Healdsburg General Hospital

Information gathered December, 2000 - Thank you Valeri!

GENERAL
Address: 1375 University St Healdsburg, CA
Main phone #:(707) 431-6500
L&D phone #: (707) 431-6340
Directions from a major freeway/street: -
Parking information (where do you park? are there any parking fees?): -
L&D location (floor, how to get there from parking lot): -

AMENITIES
What kind of rooms? (L&D, LDRP..) LDR - Each room slightly different, many open through large sliding door out to enclosed patio. Whimsical hand painted murals. Babies pictures placed on the web if desired.
Cafeteria hours/what is their food like: -
Refreshments available at L&D: (juice? coffee? snacks?) Tea, coffee, juice, extra food trays offered for birth support team when available.
Microwave available? yes
TV/VCR/CD available? yes
Showers/Tubs/Jacuzzis in rooms? On floor? waterbirth available? Shower in rooms, poor water pressure. Hospital protocol allow tubs to be brought in, if prearranged and tub is of approved quality. Hospital actually purchased adapters for each L & D room and bought shoulder length gloves. Most of the nurses are very supportive of tub use, but some still seem uncomfortable.
Telemetry units available? waterproof telemetry? No. Doppler encased in rubber glove used for intermittent monitoring of FHR when mother uses labor tub.
Birth Balls provided? Not provided, but allowed.
Birthing stools available? No. Rocking chairs in each room.
Does this hospital have a doula program? No
What level of nursery does it have? Level 2
Can newborn assessments be done bedside? Yes
Is baby taken to nursery? if so, how soon and for how long? Not routinely. Healthy babies stay with mother, unless otherwise desired.
Can both partner and doula attend cesareans? Dependent on OB and situation.

POLICIES
Eating/drinking in labor? yes
Fetal monitoring? 20 Minute baseline EFM upon admission. Intermittent if all is well.
IV/heplock: Not required in most cases.
Walking after rupture of membranes? Yes
Pushing positions: Dependant on OB, most encourage mother's choice of position. Hill Rom birthing bed with squat bar in all rooms.

STATISTICS
Epidural rate Epidural rate 0% for vaginal births. Healdsburg General does not offer epidural anesthesia for vaginal births.
VBAC rate - -
Cesarean rate - cesarean rate less than California average per California Consumer HealthScope
How many births a month/year are done here? Approximately 200 births (a year?).
Comments from doulas who have attended there: "Healdsburg General is a very small, quiet hospital with a tiny L&D unit. In order to compete with other nearby larger hospitals, Healdsburg General has answered the call of consumers and allows the use of labor and birthing tubs for low risk pregnancies and deliveries. Most of the nurses and other staff are compassionate and supportive, and truly encourage mothers wanting unmedicated births. There are a few who could take a few lessons in what NOT to say to laboring mothers, though! Several of the doctors who attend there are phenomenal. There are currently no CNM with privileges there. This hospital does not offer epidural for vaginal deliveries. Those wanting one should go elsewhere.

Overall, this is a nice, homey hospital."

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