Hospital Birth

brittas · July 2013

Hello ladies- long time lurker here with a bonding question:

I will be delivering at the hospital again, and I know they like to initially clean the baby up, swaddle and hand them back to mommy right after birth. And then about a half hour later they take the baby away to the nursery and give them more of a scrub. I have been reading the AP book and want to make sure I get that hour of bonding right after birth, so do I let them clean off baby and ask for her back unswaddled-- then ask for the more thorough bath to be delayed for a while?

With DS I just went with the flow and didn't really have a plan after he was born. I just assumed that the hospital procedures were fine. I have no idea what to expect this time around now that I have a much cleared idea of what I want for our labor and birth (and time afterwards).

Any insight into natural birth and ensuring the right amount if time for the initial bonding in a hospital will be much appreciated!

TIA!

ForeverEverAfter · July 2013

I had a hospital birth with a OB as there are no practicing midwives here. The thing to remember is that it is your body, your baby and your birth. Anything you want, just ask. If it doesn't interfere medically, they shouldn't mind. I had skin to skin time while the cord was clamped/cut and during my repair. They took her after an hour to be weighed and measured (DH went with them at my request, I didn't want her separated from us). Then they brought her back. I took her down to our room, dressed her and bathed her. The nurses requested I bathe her then because of a shift change (they wanted it documented on their shift) but I could've refused if I wanted.

They were very accommodating. I didn't want hospital diapers or clothes used, and so they wrapped her in my blanket and hat to take her to be weighed. I recommend a brief birth plan (bullet form) so they know of any requests you have. I didnt have mine and there were things i went along with because I was too tired to ask (like IV pitocin after a perfectly normal routine birth). For planning for the hospital I found Natural Hospital Birth to be a good book.

Emerald27 · July 2013

I would ask them to put LO on your chest/abdomen immediately after the birth, and to examine LO there. If you're skin to skin, there's no need for anything other than a light blanket over the top of you.

You can ask to delay the bath several hours and also even to do the bath yourself if you like. Some moms skip it altogether.

There are other newborn procedures you may want to research to know if you want them, like eye ointment and a vitamin k injection.

Everything is optional as long as baby is healthy, and the timing is up to you. It's ideal to be given a couple hours for skin to skin with your baby and to nurse as soon as baby is ready.

pitterpatter129 · July 2013

With DS2, I just took him all gooey. They toweled him off a little and after I was all stitched, they weighed, measured, toweled us both off and gave him back to me naked. I had them delay everything else until I felt like sending him (couple of hours) and completely opted out of the eye goop so he could see (no history of, positive tests for, or risk factors for STDs.) I wrote it all in our birth plan, which they actually tried to follow. The first baby I had a csection and a very unnecessary separation from baby that made me very sad.

Gwyneddlesliegrace · July 2013

I think you need to be very very clear with your wishes. Remember that it is your child and your choice!

emilykathleen511 · July 2013

I agree with pp and wanted to add that you should also check out the natural birth board here on the bump. Lots of good stuff over there!

nosoup4u · July 2013

Talk to your provider and see if they know what the standard hospital practice is. If you have a birth plan, mention the fact that you want the baby on your right away, and make sure either you or your partner/doula let the nurses know.

Chances are someone will have to remind the staff of your wishes after the baby comes out - they are usually on auto-pilot, and might forget.

DS2 had some meconium when he was born, so the pediatricians were checking him over right after birth. Our doula reminded my DH that he could take DS2 back when he was cleared by the doctors. Just stay polite, but it's okay to be sort of pushy!

SarahinMD · July 2013

As PP said, just be clear about your wishes. I held DD right away, skin to skin and started BF right away. they bathed her in room. There is no medical need for LO to leave your room, for us the only thing they take baby away for is hearing test, and SO can go (at our hospital was really encouraged to) and stand outside room and watch. there's no reason a LO needs to be in a nursery unless there are medical issues

JJ_13 · July 2013

I had a hospital birth. My birth plan said that as long as baby appears healthy, we want to do skin-to-skin for an indefinite amount of time and that "standard after birth procedures such as weighing, cleaning, etc can wait!". It was wonderful. We did about 2 hours of skin-to-skin and then they took her to weigh, etc - this was still in the room, but in a little alcove away from my bed. Then they gave her back to me. We didn't do a bath until about 24 hours after delivery. The only thing they did to her during that initial two hours was suction her nasal passages immediately after delivery, but I was holding her while they did that. Remember, your baby and (assuming all is healthy) just be nice but assertive about what you want!

ReeceFamily · July 2013

Have you considered hiring a doula? She can be there to help make sure the hospital follows through with your birth plan, even if you're kind of out of it. That was a great source of confidence for me in choosing a hospital birth.

Also, I was surprised on how mother-friendly our hospital was (a big university medical hospital). I had skin-to-skin, etc., on my birth plan, but it turns out that it's now standard policy at the hospital, so I really didn't need it on there.

ObLaDi · July 2013

I discussed with my nurses ahead of time that our plan was for immediate skin to skin and nursing, and no medically non urgent procedures during the first hour.

Unfortunately, my son had meconium aspiration, so all those plans got replaced with a NICU resuscitation, but he's ok so that's all that matters.

Even though the specifics didn't work out for me, I think it's good to have an ideal plan in place and then just be ready to adapt as needed.

