Labor and delivery issues

[Cright]

I feel the same way as RoseofLima.

There is only 1 hospital in my area (of about a dozen or more) that won't be flexable on their policy. It's because they are a "teaching hospital" for one, and for another they have the highest rate of high risk pregnancy/mothers because of their reputation for their NICU.

It happened to be the hospital my Doc delivered at. He's amazing too.. very good at his job. I switched from him in my 23rd week to my midwife. She delievers at a different hospital. It's also a great hospital, and offers an Alternative Birthing Center (ABC) where they allow a midwive to deliver in the hospital.

It was imperitive that I have the birth the way I want. If it means driving 15 miles further for my appointments and 8 miles farther than my original hospital for the birth I want, I'm doing it.

To ensure this, I made my own birthplan and then presented it to my midwife at my first appointment. I also talked to the hospital who was happy to meet my requests.

I would suggest the same for you. Make a birth plan, present it to your Dr/mw and ask them if they feel it's okay, or what you may need to be flexible on. Then call the hospital's maternity ward and do the same. If they don't comply, start researching other options.

Best wishes for you!

Carina

 

[RoseofLima]

I feel the same way as RoseofLima.

There is only 1 hospital in my area (of about a dozen or more) that won't be flexable on their policy. It's because they are a "teaching hospital" for one, and for another they have the highest rate of high risk pregnancy/mothers because of their reputation for their NICU.

It happened to be the hospital my Doc delivered at. He's amazing too.. very good at his job. I switched from him in my 23rd week to my midwife. She delievers at a different hospital. It's also a great hospital, and offers an Alternative Birthing Center (ABC) where they allow a midwive to deliver in the hospital.

It was imperitive that I have the birth the way I want. If it means driving 15 miles further for my appointments and 8 miles farther than my original hospital for the birth I want, I'm doing it.

To ensure this, I made my own birthplan and then presented it to my midwife at my first appointment. I also talked to the hospital who was happy to meet my requests.

I would suggest the same for you. Make a birth plan, present it to your Dr/mw and ask them if they feel it's okay, or what you may need to be flexible on. Then call the hospital's maternity ward and do the same. If they don't comply, start researching other options.

Best wishes for you!

Carina

How great that you had the option of switching to another hospital-- and how courageous to switch care providers!

 

[sioleabha]

I would just say one thing in regards to having a birth plan vs. just telling them what you want, discussing things with the doc vs. discussing with the hospital, etc. Do ALL of that.

In my experience the doctor and the hospital don't communicate, and if the doctor is not there, the nurses will do whatever they want. I've been told by nurses that my doctor insisted I take medications which he actually told me not to take, that he prescribed things he didn't, or that he didn't have "authority" to allow things. For example when my doctor and I arranged rooming-in with my second baby, and then the hospital threatened to call security to take my baby to the nursery.

I pretty much say the same thing in all of these threads, but I have had such awful experiences because for various reasons I seem to be someone that people think they can walk all over -- I'm shy, exceedingly polite, young, and was on Medicaid. I just really want other woman to know that the hospital is not always your friend, and you have to be ready to insist on the things that are important to you every step of the way. AND, have someone there who will be your partner in this. If your husband won't stand up for you, get a doula, that's what they're paid for.

Make a birth plan, discuss it with your doctor (although mine verbally tore mine to pieces and left me crying in the examination room), then discuss it with the hospital when you register, then discuss it with your nurses, then if your doctor doesn't do the delivery discuss it with him, and discuss it with the pedi nurses and your pediatrician after delivery (if you are concerned about rooming-in, nursing, not getting eye drops, etc.)

 

[Leanna]

One good thing is I have a midwife (midwives actually) and so I have hope.... but they are midwives in a hospital so that will compromise it some. Thanks for sharing your experiences, we'll see how these next two appointments go (one this week, one next week, its a little weird but thats how they do it to start)

 

[jgonz]

Birthplans can be Very helpful. Not only do they help you identify what You want (as someone else already said), if you can get your caregiver to agree to all of it (or even compromise on some things) and INITIAL it, the nurses Have to follow it.

