Preparing For Birth |

The Day of Delivery

You will be escorted to a birth suite. You will be asked to dress in a hospital gown and get into the bed.

The nurse will:

• Place monitors on your stomach to check you and your baby
• Ask questions about your medical history
• Explain procedures and events of the day
• Have you sign an anesthesia consent form
• Have you sign a consent for treatment if you have not already done so
• Take your vital signs: temperature, pulse, blood pressure, breathing rate, etc.
• Start your IV and give any medications ordered by your doctor
• Discuss how you want to manage your pain in labor and birth
• Explain the pain rating scale for evaluating your level of pain

The nurse or her assistant may carry out any of the following, as ordered by your doctor:

• Shave your surgical area
• Give you an enema

You will have a nurse to take care of you while in labor. Each nurse has no more than two patients in labor at a time. She will keep your doctor informed of your labor progress. She will check on you frequently; she will not be with you constantly unless your condition makes it necessary. Once you are ready for the pushing stage, you will have a nurse dedicated solely to you.

Children may take part in the birth with your doctor’s consent. Children attending the birth must have a nonparent support person with them.

Sometimes moving to an operating suite is required for a vaginal or cesarean delivery of a baby and for tubal ligations. After changing into the provided attire, two of your support persons over the age of 14 may attend the birth of your baby in the operating suite.

After birth, your baby will be placed under a warmer and attended by a nurse and a respiratory therapist. A nursery nurse will assess your baby by:

• Obtaining weight, length, and head size
• Giving a vitamin K injection to help blood-clotting mechanisms to remain normal
• Place an antibiotic ointment in your baby’s eyes
• Check blood sugar by doing a heel stick

After the delivery is complete, you will be moved to a stretcher and given your baby to hold. This time offers a chance to put your baby to the breast for the first feeding. You will be moved to the recovery room and your baby will be transferred to the transition nursery on the third floor. Your support person and family may go with the nursery nurse to view your baby in the transition nursery.

When you are finished recovering, you will be taken to a mother-baby room on the third, fourth, or fifth floor. Your baby will then be brought to you. Here you can share the news of your baby’s birth with your family and friends.

Babies who have problems adjusting may be transferred to the transition nursery or to one of our special care nurseries. These are the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) and the Intermediate Care Nursery, also known as the ITR. The NICU is designed and equipped for sick or premature infants who need constant medical and nursing care. The ITR is a unit for babies who are not sick enough to be in the NICU but still need special procedures or medication or to be closely watched.

Look to your mother-baby nurse to answer any questions and help with any emotional needs.