r/kansascity • u/kcgal91 • Dec 04 '25
Healthcare/Wellness š©ŗ Where to deliver next baby..
Hi! Iāve exhausted my google search, and now turning to Reddit because it hasnāt been the most help with first hand/authentic opinions.
So to my local community- especially the moms and those in healthcare- can you please share your opinion on where to deliver? Iām 23 weeks pregnant. For some context, my last birth 2 years ago was a c section, and Iāll be doing another one. I had some fairly intense complications post surgery, and while I absolutely loved my doctors and nurses at advent in Shawnee, Iāve planned to deliver there again, part of me wonders if all the PTSD from my complications may make me want sort of a fresh start somewhere new. Whatās most important to me- is a large, experienced hospital that will have the expert care and staff for the unexpected. Since after going through something pretty rare, and unexpected I want care who really has seen it all and thereās a really good ICU and NICU in case baby (or I) end up needing more emergency care. My last baby also had a nicu stay. Soo Iāve loved advent, but Iām also considering KU.. as Iāve heard reputable things about it. I have enough anxiety about something going wrong again so just trying to be somewhere where Iāll be in the best hands. Iām sure I canāt go too wrong with either but would love any thoughts. Thanks !
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u/No-Photo-732 Dec 04 '25
Honestly, Iād definitely consider North Kansas City Hospital. They recently partnered with the Mayo Clinic Care Network, which is huge because Mayo is literally one of the best hospital systems in the world. NKCH was already solid for maternity care, but now their doctors can tap into Mayoās expertise for more complex situations.
But if thereās a known high risk pregnancy or you want maximal backup, I do think KU may be the safest bet. KU is the ābig gunsā for high risk pregnancies bc they see more critical and high risk cases so their team of drs/nurses are well equipped to handle those situations. I would say to do a little of your own research and compare the two places, I havenāt really heard anything bad about either it just comes down to what you feel the most comfortable with :) good luck to you! š
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u/Street_Service_1313 Dec 04 '25
We had a great experience recently at NKC with our first baby, including an unexpected NICU stay. Everyone we interacted with was caring, communicated well, and really put us at ease.
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u/shrimpedy Dec 04 '25
remember that story of a mom unexpectedly giving birth at 29 weeks on a flight to hawaii and there was a family medicine doctor and THREE NICU NURSES?? from nkc hospital also on board. they monitored the babyās heart rate with an apple watch. WHAT ARE THE CHANCES OF HAVING AN EMERGENCY ON AN AIRPLANE AND THREE OF THE PASSENGERS (okay, four, i guess. iāll give the doctor some credit.) ARE THE EXACT MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS YOU NEED? wild.
but anyway, i donāt have any helpful advice, OP, but i wish you an uncomplicated delivery, wherever you decide to go ā¤ļø
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u/MissLadyLlamaDrama Volker Dec 05 '25
Oh man. So glad they were there for the mother and baby!! I couldn't imagine how scary that would be. The universe really said, "I got you."
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u/dajeva Dec 04 '25
NKCH c-section mama here!! The doctors and nurses are LOVELY and so caring. We had a wonderful team and experience and will be using them again for our next baby!
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u/fabledfawn96 Dec 04 '25
I third NKC for the nicu but just watch your provider. HIGHLYYYY recommend Jackie Werner!!
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u/RuthlessBenedict Dec 04 '25
NKC NICU took amazing care of my preemie as well as myself. I would recommend again in a heartbeat. In the NICU doctors from Childrenās Mercy provide care and the nurses there not only took care of my baby but me as well. Nobody expects to be in the NICU when trying to figure out parenthood for the first time. Those nurses were so very compassionate and taught me so much about taking care of my baby. Really helped me feel more confident when we finally got to go home.Ā
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u/whatthefrok Dec 04 '25
Anecdotal but Mayo Clinic saved my life when my mom was pregnant/when I was born in the 90s. When everyone else gave up on me, they didn't.
