Both of my children were born at the Palomar Hospital Birth Center in Escondido, my first daughter in 2000 and my son in 2006. Despite the pain of labor and delivery, both experiences were wonderful from start to finish.
The birth center at Palomar Hospital in Escondido, California features private labor and delivery rooms. From the moment of admission to the delivery baby the family stays in the same private room. The rooms are elegantly decorated A laboring mother lies on a typical hospital bed, while a chair and table are provided for guests. There is a private bathroom and shower in his room. The waiting father is encouraged to stay as long as he wants, even folding the chair to form a small, albeit uncomfortable, bed.
Don’t let the amenities fool you. This fully operational birthing room is filled with medical equipment, monitors and computers. If anything, Palomar Hospital has a neo-natal unit on site. Fortunately, I didn’t have to go there.
Nurses and a variety of hospital births were replaced in and out of the birthing area, taking blood pressure readings and blood samples. to fill out the forms. Every person he encountered between the two hostels was incredibly friendly, polite and religious.
In 2000, I had an epidural when an anesthesiologist was available. Around this time, I found out that the Palomar Birth Center now employs an anesthesiologist full time, around the clock. This meant that I could schedule an optional epidural rather than waiting several hours.
After having the epidural, and proclaiming my undying love for the anesthesiologist, I bumbled through labor. I was stuck in a wheelchair with my daughter for 2½ hours with a nurse my whole time and a doctor on call. My son was a different story, he pushed a few times and went out. I don’t know if the nurse will be around this time.
Both times we were able to stay in the delivery rooms until the effects of the epidural wore off. Later he moved us to recover a smaller place. The recovery the room is also decorated has been nicely developed, with a fold for the father and a private bathroom and shower.
Again, the parade of the birth center and other hospital staff came and went, regardless of the time of day or night. One thing they all had in common was a constant brand ID check. They made sure to double check my ID and put the bracelet on the baby.
No hospital review is complete without a review of hospital food. Let’s just say hospital food. Actually two of the best meals I’ve ever had after giving birth. Now I am not dumb enough to think that any food is good, but I feed my body.
Between comfortable accommodations, friendly staff and cute babies, Palomar Hospital’s birth center is as good as it gets.
