Givng Birth in Playa

Chelley · 08-17-2012

Hello,

I can't find any recent posts about this so hope you don't mind me starting a new one.

Has anyone given birth in Playa recently (or know anyone who has)? I am due on the 1st January and trying to decide where to go.

A friend gave birth in CostaMed last year and had a good experience but I'm keen to hear of anyone else's experiences.

I'm back in London for a few months and only arriving back in Playa 6 weeks before the baby's due so trying to get it organised beforehand.

Any help greatly appreciated and would also love to meet any new or expecting Mums too

Thanks!

beam-eye · 08-17-2012

Overall, Hospiten provides by far the best prenatal, obstetrical, postpartum, and neonatal care here, with another back-up hospital in Cancun if needed - it's pricey, but it's a "life event", so don't skimp. Doctora Priega is a well-trained, knowledgeable, attentive, and very pleasantly chirpy English-fluent OB/Gyne, and will see you through. Nursing care can be hit-or-miss, good to mediocre - but there are no ward sisters here to take over and get things done efficiently and in a hurry.

CostaMed is by far the very best of the also-rans, a clean and well-run clinic (but not a true hospital), with moderately attentive and knowledgeable, friendly staff. I don't mean to disparage it at all - it's fine for sorting out your bits and bobs for run-of-the-mill things, but it's just not in the same league with Hospiten when it comes to peripartum care. Suerte!

Chicago Sean · 08-17-2012

I've heard a lot about conception in Playa but never this!

beam-eye · 08-17-2012

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chicago Sean

I've heard a lot about conception in Playa but never this!

Yep, there's got to be a story in there somewhere.

lil_kissy · 08-19-2012

i had both of my girls at hospiten. great care there. i got there for all my doctor appointments as well. pedicatrician, trauma, etc. i would definitely recommend it!

Chelley · 08-19-2012

Thanks for the help.

I have emailed Hospiten for some info, I would prefer to go there as like you said its a bigger hospital with the option of back up in Cancun if needed.

Lil Kissy did you have your girls recently? Do you mind if I PM you for some info?

lil_kissy · 08-20-2012

you can pm me of course! i had my first daughter 5 years ago, and my second daughter 3 years ago. i have been there since for various other doctor appointments, and an overnight stay as recent as last october.

Buggirl · 08-20-2012

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chicago Sean

I've heard a lot about conception in Playa but never this!

Quote:

Originally Posted by beam-eye

Yep, there's got to be a story in there somewhere.

This cracked me up- where would you suggest a pregnant woman who presumably lives in Playa have her baby? Perhaps a nice water birth in a cenote? Maybe climb to the top of the pyramid at Coba? (huh-that would probably be a really good way to induce labor)

I'm guessing the story is a pregnant woman is looking for the best hospital options in her adopted home

I have no advice for the OP, but do want to wish you the best of luck! When are you due?

beam-eye · 08-20-2012

Quote:

Originally Posted by Buggirl

This cracked me up- where would you suggest a pregnant woman who presumably lives in Playa have her baby? Perhaps a nice water birth in a cenote? Maybe climb to the top of the pyramid at Coba? (huh-that would probably be a really good way to induce labor)

I'm guessing the story is a pregnant woman is looking for the best hospital options in her adopted home

I have no advice for the OP, but do want to wish you the best of luck! When are you due?

Yes, I take your point, but "water births" are not as safe as they're cracked up to be (and cenote water, with all the little nibbler fishies, just increases that risk) - sure it sounds great, but it's got more than it's share of problems. Although pyramid climbing at Coba might bring on labor, it's a long haul to Hospiten from Coba - and timing is at least moderately important for a life event (the delivery, not the climbing - you can climb anytime). So, enough tongue in cheek sparring...

On a "get real" note, and based on the point of origin for her post (which sounded like the UK), I was operating on the presumption that she wanted to either 1) avoid delivery in the NHS (the wives of the NHS docs that I know all want to deliver in the US, for some reason, although I've found NHS hospitals and staff generally to be quite pleasant); or 2) avoid cold UK weather in January; or 3) visit or move back to Playa around the time of her due date, hence the "there's a story in there somewhere" comment - but I felt a little awkward just busting out and asking - so I didn't.

Best of luck to her and the new arrival(s)!!! Cheers!

Chelley · 08-21-2012

Haha you guys are funny. A Cenote water birth sounds ideal if I was a hippy type who wouldn't be wanting any pain relief! Until the cave divers popped up from the end of their dive and got a real shock!

