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jennyliztx
member
Woman's Hospital Separation Policy
jennyliztx
member
Hello!
I know that some people have been able to avoid the 4 hour separation policy that Woman's Hospital has in place. What are the requirements for getting an exception? Do you need a note from your OBGYN or your Pediatrician?
Also, I keep reading mixed information on whether Woman's has gone to all-private postpartum rooms. When I delivered there last time (2005) they were NOT all private. I have read some things saying that since the renovation they are all private and some things saying that they still are not.
I will also be doing a VBAC. Any recent VBACers (especially any since the recent ACOG recs came out) who delivered here that can weigh in? I'm very worried that the hospital staff will put tons of pressure on me to do a repeat c-section once I'm in labor.
Does anyone have info?
Thanks a ton!
visit my blog at www.treadingwaterinthekiddiepool.wordpress.com
This discussion has been closed.
Re: Woman's Hospital Separation Policy
We were there today for the tour. All of the postpartum rooms have gone private. We were shown rooms both on the 4th and 2nd floor. The rooms on the 4th floor were a lot smaller because they were original to the hospital.
I am not sure about the separation policy but the lady was saying that the 4 hour separation does start from when they are born. She said that you may end up being away from the baby for less than 2 hours,
why do they have a seperation policy?
I thought that was counter to all the research lately about rooming in being better?
When I delivered there last year, my separation after recovery would have probably been very short. He ended up in NICU, though.
I was trying for VBAC, but I did not meet my doc's requirements. (Must go into labor on my own by 40 weeks and progress normally.) I've never been in labor.
Maybe you should be sure what your doc's requirements are for VBAC? And, be sure that person is actually delivering. The to-VBAC or not-to-VBAC isn't really the hospital's call - it is between you and your doctor or the doctor delivering your baby.
With my first, back in the old days of only some private rooms, my wait to see him did not exceed my recovery period by more than the 10 minutes it took them to walk him down the hall. My husband was with him that whole time - through the glass, but he was there.
Good luck. I hope your delivery goes well!
This was my experience as well. I was there today also (for the sibling class & tour). Since the remodel, all of the post-partum rooms are private. Some are nicer and more spacious and others, and these are an extra, out-of-pocket, per night cost.
When I delivered my son last year all rooms were private. Newer rooms were bigger but everything in them was the same.
I was back with DS with in 2 hours. I was extremely worried about this, due largely to comments I read on here and another forum, but by the time I recovered from the c-section and was in my room, it was like no time at all. Honestly, I was a little glad. I cleaned up and got comfortable in the bed so when he came back, all I had to do was sit there and snuggle him. My MIL and DH observed everything that happened when he was away from me.
I never felt any pressure from the staff to do anything. I think they are very nice.
Ditto this. In fact, I attribute the extremely supportive staff for me being able to deliver my son vaginally after an difficult labor. They supported every wish I had!
I've heard the rooms are all private now.
I had a wonderful experience at Women's and look forward to delivering my next child there. The staff was extremely competent and I loved that I had an L&D nurse in my delivery room 100% of the time. I felt very reassured.
I didn't have the "best experience ever" at Women's but my 1st birth there was definitely solid enough that I went there for the 2nd.
The 1st time, I was trying for a natural birth. I labored, unmedicated, for 17 hours. Never once in that time did any nurse even hint that I should just go for the C or get the meds. They were supportive of my nat labor except they did require me to be hooked to a monitor. This made a lot of movement difficult but I dealt with it. For 17 hours. In the end I was glad I was monitored because the baby was having heart fluctuations so it was better to know that then not. After about 12 hours of labor, my doctor left for the day. She came back to the hospital at hour 16 and I hd not progressed past 8 and the baby hadn't dropped. It had been almost 30 hours since I had eaten or drank anything and the baby was just not coming, so we opted for the c-section. I do believe it was medically necessary at that time. My doctor said "I could have told you 5 hours ago you were going to need a c-section" but, to her major credit, she wanted me to be able to give it all I could until we reached the end of that road.
My doctor does VBACs and I was going for one with #2. I met all the requirements until my labor was progressing, or not progressing I should say, the same as the 1st time. I labored for 4 hours and with no progress, I opted for the C. My doctor was not available and I was dealing with the oncall doctor. The nurses read in my chart that I was attempting a VBAC and no one really seemed to have an opinion either way. They didn't cheer me on, but they certainly did not change my mind. The on-call doctor was not 100% comfortable with the idea of a VBAC but she left it up to me to make the call. At 4 hours of no progress, I could see the same path as #1 and opted for the c myself. HOnestly, the doctor seemed relieved but she really did not put any pressure on me either way.
As I have said here before many times, I think it has so much more to do with your doctor than the nurses. Either way, I didn't experience this mysterious pressure that is so rumored in 2 births.
There is no pressure. Everything that the hospital or the nurses does is based on your own Dr's order. I was on bedrest and my Dr had to put in an order for them not to bother me from 10pm until 6am. She would even have to put in an order for me to leave the room in a wheelchair to get some fresh air. So this is something you would need to discuss with your Dr if you want a VBAC.
All rooms are private now and there are no extra cost anymore (unless you go for the suites).
As for the separation time, you get to spend 1 hour with your baby after v-delivery and then they take the baby into the transitioning nursery to get checked out from head to toe (that's when my pedi came to look at the baby too). By the time I got into my postpartum room (this case, my antepartum room since I was there for so long and didn't want to pack), the baby was ready to come back to me. I actually told them to hold off because DH was out getting me food and I wanted to eat and not get the baby all greasy from my fingers! Then again, I was also that mom that sent her baby off to the nursery everynight so I could get a full sleep prior to going home.
