivering at Alta Bates and hope to deliver any future children there.

    Dec 15, 2021

    Just had a baby two weeks ago at Alta Bates and thought it was great! All our nurses in both labor & delivery and in postpartum were super supportive, kind, and knowledgeable and everything seemed very well-organized. We didn’t like the experience at triage but otherwise everything was good—there was a nice courtyard garden you are allowed to walk to during L&D if you are mobile, they provide helpful things like an exercise ball and rocking chair if you want to try different positions, and I found the rooms to be more spacious than I was expecting. I’ve never given birth anywhere else so can’t compare, but I felt lucky to be at Alta Bates.

    Dec 15, 2021

    Thanks so much for your replies! I have decided to deliver at Alta Bates Berkeley as well and will start by seeing Dr. Taub! As long as the environment feels safe and supportive everything else can be worked around! 

    Dec 22, 2021

  • Someone for prenatal care who will deliver my baby (Aetna)

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    Nov 15, 2021

    Hello, I am looking for a midwife (CNM) or OB that can give prenatal care and do the delivery. Basically, I want to know the person who delivers my baby in advance, but I want to do that through my insurance, Aetna (specifically Stanford Health Care Alliance, but let's say Aetna to keep it simple). I don't really know how the healt care system works here, but I understand there are at least some private practice OBs that do that at Alta Bates (I found Dr Liziano through BPN but she is not covered by my insurance). Any recommendations?

    Nov 15, 2021

    I don't know anyone local OBs that can guarantee that in this area. Have you looked into getting a doula? That way you can guarantee that support person is in the room, no matter who your OB is. 

    Nov 17, 2021

    I have SHCA and delivered my first baby with Dr. Yvette Gentry from East Bay Women's Health at Alta Bates and will be delivering my second with her as well very soon.  She has a private practice and as I understand it, delivers most of the babies, although does work with a network of doctors if she is unavailable so its definitely not guaranteed.  There was another OB in her practice who is leaving, so I know they might have limited capacity right now.  Feel free to message me if you'd like to discuss more.

    Nov 17, 2021

    Hi!  I also have Aetna through SHCA and am using the team at Sutter East Bay Medical Foundation on 2500 Milvia in Berkeley (SHCA makes it seem like they will only pay for you to deliver at SHC/LPCH or ValleyCare but it's misleading - they do cover others places, you just have to call the Aetna member number to confirm).  They take the Aetna insurance (10% co-insurance) and cover delivery at Alta Bates Summit Berkeley on Ashby. 

    There are many female docs and a couple CNMs in the practice, with someone always on call for deliveries.  You never reeeealy know who will deliver you unless you schedule a c-section with your primary OB but there are opportunities to meet many people in the practice cuz there are so many appts towards the end.  Or you can develop a relationship with 1-2 docs over the course of your pregnancy so those folks know you really well vs a dozen who know you a bit.  Whatever works for you is best!!

    Hope this helps - Happy to chat further privately!

    ~ Sarah

    Nov 17, 2021

    Lindy Johnson is a midwife in Berkeley and she is amazing, and her office is located right across from Alta Bates. At the time I had Blue Shield and they paid for her services. But even if your insurance won't pay, her fee is incredibly affordable considering what you get. I was in a baby prep group where everyone else had ob/gyn's and I have to say hearing about their experiences made me even more confident in my choice of a midwife. She only does hospital births, she has specialists as her back up (can't remember the name of the practice but it is where I had my amnio and they specialize in high risk pregnancies). I liked that while she of course would prefer an all natural birth, she will not hesitate to bring in surgeons if a c-section does become necessary. I liked knowing that I had someone on my side who would give me their honest opinion if medical intervention is necessary, rather than a doctor who will push c-sections and epidurals on you at your most vulnerable moments, which has happened to several of my friends. 

    Nov 17, 2021

    Check out Golden Oak Midwives! They are two midwives who only do deliveries at Alta Bates. I had a great experience - I had all my prenatal care with them and knew that one of them would be there to deliver my baby instead of a stranger. It was really wonderful. They do charge a fee but my insurance covered some of it and of course, my insurance covered all of my hospital related bills for the delivery. 