Story is: We lived in Playa for 2 years and bought some land in Tulum last year, we're building a hotel but had the opportunity to come back to the UK to earn some cash to help pay for it while our project manager is getting it all off the ground. But now we're ready to come back and wanted to do it before the baby is born so that we can escape another winter in London and oversee the end of the building.

Bubba is due on the 1st January.

I haven't had any reply from Hospiten yet but Costamed have been in touch. Just need to work out which is less likely to make me have a Cesarean like the other 80% of private hospital births in Mexico!

Thanks for your help and wishes

beam-eye · 08-21-2012

(Deleting duplicate)

beam-eye · 08-21-2012

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chelley

Haha you guys are funny. A Cenote water birth sounds ideal if I was a hippy type who wouldn't be wanting any pain relief! Until the cave divers popped up from the end of their dive and got a real shock!

Story is: We lived in Playa for 2 years and bought some land in Tulum last year, we're building a hotel but had the opportunity to come back to the UK to earn some cash to help pay for it while our project manager is getting it all off the ground. But now we're ready to come back and wanted to do it before the baby is born so that we can escape another winter in London and oversee the end of the building.

Bubba is due on the 1st January.

I haven't had any reply from Hospiten yet but Costamed have been in touch. Just need to work out which is less likely to make me have a Cesarean like the other 80% of private hospital births in Mexico!

Thanks for your help and wishes

I am unaware of an unusually high CS rate in private hospitals in Mexico, although since private hospitals attract "paying customers", the concept, and the associated concern on your part, are quite understandable.

Unless you have pre-existing conditions ("risk factors") which might increase the possibility of a CS (previous CS, diabetes or big baby for other reasons, pelvic disproportion, gestationally-induced hypertension or pre-eclampsia, twins, breech presentation, and so on - its a quite specific list of "indications", and your UK Consultant/Resistrar will have sorted you out for most of the conditions on the list before you travel), you shouldn't have to worry about undue pressure to have an "un-indicated" CS at Hospiten.

Also, Dr. Priega is well-trained to US/UK standards, and is not among the "CS for the doctor's convenience" crowd. (There are two Obs/Gynes at Hospiten in Playa - the other is Dr. Canul - I know him also, but I know Dr. Priega better.)

I cannot say the same for CostaMed, but only because I don't know the Obs/Gyne there, and have used the clinic only for minor things (at which they do moderately well - the best of the "also-rans" in Playa).

Having said that, Mexico is not the US or UK - concepts, customs, and "things" in general are often different here (even at Hospiten) - Hospiten is not just "the best of a bad lot", however - the Obs/Gyne and Peds departments there are good, and will provide you with good care and "up to standard" services. Not to worry. Cheers!

Chelley · 08-21-2012

Thanks Beam-eye, good to get personal references for Doctors and I guess worth paying the extra at Hospiten to ensure you get what you want and the time that you need.

I haven't had any luck contacting Hospiten through their email address, I will try by phone later in the week but do you think its worth contacting Dr Priega directly? Would you have any contact details for her?

Thanks

beam-eye · 08-23-2012

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chelley

Thanks Beam-eye, good to get personal references for Doctors and I guess worth paying the extra at Hospiten to ensure you get what you want and the time that you need.

I haven't had any luck contacting Hospiten through their email address, I will try by phone later in the week but do you think its worth contacting Dr Priega directly? Would you have any contact details for her?

Thanks

I sent Dr. Priego's email to you by PM.

The name of the peds doc is Dr. Carlos Gabriel Abaunza - another of the good guys. Don't have an email for him, except the general Hospiten email. If I find one, I'll PM that too. Suerte!

CameronK · 08-24-2012

WE live in Playa and my wife gave birth to our 3rd child in Cancun last September. Everything went great but I think you are correct in the 80% CS. We interviewed several doctors who, when cornered with their ratio of CS to non, basically said that is the way they deliver most babies. Kept telling my wife how it was better for her. Yeah right. Wouldn't recommend our doctor, or hospital, as my wife went into labor on Saturday evening during a storm and I could smell the booze on his breath, almost made wife puke, and the hospital staff was pretty non-existent. Go with beam-eye's recommendation.

