As a new mom-to-be pushing through your final months of pregnancy, it isn’t uncommon to wonder what the labor and delivery process will really be like once you’re in the hospital. Will it be the same as what you see on TV? Will you be wheeled to different rooms between labor and the actual delivery? What actually happens in the delivery room? And how long will you need to stay before returning home with your new bundle?
When it comes time to go to the hospital, you’ll most likely be in labor, and if not, you’ll be on your way for a scheduled c-section or induction. If you’ve already taken a tour of the hospital, you probably already know where to park and check in, but if not, call first to find out. During check-in, the nurse at the front desk will put a wristband on you, and you’ll be escorted by another nurse to a triage room, unless you have a scheduled delivery. In that case, you’ll be taken to labor and delivery.
If you’re taken to the triage room, you can expect to be connected to a fetal monitor so the staff can monitor your contractions to see how far apart they are. They’ll also check your cervix to see how dilated you are. If your labor is progressing slowly, they may send you back home. However, if your labor is progressing at a steady pace, you’ll most likely be admitted and moved to the labor and delivery room, which is where you’ll spend the most time. What happens in there depends on your birth plan and the amenities offered to you by the hospital. You might bounce on a yoga ball, labor in a warm bath or even take a shower as you wait for your contractions to get closer together. Your labor and the baby’s heart rate will be monitored regularly. If you choose to have an epidural, an anesthesiologist will come into the room and administer it. And when the time comes, unless you’re having a c-section, this labor and delivery room is where you will give birth.
You may be wondering how many of your family members are allowed in the room with you. That’s a good question to ask during your hospital tour if you haven’t already had one, or by calling the hospital. Most hospitals allow you to have your loved ones, midwives and/or doulas in the room with you while you’re in labor, but expect there to be a limit on how many people are allowed. You should also expect quite a few hospital staff coming and going during the labor and delivery process—and they change shifts every eight to 12 hours, so, depending on how long you’re in labor, you may see several new faces!
When Baby decides it’s time to enter the world and you’ve dilated to 10 centimeters, it’s time to push. An OBGYN will then come into the room to help deliver the baby. Be aware that this may not be the doctor you’ve been seeing throughout your pregnancy, but it’s completely normal. (If you’re concerned about this, speak with your doctor or midwife beforehand about the other OBGYNs who work at the hospital, and ask to meet them so you feel more comfortable.)
So what happens after your little one enters the world? First, the doctor or nurse may put the baby on your chest for some bonding time. Then they’ll weigh and measure Baby, take footprints and run routine tests, such as the APGAR. They’ll perform the APGAR score at 1 and 5 minutes to assess how Baby tolerated the birth and then how she’s adapting to life outside the womb. What they look for are appearance (skin color), pulse (heart rate), grimace (reflex irritability), activity (muscle tone) and respiration (breathing effort). Each of these is scored on a scale of 0 to 2, with 2 being the best score.
After you’ve given birth, you will enter the third stage of labor, which is delivering the placenta. You’ll typically deliver the placenta within 5 to 30 minutes following birth. The nurses will monitor you, keeping an eye on your blood pressure and making sure there aren’t any labor and delivery complications. How long it takes to recover after delivery depends on the birth, but it typically won’t be more than a couple of hours. During this time, your family and friends can visit you in the room and meet your new baby!
When the doctor and nurses are sure that all is well with you and your little one, they’ll move you to a recovery room where you’ll spend a night or two. How long depends on many things such as your hospital’s regulations, your insurance company’s requirements, the type of birth you had and any post-birth complications you may be experiencing. Nursing staff will be checking on you every few hours, making sure you have everything you need. If you decide to breastfeed, you’ll get plenty of practice time and will most likely receive help from a lactation consultant. Your partner is allowed to stay in the room with you, and if you’d like for your baby to sleep in the room with you, the hospital staff will provide a bedside bassinet. And although siblings are not allowed to stay the night in the recovery room, they can visit during visiting hours.
When your time is up in recovery, you’ll get to pack up and head home with your new baby, unless you’ve had a c-section, which requires a longer stay. You’ll be given a final checkup before departing, along with plenty of instructions. Hospital staff will walk you down to your car and make sure you have Baby’s car seat installed correctly before saying their final goodbye.
It’s exciting bringing Baby home; however, be sure to take it easy even after you get home. Try not to push yourself to do everything. If you have any help available, accept it graciously. You need time to recover.
What You Can Take with You:
Most hospitals send you home with a few freebies. Here are some items you can expect to go home with:
- Peri bottle – for cleansing
- Large maxi pads and mesh underwear
- Donut pillow – for postpartum sitting
- Newborn hat for your baby
- Breastfeeding supplies
- Receiving blanket and diapers
- Nasal aspirator
- Bottles and pacifiers
- Formula samples
Kansas City mom and author Gina Klein loves reminiscing about her days in labor and delivery with her two daughters. Both births were so special, and the hospital staff were amazing.
As always, please consult your health care provider with any questions or concerns.