Where to give birth? Cardinal Medical Center VS St. Luke's QC

Yes, we are now officially term at 37 weeks AOG, and I can finally have my massage and whatnot! Hehe Anyway, just when the time is about to come, we realize that we better check out St. Luke's QC too as an option for giving birth, since our OB-Gyne is also affiliated here too. I will also post their recent packages and room price list if anyone is interested as of July 2018.

St. Luke's QC

Room Rates and Packages

Room Rates in SLMC QC

SLMC OB Packages

In case that the above picture is too small or can't be read, we just want to emphasize on the following rooms (price is per day):

Private Rooms

Executive private - 6,400

Deluxe private - 4,400

Regular private - 3,700

Small private - 2,800

Two-Bed Private rooms

Two-bed private with TV & Ref - 2,400

Two-bed private w/o TV & Ref - 2,000

Ward - 1,200

Birthing Room - 13,100

Birthing Room Rooming in charges (single baby) - 14,100

High Risk Pregnancy Unit (HRPU) - 5,400 (for 24 hrs)

Labor Room - 1000+

Rooming-in charges:

Suite Room/HRPU - 1000

Executive Private - 700

Deluxe/Regular/Small Private - 600

Two-Bed Private - 500

Ward - 400

I have highlighted our possible room choices.

Pros:

Location is nearer (about 1 km from our home)
I can call my acupuncture friends to do that technique with me, right? Because they aside from acupuncture, they also practice as Pedia, OB, and a medical acupuncturist in St. Luke's (though there might be a conflict because I haven't really told my OB-Gyne about this part)
More HRPU units as compared to 1 Lamaze room in Cardinal (where the husband can stay during labor)
Admissions staff was very friendly and even offered us an admission papers already

Cons:

Rooms are way smaller as compared to Cardinal
More expensive than Cardinal (?)

Others:

Admitting kit is already provided in the room, containing toothbrush, toothpaste, medicinal cup, kidney basin, etc
Newborn kit contains EVERYTHING daw according to the nurse, including 2 swaddles, 1 set of clothes and bonnet/socks/mittens, 2 pcs baby diaper, alcohol, etc



Cardinal Medical Center

Room Rates and Packages

Room Rates in Cardinal

OB Package in Cardinal

In case that the above picture is too small or can't be read, we just want to emphasize on the following rooms (price is per day):

Big private - 3,690

Regular private - 3,480

Small private - 3,160

Semi-Private - 1,930

Lamaze room - est. 2,200 (first 2 hours) + 229/every 30 min

Labor Room - free for first 8 hrs + 250/hr

Pros:

Rooms are bigger as compared to SLMC
May be cheaper than Cardinal (?)
My friend Karen gets to be my Pedia
NICU nurse, DR nurse, and admitting section were very prompt in replying to my email

Cons:

Only 1 Lamaze room (and they will give priority daw for those with certificates)
Location is farther... especially if school resumes for Xavier and ICA
Admission papers weren't given yet (a relative will come down for me to be admitted)

Others:

Admitting kit contains toothbrush, toothpaste, face towel, soap, spoon and fork, medicine cup and glass, 1 roll of bathroom tissue, 1 500 mL water, 1 pillow.
Newborn kit contains EVERYTHING I will need like white basin for bathing, kidney basic, cotton buds, cotton applicator, alcohol 70%, J&J top to to wash, diapers, digital thermometer, cotton, and 1 box of gloves. I will provide the swaddle and clothes when the baby is roomed in.
(Since I already have the swaddle, I am leaning towards Cardinal instead.)

*Not sure if all medications and supplies are required to be from the hospital, but from Mariel's inquiry with her chemo drugs, Cardinal is not as strict as SLMC.

Though I have posted their OB packages, a lot of nurses and staff don't think that they are economical because a lot of doctors prescribed medications and supplies that is not included in the package, so this would be a waste, and you have to pay extra for the excess. So one still has to consult with their OB-Gyne.

Conclusion

Our preference would still be for Cardinal Santos Medical Center mostly because of the bigger rooms... But if I feel that I can't make it because of traffic, etc.... Well, I guess St Luke's would still do because it's nearer. Or I was thinking, I should just have my IE in St. Luke's first and decide from there if I could still transfer to Cardinal Santos.

We weren't also sure about the Lamaze room. Though I did told myself, maybe depending on the IE? If I was dilated already, like more than 8cm dilated, perhaps I will just choose the Lamaze room. But if the contractions aren't closed enough yet, or I am less than 8 cm dilated, I know that it will take several hours of labor so I would just have to do with the labor room.

Regarding my anesthesia, I was wondering if I could have an epidural without having sedation? Or if I could only be administered once my VAS is more than 7 or 8?