    Nov 17, 2021

    Congrats on your pregnancy! I hope you can find what you are looking for though I think it is pretty uncommon in most the HMO's.  I'm guessing this your first - having been through this with 2 babies I would just like to pipe up and say, at least for me, all of that concern about who would deliver my babies flew right out the window after hours of labor. You'll likely be glad to have ANYONE there to help you honestly. You'll never see the amazing nurses again but they are the real angels in the process and no matter what you'll be glad to have a midwife or doctor there. You are doing all the work, whoever is there in the end (and really the doctor is not there until late!) is just there to assist. Good luck to you!!

    Nov 17, 2021

  • Best Rooms - Labor, Delivery, Recovery

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    Mar 18, 2017

    Any recommendations from parents that have toured the LDR/P rooms at the hospitals in Berkeley and Oakland?  Which are the most comfortable - Alta Bates, Kaiser, UCSF Oakland Childrens?  Thanks in advance!

    Mar 18, 2017

    I don't think it really matters, if you can pay the private-room surcharge I would do that. And whichever location you can get to without getting stuck in traffic should probably be the most important factor.

    Mar 22, 2017

    I can speak to Kaiser Oakland, as I just had a baby there in February. It was very comfortable! The labor room was spacious and clean, with good space for my partner. The post-partum room was private (a private room is a MUST! I can't believe some are still shared!) and also clean, modern, and adequately sized, and my partner had a comfortable (enough) sofa that converted to a bed. He is 6'1" and just barely fit on it, however. There was good space for visitors and the nurses. The food was average and edible. I only have CPMC in the city to compare Kaiser to, which was old and antiquated (which is why they're building the new hospital now). Thumbs up to the Kaiser Oakland facilities.

    Mar 22, 2017

  • Midwife or Birthing Center Recommendations

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    Oct 22, 2016

    i am 21 weeks pregnant with my first child.  i have kaiser coverage but am increasingly unhappy with the kind of care i am getting.  for instance, appointments with my doctor never last more than 15 minutes and there is little chance i will have met the doctors or nurses working during my delivery.  i am hungry for classes or training in how to prepare for childbirth but kaiser offers only one hour long class on the subject.  i would like to have a natural childbirth but the assembly line nature of previous appointments makes me skeptical that can take place at a kaiser hospital.  i am looking for a more holistic experience.  i wonder, though, if i am too far along (or too late) to find a midwife who can work with me.  can anyone recommend a midwife or birthing center they loved and felt like they did a good job preparing the mother for labor?  or, can anyone recommend a doula that gives classes or training leading up to delivery?  right now i feel like i'm coming to this subject late in the game and there is a lot of information out there on the internet.  i'm hoping for a little advice or guidance to narrow my search for the perfect person to help this new mama.

    Oct 22, 2016

    It is absolutely not too late to switch your care! I recommend Pacifica Family Maternity Center, a birthing center in Berkeley: http://www.pacificamaternity.com/ You can also look at this extensive list of Bay Area midwives: http://www.bayareamidwives.com/ Best of luck to you!

    Oct 26, 2016

    Not to sound critical, but just to let you know I found the Kaiser birthing experience to be quite responsive to what I was asking for.  Also I took an all day child birth class there and I know they offered one that met multiple times.  We also attended classes for the different stages of pregnancy.  I felt adequately educated for a first time delivery.  (Honestly I think there is only so much you can prepare.)   I had a doula who I loved, Cindy Curry at Stork and Sprout.  If everything is going well then your regular dr appointments shouldn't need to be any longer.  At this point in your pregnancy they are looking for red flags and if there aren't any then you are good to go.  I hear ya on the thing about not knowing what doctors will be there for the delivery.  That was a bit of a bummer.  There was a hospital tour and "meet the birthing team" walkthrough and Q&A that they offer, which I did and that was helpful.  So when the day came I knew where to go and the processes and also had met some of the staff or at least seen them.  If you do end up staying the Kaiser route, definitely look further into the class options because they are enormously helpful and there are a lot of them.  Also highly recommend the breastfeeding class!  Take that one before you deliver.  

    Oct 26, 2016

    I second the recommendation for Pacifica. I just gave birth there in September and was very pleased with the care. 

