First time dad here – What hospital system would you recommend for Labor and Delivery ?

Hi all!

First-time dad here. My wife is currently 6 weeks pregnant, and we’re navigating the US medical system for the first time. We know this question might’ve been asked before, but I’m posting now as reviews from few years ago might not be replant and some recent changes seem to be affecting hospital reputations and care experiences.

TL;DR: Which hospital do you recommend for delivery in Houston? (All in network) We’re considering: • Texas Children’s Pavilion for Women • The Women’s Hospital of Texas • Houston Methodist (Medical Center) • Memorial Hermann – Memorial City

We live in Energy Corridor, so we’re trying to balance care quality vs. distance vs. provider availability.

What we’ve gathered so far:

1. The Women’s Hospital of Texas • Lots of OBs deliver here (e.g., Dr. Deborah Hendryx, Carrie Ball, Bella OB/GYN). − I’ve seen a ton of recent negative reviews since the HCA takeover—comments about going downhill in terms of service, staff, and billing issues. -For profit

2. Texas Children’s Pavilion (TCH) • Great reputation, especially for high-risk care. Level 4 nicu • Heard good things about Dr. Brennan Lang − Appointment slots are hard to get. − Downtown location is a hike during rush hour.

3. Houston Methodist (Medical Center) • Many reviews say it’s a smooth experience as long as there are no complications requiring a TCH transfer. • Found Dr. Anuja Vyas based on great reviews. − Same traffic issues as TCH.

4. Memorial Hermann – Memorial City • Just 10 mins from our home. Convenient for prenatal visits and delivery. • Dr. Camille Boon has solid reviews. − Not much info online about the birthing experience compared to the med center giants.

My Questions: 1. How important is distance from the hospital for prenatal visits and delivery? (TCH/Methodist could be an hour in traffic, while Memorial Hermann is 10 minutes away.) 2. Are any of these hospitals trending up or down lately in terms of care? I’ve seen some say Women’s used to be great, but no longer is. 3. If you delivered recently, how was your experience? 4. Any OB/GYNs you’d recommend based on your own delivery or prenatal care journey?

Between reading OB reviews and hospital NICU levels, I think I’ve done more research than I did for my college thesis and we haven’t event been to our first appointment!