Hospital Practices
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In a message dated 8/12/01 12:15:25 PM Pacific Daylight Time,
shyrley@... writes:
<< s this standard practise in county hospitals? Is there
any thing else I should watch out for when having a
baby in an American hospital?
Sigh. >>
Yes there are other things you should watch out for.
Some hospitals are giving Hep B vacc right after
birth. Find out hospital policy about rooming in.
You might want to look into eye drops and Vit K
shot. They may also do the test where they prick
the baby's foot, can't think of the name of that, but
its really not necessary to do until your milk comes
in around 5-7 days after birth I believe (even if your
milk comes in day 3 still wait a few more days).
Lastly, what I did not know, even though I had
said breastfeeding, no formula, they managed
to slip a bottle of water to my dd. Who would of
known? I had three planned homebirths, with the
first I wound up in the hospital after 26 hrs of labor.
I had a nurse that I couldn't stand telling me that
I was too loud, telling me that I had to sign the
episiotomy form just in case, to which I said that
the dr. better not cut me and she said that he might
have to and I said he better not do it, as I am
refusing to sign the form. Turns out I dont' tear,
even delivering 9 plus # babies. It was annoying to
say that least to have my child in the hospital. Being
a more experienced mom (now) I would never go
to the hospital in my circumstances, as there was
no emergency, only a tired mama and a sick
midwife who had just gotten home from England
two days before. I kept my baby with me as long
as I could, never let her go until she started crying
in the middle of the night and I couldn't get her
back to sleep. They took her from me (I had no
one there to care for her at midnight, she had
been sleeping in my bed with me, I swear I
dont' think that anyone knew that). When I
woke at 4 am I demanded my baby back and
have felt guilty ever since (thats when they gave
her the water and I only found that out when a
nurse accidentally said something about it to
me and I had a fit--much to my dh's dismay--
that she was successfully breastfeeding and did
not need any supplements including water) that they
took my baby for those four hours she was alone!
Sandra mentioned the birth plan, a great book for
putting one of those together is called A Good
Birth, A Safe Birth.
Good luck,
Kathy
shyrley@... writes:
<< s this standard practise in county hospitals? Is there
any thing else I should watch out for when having a
baby in an American hospital?
Sigh. >>
Yes there are other things you should watch out for.
Some hospitals are giving Hep B vacc right after
birth. Find out hospital policy about rooming in.
You might want to look into eye drops and Vit K
shot. They may also do the test where they prick
the baby's foot, can't think of the name of that, but
its really not necessary to do until your milk comes
in around 5-7 days after birth I believe (even if your
milk comes in day 3 still wait a few more days).
Lastly, what I did not know, even though I had
said breastfeeding, no formula, they managed
to slip a bottle of water to my dd. Who would of
known? I had three planned homebirths, with the
first I wound up in the hospital after 26 hrs of labor.
I had a nurse that I couldn't stand telling me that
I was too loud, telling me that I had to sign the
episiotomy form just in case, to which I said that
the dr. better not cut me and she said that he might
have to and I said he better not do it, as I am
refusing to sign the form. Turns out I dont' tear,
even delivering 9 plus # babies. It was annoying to
say that least to have my child in the hospital. Being
a more experienced mom (now) I would never go
to the hospital in my circumstances, as there was
no emergency, only a tired mama and a sick
midwife who had just gotten home from England
two days before. I kept my baby with me as long
as I could, never let her go until she started crying
in the middle of the night and I couldn't get her
back to sleep. They took her from me (I had no
one there to care for her at midnight, she had
been sleeping in my bed with me, I swear I
dont' think that anyone knew that). When I
woke at 4 am I demanded my baby back and
have felt guilty ever since (thats when they gave
her the water and I only found that out when a
nurse accidentally said something about it to
me and I had a fit--much to my dh's dismay--
that she was successfully breastfeeding and did
not need any supplements including water) that they
took my baby for those four hours she was alone!
Sandra mentioned the birth plan, a great book for
putting one of those together is called A Good
Birth, A Safe Birth.
Good luck,
Kathy