Hospital procedures, what to fight (birth plan) - Page 2

[Dov'sMom]

Just one quick point on the oral history thing -- I was furious when I showed up at the hospital 8 centimeters dilated, deep in transition (2 minute contractions wiht less than 30 seconds in between) in severe pain that I knew I could only alleviate (otherwise than with drugs) by standing in the shower and the nurse wanted to go over my height and weight. Luckily, I was already admitted to the L&D room because my doctor realized how far along I was and didn't want me to give birth in triage, so I just told her that I was going to stand in the shower and she was welcome to print out her list of questions and join me in the bathroom to ask me there.

She didn't -- decided to wait till I got out of the shower on my own. Too bad for her, because when I stepped out of the shower 20 minutes later, I was pushing already. She had to ask me the questions while I was happily breastfeeding my beautiful newborn waiting for the placenta to come out. Ah well.

[Leav97]

When your Dr calls L&D can you have your Dr specifically tell them to not ask you any questions before assisting you to a room?

[SandraS]

Originally Posted by Leav97

When your Dr calls L&D can you have your Dr specifically tell them to not ask you any questions before assisting you to a room?

My doctor called ahead and informed the staff of my 100% hands off, I-know-what-I'm-doing wishes. I had no issues whatsoever when I arrived - after all, the doc is bringing revenue to the hospital, they want to keep her happy!

[littlemomma]

This is a huge concern of mine.

Is there a way to find out the questions we will be asked, and write down the answers ahead of time?

[meganmarie]

Is there a way to find out the questions we will be asked, and write down the answers ahead of time?

A good idea, littlemomma. I would try a) asking about that during the hospital tour - you can find out how they do it and what they will need; if you get a helpful nurse showing you around, perhaps she'd even give you a blank copy of the form you can fill out ahead of time; b) asking your doctor for a copy of your medical chart - if all they are doing is checking what's on there, maybe you can attach a note confirming that all the information in there is correct and just hand it over with your birth plan when you arrive.

[lifeguard]

nak
Regarding the concern about the long time until you are given your baby *6 hours seems unreal to me). Our rule was that rfegardless what happened to me dh was NOT to leave ds' side under any circumstances. That seems like a reasonable course of action to me.

[Bluegoat]

Originally Posted by lifeguard

nak
Regarding the concern about the long time until you are given your baby *6 hours seems unreal to me). Our rule was that rfegardless what happened to me dh was NOT to leave ds' side under any circumstances. That seems like a reasonable course of action to me.

Yes, why in the world did they keep the baby so long? I had two sections and both times I had the baby as soon as I was ready - within 10 minutes for the first. I was nursing them in the recovery room. THere should be no reason you can't get your baby right away. Tell your dh to make sure the baby doesn't leave the room, unlike a doula, he has legal standing and can do that.

[SandraS]

Originally Posted by Bluegoat

Yes, why in the world did they keep the baby so long? I had two sections and both times I had the baby as soon as I was ready - within 10 minutes for the first. I was nursing them in the recovery room. THere should be no reason you can't get your baby right away. Tell your dh to make sure the baby doesn't leave the room, unlike a doula, he has legal standing and can do that.

There is NO WAY my child would've left me for five minutes, let alone six hours. The babe was by my side or on my bed for every single second - there is nothing they needed to leave the room with them for (unless the babe was sick, which they weren't). Oh no way would they even step into the hallway with mine. Nope.

[Lisa1970]

I am always curious where the people who have babies and choices, while still giving birth in the hospitals are at. In 1996, when I had my 2nd child, it was like that. But this is my 7th birth and other than that birth, when you walk in the hospital here, you are giving control of yourself, your life, your body over. I know a lot of people do home births, birth center births, and unassisted births over that there. I heard the hospital back in the town where I am from is even very breastfeeding friendly and encourages it! They brag about their breastfeeding rates on their website. Of course, one hospital I gave birth at here, with my 5 yr old, claims to be so breastfeeding friendly, but I can guarantee they were very antibreastfeeding. They got nasty with me over saying no bottles. And I heard from other moms that they were treated the same way. Ironically, that was the same hospital I had my now 13 yr old at in 1996 so they obviously changed a lot. They went from having birthing postpartum suites to having a keep the baby from the mom and discourage breastfeeding policies.

[fwlady]

Well, if you are near mid MO, I can give you the name of a wonderful hospital that wouldn't put a stranger through what you have. I was UP/UC and went in because of a complication we didn't know how to handle. I was SOOO prepared to go through what you did. But, I was very respected, even without a back up dr there, and they did the VBAC (which comes to find out they don't usually do there), letting me have the MW instead of the OB. Neither of them knew me. They had me from ER to L&D in less than 10 min, with water broken and meconium, I just landed on their doorstep with the EMTALA act in my purse. She did ask me some questions, but I wasn't in hard labor. Anyway, if you can switch to a hospital that you KNOW is a good friendly one, you can just tell your dr that you were on vacation and didn't know you would go right then. I don't think that your dr can assure you that this won't happen again. Or, could you walk in pushing? They certainly wouldn't have time to argue with you. They would either need to catch the baby or you could, and answer the questions after.

Kymberli

[buckeye_bebe]

How's that saying go...
Always be prepared?
Yeah. You good to go.