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Ok, fess up, are you offended by sterile draping? - Page 3

post #41 of 63
7/1/04 at 6:32pm
Hair is also "filthy" even if just washed. Hence the idea that shaving the pubic area made it "sterile."
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post #42 of 63
7/1/04 at 6:50pm
I have never been "draped", but with ds#1 I did wear a cloth hospital gown...wasn't required too, but in the heat of labor and pushing it just never got taken off. The MW was gloved and maybe shielded. And after the birth I became self concious and didn't want all those people watching me have skin to skin with my baby. When I went down to the sleeping room, I stripped and had skin to skin (and nursed), but that was about an hour later.

***edited to add: with ds#1 there was a huge mirror over the bed, so I got to watch him emerge from me. That was one of the only cool thing about the hospital (the bathtub was cool too, but they didn't let you birth in them, so that sucked).

With ds#2 I was buck naked and at home and the people there didn't care that I was naked :LOL. The mw wore street clothes and I do not recall whether she had gloves. And I did not "spray" out, but was thankful for the pads on the bed. There was very little clean-up needed.
post #43 of 63
7/1/04 at 6:51pm
I never thought about it before, but I wasn't draped either time I delivered. The first baby girl was delivered by the doctor and he still had his military bdu's on, didn't have time to change into scrubs. I was at a friends delivery and they put the drapes on and over mine and her husbands arms because we were holding her legs while pushing.
post #44 of 63
7/1/04 at 11:53pm
Quote:
Just my opinion -- fun to bash the medical garb
Sorry, this wouldn't be so fun to bash if it was your job everyday!!

I can't speak for draping the mom.. we don't do that..
BUT, as for a doctor, MW, or nurse protecting themselves from your blood and secretions.. that is smart! I have a wonderful family and child that I love, and I REFUSE to go home with a blood and amniotic fluid on me. Can you just imagine what someone elses blood and amniotic fluid tastes like in your mouth and feels like in you eyes? NOT GOOD! Just look up what the percentage of the population carries Hepatits B and C.. HIV... etc, etc. We see them giving birth! Someone else made a comment that doctors shouldn't be doctors if they are afraid of blood.. None of them I know are afraid of blood, they just want to be around LIVING and HEALTHY for the rest of their lives.. not passing hep B on to their wives at home!!
Would you walk in to a restroom and let someone pee on you? How many of you hover and don't put your bottom on the seat? SAME DIFFERENCE! I resent people bashing MY safety precautions. I am not the one catching the baby, so I only wear eye protection and gloves.. so I don't look like a spaceman..
Also, if they didn't wear sugical gowns, how would you like to be the mama in the next room when the doctor comes in with blood on him from someone else.. and wants to touch your baby? I don't think so!! So it would be okay for him to have someone elses blood on him, but not okay for you or your baby!
I am sure that the original poster was referring to moms being draped for a vaginal delivery.. how many of you encorporated the medical staff into it I have no idea!
post #45 of 63
7/2/04 at 12:04am
Wow I just read my post and I sounded really heated. I re-read the other posts again.. and it was only a FEW that bashed the medical staff for covering up...so I don't mean to offend everyone. I just take my job seriously.. I love what I do.. and I love my family. I know a lot of stuff being done in hopitals is stupid sometimes.. but safety of the caregivers is NOT stupid. I have delivered many babies by myself.. some without gloves because there was no time.. but if I have 2 seconds to spare.. you better believe I am reaching for my gloves!
post #46 of 63
7/2/04 at 12:12am
I agree that for the safety of the dr's and nurses some of it is necessary but that's what they're wearing and they can be safe without draping the moms. However, the cloth gown that my dr put on after they girls were born is not going to protect anything but his clothes from blood since it is just cloth and not something that is waterproof.
post #47 of 63
7/2/04 at 12:28am
This is yet another reasons I birth at home. I'm not sick, so there's no need for me to be treated/or act as if I am. It's so much more than just hospital protocol. There are enormously strong underlying cultural messages in draping and all the other events that take place in the hospital. It's really fascinating when you look at them with fresh eyes!
post #48 of 63
7/2/04 at 4:34am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by obnurse
I am sure that the original poster was referring to moms being draped for a vaginal delivery..
Yes, I am talking about mom being draped on the legs, etc. so all you would see if you looked at mom is the tiniest hint of a vagina somewhere in all that blue draping crap.

