Do I have to?

[Honey693]

This might be a really stupid question, but this is my first kiddo so I'm still trying to figure this out. When you check in to the hospital you don't have to do anything, even if it's hospital policy correct? If they say "Hep-lock's are hospital policy, you have to get one" you can refuse right? Can they legally make you sign anything that says yes I went against the doctor's advice so if my baby dies as a result, tough cookies? I'm still trying to figure this out and I do not want to get pushed into a bunch of unecessary interventions.

Also does anyone have the list of newborn tests/drops/shots/etc that they normally do? I know I want to refuse some of those if I can (the eye drops since I do not have or have ever had a STD) and I need to try and figure out which ones I want to and how to do it.

[KD's Momma]

no, you do not have to do any of the normal hospital stuff, ie, IV's, Hep/Saline lock, continuous monitoring, be stuck in a bed, labor on your back, deliver on your back, and have your placenta pulled out. There is such a thing called a Patients Bill of Rights, I encourage you to read it and know what it says. As long as you and your baby are doing fine and not having any complications, there is no need for any interventions at all. Are you delivering with a mw or OB?? Make sure you discuss with them what you are wanting so that there are no surprises when you get there, on either side, and the staff can be informed about your preferences. I would write a birth plan and make sure it is placed on your chart in hospital and office. Be aware that you may recieve some unwanted glances and advice while you are there. do your research, know what you want, and stick to it like a mother bear, make sure your support people know also so they can advocate for you when you are unable. also, be aware that things can change quickly and be open to what needs to be done, If and only IF it does.

Routine hosp procedures of a newborn are the eye drops/ointment, vit k shot, hep b shot, PKU test post 24 hour delivery, depending on size of baby and how they are feeding some hospitals have policy's for monitoring blood sugar on baby, if you want to be the one to bath the baby - let them know or they will try to do it for you, most want to take the baby to the nursery for several hours to monitor transition and do procedures - can be refused and ask that staff come to you for assessment and paperwork, or go to the nursery and stay there with your little on, or send dh to do it. they also monitor temp quite frquently to make sure baby is holding temp well. Can't think of anything else. hope all goes well

[paquerette]

They may or may not have you sign a paper for going against medical advice, but you should know that that paper carries no legal weight. You cannot sign away your right to sue. If they do something stupid and horrible and something bad happens, you are still able to sue them.

[Mommal]

ITA with everything KD's Momma said.

I just wanted to add that in some states (including mine, PA), the eye ointment is mandatory. After all, you could have picked up an STD without knowing it. So the ointment may have to go in, but it doesn't have to stay in. You can wipe it right out. Also, it doesn't have to be given immediately: routine newborn procedures can be delayed for several hours to allow parents and baby time to bond.

So long as you and your baby are both healthy after birth, there's no reason why your baby should go to the nursery. Ask to room in with your baby, and don't let anyone take him/her "for a little while just to let you get some rest." Way too many babies get slipped a bottle of formula or a pacifier in the nursery, which can mess up breastfeeding.

Best wishes for a great birth and a great start to your parenting journey!

[amymaew]

Originally Posted by Mommal

I just wanted to add that in some states (including mine, PA), the eye ointment is mandatory.

You can still refuse the eye ointment in PA, you just need an exemption similar to a vax exemption:

http://www.pacode.com/secure/data/02...toc.html#27.98.

[crittersmom]

You don't have to do anything unless its an emergency but when you are in labor it is very hard to communicate your wishes and you are more likley to be bullied into things regardless of your birthplan.I had one Dr actually throw mine to the side even though it had been signed by my regular one.Someone with you ( doula,DP,mom,MIL,someone very firm) will need to be there to advocate for you.Procedures were done to my 2nd child even though I had it written down and had reminded them when I got to the hospital and after the birth because I didn't have anyone to guard him too.
You will also have to keep stating that you do not wish to do X thing.They will keep coming in to ask using different reasoning each time.With my 3rd baby I didn't want to bathe her right away.The first 24 hrs they kept coming in every 20 minutes to ask in different ways when I was going to bathe her, once even bringing the stuff in with them to do it themselves.I caved finally to get some rest.

[Katielady]

Originally Posted by crittersmom

You don't have to do anything unless its an emergency but when you are in labor it is very hard to communicate your wishes and you are more likley to be bullied into things regardless of your birthplan.I had one Dr actually throw mine to the side even though it had been signed by my regular one.Someone with you ( doula,DP,mom,MIL,someone very firm) will need to be there to advocate for you.Procedures were done to my 2nd child even though I had it written down and had reminded them when I got to the hospital and after the birth because I didn't have anyone to guard him too.
You will also have to keep stating that you do not wish to do X thing.They will keep coming in to ask using different reasoning each time.With my 3rd baby I didn't want to bathe her right away.The first 24 hrs they kept coming in every 20 minutes to ask in different ways when I was going to bathe her, once even bringing the stuff in with them to do it themselves.I caved finally to get some rest.

Ditto this. I had a hospital birth with my first, and went in with a very cheerful "it's my birth, I can refuse anything I want" attitude. But in reality, they can be very forceful and it's not a time when you're really up to fighting everyone on everything. And unfortunately as a doula, I've seen laboring mothers bullied into all kinds of things they didn't want, because of "hospital policy."