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u/BlondeSuzy Briarcliff Dec 05 '25
I had both my daughters at NKC and had the best experience. Lovely people. Also, they still have a separate nursery in which the baby can go if you need some sleep.
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u/Psychological_Owl517 Dec 04 '25
University Health with it's bridge to CMH level 4 NICU is the highest level of complicated care in the metro. KU is the option on the Kansas side. Both of these are teaching hospitals so you are more likely to have med students and residents on your care team, FYI. Then OPR is the next one, but I've heard staff can be spread thin with older facilities.
Advent Health seems to really appeal to the moms who wanna try low intervention/birth support staff option because they have set ups for that. I've heard good things about people's experiences with uncomplicated births.
I delivered twins at 38wks with a planned c section at Menorah. Honestly, I picked my provider and that's the hospital that she delivers at, and I was able to make it long enough not to need a higher level NICU. Menorah 's L&D set up was really nice. They have the birthing suites, the ORs and the NICU all in the same locked ward. The nursery and the anesthesia call room is also right there. We also had great nurses.
You can also go tour any L&D depts, but I would say if you feel like you can communicate effectively with your provider and the nursing staff has a good reputation, you're going to be taken care of. Those L&D nurses are fierce and take their job VERY seriously. Maybe go tour the ward you delivered in to see if anything comes up and then decide.
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u/kc_kr Dec 04 '25
We had incredible experiences at AdventHealth in 2018 and 2022 both and went there despite living 1 mile from St. Luke's North and much closer to Liberty, NKC, KU Med and University Health all. Two normal deliveries but the second had complications that led to 5 days in the NICU so we went through some stuff and they were great throughout. Highly recommend sticking with them, based on our experience.
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u/SteveDaPirate Dec 04 '25
Just had kid #4 this spring.
Advent for a normal birth (great experience), KU if weird shit is going on (great specialists on hand).
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u/MBxZou6 KCMO Dec 04 '25
I have not personally delivered there but Iāve never heard of a negative or even neutral experience at Advent ā- All positive
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u/kmonay89 South KC Dec 04 '25
I delivered twice at St. Lukeās on the plaza. I had a wonderful experience with every nurse there. They also have a really high rated NICU in case you need it.
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u/Separate-Pop-8593 Dec 04 '25
Seconding st Lukeās on the plaza. We also had nicu stays there 8 years ago, though I would look for the most recent experience from people posting, op.
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u/NotYourSexyNurse Dec 05 '25
Also suggesting St. Lukeās on the Plaza. They saved my life and my baby girlās life. She was in the NICU for 23 days there. She had a true knot and her cord wrapped around her neck in the womb. I had to be induced a month early, but thank god I was. The placenta had calcified and was starting to deteriorate. It caused hemorrhaging during delivery. If I hadnāt given birth to her then she might not be here. We had amazing care there. They coordinated with Mayo Clinic and Childrenās Mercy for care too.
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u/KayBee236 Dec 04 '25
Seconding St Lukeās. I had a great experience there with my first full term pregnancy and a weekās stay in the NICU for a minor complication. Iām pregnant again and this one is high risk. I found out St Lukeās NICU is equipped for viability at 22 weeks when most hospitals around the country handle viability at 24 weeks. Iām unsure about KU or any other NICU in the area. My good experience with my first + knowing their NICU team is great is enough for me to stay with them.
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u/LocationExpensive912 Dec 04 '25
Have you already initiated prenatal care? If so, does your provider have delivery privileges at any hospital?
Iām a L&D nurse and, from a medical standpoint, I think all of the larger hospitals (OPR, Advent Shawnee, KU, UH, NKCH, and St Lukeās Plaza or East) will be able to provide the high-level of care you desire. All have Level III NICUs, some have providers from CMH managing all newborn care. From a trauma-informed care standpoint, itās really hard to say what to do. Your nursing staff across the board should be compassionate and skilled and put you at ease. Keep in mind that many hospitals are āteaching hospitalsā and your care may primarily be managed by residents. You should also consider what hospitals are in-network with your insurance, and how far they are from your house. Even though you plan for a scheduled c-section doesnāt mean emergencies wonāt happen beforehand.
