Abbott Northwestern question?

yoyo12345 · June 2014

Sorry if this is a dumb question, but is the Mother Baby Care Center just the name of labor & delivery at Abbott Northwestern, or is it a separate facility? I'm having a hard time telling from the website...??

I just found out that due to high risk I'll need to deliver at Abbott Northwestern with a planned c-section, so trying to get some information. I had planned to go to St Joe's with midwives for a natural birth, so have had to start over with my research. I'm confused as to whether I'll be delivering in the nice new facility I keep hearing about called the Mother Baby Center, or if that is something different from Abbot Northwestern.

MorganneMpls · June 2014

Yes, the Mother Baby Center is the maternity unit at Abbott Northwestern.

yoyo12345 · June 2014

Thank you! I wasn't sure if it was a separate facility or what. Glad I've got that cleared up!

yoyo12345 · June 2014

Does anyone know, do they let you bring an ipod/headphones, or choose music during a c-section there? I imagine it'd keep me calmer, but not sure if they'd allow that in the OR?

JGY · June 2014

Those types of things are typically up to the discretion of the physicans involved, and very often fall to the anesthesiologist (especially the headphones question). While you likely won't meet your anesthesiologist until the day of, I'd certainly start the conversation with your OB now. Good luck!

yoyo12345 · June 2014

Good to know, I'll definitely ask about it.

One more: anyone know if a doula would be allowed in the OR in addition to my OH? Or do I only get one person? I'm mainly wondering in case baby has to be taken away and OH wants to go with them, but I REALLY don't want to be on my own at any time during the procedure or recovery.

Hilee18 · June 2014

So just as a head's up it's "at" Abbott, but across the street from the Piper Building, so don't park at Abbott I made the mistake on my first trip to the Maternal Assessment Center.

Are you planning on doing a tour? I think all of your requests are reasonable and would check with their policies.

yoyo12345 · June 2014

Good to know, thanks. Yes, I plan to do a tour in a couple weeks. I'd go sooner, but OH has been traveling for work and I want him to come. We just haven't been able to get over there yet.

JGY · June 2014

Same as my response to the headphones question, the matter of how many support people are allowed in the OR is typically up to the Anesthesiologist. Discuss your wishes early and often with your OB and there's a (small) chance that they'll advocate for you on the day of surgery.

If the situation arises that they will not allow both your OH and your Doula in the OR for the surgery, there is typically the option to allow OH to go with the baby (if necessary) and have the Doula "Swap places" at that point so that she comes in to support you and you are not left alone. This is pretty common practice. Your OH and Doula would both suit up at the same time and the Doula waits just outside the OR until invited in.

Good luck!

(I was successful in getting both my partner and my Doula in the OR - and my Midwife, as well - but this was after over 36 hours of labor and I think I had the entire floor rooting for me, so they were all pretty bummed when it ended in a C/S. I'm pretty sure that a number of them spoke to the anesthesiologist on my behalf. I did not birth at Abbott though, so I can't speak specifically to their policies or practice.)

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