anyone deliver there? what did you think?
anyone use dr. decker?
One of my friends just delivered a baby there last month and had a HORRIBLE experience. It was truly a nightmare for her. I will ask her who her ob was, but it was disastrous!
I was supposed to have my first child at North Hills (and I love so much about them!!! I like how educational they were, HOW they went about it, and liked that they were great about being allowed to move around and alternative ways to give birth). However, my water broke 6 weeks early and they weren't equipped for a preemie so early and so they had a talk with me and explained that I could have the baby there and he be transferred downtown, or I could go downtown to have the baby in a strange place by a stranger. I had spent a lot of time at North Hills getting to know the place, the staff (who are awesome), the way they do things, but I flipped out at the prospect that my first child may be in a NICU in another hospital; another town! Especially since we didn't have a lot of close friends here, and no family in the state. They had an ambulance take me to Baylor Allsaints, downtown Ft Worth.
Everyone was nice, starting with the paramedic who made sure I took note of the weather and sky so I could remember what the day was like when my son was born (small, but special now). The nurses were very kinda and attentive, even when I mentioned in aggrivation that the ER had called my room and said something about me having to do paperwork (the nurse promptly called them and said not to bother me and when my husband had time he'd do it), or when I said that IVs make me feel claustophobic and they stopped to explain why and asked me a couple questions, then corrected the problem. I've had lots of IVs in my life, but noone had ever done that! Again, small, but it makes a big difference if you're gonna be there for an entire day. At night my husband went home (he's tall and they didn't have anything good enough for him to sleep on): I DID care about that, but I don't know if it was b/c I was an "emergency" situation or not----DO check to see if there's sleeping arrangements for spouses and what they are. It was definately a priority when I chose North Hills. The nurses were attentive and came promptly when I called them to help me go to the restroom and stuff though. The doctor who took me on such short notice also ended up being AWESOME. I've had a lot of accidents and so I've had plenty of experience in hospitals, and I just generally don't like doctors of any kind, but she was not only very well equipped and knowledgable, she was also extremely gentle and had a calming way about her. When she came into the room, even when I was terrified (my first child, my mom's not here, Joe was going to be 6 weeks early, what's wrong, etc), she just had a very serious take charge attitude but balanced with bringing peace to the room immediately. Very kind. Her name was Dr Papa; I don't know Dr Decker. They were good about telling me what was happening, what the game plan was, and doing what they said. The only real negative experience I had in my 19 days with them was the stupid little boy (I know he was 30-ish but I hated him) who was supposed to give me an epidural. I was in a lot of pain by the time he came, and he wanted me in an awkward position as he gave it to me, but my spine was to tight and he couldn't get it through. Instead of apologizing for the pain and trying to make me feel better, he acted aggrivated after the 3rd try and my husband jumped up angrily at how stupid he was. I said nevermind, I didn't want it and the nurse took the idiot away and made sure he was disciplined for his lack of bedside manner. During labor, they made me feel safe even though it was an interesting experience to have my first baby without drugs, lol. They had staff from the NICU there in my room to assess Joseph asap, but immediately afterwards brought him to me and let my husband hold him. They brought me to my suite and were very good and kind for the next few days. However, the NICU staff were freaking amazing. They took care of Joseph for nearly 3 weeks and understood all my weird emotions and just really took care of both of us. They gently taught me what was happening at all times with him and what it all meant, they taught me how to change his diaper, clean him, take his temperature, all that stuff while he was in his little NICU crib, they allowed me to stay as long/often as I wanted (12-15 hours/day) and didn't make me feel like I was in the way. I took advantage of a small bedroom where I could lay down, use the breast pump, etc there in the NICU. When he was about to be released, they had me room in and take care of him myself (but could call them to bring milk at feeding times, or if I had any questions, etc). Not only were the NICU staff unbelievable, but the regular hospital staff did a good job of making me feel safe and looked after (which is a big feat b/c I hate hospitals and doctors). Again, I was there 19 days and I had one bad experience: the epidural. But I suggest that you go to the hospital and check it out, take a tour, take the classes so you get to know the staff, ask whatever questions you have (especially security for infants), voice whatever concerns you have. I DO think it's important to have a bed or lazyboy type chair that a spouse could sleep on though; I don't know if I didn't have one in the labor & delivery room b/c I was transferred unexpectedly and last minute, or if they just don't provide them. My family attended the 30th NICU reunion (a year later) and it was funny to see how many people showed up, of all ages (even graduating college), because they really did have good experiences there.