Thanks so much for all the information. It's great to hear that the rooms are all private now - that's a huge improvement in my book!
I'm not freakish about them taking the baby away for a bit. I know they aren't going to do anything "bad" to him. I'm worried about getting breastfeeding started properly. I want to be able to try to get him to feed as soon as he's born - it is essential to do that before any seperation takes place. Were you guys allowed time to breastfeed before they took the baby?
I'm also concerned because I know countless people whose babies were given formula despite their specific instructions that no formula was to be administered. I'm afraid if they take him away, they will give him a bottle.
I only attempted to bf with DD1 and so I can tell you that experience. When the baby is first born, I got 1 hour with her to bf her. (not that anything came out). And then when they brought her back to me a couple of hours later, they had me try again. they didn't give her formula. It wasn't until I kind of "gave-up" did I ask for formula for her while I tried to pump to get something out. The only reason I decided to give her formula (not the nurse) was because if her blood sugar level dropped, they would have to puke her more often to test her blood sugar.
I was separated from both boys due to 2 c sections. I did not get to nurse either immediately. My older son had serious blood sugar issues and was given formula, with a very hesitant ok from me, because of his health. I proceeded to nurse him exclusively for 19 months after that. My second son was also not nursed right away but there was no need and he was not given formula. I nursed him for 13 mos until he self weaned.
Honestly, if you end up with a c-section, you will be in recovery for a little while and you will not be with the baby. This will not ruin your ability to nurse. Don't get yourself worked up about that because the stress of it will do more harm to your nursing relationship than a short time apart will.
If you deliver vaginally, you have some time to spend with the baby before the check up happens and you should be able to nurse, no problem.
Jenny, I had the same questions and concerns as you and got lots of good replies to my questions. You might read what was written on my post. Seems like there are a few people who had really bad experiences (which can happen anywhere), but the majority of people who delivered at Woman's seem happy with their experience. https://community.thebump.com/cs/ks/forums/thread/41147195.aspx
From what I understand from my doc who delivers exclusively at Woman's, the hospital is trying to change its policy about roomming in. He said now it's mostly a matter of whether they are short-staffed in the nursery when your baby is delivered and whether the pediatrician approves it. He said most pediatricians don't require the separation anymore if the parents request to stay with the baby (different though if you have a c-section or there are health issues with the baby). And if there is enough staff on duty that one of the nurses can check the baby in your room then they don't require the separation. The 4 hours starts when the baby is born, you get about 1 hour with the baby to breastfeed and then they take the baby for monitoring. As soon as they have completed all the tests and the baby is doing well, they bring the baby to you and 4 hours is the long estimate. Again, this is assuming you deliver vaginally and the baby is fine.
Anyway, so much has changed at that hospital in the last few years, I would try to focus on reviews from people who have delivered recently. I'm sure that people who delivered there 5 years ago have valid feelings about their experiences, but that's probably not the way that it is now. I felt a lot better after hearing from ladies with recent experiences!
Hope that helps! Good luck!
Just another assurance that you get an hour to bond with/BF your baby before they go to the nursery. I had a good experience with Woman's and would have returned there if I was still in Houston for the birth of my 2nd.
Must admit I'm also with pp above though -- I gladly let my girls go to the nursery at night so I could get a good night's sleep. I was actually annoyed with my hospital here in Austin because they prefer the baby to stay with the Mom. I kept trying to send her to the nursery and they kept returning her within a half hour. That's the reason I came home after just one night -- if they weren't going to give me a break anyway, I didn't need to be there!
6-yr-old Elena and 4-yr-old Julia.
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I assume you're worried they'll ruin your breastfeeding? As one who went through real separation - 3 days in NICU and then, 3 weeks later, a week at TCH, I can tell you my experience with separation and breastfeeding.
Even after the few days in the NICU, we were able to bf and the nurses in the NICU were very encouraging. Even with all the wires and such, they wanted me to do it. It wasn't easy, though. And, it was a delayed start, so I ended up pumping.
Once home, we worked to re-establish breastfeeding until he was back in the hospital with meningitis. There were more wires and IVs this time, and it was hard to breastfeed. No one discouraged me, but it was too hard to be there all the time. So, again, I pumped.
When I got home that time, I had mastitis and had to pump. So, he was given bottles of breastmilk.
The point of this story occurred 8 mos. later. I never stopped trying to get him interested in breastfeeding. When he needed ear tube surgery, I stuck with pumping to give him breastmilk after surgery. Then, to my great surprise and delight, he began feeding at the breast.
8 mos. of bottles and countless road blocks to establishing feeding, he did it and still does it. I feed him at night and after work.
** I think our case is extreme both from a separation angle and a getting established late. In the end, it was never too late or too rough of a start that time would not overcome it. It was hard, but even the bumpiest of circumstances can be overcome with patience. Be kind to yourself if everything doesn't go like clockwork with breastfeeding. Things can work out - even in extreme cases.
I delivered at Woman's 3 weeks ago and had a great experience. I wanted a med free birth and from the moment I walked in everyone was very supportive of that. My doctor also knew that I wanted to room in with the baby and they set it up to where the baby didn't have to go to the nursery. I ended up sending her anyway because I labored for 22 hours and was exhausted, but I called 2 hours later and they brought her to me. I think you just need to let your doctor know that you want to room in. As far as formula goes, they never pushed formula on me. When L was in the nursery they would bring her to me every few hours so I could feed her. Oh, and yes all the rooms are private now.
I know some people have had bad experiences, but you're going to find that anywhere you go. I look forward to delivering my future children at Women's. The nurses and staff were very accommodating and made it a wonderful experience for us.