This is based on my delivery back in 2005 - so things may have changed since then. However, based on my experience, I vowed to myself NEVER to deliver at that hospital again. And I didn't and won't. The nursing staff overall wasn't too impressive, but the biggest "stand-out" in my mind was the anesthesiologist there! He was awful and as a result my back will never be the same. I was getting a "routine" epidural and this anesthesiologist (I believe he was darker-skinned - and he smelled good... that's all I remember about him as a person) poked my back SO many times that I felt shocks throughout my body each time he poked. And even after 2 tries (many pokes, but 2 different times during the day), he still didn't get the epidural right.
Eventually I ended up with a c-section and they had the head of anesthesiology give me my spinal. Thank GOD he got that right. But as a result of the first guy poking me and failing so many times, my sciatic nerve flared up SO badly it rendered me crippled for about 6 weeks. I NEVER had sciatic nerve pain before that day (not even during my pregnancy). I consulted my doctor about this and he suspects it was that anesthesiologists repeated failed attempts. Anyway beware of this anesthesiologist (sorry I don't have a name, but remember darker skin, wears lots of cologne).....
Also I should add that here I was, post c-section and they moved my room 5 times during my 5 day stay there (sometimes more than 1 move in a day!) All to keep my room private. I appreciated the effort, but my god - it wasn't easy moving around that many times! I was also neglected during "meal-time" and for two nights I went without food. I had to call up the nurses to complain at like, 10pm because I never got my food. NOT good for a nursing mother.
I could go on and on but overall this hospital's maternity wing was not up to par with what I would have expected from a maternity wing. I've since had another child at another hospital and I can say with "experience" that Manatee Memorial is not (or at least WAS NOT) a good hospital to deliver at (at least not for c-section patients!)
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