Stony Brook

I'm thinking of switching practices (crazy hour+ wait times with my current OB) and changing to a practice that delivers out of Stony Brook. I've read great things about the facility itself - private rooms, decent food, excellent NICU should that become necessary.

But I've also read a lot that makes me nervous in terms of it being a breast-feeding friendly place, like 50,000 interruptions so interns can come learn on your baby, pull him right off the boob to do so, and an MIA lactation consultant.

Can any of the ladies who delivered there comment?

Stony Brook

I had a great delivery and every nurse was able to help in some way with breast feeding. Ds was in the nicu and they were so helpful. The staff upstairs seemed knowledgeable too but we didn't see them as much

Re: Stony Brook

I had a great experience at Stony Brook. I did not see a lactation consultant (nor did I look for one - this is my third breastfed baby) but the nurses were very helpful with anything I asked, so I'm sure if I was looking for breastfeeding help they would have provided it or found someone who could. I didn't find I had a lot of interruptions from interns or anyone else really. My doctor came each day for a few minutes, the hospital OB came by once or twice, the hospital pediatricians (my dd's ped. didn't visit in the hospital), and a few specialists because my dd and I had a few issues they needed to check on. I did like that they never took DD from me from the time she was born. And when the doctors came in they never asked me to stop breastfeeding...if they did, I would have totally done so because I know that what they were doing was important and part of her being able to come home...and I didn't mind the interns, etc...everyone needs to learn and I was ok with them learning under the care of good doctors with my own child.

Re: Stony Brook

DD2 was born there 2 years ago. If I ever have a third child, I want to go back there!

There were a bunch of interruptions at night, but that's nighttime in a hospital. It's part of monitoring you. I found them to be super breastfeeding friendly. The nurses were really knowledgeable.

DD2 was in the NICU for 11 days, and they were amazing. Again, super supportive and helpful with breastfeeding and pumping. NO ONE ever pulled my baby off my boob lol. If anyone came in, I said I was nursing and to come back later. The LC was awesome, though I admit I didn't need much BFing help because I had already nursed a baby. They took excellent care of my baby when I wasn't with her (I had a 2 year old at home, so I had to run back and forth).

I used the Stony Brook Midwives and loved them. I highly recommend the practice and hospital.

Message edited 3/15/2015 8:46:58 AM.

Stony Brook

No complaints. I delivered there a year ago and will again in a few months. I had difficulties bfing and every nurse would sit and try to help me. One got me a manual pump so I could pump some colostrum to feed DD since she wouldn't latch. I never asked for the LC so that's my fault. Sure drs are coming in every couple of hours to check on you but I think that's pretty routine. I never had more than 1 or 2 come in at a time.

Re: Stony Brook

I delivered at a non-teaching hospital with my first and Stony Brook with my second. Much better experience at Stony Brook all around. There were no more interruptions than normal, and if you're concerned, just make it clear when you get up to maternity that you don't want students/residents coming in and they will listen. But really the only student I saw was a nursing student and she came in when the regular nurse would anyway. And maybe a resident came in with the pediatrician, but they asked if it was ok before he did anything with the baby, and he just took vitals. Nobody is going to take the baby from you while you are nursing, and really, its your baby, you can say no. They are very much pro breast feeding at that hospital, so not sure why you heard otherwise. Every time I saw a nurse they asked how it was going, and if I needed help. An LC came in twice without me even asking.

Stony Brook

Three years ago when I had my first I had a few comlaints tbh. Most of the nurses were not helpful with bfing, they rushed me out when we were supposed to see the orthopedist first, my one full day I had agreed to have a nursing students see me and while she was great her supervisor was annoying and my actual nurse was mia all day.

I had my second almost 4 months ago by ecs and she was in the nucu for 8 days. This time I had an amazing experience. During my cs every staff member was very supportive and encouraging. I stayed 5 days and all of thr nurses in maternity were amazing. Every time I called they were in my room in thirty seconds to see what I needed, they helped me with pumping, got me whatever I needed, even washed my pump parts for me when DH was gone and I couldn't get up easily. The NICU staff was phenomenal too. From the nurses to the neonatologist to the receptionists that worked the desk they were awesome. Thank goodness or I don't know how I would have left her there. I will say the one thing that still bothers me is that there is not an LC on every day. When they're there they're helpful but I just don't get why they don't have someone available every day. I did find the nurses a lot more helpful this time around when it came to nursing but being that it was my second I didn't need as much help anyway.

If I have a third I could not imagine going anywhere else!

Re: Stony Brook

Stony Brook

I LOVED stony brook hospital. I did not breastfeed. I decided on formula feeding only and they did not hassle me at all or try to promote breastfeeding at all. I don't have any advice about the breastfeeding but the entire staff was wonderful when I was there.

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All very reassuring! Thanks to all who responded

Re: Stony Brook

I delivered twice there. I cannot say enough good things about L&D. Both times were great experiences. You are never away from the baby, even with a c-section and can nurse the second you get into recovery. I loved everything about giving birth there, but it's also important to love your practice since they play a big part.

SB encourages you to keep the baby with you at all times. I personally loved that. There were times, however, that I needed to be able to sleep for more than 2 hours at a time (I was recovering from a c-section both times). They really discouraged me from putting the baby in the nursery, which sucked, but I insisted and they did eventually take the baby for a little while.

They are very supportive of BFing if you make it known you want to EBF. The nurses do their best to help and there is a LC on staff, but overall i think that is one area in which they could improve. The LC is understandably very busy and it's hard to get quality time in with her. But they can and will direct you to additional resources for when you leave the hospital which was a lifesaver for me.

Lastly, I did not have any bad experiences with interns/med students. They were occasionally there, but you can refuse if you want to. Overall they try to be very considerate of you and the baby, at least that was my experience.

The private rooms are so nice, I loved the open visiting hours and that I never had to be away from my baby if I didn't want to.

All things considered, I cannot say enough about how much I love SB.

Stony Brook

I just wanted to add that I never had anyone try to interrupt a feeding with either of my girls. Everyone was more than willing to come back at a better time if we were busy. My OBs came to see me in the nicu most days bc I was rarely in my room. At one point the resident and my OB even bent over backwards so that I wouldn't miss a feeding and treated my bleeding incision in DD's room in the nicu while i was feeding her! I think when it comes to interns doing anything they have to ask your permission first so you can always just decline.

Re: Stony Brook

The only time I ever saw medical students was during delivery. And they could have brought the whole class in if it would've gotten the baby out quicker! lol. I was never interrupted aside from the hearing test once, which is required at any hospital. I saw the LC and have been BFing for 20 months.

Stony Brook

i didnt like the resident in triage. good thing a dr from our practice was there!

Stony Brook

Wow great to hear these experiences. I spoke to a girl today who had her first at Stony Brook and loved it. She's having her second there too. I think we are in good hands there! If you need a practice try Three Village Womens Health. That's where I go!

Re: Stony Brook