In the DFW area, we have so many options available to expecting families. but, not all the options are the same. When you are planning your birth, a key factor of being happy with your experience is having realistic expectations for your experience thus matching your wants and needs with the best birth place for you is important! In this series, we explore the various birth locations in Dallas and Ft. Worth. Regardless if you are trying to figure out the right location for you or even if you already made your choice, this series can help you know what to expect on the big day. Join us in as we chat about local hospitals and birth centers and learn from our experienced doulas.
Here is the 411 on Richardson Methodist Medical Center.
Richardson Methodist can be found off the George Bush highway just east of I-75. This is a new location that has been in operation since Fall of 2014.
Parking – Parking is free. However, in order to be admitted to the Labor and Delivery wing, you must first go through triage that is located in the ER. There is lots of parking at the ER, however the ER parking is not particularly close to Labor and Delivery. Just know that when you are ready to head home, your partner will need to move the car around to the main parking lot pickup.
Food – Richardson Methodist has dine on demand food service for patients. There is a menu, and you call when you are hungry and order something. For the partner or other visitors, there is a cafeteria with all the basics. There is a small snack room on the Labor and Delivery wing that has mini Cokes, water and coffee and things like pudding, jello and popsicles. Also every room has a refrigerator.
Rooms – Richardson Methodist is brand new and the rooms are modern and large. Each labor room has a nice shower, but no tub.
NICU info – Level 3
Breastfeeding Support – Average for the area.
Will your healthy baby go to the nursery? Not unless you want him too Rooming in is encouraged but if you want your baby to go to the well baby nursery, it is an option.
What does intermittent Monitoring look like? Laboring women can be monitored intermittently which generally looks like 10 minutes on the monitors at the bedside then 30 minutes or so off. As we attend a lot of VBACs at Richardson Methodist, we do see most VBAC women being monitored continuously, however women are given plenty of time to go hang out in the bathroom for a while and can usually take a little time in shower.
Saline Lock OK? Yes
Telemetry Monitoring? Richardson Methodist does not have it at this time.
Does Richardson Methodist support water birth or labor? Labor rooms have showers that are available for women, however there are no tubs and at this time women are not able to bring in their own tubs for labor.
Does Richardson Methodist offer Family Center Cesareans? No, not really.
Do you consider Richardson Methodist VBAC friendly? Yes. However the vast majority of VBACs we attend there are with one particular OB, Dr. Downey. He is one the highest regarded VBAC specialists in the Dallas and Ft. Worth area. Not every OB that works out of Richardson Methodist is VBAC friendly. If you are planning a VBAC, we highly recommend Dr. Downey!
Does Richardson Methodist have any midwives that attend births? No, so far the hospital has not been open to giving CNMs privileges.
Is Richardson Methodist supportive of women planning a natural birth? Yes, though this varies by provider.
What is the Cesarean Rate for Richardson Methodist? 17% of low risk, singleton births were via Caesarean in 2012 (the latest data available when this was written) Texas Cesarean Rates
Are doulas able to support women in the OR during a Cesarean delivery? Occasionally if the clients really advocate for their doula to go into the OR with them. I have also seen a photographer allowed. into the OR to take pictures of the birth.
Other notes – All laboring women have to go to triage in the ER. In triage, expect to have baby monitored and a cervical exam performed by one of the hospitalists (an OB who works for the hospital with no outside patients of his own.) Richardson has a hospitalist on site 24/7 to take care of any emergencies and to help the other OBs with delivery when necessary. Once a woman has been examined and monitored, she will be taken via wheel chair up to Labor and Delivery and to the room where she will deliver.
Want more info about having a baby at Richardson Methodist? Contact us and we can chat about it!
2831 E. President George Bush Highway – at Renner Road
Richardson, Texas 75082
469-204-1000
Interested in other Dallas/Ft. Worth/Denton birth locations? Read all our reviews, we post a new one each week! Catch up on old reviews of: Baylor Frisco, Baylor Dallas.