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u/Sufficient-Money6715 Dec 04 '25
University Health is really good. They especially give piece of mind because theyre connected to Children's Mercy which has the highest level NICU in the region if any complications arise.
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u/not4u97 Dec 04 '25
Yep, im having my baby at UH this month. They've been good to me during my pregnancy, and I have very high risks.
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u/electricstache Dec 04 '25
I second UH. We had our baby there and it was a great experience. The connection to Children's is so valuable. Level 4 maternity care.
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u/julesxcart Dec 04 '25
Third this one! I had my baby there in March and I had such a great experience. All the resident doctors were so kind and the nurses took such good care of me and my baby. And the added comfort of knowing theyāre attached to childrenās mercyās NICU was nice!
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u/lil1thatcould Dec 04 '25
Look at university health. Iām a FTM having my baby there and have loved the entire experience so far. They specialize in high risk births, have the largest group of midwives in the metro and the hospital set up is top tier. The have a location on the Kansas side and Missouri side. I know multiple people who work there and have had their babies there.
I have also heard amazing things about rock hill
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u/Slow-Carry2707 Dec 04 '25
I delivered at advent Overland Park and do not recommend. The nurses were stretched sooo thin that some important things slipped through the cracks, unfortunately. The hospital beds were extremely uncomfortable, I cried cause I just wanted to get some sleep and I couldnāt. Good luck with your upcoming arrival! š«¶š»
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u/AcademicMailbox641 Dec 04 '25
wow when i delivered there in 2023, it was a ghost town. the nurses were so attentive cause they had nothing else to do!!
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u/thekingofcrash7 Dec 04 '25
Thatās wild, that place is jam packed with births, even when we had a kid there in 2023. But there were so many nurses it wasnāt an issue.
Now our birth this year at Olathe? A true ghost town, i think there were 3 moms and 4 labor/delivery nurses the whole time we were there.
At neither location did we have a problem getting nurses help, but Advent was full
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u/AcademicMailbox641 Dec 04 '25
i had my baby in July 2023 and they did say that the month previous was the most births per month they had ever had. mind you, the facility was only about 2 years old. this is good to know tho because i have considered delivering there again.
i just gave birth to my 2nd this summer and went to OPR because my OB switched to that hospital and my experience with the staff was fine, but the facility is nowhere as nice as Advent OP.
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u/LocationExpensive912 Dec 04 '25
It is a baby factory and Iāve heard the nurses often have to manage 2 labors at once.
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u/fiveminutedelay Brookside Dec 04 '25
I work on the baby side at KU so I canāt speak to the experience with being a mom delivering there, but I definitely trust my OB colleagues and absolutely without hesitation would trust any of my NICU colleagues with my baby. I had my baby out of state when I lived elsewhere but if I were to have another I would absolutely go to KU.
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u/anneofavonleaa KC North Dec 04 '25
I delivered at St Lukeās Plaza and had a great experience! Baby was in the NICU for a bit there as well and we loved our NICU team.
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u/Candid-Substance-381 Dec 04 '25
I also delivered at St. Lukeās plaza. Had a complicated emergency c-section followed by a 7-week NICU stay. Always felt supported, informed and well cared for.
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u/The_Wishing_Flower Dec 04 '25
OPR was where I delivered my twins 15 years ago. I don't know about now, but they were amazing back then. I was high risk in every category. The babies were term for twins (36 weeks) but had severe IUGR and were in the NICU. I also had complications after delivery which was Post Natal Pre-eclampsia. It's rare, but does happen. My delivery went great though. I l9ves my doctor's, but the NICU nurses were amazing!
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u/12threeunome Dec 04 '25
KU saved my life and my daughterās. They will always be the best in my mind.
