September 2015 Moms
hrossi253
member
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My mini rant about my delivering hospital.
hrossi253
member
So today at 34 weeks, I took a tour of the L&D where I am going to be delivering at. Granted, I have Tricare, so I am assigned to this hospital. I am just frustrated because they told me that I cannot walk the halls during labor, as soon as I get there, I am confined to my bed, everyone has to have continuous fetal monitoring (needed or no), and that I can only have 2 people in my room. I have to have an IV, not just a hep lock, and even though I've been seeing a high risk OB off base, (and they're saying the baby is a little small and don't know if they are going to want to induce sooner or how that's going to work) this hospital has no NICU facilities at all and just in the off chance one was needed, the baby would go, but I would have to stay. So I can't be in the shower or be on a birthing ball or any of those things, which I really wanted to do this time, as last time I was confined to bed for 3 days due to an epidural that was given waaaay to early. They told me that I can't get referred to another hospital unless I'm having problems that would require me to deliver there, and the only other choice is to switch insurance, therefore forcing me to find new OB services, and who knows what that would be like this late in the game. I'm just irritated that as a patient and mom, my delivery experience hasn't even begun yet and I feel like all my choices are being taken away. I know I won't get everything I want, but to just be told that I can't is frustrating to me when there is no medically necessary reason I shouldn't be able to. I'm going to be making a list and going back to my Dr for sure. Sorry this got so long, just needed some shoulders to vent on! 
Re: My mini rant about my delivering hospital.
Still, your hospital's policies are barbaric. I would fight them if you can't get out of it. Lots of MIL stuff sounds unnegotiable at first until you push and then find out you can waiver it or do something else, they just don't want to deal with anything non-standard so they tell you no off the bat. Not allowing birthing balls is like saying you're not allowed to bring a CD player, they can't ban them, it's your property! Get a second opinion and go to tricare with a different provider picked out and push for a referral. I think you have some kind of room to work this out, good luck!
As for not getting out of bed, I labored standing bent over next to my bed of kneeling in my bed with my arms up by the back of bed with it inclined all the way. If you can labor at home as long as possible by the time you get to the hospital walking may not be what you want to do. Once I'm that far into active labor just being able to kneel on hands and knees and rock in bed was plenty (or standing bent over beside the bed rocking). You could do both those things with an IV and monitors on your belly. I also find when I'm in the throes of labor that side lying in the Bradley position is 100% most comfortable for me so I spend the majority of my labor in bed anyway.
All this to say, don't give up hope! You could still have an awesome delivery and feel like you're not as restricted as it may seem. My biggest advice is stay home as long as possible. I was 7cm when I went in with #2 and 8cm when I went in with #3 which made for a short hospital stay.
Also I definitely second what @KYmama9286 said!! I had a little bit of time to discuss my wishes with DH and my mom before delivery since we knew I'd be delivering a preemie going to the NICU. Everything went a little nuts, but my mom kinda knew what I wanted when everything started happening. It's just one less thing you'll have to worry about when the time comes.