I'm due to deliver in mid to late April and am planning to go to Pennsylvania Hospital. I know experiences there can be mixed - particularly if it is busy. But I'd also heard a rumor that they turned all their recovery rooms into private rooms.

Anyone have an recent experiences to share?

I was there a year ago and I did have a private room...I did not request to have one my experience there was wonderful....from labor and delivery to recovery i had the best care ever. The nurses were great!!!

my wife delivered there about 4 months ago. we thought it was great! as i recall, some of the recovery rooms are singles & others are doubles. what you get is a bit the luck of the draw. we were in a double but were fortunate that no one else was put in the room. so - it all worked out just fine.

the staff is very helpful, and we were very happy using the midwife practice (although i hear that the "standard" ob/gyn practice is also very good). all in all, we were very satisfied customers, and I don't think we are alone.

I delivered both of my children at Penn and had a great experience- I did get a single room- possibly because I had c-sections and irregardless you are always dyiong to get out! However I found staff to be great

I delivered at PAH 5 months ago. Overall, it was a very positive experience. The nurses were tremendous. I also found the lactation consultants really helpful (both in the hospital and via the helpline after I came home). I was in a double room, but was alone for most of my stay. I believe they fill the single rooms first and then put one patient in the double rooms before they double people up.

I think it depends on the time of year that you deliver. August/September can be horrendous - we were actually warned about it in advance when we went to tour the hospital. I had my son there in September 2006 and it was a madhouse. They had women "in recovery" waiting in hallways, and put them eventually in nonmaternity wards. Given the work they were doing, the nurses and doctors did their best to be caring and considerate, but my (induced)labor was protracted because we were waiting for a L/D room for about 10 hours (they had to serve the people who came in in natural labor first - never mind that I needed to be induced because there was no more amniotic fluid!). So - I wasn't particularly happy with the whole experience, but wouldn't put it on the staff at all, just an overstressed hospital. And I heard recently that 2006 may have been a mini baby boom. So - upshot is, ask staff what April is usually like - they'll probably tell you.

I delivered there in April 06 and it was a fantastic experience. Honestly I've never heard a single bad experience there.
At least then, they had 50% single rooms and 50% double. Priority for the single rooms are given to c-section and multiples but otherwise it's just random. I was in a double but never had a roommate.
I expect to be back then in the fall.

April is a good time to deliver.

If you are scheduled for July, be sure to hold it in for a few months.

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Peace Out, Philly!

I delivered via c-section both 5 and 9 years ago. Doctors and nurses mostly great. One nurse 9 yrs. ago was pushing formula for my healthy, 24 hrs. old baby, which I adamantly rejected. The second time, 5 yrs. ago in April, I shared that information and had nothing but supportive folks checking in. I lucked out both times w/ a single room, so my husband joined me both times (he on a roll-away cot). Lactation folks always terrific - highly recommend requesting them. Sorry it's not more recent information, but it may be helpful in conjunction w/ other feedback you've received.

I delivered at Pennsylvania in August 03 and in May 07. Both times I got stuck in a double room with a roommate. What that means is that come the end of visiting hours, your husband or partner has to leave, and leave you alone in this new and scary experience. I was completely unprepared emotionally for my husband to just walk out the door and I wish I had been warned beforehand to be ready - I just remember being certain I'd end up in a private room. For the second baby, I was just HOPING we'd luck out, but no dice. So my advice is be prepared for a double and rejoice if you get a private. And get discharged early if you can. On an up note, all the deserts on the maternity floor are great!