The hospital we are delivering at offers private and semi private rooms.  For the semi private room, partners cannot stay overnight but they can for the private rooms.  I have my heart set on rooming in with LO but if I go with a semi private room, I worry about being able to take care of LO by myself, as well as the noise from the roommate.  We can go for a private room but the differential out of pocket cost is $900 per night.  Would you pay extra for a private room so that DH can be with you? Or would you be willing to leave LO in a nursery? DH says I can do whatever I want but I get so torn when spending that amount of money. 

It so odd that hospitals everywhere don't have private rooms?! The hospital I work at has private rooms all the way around!

I think thats a hard question- I'd want the privacy! But at the same time that $900 towards something more useful for the baby! And most woman are barley staying 24hours these days! My friend just had a baby and didn't even stay 24hours.

So I think its prob not worth the $900 even though privacy would be nice!

I know, it is odd.  That's what happens when you choose a hospital in Manhattan :(  But I really like my OB...

Can you see what your insurance covers? Our hospital only has private rooms too.

I personally would go for a shared room, $900 is a heck of a lot of money that could be used for bubba instead. You could be lucky like my friend (delivered at around 10am and was home by supper time!)
You might deliver when there's no-one else around and end up alone anyway or make a really good baby-buddy if thee is someone there.

Just my opinion obviously, you need to do what makes you comfortable xx

Not covered by insurance but is FSA eligible so that will reduce the true price to about $6-700.  This is about the same for other city hospitals.  Ugh, I'm torn but knowing me, I'll probably get the private room...

Wow! I thought all hospitals went to private by now. I worked years ago on the maternity floor and some of the rooms they offered were semi but as change of time all rooms became private. Hospitals really try to focus on the "family unit" offering rooming for mom and baby to bond and spouse to stay overnight if needed. But with the $$$ I would probably not do private. That money could be better spent. Like some ladies said you could end up in a semi room but no roomate and saved yourself $$$ on a private. I know you want hubby there but those roll out beds are crappy.

Also look at the plus side. It would limit the amount of visitors you have. If you are worried about everyone coming up to the hospital after you just gave birth and you want rest; then you can use the excuse to push off visitation till another day. With a roommate people will have to limit visits, time and noise volume.

Do you need to decide now? If I had to have baby in the nursery that would be a deal breaker for me and I would absolutely pay the extra money for the private room. But if you are worried about not being able to do a night without your dh, you shouldn't- if your baby is next to you in the bassinet thingy in the hospital and starts to cry or whatever you can always call for a nurse and they will come and help you. A nurse actually rocked my DD to sleep the first night because my dh and I were both exhausted and I couldn't get out of bed. She was an expert and it took her like 2 minutes LOL. You might also want to ask if they put moms with c-sections in private rooms just as a matter of practice so they can have overnight help... I needed my dh there that first night because I couldn't get out of bed at all, but had I had an easy vaginal delivery it would have been fine.

Thanks Kristin.  No, I don't need to decide now.  I was just suffering from sticker shock but I've calmed down a bit.  Baby can stay in the room with me, private room nor not.  I guess I should be a bit more open to the help from nurses and to the use of the nursery, if I decide to use a semi private room.  DH did say he might be more comfortable sleeping at his home in Chinatown, which is only 10 mins away.  Good point about c-sections and I will ask, though I really realy hope I don't have one...

$900 is a lot of money... But if I could afford it I would do it. I had a csection and lo was in the NICU but I still needed DH to help me get out of bed at night and get to the bathroom etc. Not to mention I felt like in my private room I still didn't have privacy with the doctors in and out at all hours, I was so overwhelmed, I felt like every time I went to pump someone would walk in... I couldnt imagine having someone next to me getting doctor visits and guest visits... Waking up to there crying baby too.