You might think of giving birth as a natural, joyous thing, but modern hospital deliveries can be anything but stress-free if you aren’t careful. The incidence of hospital-related infections has skyrocketed, and more women than ever are being forced into unnecessary caesarian section deliveries. Unfortunately, it’s up to you and your loved ones to look out for your best interests while you’re in the hospital. Read on for more advice on staying safe and healthy during your delivery.
Wash Your Hands!
Hospitals are, at their heart, places where sick people go. Consequently, you’re exposed to tons of new germs from the moment you check in to give birth. At the same time, because your body is under the stress of delivery, you’re more susceptible to different infectious agents than you are under normal circumstances. Therefore, it’s crucial that you ensure that any hospital staff member working with you follows personal hygiene protocol. Don’t be afraid to request that doctors and nurses wash their hands in your presence and use gloves and masks as appropriate.
Know Your Own History
Make sure your doctors and nurses are aware of any medical conditions you have that may affect your delivery, including high blood pressure, heart conditions, anxiety, etc. Also be sure they’re familiar with any prescription medications you’re taking and any potential interactions they may have with medicines commonly administered during delivery, such as pitocin to induce labor or epidurals for pain management. If you’re administered any medications during your delivery, be sure you understand what it is, why you’re receiving it and whether there’s any risk of it reacting with other medicines you’re taking.
Question Procedures
If the doctor supervising your delivery recommends any procedure that increases the risk of birth complications, be sure you understand why he or she is pushing the procedure. Caesarian sections and forceps deliveries are sometimes performed unnecessarily, and getting one of these procedures when you don’t need it can lead to longer recovery times and potential injury to the fetus.
If you don’t trust yourself to make rational decisions during your delivery, try to have a trusted loved one on hand to ask the important medical questions. Giving birth is an intense process, and you may not be in the right frame of mind to look out for you and your baby’s best interest while you’re going through the birth process. This is another great reason to hire a doula to assist you during delivery – they are experienced in all aspects of giving birth and can provide a clear head if things get heated.
Although you might think of giving birth in a hospital as a routine process, it’s important to keep in mind that doctors and nurses are people too – they’re as prone to making mistakes on the job as you and I. You and your loved ones need to be aware of everything that’s going on in your hospital room in order to reduce the risk of hospital-contracted infections, mixed-up medications and unnecessary procedures. Act as your own patient advocate and you’re sure to have a safe, uneventful delivery.
