Hosp birth photo, what was this monitor on DD?

[WindyCityMom]

I was going through the photos of my horrible mainstream hospital birth.. pretty traumatic for me, I'm UCing this time.

Anyhow, I was looking at a photo of my DD after they took her to weigh her and poke and prod her... well, I noticed a heart rate monitor or something on her. It's on the right side of her chest taped on. I had never noticed this before (I obviously didn't see it as I had someone tugging on my placenta at the time...).

http://c2.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/i...c60fd07dfd.jpg

That was this thing on DD.

I'm just curious- was it protocal or something? I had a pit induced labor at 41w2d. I don't remember her apgars (no one mentioned them) but she cried when she came out. She was 7lbs7oz and other than the stress of being poked and prodded, was just fine.

ETA: I'm having another baby next month- I'm just curious as to what that was on my DD. Wouldn't a HR monitor be on the left side of the chest? Thanks in advance.

[cyncyn]

It might be a temperature monitor. I know my dd had one on her and I had a pitocin induced labor at 42w.

[felix23]

I'm pretty sure it is to monitor their temperature. DD2 had one on like that for a little bit after her first bath, and then they took it off. DD1 had one on her entire NICU stay.

[WindyCityMom]

Thanks. I was really curious because once they gave her back to me I never saw that thing. I guess her temps were good.

[Serenyd]

Originally Posted by WindyCityMom

Thanks. I was really curious because once they gave her back to me I never saw that thing. I guess her temps were good.

The ones I've seen were little gold hearts taped on, but yeah they monitor temp. Where I had my baby they have to stay in the nursery for six hours after birth.

[WindyCityMom]

Gotcha I've seen the ones with the little hearts!

[Yvaine Undomiel]

Originally Posted by Serenyd

The ones I've seen were little gold hearts taped on, but yeah they monitor temp. Where I had my baby they have to stay in the nursery for six hours after birth.

Healthy babies?!

It's weird policies like this, that help to keep women away from hospitals.

[WindyCityMom]

^agreed.

[LilacMama]

She's naked under a radiant warmer. So, the monitor on her is making sure that she doesn't get overheated.

[katelove]

Originally Posted by LilacMama

She's naked under a radiant warmer. So, the monitor on her is making sure that she doesn't get overheated.

Yep, it monitors skin temp rather than core temp and is a safety thing while under an overhead heater. Some resusitaires have them as part of the system so the heater can be set to adjust it's temp based on the baby's temp. The probe on your LO though looks like it goes to a frestanding monitor so it would probably just be set to alert the staff when a certain skin temp was reached so they could manually adjust the heater.

[MCatLvrMom2A&X]

Originally Posted by Serenyd

The ones I've seen were little gold hearts taped on, but yeah they monitor temp. Where I had my baby they have to stay in the nursery for six hours after birth.

How can a mom bfed properly having to be away from baby that long? My dd had to be under the billi lights and they brought her to me every 2 hours wrapped in a billi blanket so our nursing wouldnt be interrupted.

[WindyCityMom]

That's awesome. Really

I thought that they tried to push formula on alot of jaundice babies.