“The pregnant young woman looked into the doctor’s kind eyes. He reminded her vaguely of her father - someone who knew how to take charge. “I’d rather not be there when it happens,” she stated flatly. He smiled knowingly behind his wire-rimmed glasses. “I’ll see what I can do.”
Giving birth years ago
This was the scene occurring 30 to 40 years ago, and as recently as 25 years ago, all across the country. The rule, not the exception, was to totally medicate the laboring mother, many times with amnesia-producing drugs such as scopolamine, a drug commonly associated with “twilight sleep” and hallucinations. The mother not only had to cope with unfamiliar surroundings and her body behaving as if it had a mind of its own; she was also forced to deal with mind-boggling images and the lack of control over her thought processes. Because she was so heavily medicated, the mother had no urge to push, and even when she was conscious enough to attempt a normal delivery, her muscles were now so relaxed that the doctor often found forceps necessary to encourage the baby to descend down the birth canal and into his new world. After the delivery, the newborn was whisked away to the hospital’s “concentration camp” (nursery), not even realizing that his loving parents were anxiously awaiting his arrival, rather than being just another set of screaming lungs. A rude awakening - to be delivered out of a warm, cozy, living environment he had grown accustomed to into a crisp, white, sterilized holding area.
Feeling woozie
When his mother had finally slept off all the medication, approximately 12 to 24 hours later, she was handed a baby whom she did not emotionally recognize. Her maternal instincts had been greatly confused, and, indeed, she did not even remember giving birth. In fact, the nurse must tell her to feel her empty abdomen as proof of the arrival of her child...this child.
Where's Dad?
And where was the father during all this time? He had been herded down the corridor to a waiting room designed especially for nervous fathers-to-be to pace the floor, chain smoke, and choke down pots of coffee. Allowing the father to peek into the sacred labor room was unthinkable. Fathers, siblings and all others were forbidden in this isolated environment of sterility and regulations.
This incredulous, though accurate, account of a labor and delivery is a far cry from what the childbearing generation now relates to as a birthing experience. For the new parents of today, it is difficult for them to realize just how many changes have developed during the past few years. But a talk with yesterday’s mothers will confirm the details of this brutal encounter with birth. They remember, or perhaps should we say, they remember not remembering.
We’d love to hear from you…whether you have already delivered your baby, or you are still pregnant and waiting for that special little bundle to arrive.
What is important to you regarding your labor and birth? What special choices do you want to have when you deliver?
Or, if you have already delivered, what was so special to you that you revisit it in your mind over and over again?
What was simply the best? What would you change the next time you have a baby? I encourage you to take part in this blog and share your thoughts and feelings. I’ll look forward to hearing from you!
Pam Hood, RN, is the perinatal education coordinator and lactation nurse specialist. She can be reached at 217 258-2229, or reached via email at phood@sblhs.org
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Comments
KTaylor
Having delivered our daughter in March of last year, I've had recent experience with the wonderful Labor and Delivery suites at SBL. As a nervous 1st time parents we were unsure what to expect when reporting at 7 a.m. for my induction. Upon entering we met our 2 L & D nurses and instantly felt at ease, and never felt ignorant while asking our million and one questions. They were both with us from that 7 a.m. start until we had our baby girl at 5:06 p.m. that evening. It was so nice to settle into our room that morning and know that once she arrived, we wouldn't be risked to another room. It was so great to be able to have plenty of room for our family to welcome her to the world and for us to get up and walk around during the labor process. Our every need was met and every question was answered. Dr. Benson was great and had such a calming prescence during the delivery process. The one thing that I would change is the visitor policy for children. While we had no siblings to welcome her, we did have nieces and nephews that were just as anxious to meet their new cousin as a sibling would be and they were turned away from our room. While we do understand the need for some policie's, there should NOT be a no children other than siblings policy, the policy should be changed to allow family members children to visit, but just for a specified time limit. We had several family members comment that they'd known people to deliver at St. A's and Union with no such policy in place.
Pam Hood
Thanks so much for your comments and for checking in on the blog. At Sarah Bush's Women and Children's Center we pride ourselves in the excellent care our nurses and physicians provide to patients. I appreciate your concerns about our visitation policy regarding children who are not siblings. Due to concerns about strains of flu and other illnesses, our policy has changed several times since 1998 when I joined the Sarah Bush family. Those changes came about in our efforts to keep moms, babies and even visitors healthy and safe. Our administrators are constantly reviewing the latest evidence based research regarding this, as well as recommendations from the Illinois Department of Public Health. Of course, we are always interested in the opinions of our patients and their families. I will forward your comments to Administration for their consideration. Thanks again! I hope you'll check in here to read about other issues and to put in your two cents!