I delivered my last child there. April 2006. I have delivered at North Hills, Harris Downtown and Baylor. It was by far the best experience and I wish I would have had all 3 there. The nursing staff was excellent and very tentive to my needs.
I have been seeing Dr. Douglas Decker for probably 15-20 years. He is fabulous. I have recommended him for all my friends and all of them LOVE him as well. Now my child is adopted so I don't have that experience with him but all of my friends have used him for delivery and they have all been positive. One of my friends even named her son Douglas after him. He is super. Even though my daughter is adopted from China he always makes a point to ask about her and shares his experience of visiting China.
I couldn't speak higher of a dr. You are in good hands.
My wife has been seeing Dr. Martha Guerra who we were recommended by multiple friends... But sad to say the service has been horrible and a nightmare.. Just a week after my wifes C-Section preformmed by Dr. Guerra she got an internal infection aroound the incision, a hemotoben, and a UTI from the catheter used .... was anything done sanitarily?!!! Ontop of that my wife was at home with these unknown conditions; seeing how as Dr. Guerra never came and saw my wife for the three days in the hospital after the birth of our child... Some Dr....? No stop no hows it been since.. Not once.. She did come and signed her discharge papers with out even seeing her.... My wife had been complaining of the pain non-stop.. The RN's just kept saying it was normal... Also my wife a first time mother who wanted to breast feed was never seen by the lactation specialist...!! Then when we got home and went on a rollercoaster (up/down) fever for a week .. Dr. Guerras on call Nurse "Terry" advised me to give my wife (what would have been an unsafe dose of Tylenol) I thought this was high so good thing I questioned the Walgreens Pharmacist.. who agreed unsafe levels of acetaminophen'.. After this last call of multiple concearn calls to Dr. Guerra's on call staff.... My wife was again running a higher fever. due to the unknown issues.. The on call nurse then asked why I had not given the Tylenol as she instructed.. I then explained because the pharmacist stated it was unsafe levels.. After a secound run down the nurse stated "Oh I didnt realize she was on so much medication" WHAT!! for one I told her on the first call, Two why prescribe medication when your not sure what the patient is on?? Crazy if you ask me... After all this I got fed up and took my wife to the Allsaints ER... They were great,, but again Dr. Guerra's lazy style of work caused problems again.. AFter all the issues were found via cat-scan we waited over hrs. for the on call OBGYN to call back.. The ER doctor actually came and appologised for having to wait because the OBGYN was dropping the ball by calling back... The ER Doctor talked to the house supervisor to complain about the issue and the house supervisor made it happened.. The OBGYN finally called took another hour to show then had my wife admitted to the hospital... Dr. Guerra was on vacation and basiclly appears to have the Allsaints staff playing babysiter until she gets around to coming back and tending to my infected sick wife.. Her partner OBGYN Dr. Hooper came and blamed the ER for not having their partners new Cell phone... Some nerve.. the ER was great!!! She was just trying to make their practice llok good (wasn't working).. 2 DAYS LATER we are still waiting on Dr. Guerra... In person she is very quite and very nice.. I have no doubt that she has the knowledge to do the job.. But I do believe she lacks true concearn and passion for the patient....... I do not recommend her or her associates..... Good luck and Pray for us... They still dont know what to do, just trying different antibiotics and facing surgery again...