08-17-2012	#1 (permalink)
Chelley lost on fifth Join Date: Aug 2012 Posts: 12	Givng Birth in Playa Hello, I can't find any recent posts about this so hope you don't mind me starting a new one. Has anyone given birth in Playa recently (or know anyone who has)? I am due on the 1st January and trying to decide where to go. A friend gave birth in CostaMed last year and had a good experience but I'm keen to hear of anyone else's experiences. I'm back in London for a few months and only arriving back in Playa 6 weeks before the baby's due so trying to get it organised beforehand. Any help greatly appreciated and would also love to meet any new or expecting Mums too Thanks!

08-21-2012	#11 (permalink)
beam-eye life=playa Join Date: Feb 2012 Posts: 959	(Deleting duplicate) Last edited by beam-eye; 08-23-2012 at 09:22 PM..

08-17-2012	#2 (permalink)
beam-eye life=playa Join Date: Feb 2012 Posts: 959	Overall, Hospiten provides by far the best prenatal, obstetrical, postpartum, and neonatal care here, with another back-up hospital in Cancun if needed - it's pricey, but it's a "life event", so don't skimp. Doctora Priega is a well-trained, knowledgeable, attentive, and very pleasantly chirpy English-fluent OB/Gyne, and will see you through. Nursing care can be hit-or-miss, good to mediocre - but there are no ward sisters here to take over and get things done efficiently and in a hurry. CostaMed is by far the very best of the also-rans, a clean and well-run clinic (but not a true hospital), with moderately attentive and knowledgeable, friendly staff. I don't mean to disparage it at all - it's fine for sorting out your bits and bobs for run-of-the-mill things, but it's just not in the same league with Hospiten when it comes to peripartum care. Suerte!

08-17-2012	#3 (permalink)
Chicago Sean life=playa Join Date: May 2006 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 533	I've heard a lot about conception in Playa but never this!

08-19-2012	#5 (permalink)
lil_kissy way into it Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: playa del carmen, mexico Posts: 239	i had both of my girls at hospiten. great care there. i got there for all my doctor appointments as well. pedicatrician, trauma, etc. i would definitely recommend it!

08-19-2012	#6 (permalink)
Chelley lost on fifth Join Date: Aug 2012 Posts: 12	Thanks for the help. I have emailed Hospiten for some info, I would prefer to go there as like you said its a bigger hospital with the option of back up in Cancun if needed. Lil Kissy did you have your girls recently? Do you mind if I PM you for some info?

08-20-2012	#7 (permalink)
lil_kissy way into it Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: playa del carmen, mexico Posts: 239	you can pm me of course! i had my first daughter 5 years ago, and my second daughter 3 years ago. i have been there since for various other doctor appointments, and an overnight stay as recent as last october.

08-21-2012	#10 (permalink)
Chelley lost on fifth Join Date: Aug 2012 Posts: 12	Haha you guys are funny. A Cenote water birth sounds ideal if I was a hippy type who wouldn't be wanting any pain relief! Until the cave divers popped up from the end of their dive and got a real shock! Story is: We lived in Playa for 2 years and bought some land in Tulum last year, we're building a hotel but had the opportunity to come back to the UK to earn some cash to help pay for it while our project manager is getting it all off the ground. But now we're ready to come back and wanted to do it before the baby is born so that we can escape another winter in London and oversee the end of the building. Bubba is due on the 1st January. I haven't had any reply from Hospiten yet but Costamed have been in touch. Just need to work out which is less likely to make me have a Cesarean like the other 80% of private hospital births in Mexico! Thanks for your help and wishes

08-21-2012	#13 (permalink)
Chelley lost on fifth Join Date: Aug 2012 Posts: 12	Thanks Beam-eye, good to get personal references for Doctors and I guess worth paying the extra at Hospiten to ensure you get what you want and the time that you need. I haven't had any luck contacting Hospiten through their email address, I will try by phone later in the week but do you think its worth contacting Dr Priega directly? Would you have any contact details for her? Thanks

08-24-2012	#15 (permalink)
CameronK lost on fifth Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Playa Del Carmen Posts: 23	WE live in Playa and my wife gave birth to our 3rd child in Cancun last September. Everything went great but I think you are correct in the 80% CS. We interviewed several doctors who, when cornered with their ratio of CS to non, basically said that is the way they deliver most babies. Kept telling my wife how it was better for her. Yeah right. Wouldn't recommend our doctor, or hospital, as my wife went into labor on Saturday evening during a storm and I could smell the booze on his breath, almost made wife puke, and the hospital staff was pretty non-existent. Go with beam-eye's recommendation.

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