Cblankenbaker
We had our baby on Jan. 1st at Sarah Bush, He was the New years baby of 2012 at the hospital. I went to be induced on friday and did not have my son until sunday. Our stay at the hospital was very long and I had MANY different nurses in the period of my stay. Out of all the different nurses and staff we encountered during our stay, we never had one complaint about any of them. They were all very friendly and helpful. It was also very relaxing and nice to be able to stay in one room for our 3 day stay. The rooms were also large, quiet, and convenient for our visitors who came to see us once my son had arrived. My only complaint would be that my son did not receive anything for being the first baby of '12 born at Sarah Bush. All other hospitals give their New Year's Baby gifts of some kind whether it be savings bonds, baskets of goodies, diapers, gift cards, or scholarships; hospitals such as union give all of the above and/or more. We left the hospital being told and under the impression that he would receive gifts through the mail but he never has received the first thing. Everyone asks what he got for being the first baby and when I tell them "nothing" they are just as shocked as I was because they thought Sarah Bush would have given him something for being their 2012 New Years baby.
Patty Peterson
I am so sorry you haven't received a gift from SBL for having the first baby of the New Year. It was an oversight on my (Public Relations) behalf. You will be receiving it soon. Thank you for your patience and thank you for choosing Sarah Bush Lincoln.
KC
Pam, How long should you breastfed and what are the benefits? Thank you.
Pam Hood
KC, thanks for asking those important questions. As the lactation nurse specialist at Sarah Bush Lincoln, I can tell you that expectant mothers often wonder that very thing. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, it is recommended that new mothers breastfeed their infants exclusively for the first six months of life. That means that breast milk is the only nutrition the baby receives. Some baby doctors do recommend beginning solids slowly between four and six months of age. Once solids are begun, the Academy recommends that mothers continue to breastfeed for the entire first year, and beyond that if they would like. Benefits? Oh, my, we could write a book – there are so many! Here are just a few: For the baby It’s perfectly designed for your baby and easily digestable. Breastfeeding promotes bonding between Mom and Baby. Breastfeeding satisfies your baby’s emotional needs. Breast milk is always warm and ready for your baby…no preparation is needed. Breast milk contains immunities to diseases and aids in the development of your baby's immune system. For the mother Breastfeeding helps the mother’s uterus shrink faster. Breastfeeding helps prevent postpartum hemorrhage. Breastfeeding decreases the mother’s risk of breast cancer. Breastfeeding helps the mother lose weight after giving birth. Breastfeeding decrease the mother’s risk of developing osteoporosis later in life. Those are just a few! If you would like more information regarding breastfeeding your baby, the “Feed Me, I’m Yours!” Breastfeeding Seminar is designed just for you. Held monthly on a Friday night from 7 to 9:15 PM in the Education Center at Sarah Bush Lincoln Health Center, it is part of the “Oh, Baby!” Prepared Childbirth Education Program and is free. The next date is this Friday, January 20th. Pre-registration is required and birth partners are welcome to attend as well. To register or for more information, please contact Pam Hood at 217.258. or 348.BABY (2229) or email her at phood@sblhs.org.
SWS
I am five months pregnant and decided not to take childbirth classes this time - this is my third baby. A friend of mine is in the "Oh, Baby!" classes and told me something about a kick chart. Can you tell me about that? Thanks.
Pam Hood
Part One: SWS, Kick Count Charting is a method we use at Sarah Bush Lincoln with our patients. You can assess your unborn baby every day,assisting us in helping you to have a healthy pregnancy and baby. If you are expecting and you are like most women, you worry constantly that something might be wrong. What if the baby’s umbilical cord is tightly around his neck? What if he goes into fetal distress during labor? What if she has that strange condition that your dad’s cousin had? There seem to be so many things that might cause a crisis during pregnancy, labor and delivery. It’s enough to drive you crazy! Luckily, there are some things you can do to ensure your baby has the very best chance for a long healthy life. One of the most important techniques you can use to confirm that your baby is “hanging in there” in utero on a daily basis is called “kick count charting.” For several months your baby has been twisting, turning, stretching, rolling and kicking. You may feel most of these gymnastics. Your baby already has a personality and seems to like a particular position or time of day to be active. An old wives’ tale states that your baby will settle down and stop moving during the last few days or weeks of intrauterine life in preparation for labor and birth. This is not true.While the baby’s movements may change – for instance, you may not get the giant “wallops” you had gotten earlier in the pregnancy, but you’ll feel rolling and wave-like motions – they should not stop for long periods of time.This is not normal, and your physician should be alerted.