Jbosarge85 · July 2013

At the hospital where I delivered they put your baby on your belly right after delivery wipe off and do the scoring and then let you do skin to skin for a few hours. When they were ready to give her a bath they actually did it in the room so I could watch. The only time that my DD was away from me was for maybe two hours later that night when they took for her hep B shot and her ears and eyes test. Maybe you can request the same

cbidt*sgirl · July 2013

I would call and ask what the standard procedure is for a healthy baby. I delivered at a large teaching hospital and the standard of care is delayed cord cutting, immediate skin-to-skin, and delayed procedures. Weighing etc was all done in the room after I had plenty of time snuggling. Once you know what is typical, you can ask for what you'd like on a short birth plan.

Red_Dahlia · July 2013

cbidt*sgirl:
I would call and ask what the standard procedure is for a healthy baby. I delivered at a large teaching hospital and the standard of care is delayed cord cutting, immediate skin-to-skin, and delayed procedures. Weighing etc was all done in the room after I had plenty of time snuggling. Once you know what is typical, you can ask for what you'd like on a short birth plan.

Ditto. The things that you want may actually be standard practice in your hospital. Don't just assume they take the baby away. You can call and ask (or ask when you do a tour) and dr to your dr about it. GL!

Everyusernameistaken · July 2013

Have you done a hospital tour? The hospital I delivered at did all these things as a matter of course after 'normal' birth (provided baby or mom isn't in distress etc). My OB tried to rush the initial skin-to-skin/nursing but my doula reminded me that I could ask for more time, I did and my doc was a bit annoyed (it had been a long labour, it was 3 am and she wanted to go home) but let it go.

I guess it depends on the hospital and OB, and don't forget to advocate for yourself.

Congrats and good luck!!

ETA, haha, looks like I just repeated what everyone else said. Oh, and to repeat someone else, think about getting a doula. We weren't comfortable with a homebirth and I love my Dr so a midwife wasn't an option, so a doula was a great compromise for us. Doulas greatly increase the rates of natural births and breastfeeding success. And while they can't directly advocate for you, they can remind you that YOU can advocate for yourself.

jesstellina · July 2013

Red_Dahlia:
cbidt*sgirl:
I would call and ask what the standard procedure is for a healthy baby. I delivered at a large teaching hospital and the standard of care is delayed cord cutting, immediate skin-to-skin, and delayed procedures. Weighing etc was all done in the room after I had plenty of time snuggling. Once you know what is typical, you can ask for what you'd like on a short birth plan.
Ditto. The things that you want may actually be standard practice in your hospital. Don't just assume they take the baby away. You can call and ask (or ask when you do a tour) and dr to your dr about it. GL!

Yep, all of the above. I've delivered more than 30 babies myself and been present for probably another 30, in 3 different institutions, and skin-to-skin and rooming in have always been promoted. Baby goes right to mom's chest (if she wants - surprisingly some women would prefer that baby go to the warmer), then at some point a little later, the nurse takes the baby to the warmer to be weighed and get vitals. That only takes a few minutes, and then he/she goes back to mom.

Merried_2008 · July 2013

Our hospital did not do that. They handed dd to me and let me hold her and nurse her as long as I wanted. Then the nurse bathed her right in the room! It was great.

Ready4theParty · July 2013

Our hospital was very mom-friendly as well. During labor I told every single person who came into the room that I wanted to do skin to skin immediately after. I didn't realize that the hospital almost pushed it anyways. We had a great nursing staff, who joked after DD was delivered if I still wanted to do skin to skin.

My thought is, it's my baby my rules. That also works for ILs, parents, caregivers, ect.

babywisher · July 2013

Dd was a little purple when she finally came out. The put her on me of about 30 seconds and took her to check everything thing. They were right next to me. By the time they delivered the placenta I had her back on me and they left her with us till I said they could take her to do her measurments and bath. She stayed with us for about 2.5 hours. I let them know at the beginning that I wanted her with us as much as possible. They respected that and gave us our space. I was nervous how things would go in a hospital with a natural birth and after in respect to our wishes. It went perfectly though. Good luck to you.

BrittKav · July 2013

With my last daughter, I made it clear that I wanted baby with me as much as possible. When she was born they put her on my chest, but had to take her back a few seconds later because she was turning blue. After giving her some oxygen they handed her back to me, and she nursed for a while (this was about 15 minutes after birth). I held her for a while longer, then DH held her. About an hour or so after birth I let them weigh her, and bathe and dress her. They had no problem letting me spend time cuddling her beforehand.

drcolleen · July 2013

I was a resident at the hospital were I had DD1 and an attending where I delivered DD2 (and will deliver DS) so I know the LPNs like to take the babies to the warmers, do their meds/weights/measurements then after mom is put back together give baby back tightly bundled so that they are done with their parts--- I hate it. I ask my patients what they want and it's surprising how many moms really want their babies all wiped off before they take them (we don't bathe until 4ish hours after baby is holding their own temp, there is no rush afterall). But I tell all my patients who want skin to skin to be forceful about what they want and I'll put baby on belly but if I get distracted with doing their repair they have to be strong enough to tell the nurses they aren't ready for baby to leave them yet -- as long as baby is looking good. On the other hand, if baby had meconium and weren't breathing I tell them I will be bringing baby to the warmer to suction baby then give back to mom, but generally you have some warning so can set up the situation.

I was very adamant that baby would be placed on my belly after birth and I didn't hand them off until I was ready, I think I kept them for an hour or so skin to skin and nursed them. DD1 was bathed in my room, I don't even remember DD2 going for a bath down the hall-- they probably took her for that when I was getting up to get cleaned up or something.

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