    Oct 26, 2016

    You're not too late at all! I suggest contacting Treesa McLean of Birth With Treesa, and one of the midwives who runs Bay Area Midwifery Community Birthing Center in Oakland. In this setting, you will know that she will be the midwife at your birth, and won't have to question which of the many possible unknown providers it will be. www.birthwithtreesa.com
    There are also birth center/home birth focused classes that take place at Bay Area Midwifery that may be of interest to you as well.

    Oct 26, 2016

    While not answering the question about midwife/birthing center, I can speak to the experience at Kaiser. Hopefully this will help ease your concerns, or be helpful to someone else who is navigating Kaiser.

    First, yes. The visits are quick. Quick at the beginning, especially if all is well. If you have questions, ask them! I've also found that Kaiser docs are generally great at responding to emails. Also, when there was anything remotely abnormal, visits got longer and I was amazed with how quickly I was able to get additional tests (all was actually totally fine). No, you likely won't meet the doctors and nurses who will be there for delivery. 

    Here's a (2016) link to prenatal and postpartum classes. The two/three day childbirth session covers laboring and delivery positions and pain management options, including med-free. I see now that they also offer a "Coping with Labor the Natural Way" class. (FWIW, I had a non-medicated, simple birth at Kaiser Oakland, as did a friend of mine.)

    https://thrive.kaiserpermanente.org/care-near-you/northern-california/s…

    Re: midwives... Kaiser Oakland and Walnut Creek both have midwives on staff in L&D. The midwife who was with me was top notch and fully in charge (over the resident MD). I felt like I was in very capable hands. And while I hadn't met her prior to birth, she did come to visit the next day, which was really great.

    I trust that you'll find the right option for you!

    Oct 26, 2016

    I just gave birth to my daughter a couple months ago and received care from Bay Area Midwifery. They do both birth center and home births. My midwife was Pearl. I received such an amazing level of support. It is so different from my Kaiser experiences! Besides long and holistic prenatal appointments, she actually did at least 7 postpartum visits in the first 10 days after the birth. There would have been 10, but the breast feeding and weight gain of the baby was going so well, she didn't need to. She even helped me immensely with breast feeding. I didn't even leave home for an appointment until my 6 week post-partum appointment! 

    I attended pregnancy support groups (free with care) where there was sharing and education as well as birth prep groups with Tabitha (an extra fee). I had the natural home birth that I wanted. Not only that, my husband learned pain management techniques that were critical to me during labor and I had a quick, relatively easy birth. I continue to attend free post partum groups there twice a month. I highly recommend it. What a difference it makes to be seen as a whole person not just a patient and to have everything geared towards preparing you for a natural birth experience! 

    Oct 26, 2016

    Pacifica Birth Center is amazing. I gave birth there 3 months ago. I also had Kaiser- so its $5000 out of pocket. Worth every penny- we had an amazing birth there.  You are definitely not too late to switch. 

    Oct 26, 2016

    Definitely not too late to switch, I switched from a midwife practice in a hospital (though no Kaiser) when I was farther along than you.  I felt so strongly that the environment was too medicalized and I would feel uncomfortable giving birth there, and knew I wanted to give birth at home.  I found an incredible midwife, Leopi Sanderson Edmunds, who I can recommend very highly.  Her visits were holistic, and took us through what my partner and I would be experiencing at every stage of the pregnancy, as well as during birth.  She had good recommendations for a healthy, natural pregnancy in terms of diet, supplements, etc.  She and her partner helped me give natural birth to a very large baby without tearing.  She was also able to make the call, soon after the birth, that my baby needed to be seen at the hospital (he's a beautiful, healthy 3yo now don't worry :-).  It was so important that she was professional in recommending the hospital when necessary.  So you have my recommendation for Leopi, but I suggest meeting several midwives and seeing who you connect with, we are lucky there are so many great options in the Bay.  Also the book "Ida May Gaskin's Guide to Childbirth" really helped prepare me for what I would experience in birth (caveat - it has a strong 70's hippie vibe which can be too much, but the benefit is that it has lots of birth stories and science).

    Nov 2, 2016