Pam Hood
Part Two: SWS, there may be times when the baby seems to be sparing in his movements, and doesn’t kick much. There are many reasons why the baby may take abreak. But this could also indicate that your baby is in distress, and must be delivered by emergency cesarean section. That is why it is extremely important that you assess your baby’s movements every day until the day you deliver by using a kick count chart. Reasons your baby may not be moving as he normally does may include: • Your baby is sleeping. Research shows that babes-in-utero sleep for periods of 20 to 45 minutes at a time. This is normal behavior. • Your baby has been lulled into a quiet alert state by your activity. When you walk or move around, the baby is rocked into calmness, and will be unlikely to move much. We call this playing opossum. That little stinker is just trying to scare you a little, and IT WORKS! • There is a problem in utero, and the baby is signaling this. Problems may include accidents of the placenta, such as placental abruption or intrauterine placental insufficiency and accidents of the cord, such as a true knot, the cord looped tightly around the neck, etc. There is no way of knowing which of these reasons is causing your baby’s lack of movement. Therefore, you cannot take a chance with your baby’s well-being by not taking the decreased movement seriously. Remember, anytime there is a problem with the placenta or the umbilical cord, there is probably going to be a problem with the baby. The placenta and cord are your baby’s lifelines. According to the Perinatal Guidelines of the AmericanAcademy of Pediatrics and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, an expectant mother who is at least 28 weeks pregnant should be able to feel 10 movements in two hours or less. Any time you have concerns about your baby not moving enough, you should call your health care provider and inform them. We take those concerns very seriously! In Oh, Baby! classes – either the Five-week Comprehensive Session or the all day XTREME! childbirth class – expectant mothers receive a Kick Count Chart that they are instructed to use from 28 weeks until the day they deliver. Keeping track of your baby’s movements can help you identify any changes that may indicate a problem.
Pam Hood
Part Three: SKS, At the Women and Children's Center, we take your concerns about your baby's movements very seriously. If you report a decrease or lack of fetal movement, monitoring your baby either in the doctor's office or at the Women and Children's Center is usually the next step to ensure your baby is doing just fine. Your doctor is your partner in working toward having a healthy birth and baby. Help us help you best by educating yourself about important information like kick count charting. If you would like a free copy of our Kick Count Chart with instructions mailed to you, please call me, Perinatal Educator Pam Hood at 217.258. or 348.BABY (2229) or email me at phood@sblhs.org to make your request. I'll be happy to send this important material out to you right away. If you are currently pregnant or have had a baby in the past year or two, I'd love to hear from you! Did you use a Kick Count Chart while you were pregnant? Did your doctor talk with you about counting your baby’s movements? Did you ever have a day that you were worried because you didn’t think your baby was moving enough? What did you do? What kinds of things seemed to make your baby increase his movements? What time of day did your baby move the most – at night when you wereready to go to sleep or right after breakfast or lunch? I’ll look forward to hearing from you!
JKL
I am having a baby at Sarah Bush Lincoln Health Center in February. Does the hospital still have a way to request a social security number for my baby so I don't have to go down to their office? Thanks.
Pam Hood
One of our staff members in the Women's and Children's Center will review the birth certificate information with new parents and help file it with the state. New parents are able to request a Social Security number through Sarah Bush Lincoln. You will be asked if you want to request one when reviewing the birth certificate information. The Social Security card with the number will be mailed to your home. When requesting the number this way, new parents don’t have to worry about going to the Social Security office to get it done. It will take about three to four months to receive it in the mail. If requesting it in person from the Social Security office, it will take about the same amount of time. Please feel free to contact us at the Women and Children’s Center at 217.258. or 348.2297 if you have further questions about your baby’s Social Security number or the birth certificate.
NDW
What is SBL's policy regarding the mother providing clothes (sleepers/gowns) and receiving blankets for her newborn while in the hospital?