What to Expect When You Arrive at Hospital or Birthing Center

For expectant parents, one of the most pressing questions, and biggest unknowns or even anxieties, is what to expect upon arriving at the hospital for the birth of their child.  There are a lot of variables in what the answer to that question will be.  Some of it depends on the hospital, the caregiver, the actual events of labor and, sometimes, whether or not one has a doula.

In most cases, there will be an intake process.  While this can be streamlined by pre-registering, that is not always the case.  Many times you go through the trouble of filling out all the paperwork in advance only to have to do it again at the point of arriving again.  This can be alleviated by calling your caretaker first…they can often call ahead and help the intake office to have brought up your registration paperwork and then they only have to double check information.  Even if it doesn’t seem, at the time, to streamline the process, it is still a good idea to pre-register simply because it DOES cut down on a lot of the paperwork in the long run.

At intake, they will collect basic info and ask questions about contractions.  Most hospitals require you at that point to be taken by a nurse/intern to your room.  They may or may not require you to use a wheelchair.  Often they will let you walk alongside.  Again, really just depends.

You will be asked to change either into a hospital gown, or your own choice of birthing attire. A gown/shirt style is preferred as then you don’t have to remove anything you don’t want to in order to be able to birth.  You may be hooked up to contraction and heart monitors at that time as well.  If possible, ask for telemetry measurement…or at least intermittent monitoring.  It allows for a lot more movement. The health personnel will take blood pressure, temperature and ask a lot of questions.  Many times they will ask when you want your epidural…THIS is the time to communicate that you may or may not be requesting one.  If you are wanting an unmedicated birth, have your partner or yourself communicate that CLEARLY at this time and make sure the nurses take note of it.  Your doula cannot state these things for you unless you specifically ask your doula to do so.  They will remind you by asking you questions, etc. but they are not supposed to speak for you.  They are your support system.  Only you and your partner can speak for you, with you being the final authority on every decision.

You may or may not see your actual caregiver for a while.  That is dependent on the size of the hospital and of your caregiver’s practice.   They will probably pop in and check on you, and then leave you mostly to the care of your doula, partner and L&D nurses.  You will be monitored for a while as to regularity of contractions.  They may ask to do an internal exam to see if you have started dilating.  It is UP TO YOU if you wish to have that exam at that time.  It is your decision, just be aware that the more internal exams you have, the higher your risk of infection and of PROM.  It also can “start the clock” so to speak.

Your caregiver may discuss interventions with you.  Do not be afraid to ask why and if they are necessary.

Overall, getting to the hospital is exciting and a bit terrifying, but not usually as dramatic as you see in movies and on television.