If you're concerned about the policies at your hospital, I'd strongly recommend looking into a change of locations or providers if you can. I wish I had done so. In my experience, the best way to ensure the kind of birth you want is to choose a birth place and provider that fit your needs. Trying to swim upstream against the current of policies at a hospital that's not friendly enough to natural childbirth is just not realistic.

[CookieMonsterMommy]

Just wanted to clarify that you can NOT refuse certain procedures if you are alternately opting to accept certain interventions.

MEANING:

If you're opting to be induced, you cannot refuse an IV (or lock, depending on policy) or fetal monitoring.

If you opt for an epidural, you can't refuse an IV, vaginal exams and to have your blood pressure checked every 2-5 minutes.

If you opt for a c-section or induction, you can't refuse to refrain from eating and drinking during labor.

If you opt to have your water broken artificially, you cannot refuse getting your temp checked every 2 hours.

Well...you can refuse those things, but the hospital or doctor can turn right around and refuse to give you pitocin/epidural/c-section/etc.

[Honey693]

Thank you guys so much. My doctor was reccomended to me by a doula I've been talking with and she seems great so far. I know for sure the hospital by us encourages rooming in, in fact I thin they expect you too b/c that's all they talk about on their website. They even have low lights at the side so all procedures can be done in the room and not freak the baby out. The things I'm most concerned about are the tests done to the baby after birth and anything done to me with a needle. I have huge needle phobias that I don't think pain will wash away. I will definately be discussing this with my doctor and writing a birth plan, I just wanted to make sure it was within my rights to refuse certain things before I decided to.

[paquerette]

I refused the eye ointment in a PA hospital, as well as the Hep B and vit K, and was not even asked to sign anything.

[PookieMom]

Originally Posted by crittersmom

You don't have to do anything unless its an emergency but when you are in labor it is very hard to communicate your wishes and you are more likley to be bullied into things regardless of your birthplan.I had one Dr actually throw mine to the side even though it had been signed by my regular one.Someone with you ( doula,DP,mom,MIL,someone very firm) will need to be there to advocate for you.Procedures were done to my 2nd child even though I had it written down and had reminded them when I got to the hospital and after the birth because I didn't have anyone to guard him too.
You will also have to keep stating that you do not wish to do X thing.They will keep coming in to ask using different reasoning each time.With my 3rd baby I didn't want to bathe her right away.The first 24 hrs they kept coming in every 20 minutes to ask in different ways when I was going to bathe her, once even bringing the stuff in with them to do it themselves.I caved finally to get some rest.

This is so horribly true. My birth story with my son (vbac) is so similar. Our decisions as Mothers are not taken seriously. Our children are considered hospital property in many, many hospitals. It's heartbreaking.

[mommy777]

Have someone with you at all times who can communicate your wishes. Labor is such a vulnerable time. After the pains hit me, I would have let them do anything.

[Kiddoson]

Originally Posted by paquerette

I refused the eye ointment in a PA hospital, as well as the Hep B and vit K, and was not even asked to sign anything.

Yup, us too

[barefootpoetry]

Originally Posted by crittersmom

You don't have to do anything unless its an emergency but when you are in labor it is very hard to communicate your wishes and you are more likley to be bullied into things regardless of your birthplan.

: I had no idea how vulnerable and suggestible I'd become during labor. I went in with this great fantasy of a good, natural birth, and all that went out the window. Be EXTRA SUPER DUPER TRIPLE SURE that your CPs and the staff at your hospital of choice are on the same page as you as far as your desires go...and I mean that they actually AGREE and WANT to work towards the common goal with you, not just pay lip service and go, "Oh, that sounds great, sure," and then turn the tables and sabotage you when you show up in labor.

[sarahn4639]

Originally Posted by Crystal_R

The things I'm most concerned about are the tests done to the baby after birth and anything done to me with a needle. I have huge needle phobias that I don't think pain will wash away.

be aware that many hospitals do a blood draw upon admittance. i wasn't aware of this. i even had a card with all my info on it (blood type ,rh, ect) so i was really taken back by that. i don't have a needle issue but that was the worst part of my hospital birth (the labor part anyway). i would be sure to ask and clarify with your doc and the mat ward. i would also go in and give the blood there so they have it for their files and you won't have to do it in labor.

also, don't sign the consent for in the pre registration paperwork. without that they have to get consent for every individual procedure.

[Belle]

Originally Posted by paquerette

I refused the eye ointment in a PA hospital, as well as the Hep B and vit K, and was not even asked to sign anything.

Same here, in Oregon.

I did have to sign an AMA to refuse a Hep-lock or IV. I put a chicken scratch on the dotted line. It didn't look anything like my signature and I sure couldn't read the thing while in labor. But I did it to keep them from harrassing me about it. The nurses were nice but the doctor tried pushing it on me 3 times. She finally got her way when I was pushing. I got a hep-lock 3 pushes before dd was born.

[SublimeBirthGirl]

You don't HAVE to do anything. But typically, if they want you to do something you often end up doing it whether you want to or not. They use scare tactics (I have only attended 5 hospital births but in those I've heard plenty of dead baby stories told to laboring women by nurses & doctors), manipulation, and endless pressure to get what they want.

Really, if you want to avoid hospital procedures, don't go to the hospital. If you want to decline everything, ask yourself why you feel the need to be there at all, considering there is no additional safety for you there, just a lot of fighting.