Having a baby on St. Thomas

Congratulations Lisa!
Are you planning on a hospital or home birth? I know that Linda Caiger (Sp.?) is an excellent midwife on STT and can do either a home or hospital birth. She also teaches childbirth Ed. I would highly recommend that you get in touch with La Leche League of St. Thomas if you are planning on nursing your baby. You can start attending meetings-they meet once a month. It's a great way to meet like-minded mommies. Call Sue Counselman at 777-1360.

Onika, who is a long time poster on this site has many answers to your questions. She had her baby here (not on this website) and had lots of constructive comments. time flys by though, her baby must be 2 or 3 by now?

Hope she can help you.

My daughter was born at the hospital on STT. I had Dr. Catherine Kean as my doctor and I loved her. She was to the point and had a sense of humor. The experience would have been better if the hospital was cleaner, soap in the bathroom, up to date equipment, blah blah blah....BUT, we did fine and there were several great nurses. At that time they did NOT offer epuidurals, but I believe they do now...anyone? I did not want to deal with the hassle of leaving the island to deliver, etc. so we stayed. Am I glad? Well, it's over now, but there is one thing they do well on the island and that is delivering babies! 🙂 Good luck on your decision. I believe Onika also had Dr. Kean.

Can anyone confirm that they offer epidurals? My wife wont move to the island with me unless its offered...LOL

How are the costs compared to delivering on the mainland?

Jesse

Stx hospital offer epidurals and it is now available on St. Thomas. Additional information is provided in the Daily news http://www.virginislandsdailynews.com/. Under the special supplement section click on Women Today. There is an article on Dr. Silvina Salvo, the anesthesiologist for labor and delivery. The number listed for additional info or consultation is 340-643-0931.

Best,
Johnnycake

Peace and Love -

I am a Doula (Birthing Attendant)..,,,moving back to STT this summer. I can assist you in your birthing experience. I had four children and assisted with many others. I would love to jump right in as I move there. I do not charge anything. This is my passion and do not look at it as a job. If you would like to correspond more about it, I would be more than greatful.

Peace

Skai

bushtea@earthlink.net

BABIES, one of my favorite topics (besides shopping ;))...

I too had Cat Kean as our Ob/Gyn and cannot recommend her highly enough.

As Kellymac intimated, the hospital could use some updating but the nurses are pros at bringing life into this world. The nurses were a bit taken aback by my hubby being and sleeping in the room the whole time (pre and post delivery) and were not as familiar/comfortable with nursing as I would have liked, but they mean well. If you intend to exclusively nurse I suggest you send hubby to follow baby like a hawk...we found them ready to stick a bottle in her mouth at one point.

Epidurals, Jesse, tell your wife to come on down! Yes, they are offering epidurals. I don't know anyone who has had one yet, but I imagine all is well.

Linda Caiger is a wonderful midwife and teaches two wonderful courses related to birthing and baby care. I would strongly suggest you sign up for a course as a supplement to your OB. I didn't think she had hospital privileges though. If so, even better.

La Leche League. I am a member and Suzanne is correct that Sue Counselman rocks!! She will come to your home to offer you assistance and can also connect you with other like-minded and similarly situated new moms.

Pediatricians--we use Dr Macariola in Red Hook, but Dr Anthony Francis is also wonderul with children and professional.

Good luck Lisa and congrats on your new baby!

Babytalk--yes, my little one is now 2 (on May 4) AND she is tugging at my leg right now so I have to go.... 🙂

OMG Onika!

She is two??? She was just a bitty baby in a baby sling just yesterday! I swear! They grow so fast. Give your beautiful baby a hug from us.

Teresa

Oops. I guess I should have PM'd you, but my box is getting full...

I forgot to mention for SKAI, the hospital recently started a midwifery course whereby volunteer doulas/midwives provide services on an as-needed basis. You should definitely contact the hospital upon your arrival!

Onika,
I was an LLL leader for 10 years, (including my time here and in CT) and recently 'retired'. I wonder if we ever met, I ran the PM meetings on STT 2 years ago.
Maybe I spoke too soon re. Linda's hospital access? I did attend a few of her classes as a guest speaker for LLL and I really liked her approach to parenting.

Suzanne-- I only went to a few meetings b/c they were on weekdays (I think Tues.) and I went back to work rather soon. My one regret, but I digress.... More often than not my contact with Sue was her coming to the house to rescue Zaya and me from the crankies due to bad latching.

Teresa--I will definitely give Zaya a hug from you guys. And your youngest must be 3.5 to 4 right? Glad to hear the return to the mainland has been good for you all.

I don't recommend kean as an obgyn. Stay with sprauve.

I started with kean and i did like her, until the first doppler heartbeat listening (well we didn't know that was what it was.) She told us that we were listening to our daughters heartbeat after the visit.

It kind of pissed me and the pops off. That is a special visit, the first time you hear your little ones heart. And she didn't even tell us until it was over. she was really quick, blunt, and never asked if I had any questions.

