Skip to content
  • About
  • Contact
  • Contribute
  • Book
  • Careers
  • Podcast
  • Recommended
  • Speaking
  • All
  • Physician
  • Practice
  • Policy
  • Finance
  • Conditions
  • .edu
  • Patient
  • Meds
  • Tech
  • Social
  • Video
    • All
    • Physician
    • Practice
    • Policy
    • Finance
    • Conditions
    • .edu
    • Patient
    • Meds
    • Tech
    • Social
    • Video
    • About
    • Contact
    • Contribute
    • Book
    • Careers
    • Podcast
    • Recommended
    • Speaking

Having a baby in a hospital? Here are 10 things you must know.

Valerie A. Jones, MD
Conditions
July 20, 2017
622 Shares
Share
Tweet
Share

1. You might get sent home. If you show up pregnant with your first baby, and it turns out you aren’t 4 cm dilated yet, you will get sent home because you aren’t in active labor. Please don’t cuss out the charge nurse. Yes, you are in pain — we aren’t denying that. But, there are limited numbers of beds on labor suites, and we need to keep some open for people who will likely roll in right behind you and will deliver way before you. There are no appointments on L&D (labor and delivery), and you never know what will come in. Space and open beds are the issues, not laziness of admitting physician.

2. Limit it to two guests during delivery. More than that is just a distraction. If there is an emergency, the last thing we want to be worried about is having enough room to take care of you appropriately without people being in the way. In a true emergency about ten medical professionals will come barging in your room within seconds, and if your mom’s second cousin is standing in the way it prevents us from doing our job. On a random side note, please don’t text while you are actively pushing in labor and the head is starting to emerge. It happens WAY too often. Whatever is on that cell phone can wait until your baby is here.

3. Ask for the epidural early. If you plan to wait and see how it goes, likely you won’t have time to get an epidural before baby makes the big entrance. Murphy’s law will dictate that every pregnant patient on L & D will need one at the same time and there is usually only one anesthesiologist, who will invariably be back in the OR with a C-section tied up for half an hour. Don’t miss your chance!

4. You can have a birth plan, but please have it read as follows: I want to leave the hospital with a healthy baby and mom. Anything more than that, and we get superstitious. It’s just like the old wives tale about the full moon and people going into labor — there is no scientific evidence to back it up, but we all believe it’s true and witness it happen all the time. The longer and more detailed your birth plan, the higher the percentage likelihood you are to end up with a C-section. At least it always seems to work out that way.

It is true that you can expect to have more interventions and temporary discomforts while having a baby in the hospital as opposed to a home birth. Expect to not eat when in active labor, have monitors strapped to your stomach and frequent vital sign evaluations. In my opinion, these are small sacrifices to pay to ensure healthy baby and mom.

5. Contrary to popular belief, we love when you bring a doula to the hospital with you! They help you through your labor, make sure your needs are met and encourage you through pushing. They are an OB/GYN’s best friend!

6. Prepare to not eat food for a while. We are not doing this to be mean. We are doing this because having a baby is dangerous. At any moment, you could become a surgical patient. If you vomit and aspirate, this could be dangerous for your health. Nobody wants to have a newborn baby, aspiration pneumonia and recover from surgery all at the same time.

7. We are going to press on your abdomen/uterus after the placenta delivers. I have seen patients get downright angry about this. The reason behind it is that after the placenta comes out, the uterus can become very floppy and you can quickly lose a liter of blood. Massaging the uterus helps with the tonicity and also helps your doctor assess whether there is a problem or if more medications are needed to avoid a hemorrhage. The baby and the placenta are out, but there is still a need for assessment. You are almost done!

8. Don’t try to rush the OB who is suturing you after you tear with delivery. Episiotomies aren’t routine anymore and are typically only done when medically necessary. However, it can be very common to tear on your own with a first baby. Let your OB take their time and do it right, trust me. 10-20 more minutes of meticulous care will be well worth it in the long run, especially if you were “blessed” with a 10 lb baby.

9. Send your husband to get your ice chips. Let your nurse focus on your vital signs, evaluate the fetal monitoring and document your progress. Your husband/support person should be the one getting you the much-needed ice. Besides, it will help your partner feel useful at a time when they are often struggling with lack of control, and they want to help you in any way they can.

