Emergency Department - Long Island Jewish Forest Hills — Attraction in New York

MY LABOR AND DELIVERY WAS A TRAUMATIZING NIGHTMARE! Before delivery: 1am: I went directly to the maternity ward as I was already 5 days over my due date and my blood pressure was high. The staff explained all the procedures that I was going to undergo and they made me feel safe. They decided to induce me because I wasn’t dilating. Everything seemed normal, there was one nurse that held me while I was getting my epidural and was wonder. 7pm: After shift change, I noticed my nurse was less attentive. My pain button wasn’t working and I couldn’t reach the help button or my phone because I couldn’t move my legs, at this moment I also felt wet and I believed I was going into labor, finally my nurse came in and I told her what was happening, It turned out my baby had pooped inside of me, by this time I was at 8 centimeters, a PA came in checked me out then told I was almost ready to give birth. At this time I believed I was in good hands and I was getting ready to give birth naturally, mainly because I didn’t notice any sense of urgency from the staff. -Delivery time: About 30 min later, one of the nurses comes in with a worried look in her face and mentions that she couldn’t get the baby’s heart rate. 5 minute later a doctor comes in my room with an entire team of nurses and an angry look in her face as if someone messed up and told me they were performing an emergency C-Section. They all began to disconnect me from all machines and rushed me to the delivery room. At this time they also rushed my boyfriend to change into surgical attire. I was then taken to another room, undressed completely and tossed onto a table. I couldn’t see anything that was being done to me because they put a huge cloth blocking me from seeing anything from the neck down. The only person I was able to see was the anesthesiologist, who I kept telling that I was having cardiac arrest symptoms. He completely ignored me. This procedure took minutes, but it felt like hours, I could hear what was going on, but had no idea what was happening. I heard a faint cry, but I couldn’t tell if it was my baby or another from the baby ward. I gave birth to a healthy baby boy yet it would be hours before they even showed me his face. At this point I didn’t know if he was alive because no one told me what was going on, they didn’t even allow my boyfriend in the delivery room. I was ignored and feeling completely helpless, heartbroken and all I could do was cry. -After delivery: After they had stitched me up and cleaned me up I was taken to some sort of waiting area and that’s when I finally got to see my boyfriend, he was the one that told me that our baby was fine and that he saw him briefly, like me he was also kept in the dark and had no idea what was happening. A few minutes after a nurse brought over my baby, I wanted to hold him so bad, but I was afraid to as I could hardly move do to all the drugs I was given. A few hours passed, then someone came and moved me to another room which was under labor and delivery. When I woke up I felt hot, extremely thirsty, and couldn’t move. I begged the night nurse for water and she said I couldn’t have any, told her I felt hot, she said if was due to the meds I was getting. My boyfriend checked the air conditioning the next day and noticed it was blowing hot air, fyi there was also a heat wave happening. I was kept in that same dark dinghy room, without food, same bloody sheets for two days before a good and kind hearted postpartum nurse(RN Gray) and her supervisor took notice, pulled out and put me in one of those nice rooms that they advertise. I later found out that I had extreme preeclampsia the whole time and I wasn’t supposed to be in the labor and delivery area longer than 24hrs. The only reason I chose this hospital was because of my OBGYN, Dr. Maya Munarova, who in the end never perform my delivery. I had 9 stitches and they sent me home with Motrin for the pain. This was my first delivery and i still cry telling my story but I felt strong responsibility to warn...

5-Star Experience

I want to share my overwhelmingly positive experience at Long Island Jewish Hospital. I was taken care of by 14 different people, and each one of them showed such compassion, professionalism, and warmth that it honestly changed my perception of the medical world.

I want to thank every single person at this hospital who helped me. You gave me back my trust in medicine and helped me do something I was truly terrified of. And to Dr. Polina Medvedeva — thank you for your clear diagnosis and perfect timing. I’m not afraid to say it: this was an ideal day.

Like many others, I had read numerous negative reviews about this hospital before my procedure. They truly saddened me, and I deeply sympathize with everyone whose experience wasn’t ideal. But I’m glad I only read them after my surgery — otherwise, I might have been too scared to go through with it.

All my life, I’ve been terrified of doctors due to traumatic experiences in childhood. This was my first time under general anesthesia, and the idea of losing control for two whole hours was paralyzing. I even prepared a will. For someone with my personality, this was an incredibly difficult emotional journey.

Here’s what actually happened.

On Monday, I was pre-tested before the operation — additional labs, thorough checks, over an hour of attention. On Wednesday, I got a call with the scheduled time. Thursday morning, we arrived at 5:30 AM. There was free parking and even care taken for our car. My husband was allowed to be with me the entire time.

At the entrance, two security guards checked our bags, made badges, and even joked kindly with us. On the 4th floor, a cheerful and sweet nurse greeted us like we were arriving at a show, not a hospital. We were brought to Waiting Room 3.

There, a Russian-speaking woman helped me change into double socks, a hair cap, and two gowns. A kind nurse measured my blood pressure — he had cool bracelets and a great vibe. He even gave me a birthday card (a bit early, but still sweet!). Then Lana, another lovely Russian-speaking nurse, chatted with us, laughed with me, and inserted the IV, saying, “This is the most painful thing you’ll feel today.” And she was right.

