728x90
my iParenting
From Our Sponsors
Get Pregnancy Information
e-newsletters
Sign up to receive our free weekly e-newsletters

new terms of use
new privacy policy
award-winning products
The iParenting Media Awards program helps parents find the best products for their families.
Home › Articles › Labor Preparation › The Grand Tour

The Grand Tour

A Quick Trip Through the Labor and Delivery Room

By Jacqueline Rupp

Pages:  1  2  3  4  5  6  7  

"L" Is for Labor
The first thing you will probably do is to get into bed. The bed is quite different from your average bed, however. "Our LDR beds have controls, which allow the head and feet area to go up and down," says Stark. "They are also equipped with air pockets to give back support, and there are handles on the sides for grasping and to aid the mom getting in and out of bed."

Prepping like shaving the pubic area and administering an enema have become outdated and are not generally performed at most hospitals. However, it is still wise to find out beforehand if these practices are still in place and formulate your own decision regarding them.

"Once you're in the LDR, fetal monitoring will begin," says Stark. There are two different types of fetal heart monitoring: Doppler and continuous fetal heart monitoring (FHM). "Most patients will be put on the continuous fetal heart monitor," says Stark. "But it is not mandatory. As long as we have a reassuring tracing, Doppler can be used. However, if a patient is on Pitocin [a medicine used for inducing labor], then the continuous monitoring will need to be used."

"It is very important to understand your rights," says Henci Goer, author of The Thinking Woman's Guide to a Better Birth

Pages:  1  2  3  4  5  6  7  

Want to see more?

Comments

There are no comments for this article yet.Be the first to add a comment.

Post As:
Enter your comment below:
Title
Comment Text
CAPTCHA
Please note that any comments submitted become the property of Disney Family / iParenting and can be edited and posted at our discrection.