10. You are in very competent hands. A normal labor can turn into an emergency at any moment, even in a low-risk patient. On any given day, L&D will have a woman hemorrhage after delivery. In the next room, the newly delivered baby may not be breathing. Two doors down, a patient just had a seizure and dangerously high blood pressures as her preeclampsia progressed to eclampsia. Down the hall, a shoulder dystocia occurred. This happens when the baby’s head emerges but the shoulders are too wide to deliver, and asphyxia of the infant makes seconds feel like hours until skillful maneuvers can safely deliver the baby. I mention these scary but common scenarios because the best thing about having a baby in the hospital is that you are surrounded by scores of people that are trained to handle these exact situations and do so every single day.

Valerie A. Jones is a obstetrician-gynecologist who blogs at OB Doctor Mom.

Image credit: Shutterstock.com

Prev

Are patients really the problem?

July 20, 2017 Kevin 2
…
Next

We need a more comprehensive approach to investigating medical mistakes

July 20, 2017 Kevin 31
…

Tagged as: OB/GYN

Post navigation

< Previous Post
Are patients really the problem?
Next Post >
We need a more comprehensive approach to investigating medical mistakes

More by Valerie A. Jones, MD

  • Where have all the doctors gone?

    Valerie A. Jones, MD
  • The reason so many physicians are retiring early

    Valerie A. Jones, MD
  • When depersonalization is necessary in medicine

    Valerie A. Jones, MD

Related Posts

  • Don’t judge when trainees use dating apps in the hospital

    Austin Perlmutter, MD
  • Why the baby formula shortage happened

    Divya Srinivasan and Tejas Sekhar
  • 5 challenges of working in a county hospital

    Pranav Sharma, MD
  • Hospital administrators thinking about no-cost treatment which really helps patients

    John Corsino, DPT
  • What do hospital discounts really mean?

    Robert S. Berry, MD
  • Redefining what a hospital library should be

    Abeer Arain, MD, MPH

More in Conditions

  • Proposed USPSTF guideline update: Advocating for earlier breast cancer screening at age 40

    Hoag Memorial Hospital Presbyterian
  • The rising threat of lung cancer in Asian American female nonsmokers

    Alice S. Y. Lee, MD
  • Urgent innovation needed to address growing mental health crisis among children and families

    Monika Roots, MD
  • The importance of listening in health care: a mother’s journey advocating for children with chronic Lyme disease

    Cheryl Lazarus
  • The unjust reality of racial disparities in pediatric kidney transplants

    Lien Morcate
  • The surprising medical mystery of a “good” Hitler: How a rescued kitten revealed a rare movement disorder

    Teresella Gondolo, MD
  • Most Popular

  • Past Week

    • The power of coaching for physicians: transforming thoughts, changing lives

      Kim Downey, PT | Conditions
    • The hidden factor in physician burnout: How the climate crisis is contributing to the erosion of well-being

      Elizabeth Cerceo, MD | Physician
    • Physician entrepreneurs offer hope for burned out doctors

      Cindy Rubin, MD | Physician
    • We need a new Hippocratic Oath that puts patient autonomy first

      Jeffrey A. Singer, MD | Physician
    • Boxing legends Tyson and Foreman: powerful lessons for a resilient and evolving health care future

      Harvey Castro, MD, MBA | Physician
    • Is chaos in health care leading us towards socialized medicine? How physician burnout is a catalyst.

      Howard Smith, MD | Physician
  • Past 6 Months

    • Breaking point: the 5 reasons American doctors are dreaming of walking away from medicine

      Amol Shrikhande, MD | Physician
    • It’s time to replace the 0 to 10 pain intensity scale with a better measure

      Mark Sullivan, MD and Jane Ballantyne, MD | Conditions
    • “Is your surgeon really skilled? The hidden threat to public safety in medicine.

      Gene Uzawa Dorio, MD | Physician
    • Unveiling the hidden damage: the secretive world of medical boards

      Alan Lindemann, MD | Physician
    • Breaking the cycle of racism in health care: a call for anti-racist action

      Tomi Mitchell, MD | Policy
    • Revolutionize your practice: the value-based care model that reduces physician burnout

      Chandravadan Patel, MD | Physician
  • Recent Posts

    • Empowering Black nurses for lasting change [PODCAST]

      The Podcast by KevinMD | Podcast
    • Master time management with 7 productivity strategies for optimal results

      Farzana Hoque, MD | Physician
    • Proposed USPSTF guideline update: Advocating for earlier breast cancer screening at age 40

      Hoag Memorial Hospital Presbyterian | Conditions
    • The rising threat of lung cancer in Asian American female nonsmokers

      Alice S. Y. Lee, MD | Conditions
    • The tragic story of Mr. G: a painful journey towards understanding suicide

      William Lynes, MD | Physician
    • Healing trauma and reconnecting: Unmasking the impact of dissociation [PODCAST]

      The Podcast by KevinMD | Podcast

Subscribe to KevinMD and never miss a story!