I want to emphasize: this kind of gentle, attentive, upbeat treatment wasn’t just for me. We watched how they interacted with other patients in nearby waiting rooms — men, women, young, old — the same kind, respectful care for all.

We saw every patient’s doctor come by personally. They all looked sharp, confident, professional, and calm. My doctor, Polina Medvedeva, is an outstanding gynecologist. People in and outside the hospital speak highly of her. She is incredibly skilled, experienced, and thorough.

My anesthesiologist was also Russian-speaking. He completely eased my fears with his smile and positive energy. We hugged goodbye with my husband, I read a book, and suddenly, two hours had passed.

Then, a male nurse wheeled me to the 7 floor — I felt like I was gliding. A team of nurses welcomed me and guided me to Operating Room 7 — my lucky number. Dr. Polina asked what music I’d like; I chose Adele. The anesthesiologist’s assistant (also Russian-speaking) asked me what drink I like — I said “tea,” and everyone laughed (I think she meant alcohol). Another nurse raised a yellow folder, probably to record everything, and double-checked my name, date of birth, and the procedure.

Then... blackout.

I woke up somewhere else, yelling “Where’s my husband?” but they calmed me down right away. I was freezing. Another kind Russian-speaking nurse wrapped me in a warm blanket and placed a heated air tube to comfort me. We later realized it took only 50 minutes before my husband got the call saying everything went well.

About 30 minutes later, they wheeled me back to the 4th floor — still in bed. My husband was waiting, smiling with joy. A sweet nurse and her lucky trainee monitored my vitals and encouraged me to breathe and drink water. I stayed there for about an hour and a half until I was fully...

So this was back in August 2023, my second pregnancy and I had a boy. I arrived at the hospital emergency room in pain. The staff got a wheelchair and took me to the labor and delivery department in the 3rd floor I believe in which they made me wait for 30-40 min saying someone will come to put you in a room soon. My pain was a 10/10 but because of pain management and breathing techniques I was able to breathe through my contractions. I was walking and crying, there was a bathroom there which I went to pee like 3 times while I was crying and asking for a room until they finally came for me. They put me in the first room right behind the front desk assistant and told me to get undressed someone will check me. I was like this baby is coming soon. With no care in the world, they put me on the bed and set up the dopplers to my belly, locked the door with me inside screaming in pain and ignored me. My boyfriend was in the waiting room and they told him that he can’t go in the room. I was over it and took all that monitor off my belly, got off the bed and then yelled for someone. A nurse finally came to check me and said I’m 8.5cm dilated. They looked scared and was rushing me to another room, put me on another bed, and all of a sudden I see 4 nurses and the man doctor come out of no where. I was suppose to be delivered by my OBGYN DR. Maya Munarova but apparently she wasn’t there and the doctors are on rotation so she did not deliver. I had a nurse that was not helpful at all, she was just by my head side monitoring the machines the entire time and told my mom and boyfriend to hold my feet when I’m ready to push. Like what are they really getting paid for? Then the doctor was trying to say I’m ready to push when I was only 9cm. THIS MAN WAS RUSHING FOR ME TO PUSH WHEN I WAS NOT READY, THEN HE TOLD THE NURSE GET THE VACCUME. I’M LIKE WHAT? U NEED TO WAIT TILL IM READY TO PUSH. THEN WITHOUT TELLING ME WHAT HE IS DOING HE PLACED HIS HAND INSIDE OF ME WHICH FELT LIKE I WAS BEING MOLESTED AND I WAS WHAT ARE YOU DOING TO ME??YOU ARE HURTING ME!!! He got scared and was like Oh I had to massage you. I WAS LIKE WHAT?? HE DID NOT DO ANTHING BACK AFTER I TOLD HIM THAT. WHEN IT WAS TIME TO PUSH HE WAS SO ROUGH WITH ME, I COULD FEEL HIM STRETCHING ME WHILE I WAS PUSHING. When the baby came out my boyfriend said he THREW THE BABY at me and then another nurse quickly took the baby while he stitched me up. I could not walk for about 2 weeks because I developed a hematoma. When I was moved to the recovery room, the lack of care was horrible. There was only 2 nurses in my entire stay that actually helped me and cleaned me up. People keep coming in the room to check my swelling. They just came to “look” and that was it. At that point I felt like since everyone wants to come check on my vagina I might as well walk down the hall naked because over 6 people just kept coming to “SEE” no one helping me to bring down my swelling, instead they were trying to get rid of me by discharging me the next day. I was breastfeeding only, I am still breastfeeding only. At that time I asked them to take my baby to the nursery just so I can rest for 2 hours which they contradicted themselves about doing because they “can’t separate mom and baby” but yet a nurse told me I can request that if I needed it. One moment they would make me feel bad about choosing to breastfeed my baby that it is going to effect his bilirubin levels and the other moment they would say its good that I’m breastfeeding. My baby had to end up staying under the UV light which I cried about because I didn’t feel comfortable leaving my newborn with people that didn’t seem to care. When I went to the station where they kept the babies for phototherapy, there was only two boxes and one of the nurse working there who was Indian got annoyed at the baby crying and I heard her saying “would you shush already” and just shoved a pacifier in the infants mouth and turned it on the stomach. This entire experience was traumatizing. Don't...