Creating a birth center "feel" in hospital...

Mrs.A&J

I'm delivering at a local hospital after cutting ties with the birth center we initially saw (concerns over safety and their ratings online). I'm hoping I can recreate some of the "feel" of the birth center in my hospital experience. We are working with a midwife and the hospital does have tubs for laboring (though they won't allow you to actually deliver in them). I'm think they should be ok with the use of battery powered candles, right? And I'll create a couple playlists of different types of music, so if I want music I'll have some options depending on how I feel. I plan to take a birthing ball to labor on. Other ideas to make the hospital feel more comfortable?

KateLouise

your own clothes to labour in.

snacks/drink for you and dh.

massage oil, either for massage or to cut through the hospital smell. 

Mrs.A&J

Are they going to "allow" me to eat/drink during labor? I hope they do, but I'm worried they won't.

KateLouise

That will depend on the hospital I guess.

Where I am, it's not an issue. 

samamurp26

Ask if they have balls at the hospital, mine does!  It may be easier than hauling one in if you can avoid it

 We are taking some little tools like tennis balls and a scarf my husband and I use to positioning with squatting and all fours.  Your own clothes for sure-dont forget lots of extra stuff if you plan on getting in and out of the tub so you don't have to sit around wet.

 As far as snacks go, my midwives advocate for bringing snacks of your own.  They certainly do not advocate a cheeseburger and fries during labor but small things to get a few carbs and calories here and there to keep your energy up.  I am bringing a small bag of non-perishable things my husband and I both really like.  I know he will need snacks for sure and weather or not you chose to eat during labor-you will want something after for sure!

 I agree with smsalat that there is certainly a valid reason for the no eating/drinking rule during labor, but I also understand how important a little bit of energy can really help.  Discuss it with your team though, ultimately its yours/their decision.

I read a great new book that helped me think through some of these issues- "Natural Birth in the Hospital, the best of both worlds". Good luck!!!! 

tokenhoser

Labour at home. As long as is possible.

I didn't give a sh*t that my hospital room was ugly and I was naked pretty quickly after getting a room. I was fully into "having a baby NOW" mode.

My hospital allowed me to drink water, which let me dodge the IV fluids. I don't think they would "let me" eat, but I didn't want to eat by the time I got there. I ate through my early labour - that was the difference between not eating for 5 hours and not eating for 14 hours. I would have been very unhappy if I'd quit eating at the first tummy twinge.

mrsodonnell12

tokenhoser:

Labour at home. As long as is possible.

I didn't give a sh*t that my hospital room was ugly and I was naked pretty quickly after getting a room. I was fully into "having a baby NOW" mode.

My hospital allowed me to drink water, which let me dodge the IV fluids. I don't think they would "let me" eat, but I didn't want to eat by the time I got there. I ate through my early labour - that was the difference between not eating for 5 hours and not eating for 14 hours. I would have been very unhappy if I'd quit eating at the first tummy twinge.

Exactly this!

nj001

KateLouise:

your own clothes to labour in.

snacks/drink for you and dh.

massage oil, either for massage or to cut through the hospital smell. 

 

Do most hospitals let you wear your own clothing during labor? I've been thinking about this myself and not wanting to feel like a "hospital patient" during labor, but I don't get to tour my hospital and ask them for about another month or so.

RayRay007

I would want my own clothes, pillow, maybe even your own blanket to cover up the hospital sheets, massage lotion, music, something that smells nice (a plug in if you can't have candles?), close the blinds and dim the lights (if possible), close the door and post a sign to disturb as little as possible.

tokenhoser

nj001:

KateLouise:

your own clothes to labour in.

snacks/drink for you and dh.

massage oil, either for massage or to cut through the hospital smell. 

 

Do most hospitals let you wear your own clothing during labor? I've been thinking about this myself and not wanting to feel like a "hospital patient" during labor, but I don't get to tour my hospital and ask them for about another month or so.

If you would like to wear your own clothes, wear them. No one is going to wrestle you to the ground and put a gown on you. Obviously, wear clothes you're happy to destroy. 

Hospitals have policies, but you have the right to do what you think you need to to feel most comfortable. You can try to approach things in a cooperative way to avoid conflict with staff. And again, the longer you can stay out of the hospital, the less time you're subject to their rules. 