For the same reason hospitals and doctors are known to yank the placenta out of the woman rather than letting her body birth it, sometimes leading to serious bleeding problems. I have a problem with hospital policies that are all about money and politics, yes I do.

This happened with my last doula client. The stupid OB was in such a hurry he practically yanked her cord to get the placenta out. She was RIGHT THERE telling him "NO, I want the placenta to come out By Itself", and he was Lying to her saying that's what he was doing!!! 3 weeks later, she was still having Several problems, saw another OB for a 2nd opinion, he gave her an u/s, and it turned out she was FULL of placental pieces and needed a D&C. I was Furious. Not to mention extremely upset. (She totally has a malpractice case, but as far as I know they aren't going to.)

 

[sioleabha]

Birthplans can be Very helpful. Not only do they help you identify what You want (as someone else already said), if you can get your caregiver to agree to all of it (or even compromise on some things) and INITIAL it, the nurses Have to follow it.



This happened with my last doula client. The stupid OB was in such a hurry he practically yanked her cord to get the placenta out. She was RIGHT THERE telling him "NO, I want the placenta to come out By Itself", and he was Lying to her saying that's what he was doing!!! 3 weeks later, she was still having Several problems, saw another OB for a 2nd opinion, he gave her an u/s, and it turned out she was FULL of placental pieces and needed a D&C. I was Furious. Not to mention extremely upset. (She totally has a malpractice case, but as far as I know they aren't going to.)

Oh wow, that's horrid. Good thing that hasn't happened to me. I have enough trouble keeping dh from hitting doctors!

 

[Sascha Fitzpatrick]

Leanna,

I think all of your stuff is fine (based on what happens in the hospital I work at). My only issue is with the APGAR tests.

They need a one minute reading on this, so that's probably the only reason I can see you not being able to nurse baby immediately after delivery. As soon as that is done though, you can get baby straight back. They will do another at 5 minutes.

Dad can cut the cord whilst this is going on - but this doesn't require the 'clamp' thing you're thinking of. The placental flow will be expressed before clamping, and the 'pumping' of the placenta pretty much stops once baby is delivered. Dad can clamp, and you can deliver the placenta within an hour of delivery.

At my work, once this is done, baby is usually suckled on mum - more often than not it's not 'real' breastfeeding, but it gets the baby in the position, and you MIGHT get some colostrum if you're lucky. It's more for the nurture/suckle ideas than anything though.

Hope this helps - APGAR is the only thing that will prevent you from having that request. And I wouldn't be arguing against that...

Sasch

 

[ChristusG]

I think that the subject of not snacking during labor is more for your sake. At least that's what my midwife told me. She said that labor kind of "clears the digestive system" which more often than not, means throwing it up. She said that if you are in labor, then you are probably not going to want to be throwing up food at the same time. My midwife told me that she ate during the early part of her labor and threw it all up during a later stage of labor.

And as for the IV, I more think that an IV is for the "what if". What if you end up needing a C-Section? What if there is an emergency? Then everything is in place and you can proceed quicker if the IV catheter is already in its place.

At least that is my understanding of these things. I can tell you.....when I was in labor with my first baby, I was hooked up to everything imaginable. At one point, for a few hours, there was a IV hooked to my arm, a blood pressure cuff hooked to my other arm, an external fetal monitor around my waist, an internal fetal monitor on the baby inside, an epidural line going onto my back, as well as a catheter draining my urine. Talk about not being able to move LOL! I didnt like that, but it was necessary because they were having to monitor me and the baby closely.

 

[Leanna]

I've been reading natural birth books, and they all say that the chances of an unmedicated woman throwing up during labor are slim, and I'm willing to risk it, because the chance of feeling weak because I haven't eaten in so long (I had a really long labor last time) are a lot higher. If I throw up half, and digest half, I'll consider that a success. Anyway, I'm not talking about a steak dinner here.... and I'm not going to be eating just before transition if you know what I mean

 

[RoseofLima]

I think that the subject of not snacking during labor is more for your sake. At least that's what my midwife told me. She said that labor kind of "clears the digestive system" which more often than not, means throwing it up. She said that if you are in labor, then you are probably not going to want to be throwing up food at the same time. My midwife told me that she ate during the early part of her labor and threw it all up during a later stage of labor.