I was not referring to care providers wearing their own garb. I really don't like seeing the big face shields, but I can understand the reasoning behind it, especially in certain instrument assisted vaginal births (of which there are far too many....but that is another thread!).
post #49 of 63
7/2/04 at 7:52am
Quote:
I have delivered many babies by myself.. some without gloves because there was no time..
Actually, you just caught. Only the mother "delivers"
Semantics, I know - but that phrase ALWAYS bugs me! Unless you're pulling that little one out without assistance from the mother, it's the mother doing the work! :LOL
(When Davey was born, DH's whole side of the family was all "Oh, Jason, I can't believe you delivered him yourself!" :Puke Excuse me, *I* did all the work! He just caught!)
post #50 of 63
7/2/04 at 11:05am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Mamid
Well... since we plan on HBing Bun, being naked shouldn't be much of a big deal.
Yep, at my HB I was completely naked from the first entry into the tub until the delivery on our bed. I didn't even know it until I asked my dh why Paul didn't come up to see the baby (step father-in-law). DH said you've been naked all day, he didn't want to embarrass you.
post #51 of 63
7/2/04 at 11:06am
Quote:
Originally Posted by mehndi mama
(When Davey was born, DH's whole side of the family was all "Oh, Jason, I can't believe you delivered him yourself!" :Puke Excuse me, *I* did all the work! He just caught!)
That's also my biggest pet peeve! Our second dd was born at home unassisted which was unexpected (not the home part, just the u/c part). EVERYONE marvels at how dh delivered the baby. Umm, noooooooooooo. First of all, he was running around like a chicken w/his head cut off. If I hadn't been there telling him what to do I think he would have hidden in a corner and cried (LOL - okay, he wasn't really that bad). Second, just like you said, I birthed (delivered, if you must) that baby! Drives me batty when people use that term!
post #52 of 63
7/2/04 at 12:26pm
Quote:
BUT, as for a doctor, MW, or nurse protecting themselves from your blood and secretions.. that is smart! I have a wonderful family and child that I love, and I REFUSE to go home with a blood and amniotic fluid on me.
I agree with this. I am an ER nurse and no one would question my garb. But last winter i spent 8 weeks in labor and delivery, and uh, lets just say that quite a few births were more than a little "juicy". I wore the yellow plastic kinda covering over the top of my scrubs, the booties and my glasses to protect my eyes. i have always worn my glasses to work to protect my eyes. And it would be kinda nasty to go from room to room with other patients body fluids on my dinosaur scrubs!

Interestingly, not one of the women giving birth were draped, shaved or given enemas. (and neither was i when i had my three kids). Sometimes there was no time and all we had time to do was grab a pair of gloves from the wall.

I never have understood the whole draping thing either.
post #53 of 63
7/2/04 at 1:32pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by watermamma

So, am I nuts to be bothered by this (not that I will listen )? Any others out there with me?
Im an OB nurse and I *HATE* draping. I usually lean down and whisper in my patient's ear to pull the darn things off. The docs get pissed, but it affords the mama a better view to get rid of the drapes. I also tell mamas to reach down and touch their baby's head, although I usually have them do that before the docs are even in the room. Im kind of known for calling the docs in just long enough to catch the head as its popping out.
post #54 of 63
7/2/04 at 2:48pm

sterile field and being offended

Quote:
Originally Posted by Mamid
Hair is also "filthy" even if just washed. Hence the idea that shaving the pubic area made it "sterile."
Hair, especially pubic hair may be "filthy" (i.e., full of bacteria);

- HOWEVER -

There are actually medical studies going back eighty years that indicate that shaving the pubic hair INCREASES the bacteria count and increases the chance for an infection in that area.

Not to mention the itchiness and discomfort for the new mother in the weeks following in which the hair grows back.