Hyaline

nj001:

KateLouise:

your own clothes to labour in.

snacks/drink for you and dh.

massage oil, either for massage or to cut through the hospital smell. 

 

Do most hospitals let you wear your own clothing during labor? I've been thinking about this myself and not wanting to feel like a "hospital patient" during labor, but I don't get to tour my hospital and ask them for about another month or so.

Mine does, though the nurse I asked on the tour thought it was kind of weird given that birth is messy and she figured everyone liked the convenience of the hospital-provided gown.  I may or may not wear my own clothes depending on how I feel at the time but will at least have my own bathrobe and fuzzy socks

Hyaline

smsalat:

Mrs.A&J:

Are they going to "allow" me to eat/drink during labor? I hope they do, but I'm worried they won't.

At our hospital it is not allowed...I know some people say that they will eat anyway.  I never did, because there are legit. reasons they don't want you to in case of emergency and they need to put you under, if you need certain meds they can make you throw up, some ladies even throw up during labor (my firend did and it was nasty because she had eaten just before she went into labor and she progresse extremely fast) and you don't want all that coming up on you.  

I may get flammed for this, but I know people will say that aspirating during an emergency c-section is so small, etc.  Well I understand where the hospital.doctor is coming from also.  Unfortunately this society is sue happy.  If they did allow eating, and there was an emergency and the patient did end up aspirating and getting extremely ill or dying, then we are looking at family looking for some type of lawsuit.  They are just protecting their butts.  You are in their care and they do what they can to try and protect you while they are trying to protect themselves.

Fair enough--which is why "labor at home as long as possible" is encouraged.  By the time you're in full-on labor you probably won't want to eat anyway, but imagine if you were at the hospital--not eating--from early labor on.  Possibly not having anything for over 24 hours.  There are dangers there, too--in getting exhausted more easily from putting your body through a truly tiring physical process without nourishing it.  And then ending up with a c-section because you were too exhausted to continue.  So avoid potentially dangerous policies and stay at home as long as you can, IMO.

The risk of aspiration is so small it's practically negligible, which is why this policy truly infuriates me--it is more about covering their butts than true patient welfare from what I've found researching the issue.

JuneBug86

When I was in labor with DS I had no interest in eating. I ate before I left to go to the hospital and then a few hours after he was born I was like "Wow, I am REALLY hungry!" We ordered pizza and got it delivered to the hospital.

Cooper611

I'd say along with the birthing ball, bring a yoga mat in case floor positions are more comfortable. Also, as far as what is "allowed", most hospitals are flexible as long as your md/np is willing to order those things that you desire (I.e. meals, no ivf, ambulatory as desired, intermittent monitoring). 

Good luck and enjoy the rest of your pregnancy! 

aliena

I agree with the stay home! Stay home until you can't take it anymore.  I was only in the hospital for an hour before I started pushing and most of that time was spent getting checked in : I .  The only thing I cared about was the bath tub.

wannabigfam

Honestly, I'd labor at home as long as possible.  You can do anything you want in your own home - no one will mess with you :-)  No matter how natural birth friendly a hospital might be, you're still on a clock with them.  At home, you can do your own thing.  No pressure!  No need to ask permission for things!  

With my first we delivered at the most natural-birth friendly hospital in town.  However I labored at home until I felt the urge to push, then headed to the hospital (15 min drive) and was ready to deliver baby upon arrival.  It was a great experience, because my biggest fear was having them "mess" with  me.  Of course this won't work for people who are fearful of something going wrong w/ birth and who feel comforted by being in the "safe" zone of a hospital.  I felt safer at home. 

wannabigfam

Mrs.A&J:

Are they going to "allow" me to eat/drink during labor? I hope they do, but I'm worried they won't.

 I'm big on "ask forgiveness, not permission".  I was fearful that the hospital wouldn't let me eat if I wanted, so I brought wheat thins with me.  My plan was to eat them on the sly (not tell them) and only come clean if I ended up w/ a c-section just so they'd be aware.  I'm aware of why they don't want you to eat and I believe it's based on outdated information.  The whole eating thing is another reason I'd recommend laboring at home as long as possible.  

As it ends up I arrived ready to push so I didn't end up needing those snacks :-)  I would recommend making sure that if you think you're in early labor, eat something substantial (but not heavy).  I think I had a sandwich and that was perfect for me.  You won't want to eat when you're in late active labor, but you'll appreciate having a full belly to help you through the process!