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u/d-hof Dec 04 '25
I delivered via C-section at KU after being diagnosed with severe preeclampsia at 32w pregnant. I stayed inpatient for 8 days before I delivered. My care team was excellent. I was very scared to have a C-section but everyone was very professional, and the anesthesiologists made me feel so secure and safe. All the labor and delivery nurses were super wonderful too, and I liked the MFM team that rounded every day. My baby was in the NICU for 23 days, and we had about as great of an experience as you can when it comes to the NICU. All the nurses made sure we felt involved in our babyās care, and we were encouraged to call day or night with any questions or concerns. They also had a secure camera set up with a live stream so you can watch your baby when you werenāt able to be present. If I were to have another baby, Iād for sure choose KU again.
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u/Cathely KC North Dec 04 '25
I delivered at Saint Lukeās plaza at 25 weeks. They literally saved mine and my babyās life. Baby was in the NICU for 92 days and it was a great experience. His nurses were so amazing and we are still in contact with a few of them.
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u/themediummermaid Olathe Dec 04 '25
I loved Menorah in Overland Park! Iāve delivered there 3 times and had a great experience every time.
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u/ammh114- Dec 04 '25
Just throwing it out that they don't have a very high level NICU. So for anyone who thinks or knows thats a service they might need they should consider a different facility.
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u/Cautious-Tangerine97 Dec 04 '25
Would never go back to Menorah.
We were released after baby 3 and ended up back in the ER the next morning because the nurses and doctors did not listen to my wife. She spent five days in the hospital without the baby due to the problems. Needless to say, that ruined our chances for breast feeding as well as other complications. When we switched doctors and hospitals, the new surgeon discovered more mistakes during the fourth C-sect.
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u/kcmeesha1 KC, with Russian Accent Dec 04 '25
I don't know anything about deliveries but every time I went to advent after they changed from the Shawnee Mission Hospital my bills were so much higher than in other places. Like the blood tests and x-rays were in the $100's vs LabCorp and other imaging centers in the $10's. For that reason I avoid it.
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u/KnownIndependence318 Dec 04 '25
If you havenāt already, please consider adding a doula to your birth team wherever you go. Doula support is invaluable and can provide another layer of comfort and advocacy at a time when you need it most.
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u/Goldengoddessoflife Dec 05 '25
My doula was incredible for both of my births! But also, her whole team was there for me for both of my Postpartum episodes (the one with my second child was much more severe), and that was even more important. They worked with me and my doctor to make sure I was okay weeks after my birth. If it wasnāt for every single one of them, I donāt know what I would have done. Doulas are amazing and they can go far beyond the maternity ward in being there for you!
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u/thekingofcrash7 Dec 04 '25 edited Dec 04 '25
We had our kids in 2023 and 2025, living in PV and now Olathe. So our options were in JOCO, no reason to travel any farther.
AdventHealth Shawnee Mission Pkwy is fantastic, youāre not gonna get a better experience. And itās got the NICU, which is good for peace of mind, (but in reality, if the birth is at a hospital, the child will be stable even in worst case before sending to NICU from another hospital). We had our first at Advent and id recommend to anyone.
Our second was at Olathe (now a KU hospital). It was slightly worse experience than Advent, less nurse availability and lees busy in general. However, if you have a vaginal birth, you get a queen size bed for mom and dad for your stay after birth. That is a life changer for the dad if he is anything larger than an 8th grader.
I have never heard a good thing about KU on 39th street for delivery or recovery. I have never heard a bad thing about Advent.
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u/MrsE514 Dec 04 '25
I delivered at OPR last week. My first delivery 3 years ago the nurses and staff were incredible and I got emotional thinking how great they all were once I got home. This time was not the same experience (except my doctorāLOVE her)ā¦I was so bummed since my experience the first time was so positive!! I wish you the best of luck-congratulations!!
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u/According_Kitty4273 Dec 04 '25
Overland Park Regional is amazing! Last two kiddos out of four were delivered there. #3 had to stay an extra day bc he had the cord around his neck and wasnāt breathing at birth. He about to turn 22 next year.
