WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU GO TO THE HOSPITAL TO GIVE BIRTH?
When you go to the hospital to give birth, several steps and procedures are involved from admission through delivery and postpartum care. Here's a general overview of what typically happens:
1. Arrival and Admission
Check-In: When you arrive at the hospital, you will check in at the labor and delivery unit. You'll need to provide identification, insurance information, and any pre-registration paperwork (if you’ve filled it out beforehand).
Triage and Initial Assessment: A nurse or midwife will assess you to determine how far along you are in labor. This includes checking your vital signs (blood pressure, temperature, pulse), monitoring the baby’s heart rate, and possibly performing a pelvic exam to check cervical dilation and effacement.
2. Labor and Monitoring
Admission to a Labor Room: If you are in active labor or your water has broken, you will be admitted to a labor and delivery room. If you are not in active labor, you might be sent home or to another area for observation.
Fetal Monitoring: Continuous or intermittent fetal monitoring may be used to track the baby’s heart rate and your contractions. There are external monitors (strapped around the abdomen) or internal monitors (inserted through the cervix if your water has broken).
Pain Management Options: You can discuss pain relief options with your healthcare team. Options may include epidurals, IV pain medications, or natural pain relief techniques such as breathing exercises, massages, or water therapy.
3. Labor Progression and Delivery
Labor Support: Nurses, midwives, or doctors will assist you throughout labor, helping with pain management, guiding you through contractions, and providing support.
Pushing and Delivery: When you reach full dilation (10 cm), you will be guided to push during contractions to help deliver the baby. This stage can last anywhere from a few minutes to a few hours.
Birth: Once the baby is born, they are immediately assessed (Apgar score) to check their heart rate, breathing, muscle tone, reflexes, and skin color. The baby might be placed on your chest for skin-to-skin contact right after birth.
4. After Delivery (Postpartum)
Delivery of the Placenta: After the baby is born, you will deliver the placenta, which usually happens within 5-30 minutes after birth. Your healthcare provider will check to ensure that the placenta is delivered intact to avoid complications.
Recovery and Monitoring: You will be monitored for any excessive bleeding or other complications. The healthcare team will check your vital signs and provide uterine massage to help the uterus contract.
Postpartum Care: If everything is stable, you’ll be moved to a postpartum room, where you and your baby will continue to be monitored. Nurses will assist you with breastfeeding, pain management, and any other needs.
5. Hospital Stay
The length of stay in the hospital can vary based on whether you had a vaginal delivery or a cesarean section (C-section). For a vaginal delivery, the stay is typically 24-48 hours; for a C-section, it may be 3-4 days, depending on recovery and any complications.
Sources:
https://wnj.org/having-your-first-baby-what-to-expect-at-the-hospital-when-you-go-into-labor/
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