And as for the IV, I more think that an IV is for the "what if". What if you end up needing a C-Section? What if there is an emergency? Then everything is in place and you can proceed quicker if the IV catheter is already in its place.

At least that is my understanding of these things. I can tell you.....when I was in labor with my first baby, I was hooked up to everything imaginable. At one point, for a few hours, there was a IV hooked to my arm, a blood pressure cuff hooked to my other arm, an external fetal monitor around my waist, an internal fetal monitor on the baby inside, an epidural line going onto my back, as well as a catheter draining my urine. Talk about not being able to move LOL! I didnt like that, but it was necessary because they were having to monitor me and the baby closely.

The reason most places won't let you eat- if they won't--is because the possiblity of aspirating vomit on the minimal chance that a woman would have to be totally under for an emergency C-section.

I don't get hungry during labor- becuase I don't have along sort of pre-labor (1-3cms). Some womne have that go on all day...and without eating you won't have any energy.

With the IV's they need to prep the OR, and prep you, and gather allthe staff....all of which takes time--even in a true emergency. Unless there is a very clear reason for you to suspect you might need an IV, there's no reason to get one just in case...unless of course that puts you more at ease--in which case

I had one birth where I was bleeding pretty heavily where my placenta had begun to separate...I asked them to do a heplock, in case I suddenly had a very rapid blood loss, where my blood pressure bottomed out and they would have difficulty finding a vein. That birth I did a lot of things I don't usually do, because I though it most prudent. I had the doctor break my water ( after waiting about 45 minute from his initial suggestion-I wanted to see how my labor was progressing), I had them put an internal monitor on the baby (because it was essential to know her vitals becuase of the loss of blood), I also had them do routine checks before the monitor, so that I could put off the breaking of my water if I was dilating quickly. That birth, too, I had to roll over to my back to finish delivery, because the baby was posterior with shoulder dystocia. The doctor had to go in fishing for a piece of the placenta. But you know what-- it was a great birth!! Nothing happened without my explicit permission, the doctor (who is now my OB) asked me for permission each and everytime before he touched me, we discussed my care- and there were points he felt strongly about, but allowed me to have the final say. It was very empowering, becuase so many things that had gone horribly wrong in previous births went wrong--but I was given a chance to respond with empowerment. I was beat up, the baby's face was all bruised--but man it was an awesome birth!

I just share that to illustrate that there are times when birth goes very unexpectedly, but if you can still adocate for your care, it can be a very satisfying experience despite all of the interventions and complications.

 

[Naomi4Christ]

I've been reading natural birth books, and they all say that the chances of an unmedicated woman throwing up during labor are slim, and I'm willing to risk it, because the chance of feeling weak because I haven't eaten in so long (I had a really long labor last time) are a lot higher. If I throw up half, and digest half, I'll consider that a success. Anyway, I'm not talking about a steak dinner here.... and I'm not going to be eating just before transition if you know what I mean

Lots of women throw up in labour. It's a classic sign that you are in transition. I've thrown up in each labour that I've had. It's no big deal.

I think that it's a good idea to eat according to your appetite. You could be in labour a long time, and it is hard work. You need something to sustain you. It is unlikely that your appetite will have you asking for large amounts of food close to the birth.

 

[Naomi4Christ]

-But you know what-- it was a great birth!! Nothing happened without my explicit permission, the doctor (who is now my OB) asked me for permission each and everytime before he touched me, we discussed my care- and there were points he felt strongly about, but allowed me to have the final say. It was very empowering, becuase so many things that had gone horribly wrong in previous births went wrong--but I was given a chance to respond with empowerment. I was beat up, the baby's face was all bruised--but man it was an awesome birth!

I agree - a good birth is one you feel in control of, even when things go wrong.