Childbirth at Kaiser Hayward
The Parents Network >
Reviews >
Health & Medical >
Kaiser Doctors >
Childbirth at Kaiser Hayward
April 2006
Re: Childbirth at Kaiser - where to deliver?
I had a fabulous experience at Hayward last year. It was my intention to deliver
at Oakland, but when I called to say we were on our way, they said they were full
and diverting to Walnut Creek. Called them next and they were full too. They
were diverting to Hayward - we didn't even know where that hospital was! In any
case, the drive was rough - traffic on 238 was busy as usual. (It was a Friday
afternoon.) But, once there, it was great - 25 minutes of pushing with the help
of my doulas, husband, fabulous nurses and a wonderful, nurturing mid-wife and
out popped baby #2! I don't know about the midwife hours. And, I would think
San Rafael would be too far - at least for me. Labor in the car is no fun. All
that said, If I were doing it again, I'd choose Oakland for proximity - hands
down. -Not sure I helped answer your question.
May 2001
Has anyone given birth at Kaiser Hayward? I am at the point of chosing health insurance
and this is one option. ANY info appreciated. Thanks
paula
I gave birth (and was born) at Kaiser Hayward and I had a good experience. Dr. Anker
is my OB/GYN and he answers all my questions and is supportive of my decisions.
Kaiser is very organized and has lots of educational material - newsletters at every
appointment, a health education library (the videos were very helpful to me), and lots of
classes (I took every one, which was a bit TOO much). The hospital facility is not fancy -
no pretty wallpaper, private rooms, or hot
tubs. But I liked the care. Dr. Anker told me that I was OK to check out, but I told him
that I wanted one more day and he said no problem. (If you're into amenities, I hear
that Kaiser Walnut Creek has a fancy birthing center and that and once you're a Kaiser
member I believe you may choose your facility.) I found that the staff was very cautious -
I called in that the baby wasn't moving as much and they told me to come right in. They
did all sorts of tests/monitoring and ended up inducing because of low amniotic fluid.
Midwives do the deliveries unless there is a complication. I am pregnant and I'm going
to have baby #2 there as well.
Good luck!
Helena
Granted my experience is a few years old now, but I had a pretty great treatment
delivering at Kaiser Hayward. I had a midwife, I met all three that delivered babies at
the time and they were all very nice, respectful and knowledgeable women. There were
midwives on duty 8am-8pm M-F, so the odds are pretty good of a midwife delivery if you
are interested in that option. The high light for me was the great lactation nurses. I
had almost every problem possible nursing and they worked with me every step of the
way. I came in with firm ideas of what I did not want (IV,to be on
the monitor constantly) and the nurses were fine with it, however, when my midwife
came to see me in the morning, she suggested drinking juice and/or jello, etc to prevent
dehydration. Essentially, the nurses seemed okay with me being not submissive and in
charge of my options, but maybe weren't all that well informed about alternatives.
When my midwife was in the room, though, she had such a calm way about her, it
helped me to relax. Her name was Susan Snydall. Kaiser is about much more than
deliveries though, I've been in Kaiser since I was six, and have become more and more
critical. Often, you have to make things seem like worse than they are if you want to be
seen for routine things within a few months - optometry, pap smear, etc. I've had to
learn their system and even so, I've had some bad experiences. There are some really
good doctors, some just so-so, but getting an urgent care appointment can be confusing,
theres all this call center stuff to go through. If you can find good doctors though, Kaiser
can certainly be worth the effort.
bethw
Nov 1999
I gave birth at Kaiser Hayward 3 years ago, so maybe this is a little
dated but I had a pretty wonderful experience. After I originally had a
random OB(supposedly my doctor) tell me at 3 months I should only gain
15 lbs. during pregnancy (I was closer to being underweight than overweight
at that time anyway!!) I switched to the midwife program there. My midwife,
Susan Snydall was wonderful and actually ended up delivering my baby as
well. Atleast then, the midwives were in the hospital from 8 am-8pm
weekdays (there are 3) with doctors the rest of the time. When I was
admitted at 3am the doctors and nurses put a lot of presure on me to get
an IV, lie down, keep the monitor on, etc. But once the midwife got there
in the morning she gave me juice and food and put me in the shower, encouraged
me to move around. Anyone with a low risk pregnancy can transfer to the
midwife program, this means you see a midwife for every appointment instead
of alternating between the OB and nurse practic. but when you are in the
hospital is still luck as to who you get really delivering the baby.
It was annoying the difference between the narrow minded doctors and calm
gentle midwives but that's kaiser for you I guess. It can be really
wonderful but you have to find the right doctor or nurse. Also if you
are in the midwife program you are much more likely to have your care
provider deliver your baby because they are delivering babies much more than
the regular doctors. Furthermore, the lactation nurses at Hayward are
very wonderful resourceful women who have a million tricks in their sleeve.
The benefit of delivering at a hospital is definately the lactation
nurses. I think they also have a similar program in San Rafael which maybe
closer.
this page was last updated: Jun 20, 2009
The opinions and statements expressed on this website
are those of parents who subscribe to the
Berkeley Parents Network.
Please see
Disclaimer & Usage for
information about using content on this website.
Copyright © 1996-2013 Berkeley Parents Network