Therefore, nature knows best. Perhaps the hair protects the area, skin, or organs from further bacterial invasion.
post #55 of 63
7/2/04 at 3:06pm
That's why I was rolling my eyes at the "a shaved puss is a sterile puss" idea.
post #56 of 63
7/4/04 at 1:40am
Actually Mehndi Mama.. I did 'deliver' the babies, and so did the mamas. You are of course entitled to your opinion, but as much as you dislike the word, it means assisting a birthing woman. (see below)

To give birth to: She delivered a baby boy this morning.
To assist (a woman) in giving birth: The doctor delivered her of twins.
To assist or aid in the birth of: The midwife delivered the baby.
(taken from Webster's dictionary)
Sorry you dislike it, but thats what it is. I get bugged by the word 'caught' It reminds me of someone standing their with a catchers mitt on! :LOL
I think a lot of it is in how one views the care givers role. My opinion is that someone that views a doctor,nurse, MW as unimportant in the role of the delivery would use something like 'catcher' (sounds unimportant). Someone that views a caregiver as important would use 'deliverer'. It is all a matter of personaly preference in my opinion!
No matter what.. who could possibly take away from the mama's role! She is the almighty deliverer! Mama's rock!!!

Some of the babies I have, lets say, 'assisted in birth' (for a happy medium) just quickly guided out, others have required a bit more assistance. A severe shoulder dystocia requires more than 'catching'!
post #57 of 63
7/4/04 at 2:01am
Quote:
Originally Posted by obnurse
I get bugged by the word 'caught' It reminds me of someone standing their with a catchers mitt on! :LOL
I think a lot of it is in how one views the care givers role. My opinion is that someone that views a doctor,nurse, MW as unimportant in the role of the delivery would use something like 'catcher' (sounds unimportant). Someone that views a caregiver as important would use 'deliverer'. It is all a matter of personaly preference in my opinion!
Hmm, I and totally respect my midwifes, but they still didn't "deliver" my baby. In fact I've never once heard them say that they deliver babies. They say they catch (if they even do that because I'm sure lots of times the husband or someone else does, as was true in my case). They certainly assisted in some ways - primarily by offering guidance and emotional support - and I valued their presence, but still to me AND them (dictionary definition or no) they did not deliver.
post #58 of 63
7/4/04 at 2:15am
Thread Starter 
My DH caught our second and I birthed her. There was no delivering anywhere, nor was there with my first, even with an OB standing between my legs (ugh). I birthed her, no one delivered her. I do not need to be "delivered of" my baby. Baby is still mine and with me, she has not been taken away. That is what delivered conjurs up for me.

I think very highly of my midwives and respect them greatly. Even if they pulled my baby out, I still would never say the delivered her, nor would they.
post #59 of 63
7/4/04 at 2:29am
I've delivered all three of my births. No doctor. Me.

First one, the doctor had left for home because I was simply having a miscarriage and therefore not important enough for him to bother to stick around. No nurse either. Just me. Poor baby wasn't even old enough to breathe on his own.

Second one, sure the doctor manipulated the head and shoulders, but I have a picture of my hands doing everything else. I delivered my own child. Again.

Third one - the doctor had his hand on DS's head. DS went from full crown to birth in one movement so fast that the doctor DID indeed catch. That was all he could do. No manipulations, nothing more than an astonished look as all of a sudden he had a baby in his hands. DS had shot out to the end of his umbilical cord too. Now just imagine if I had done a valsalva push with that birth! The cord would have snapped! We're lucky the doc was able to catch DS or DS would have landed on the floor.

This time, we're hoping for a home waterbirth. Wish us luck. And yes, people will be using catcher's mits. :

"Delivered" however just reminds me to much of "Jake's Stork Emporium" where you can call up and order the baby you want any time of day or night. That's why I hate that word. Women birth babies. Docs and midwives catch, pull, slice, dice and julienne to get at the baby. They even use giant salad forks and vacumm cleaners. Women do all the work, yet we don't get any of the credit!
post #60 of 63
7/4/04 at 2:34am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Mamid
They even use giant salad forks and vacumm cleaners.

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