Get free updates delivered free to your inbox.


Find jobs at
Careers by KevinMD.com

Search thousands of physician, PA, NP, and CRNA jobs now.

Learn more

View 2 Comments >

Founded in 2004 by Kevin Pho, MD, KevinMD.com is the web’s leading platform where physicians, advanced practitioners, nurses, medical students, and patients share their insight and tell their stories.

Social

  • Like on Facebook
  • Follow on Twitter
  • Connect on Linkedin
  • Subscribe on Youtube
  • Instagram

CME Spotlights

From MedPage Today

Latest News

  • Novel Anti-HER2 Drugs 'Impressive' in Advanced Biliary Cancer
  • What Was Tied to Lower Long COVID Risk?
  • Chemo-Free Approach Works in Subset of Patients With HER2+ Early Breast Cancer
  • Two-Drug Combo Wins for Refractory Gout
  • First-in-Class Sjogren's Drug Passes Mid-Stage Test

Meeting Coverage

  • Novel Anti-HER2 Drugs 'Impressive' in Advanced Biliary Cancer
  • Chemo-Free Approach Works in Subset of Patients With HER2+ Early Breast Cancer
  • Two-Drug Combo Wins for Refractory Gout
  • First-in-Class Sjogren's Drug Passes Mid-Stage Test
  • Pricey Drug Combo Boosts PFS in First-Line Advanced Ovarian Cancer
  • Most Popular

  • Past Week

    • The power of coaching for physicians: transforming thoughts, changing lives

      Kim Downey, PT | Conditions
    • The hidden factor in physician burnout: How the climate crisis is contributing to the erosion of well-being

      Elizabeth Cerceo, MD | Physician
    • Physician entrepreneurs offer hope for burned out doctors

      Cindy Rubin, MD | Physician
    • We need a new Hippocratic Oath that puts patient autonomy first

      Jeffrey A. Singer, MD | Physician
    • Boxing legends Tyson and Foreman: powerful lessons for a resilient and evolving health care future

      Harvey Castro, MD, MBA | Physician
    • Is chaos in health care leading us towards socialized medicine? How physician burnout is a catalyst.

      Howard Smith, MD | Physician
  • Past 6 Months

    • Breaking point: the 5 reasons American doctors are dreaming of walking away from medicine

      Amol Shrikhande, MD | Physician
    • It’s time to replace the 0 to 10 pain intensity scale with a better measure

      Mark Sullivan, MD and Jane Ballantyne, MD | Conditions
    • “Is your surgeon really skilled? The hidden threat to public safety in medicine.

      Gene Uzawa Dorio, MD | Physician
    • Unveiling the hidden damage: the secretive world of medical boards

      Alan Lindemann, MD | Physician
    • Breaking the cycle of racism in health care: a call for anti-racist action

      Tomi Mitchell, MD | Policy
    • Revolutionize your practice: the value-based care model that reduces physician burnout

      Chandravadan Patel, MD | Physician
  • Recent Posts

    • Empowering Black nurses for lasting change [PODCAST]

      The Podcast by KevinMD | Podcast
    • Master time management with 7 productivity strategies for optimal results

      Farzana Hoque, MD | Physician
    • Proposed USPSTF guideline update: Advocating for earlier breast cancer screening at age 40

      Hoag Memorial Hospital Presbyterian | Conditions
    • The rising threat of lung cancer in Asian American female nonsmokers

      Alice S. Y. Lee, MD | Conditions
    • The tragic story of Mr. G: a painful journey towards understanding suicide

      William Lynes, MD | Physician
    • Healing trauma and reconnecting: Unmasking the impact of dissociation [PODCAST]

      The Podcast by KevinMD | Podcast

MedPage Today Professional

An Everyday Health Property Medpage Today
  • Terms of Use | Disclaimer
  • Privacy Policy
  • DMCA Policy
All Content © KevinMD, LLC
Site by Outthink Group

Having a baby in a hospital? Here are 10 things you must know.
2 comments

Comments are moderated before they are published. Please read the comment policy.

Loading Comments...