I didn't notice how little she cared about me and my baby until I started seeing Dr. Sprauve.

Just my opinion - and I am very glad she is not like that with everyone else. Maybe I only saw her on bad days.

AGV I am glad to hear you found your doctor you liked! It is such an amazing time! Although I had a wonderful experience with Kean the best part about it all is I have heard Sprauve is great as well...Good to have "Good" choices, that isn't easy on island! Good luck! 🙂

Oh AGV, I am so sorry the experience of hearing your baby's heartbeat (aka the washing machine swoosh-swoosh :)) for the first time was lost. I don't know what happened there and I won't speculate.
But I second Kelly that it is at least good to hear that you had a better, more enriching experience with Spruave.

BTW where did you deliver? If it was at RLS I hope we hear more stories --good or bad-- from other moms who have delivered on-island!

I went to the states to deliver my daughter. I had a few complications, and I needed my family. I would have liked to deliver on island, but it wasn't right for me.

Dr. Sprauve made it easy for me. She spoke with my stateside doctor and sent everything to him in advance. He was well prepared when I got to the states. I went stateside about a month before her birth. It worked out well.

Hey Lisa,

Child care is tricky. Luckily my daughter's grandmother lives here and helps out alot. My daughter attends Building Blocks of Love - once or twice a week. She loves it. She jumps out of my arms to go to Miss Pat. She is so amazed by the other children. We have put her on the La Casa waiting list - so that she may attend Montessori at age 2.

My daughter also goes to Red Hook Family Practice. We hardly ever see Dr. Mac but we adore Christine Grem - the nurse practioner.

I have yet to join a mommy group. It is on my to do list - but I am so busy. I have heard lots of babies and mommies meet at the Northside Tot Lot on Wednesdays around 9 am. It is the playground next to Friendly's.

Why not go to next weeks playgroup and talk to some of the mommies?

I am going to try to make it as well - I always seem to plan to attend - something always comes up.

lots of luck!

agv

oh and by the way -
The post about the missing child really made me sad. I guess I had just always assumed St. Thomas was safer than the states. I was wrong. Bad things happen everywhere. We should not take our childrens safety for granted.

Hey Agv!
I wonder if I know you. My friend's daughter Helen went to BBL before heading off to Montessori. I also knew another mother there but she had some issues with the father that reqiired she leave the island.

My daughter is going to start Montessori in September. I am so excited! Not about the bill (oy), but about the intellectual challenges on the horizon for my daughter.
I hope your little one gets in.

Hey Onika -

I tryed pming you. no luck.

No I haven't met many of the mothers on island. I am a working mommy - so its a little rough. As I said - I need to make time to go to next wednesdays tot lot get together!

My daughter is 9 1/2 months. I like building blocks - but it doesn't offer much intellectual stimulation. But Building Blocks does love her and they treat her extremely well.

I am so looking forward to my daughter attending Montessori - I went to one of the open houses. I am so impressed that we have a montessori school on island. I am not looking forward to the tuition either. wow.

Dr. Salvo does offer epidurals for delivery. She is good and is a caring and interesting person.

The hospital also has a number of nurse midwives.

hi..

I'm having my first baby. I'm pregnant and don't know what to do or to expect. i see no one has been on this site for more than 2 years now but hopefully i can get some answers. right now i work for the government temporarily and don't know how much longer i will be working. i don't know what doctors to contact presently or where to go to get medical assistants that will pay for a good doctor. i really don't want to go to the clinic and get someone who won't help me to enjoy my first experience. can anyone help

Most OBGYNs on island will accept insurance. If you don't have insurance you can visit a clinic. You should also be aware that whether you see a physician in private practice or in a clinic, the physician will treat your medical condition, not "help you enjoy your first experience." Whether or not you enjoy being pregnant and giving birth isn't something someone else can control.

well dntw8up,

when i said enjoy my first experience i was basically just saying have someone that would make coming to them pleasant. i understand that they are just there to treat the "medical condition", however your doctor can make your visits miserable or pleasent and i would like mines to be pleasant..i Thank you for responding however i just dont want to go to the clinic. i would like to know where to go to get medial assistances

rdf: If you have a government job, don't you have government insurance? That alone would be reason to keep your job for awhile. Medical assistance is available to indigent people. When I say indigent, I mean REALLY indigent. You will have to pay something at the clinic, but you might want to contact some OB-GYNs re: the possibility of a payment plan. And if you are already pregnant and haven't seen a doctor, please go soon!

I miss Onika.

east ender i thank you for your advice however..my government job is only temporary not because i want it to be..but because that is what it is..and no i havent seen a doctor officially as of yet..im going for my first ultrasound next month and hopefully i can find a doctor that is taken new patients..im just look for different ways of getting good health if my temporary job was to end..and what doctors are taken new patients currently..i wish onika was on here also..everyone is talking bout how good she is..