Should maternity wards limit visiting times?

[Lilsia]

Yeah, it's quite unusual to find OB/GYNs in solo practice doing all of their own deliveries any more. Most are part of a group so they can cover for each other. I had a primary OB/GYN but saw the others once during my pregnancy so I would have met them in case they were on call when I delivered.

The ones in this area do belong to a "group" but you still use your main doctor for all of the visits and delivery. The only way you would have one of the other doctors is if your's happen to be on vacation or had an emergency. Doctor's skills vary, and I would not be happy if the doctor that I chose because of her skills and record of successful births did not delivery my baby and handed me off to maybe someone who was not as experienced. This is my baby's life we are talking about.

 

[Lilsia]

They want to turn the "birthing suites" (L&D rooms), and get the moms moved to the postpartum floor. That particular hospital has 19 L&D rooms, several dedicated ORs, and somewhere around 50 single postpartum rooms. They deliver about 9000 babies/yr. My understanding is that they have eased up a bit in recent years in the main maternity floor, as they have opened a midwifery practice onsite to handle births that are determined to go natural. Still, the pitocin flows pretty freely.

I can see that. Our local hospitals have turned all of the rooms into both L&D and postpartum. So you just stay in the same room the whole time. I can see if they have to move you.

 

[Bella the Ball 360]

They absolutely should limit. I told the nurse to tell my visitors leave at the end of visiting hours. LOL she tried but was not strong enough and they stayed. It was torture. Giving birth no matter what some might say is not a walk in the park....I did not want to spend time with people I wanted to sleep and hold my baby...with just my immediate family. If it sounds unkind then people need to be more understanding.

 

[EveDallas]

I can’t believe that there are still hospitals with shared rooms! How is that not a violation of HIPAA? When I had my second the hospital had 90% private rooms, a few 2 person rooms and a few 4 person rooms. I was placed in the last private room and after about 30 min realized the AC wasn’t working and it was 100° outside. When I told the nurse(who was nasty) she said oh well, you can suck it up or move to a shared room. I called my DR at his office and told him to sign my release papers because I was leaving. He called the nurses station on another line while on the phone with me and ripped this nurse apart, made her move another patient and put me in another private room. I would never and will never share a hospital room.

So you pulled the special snowflake card and some other woman had to move because you thought you were more special? Ok then.

 

[PollyannaMom]

The ones in this area do belong to a "group" but you still use your main doctor for all of the visits and delivery. The only way you would have one of the other doctors is if your's happen to be on vacation or had an emergency. Doctor's skills vary, and I would not be happy if the doctor that I chose because of her skills and record of successful births did not delivery my baby and handed me off to maybe someone who was not as experienced. This is my baby's life we are talking about.

I just don't see how we can expect one person to available 24-7. Babies come on their own schedules. What if two of your chosen doctor's other patients just had their babies - one after the other, with complicated labors? I think I'd rather be handed off to a well-rested partner than with "my" doctor who was already exhausted.

 

[Lilsia]

I just don't see how we can expect one person to available 24-7. Babies come on their own schedules. What if two of your chosen doctor's other patients just had their babies - one after the other, with complicated labors? I think I'd rather be handed off to a well-rested partner than with "my" doctor who was already exhausted.

I said that most doctors do have a back up for emergencies. With my doctor being an OBGYN, not all of her patients are pregnant and the ones that are, are not delivering at the same time. That would actually be rare to have 2 patients having a baby at the exact same time. And coming in at all hours is part of the job. My doctor only had office visits a few days a week and did not work a 9-5 so she had plenty of down time to make up for the middle of the night deliveries. The doctors don't sit there with you for your labor. The nurse calls them when you are ready to push. They are there less then an hour in most cases. Emergency C-sections are the exception, but they get those done pretty fast too. The scheduled C-sections are at the doctor's choosing. You can do as you please, as everyone does. My experience was different. I built a relationship with my OBGYN years before I had babies. She knew me and when I called saying there was something wrong(not during a pregnancy) she had me come right in, not make an appointment. I had to have emergency surgery, which she did. I don't see building a relationship with your doctor as a bad thing.

 

[disykat]

I think it's perfectly reasonable to understand that one doctor is not going to be available at all hours. Doctors are allowed to have a life outside of work. Neither of my children came when MY doctor was on call and that's just fine with me. The first one was someone I had never met, the second one was a partner I had met briefly. I grew up the daughter of a small town doctor who spent most of his career being on call 24/7. I wouldn't wish that on anyone.

 

[mjkacmom]

My first was delivered by a doctor in the practice, but not my doctor (there were 3). The next 2 were delivered by my doctor but they were induced. My twins were delivered by my doctor and the hospital on call doctor (needed 2), and after she sent me to the hospital directly from my appointment, she canceled all of her afternoon appointments and came to the hospital to deliver them.

 

[design_mom]

I'm torn on this. I have never delivered a baby (both of mine were adopted as older infants/toddlers). I have visited a few people in the hospital after births, but only when I was invited.

I do think that some of the posters on this thread ought to cut visitors some slack (the ones who are accusing the visitors of only thinking of themselves and their desire to see/hold the new baby and not the well-being of the mother and infant.) Obviously, if you say you don't want visitors and people still insist on showing up, then that's rude. But, aside from maybe very close family, I can't think of anybody's baby I was that keen to see. I went more as a show of friendship/support in celebration of their big day. I know I, for one, would have been just as happy to come see the baby at a later time (or not.) I do remember one situation where the FATHER specifically invited us to come to the hospital, and I'm not sure the MOTHER was crazy about us being there... but, in my opinion, that's not my fault. He definitely should have checked with his wife before issuing invitations, but we were invited. We made it a quick visit and left.

Also, I'm not sure that it's fair to generalize that mothers would prefer that visitors wait till they're home. My sister has specifically said that she preferred to get visitors in the hospital, rather than in the first month that she was home. In the hospital, people generally kept their visits short, and she didn't feel like she had to play the hostess and offer coffee, or look like she made an effort to look presentable, etc. She felt people's expectations were lower when they visited at the hospital.

 

[mousefan73]

No. A grown **** woman, who isn't sick, can decide her own visiting hours.

Then go home. In a hospital setting others work on their behalf and should have then the right to make decisions on work processes and these at times involve having to restrict visiting hours if it impacts their work. A hospital is not a hotel.

 

[mousefan73]

The C-section thing does not make sense to me. How would it be turning over faster if a woman that has a traditional birth is usually discharged in a day, but C- sections stay at least 3-4. You would think it would be the opposite. I know hospitals are a business, but even they need to remember first do no harm. That is one of the things that I looked into long before I got pregnant when I was looking for an OBGYN, her C-section rate. I asked her many questions about how she does her work. It is a shame that hospitals put any kind of pressure on doctors. They should decide what is best for their patients.

One really needs to look at the statistics. One can assume that the posh hospital is where women go to pay and deliver an induced delivery. It is not unheard of to induce ( schedule) a birth at a convenience. Or for women who are too posh to push. I know woman who chose to have a C-section. So it’s also safe to assume that if you can afford these extras you’re gonna be paying for a suite.

 

[mjkacmom]

One really needs to look at the statistics. One can assume that the posh hospital is where women go to pay and deliver an induced delivery. It is not unheard of to induce ( schedule) a birth at a convenience. Or for women who are too posh to push. I know woman who chose to have a C-section. So it’s also safe to assume that if you can afford these extras you’re gonna be paying for a suite.

You can’t just induce without a medical reason (and I was induced 3 times). You have to prove it was necessary to the insurance companies. I know of one woman who had a c/s because she was afraid of labor, she needed a letter from a psychiatrist.