Naval Hospitals

I went to Sentara Leigh and I had the best experience and amazing birth. I’d avoid Norfolk general. My best friend who’s active duty obviously had to give birth at the naval hospital and she had the worrrrrrst experience. They missed up her epidural twice after they gave her Pitocin. Got it right on the third try and also gave her a balloon before the pitocin so there’s still some old school principles being taught and used at the hospital. She asked for no interns to work on her but the hospital told her tough and since she was there/active duty it was in signed contracts that’s medically interns can work on her.

Please don’t go to the naval hospital if you can avoid it. I’m active duty so I had to go there. I had an emergency c-section, which went fine, but afterwards the doctor told me they were going to manage my pain with Tylenol. The pain was something I’ve never in my life encountered, I don’t remember much but my husband couldn’t handle my screaming anymore and it was scaring the other patients so they finally gave me appropriate medicine. Almost 5 years later and I’m still dealing with the trauma. I ended up with post partum preeclampsia from the pain and stress and now have high blood pressure, and I get panic attacks every time I try to go to the doctor.

I had my oldest son at Portsmouth Naval.

I didn’t have any issues.

i didn’t give birth at portsmouth, but i had to have a hysterectomy and the surgical and ob team there was amazing

The only way they will transfer you out of the navel OB is if they are full. I tried getting switched to a civilian doctor and they wouldn’t do it. I had an emergency c section and it went great my son was in the nicu and they were some of the best doctors. But my nurses were not the best..

@Jessica oh god i’m so sorry for your friends experience that sounds horrible 😭 why do you say avoid norfolk general? that one is the closet one to me

@Jess im so sorry you had to go through that😓 thank you for your input. i’m horrible with pain i can’t imagine only being given tylenol

@Merari I personally never had a good experience with Norfolk general, I would take my ex-husband there frequently cause it was closest to our housing and Portsmouth ED was usually crazy. Never had a good doctor until kidney liver floor where he was taken seriously and nurses were typically rude. We’ve been in the ED, ICU, and other floors even psych for him. The psych floor was dirty and ghetto. And I just would never tell any one to go there. I couldn’t picture giving birth there knowing how they treat patients. Sentara Leigh and Princess Anne are great. I would even recommend OBCI in Suffolk before Norfolk General. I got to know the hospitals in the area clearly lol 😂 maybe it’s because I work in healthcare that I have specific standards and expectations? I don’t know. I’m just being genuinely honest though.

I’ve only heard horror stories about Portsmouth Naval 🫣 I appears recommend Chesapeake for OB. Every baby in my family has been born there for the last two generations. The nurses are all super nice. My OB is great. I’ve worked in the ER there before and it’s hectic but everyone is wonderful and loves what they do. I’m touring the new mommy baby unit on Sunday.