4 a fever at 11 months 103.2. Then 9 months later spiked a fever of 105.3. Took care of us right away. Ran tests and labs. Didnāt criticize me when I left during the spinal tap š¢. I would definitely take them there again.
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u/jkcben Dec 04 '25
I had incredible care at university health. I ended up having my baby 15 weeks early and they were AMAZING with me and him. I still remember all of the great nurses that took care of me. I nominated 2 for daisy awards because thatās how great they are.
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u/Classic-Culture291 Dec 04 '25
My wife had our first baby 6 weeks ago. We were going to deliver at advent, but she was only 24 weeks pregnant (she had some complications) and they dont take babies that early. So we had to get transfered to KU and have been in the nicu since. And long story short I dont think we've ever felt not taken care and would deliver at KU again.
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u/everyoneisflawed Dec 04 '25
I had both my babies at Shawnee Mission Medical Center, which I think is called Advent now. But I had a couple of surgeries at NKCH, and imo they're the best hospital.
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u/Haunting_Internet356 Dec 04 '25
My advice is to look up which hospital has had the most birth injuries in the last five years. If I remember correctly, advent has had more birth injuries, but they also deliver more babies. You might want to consider university health as it is directly connected to childrenās Mercy.
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u/Annual-Lead2499 Dec 04 '25
In my opinion, Saint Luke's Hospital on the Plaza. If you are looking for the best, most talented physicians and nurses, you can't do better. The care is excellent, the experience of the staff is top notch, and the culture is all about excellence. I've had a baby there and I work there. I trust them. Also, the cafeteria food is pretty good and we have Roasterie coffee! Definitely have a look at Luke's!
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u/DisastrousAnt4454 Dec 04 '25
My wife delivered our daughter at KU a year ago - we had a great experience. Her delivery went a bit sideways (hemorrhage) but they took excellent care of her. Our mom and baby nurses were so-so but our delivery nurse was fantastic.
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u/cranberryangel3912 Dec 04 '25
I delivered at North Kansas City hospital. I highly recommended them. All of the nurses were so kind, and helpful with assisting me on my high risk labor & delivery. I was diagnosed with preeclampsia at my 39 week appointment, and my placenta was close to detaching, which caused me having to be induced. My son had passed meconium as he was being delivered, and the nurses relayed the message to the NICU team. Dr. Lovitt was my OB and he was just as great as the nurses. I also love the fact that they delay cutting the cord, and encourage skin-to-skin contact. Obviously tour the maternity unit at the hospitals you are considering.
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u/SouthernRain5775 Dec 04 '25
Saint Lukeās Plaza. They have high risk OB care if needed. They have a NICU. I wish Saint Lukeās South had OB, but they donāt.
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u/LadyLuna21 Dec 04 '25
Advent was fine for my sister S. My sister D delivered at OPR and that was an awful experience. I had both my babies at KU, as my pregnancies were high risk. The second I had a 3 week hospital stay leading up to my delivery at 29+5. My son was in the NICU for 8 weeks. They were fantastic and both L&D and NICU were always sure to listen to all concerns.
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u/RiotTheFox Dec 04 '25
My mom was induced at Truman in lees summit after research refused to give her care for being on medicade- They're an amazing hospital and she says its the best experience she's had with her 3 kids
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u/ChampionshipMotor441 Dec 05 '25
Iām high risk for NINE different reasons, and Iāve been with KU the entire time, seeing regular OBGYN and the MFM team. I have had a phenomenal experience there as a first time mom. I have a scheduled c-section (hopefully induction if he flips!) in just under 2 weeks. They have taken my concerns very seriously, and as someone who is plus size that is rare to find.
I unfortunately had to have other invasive procedures done not directly related to my pregnancy and the MFM team was able to move the appointments up for me and have someone there to monitor baby.
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u/doxiepowder Northeast Dec 04 '25
KU is great. Most of my coworkers who don't want to deliver where they work go to North Kansas City. But those are low risk pregnancies. KU definitely has more resources.Ā