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Natural Birth
BBhopes15
member
Hospital tour/Nursing staff,Qs...
BBhopes15
member
Hi Ladies,
We are planning on a NB at a hospital. When touring the hospitals, how can I know they have a good, helpful stuff. The women in my family say how the nurses either make or break a lot of the experience...but how can I learn this from touring a hospital?
We are not having a doula, FYI.
What are your thoughts? Also, what are the top things to ask when doing the hospital tour?
This discussion has been closed.
Re: Hospital tour/Nursing staff,Qs...
It all depends on what your birth plan talks about. I recommend making your birth plan before you head to the hospital. You might want to ask about:
Fetal Monitoring
Eating and Drinking While in Labor
Pain Management Techniques
Natural Induction Methods
C-Section Rate
Birthing Positions
Episiotomy Practices
Skin to Skin Contact After Delivery
BreastFeeding After Delivery
Visitor Policy
I'm sure there is more that you could ask, but these are things that immediately come to mind.
Ask if you're allowed to ask for a new nurse if you get one you don't like. This can help eliminate the "bad" nurse problem, although asking if the nurses get training in natural pain management methods is also a good idea.
Do they have birthing balls? Allow you to labor in the shower? Do they have tubs?
Frequency of fetal monitoring and types of monitors (waterproof, wireless, neither?) and do they allow you out of bed while being monitored.
Do they have lactation consultants on staff?
Do they require a hep lock or continuous IV? Do they routinely administer pitocin after delivery to contract the uterus and/or help deliver the placenta?
Are the newborn procedures done in the room with you? Are baths right after birth?
Lots of stuff will be doctor specific, like c-section rate, episiotomy rate, induction methods, etc. so you could ask, but also make sure to have that convo separately with your OB/MW.
The answers to your questions are going to vary a lot depending on who is giving the tour. Your ultimate experience will also depends a lot on the nurse you get assigned when you show up and your Dr. You can always ask for a nurse that is for natural birth. When you go to the hospital, I would be more looking at what the facilites are like. Do they have showers in L&D? What the recovery rooms are like. Then ask your Dr. the specifics like monitoring and induction policies. If you are considering two different hospitals compare c-sections and episiotomy rates.
Good question! My doula told us that if need be we can put our foot down and request a new nurse if we get in a situation with one who isn't helpful to our birth plan or just plain grumpy...but that's an awkward situation that I'd rather avoid.
Feel out how accommodating your hospital is to natural childbirth. I've had friends request a bar or ball at a hospital with high pitocin/epidural/c-section rates and were told by a lazy/obstinate nurse "we don't have those anymore" or "they're all being used" when we knew full well that just weeks prior, someone we knew was given one! One of the best tips I was given that put me at ease is; right when you get to the hospital and are in triage, specially request an older nurse who has had experience assisting a natural birth. Ladies who have been working l&d for several years tend to be much more relaxed and not so fearful or quick to suggest interventions. The ones who are fresh out of school are only doing as they learned but it's based on the minority, worst case scenarios and they seem more leery to let you out of bed or away from your monitor.
You may want to ask about the room/hospital amenities. The hosptial I delivered at is a smaller community hospital where the cafeteria is only open from 6:30am-7:00pm. Food isn't available when the cafeteria is closed so I always had to make sure to order something to eat before they closed or send my hubby to go get fast food. They did provide a mini fridge and microwave in room for any food we brought in.
The hospital didn't have iPod docks so I made sure to bring my own so I could listen to music while I was in labor.