labor and delivery ?

Question

during labor and delivery what are some of the procedures they do?
like, do they do ultrasound? measure my belly? fetal heart monitors [straps, i think they're fetal heart rate monitors] and just feeling around the belly?

if they feel around my belly, do they feel lower, or higher up? does it hurt?

with the belly strap fetal heart rate monitor thingy, they've never done it to me before, i've just seen it on tv shows like "a baby story" what do they feel like? its tight? where on the belly do they position it?

thx a bunch

Answer 1

They can't do anything you don't consent to. The less they do, the better.

They will at least want a strip from the EFM when you first arrive. Probably want you strapped to it for 20 mins or so. This will let them see how baby's heartbeat is responding to contractions and how strong your contractions are. After that, insist on getting up and moving around if all is well! They'll ask to monitor you off and on throughout your labor. The more you can stay mobile, the better. Ask if the nurse will monitor you with a doppler or a fetoscope instead. If not, stay strapped down for as short a time as possible. If you want up, take the stupid straps off. Where they put it sort of depends on baby's position, since one of the straps is to measure his heartrate.

They may want an IV for hydration. Talk to your caregiver ahead of time and ask to be allowed to eat and drink lightly in labor instead. Take Gatorade, grapes, protein shakes, crackers, etc. with you to snack on. Have hubby or doula remind you to drink as often as possible. Avoiding the IV gives you more mobility. And an IV site is of course a possible spot for infection to enter your body, so avoiding it is good for that reason as well.

They might feel your belly to see how strong contractions are or what position baby is in. They will probably not do an ultrasound unless there is a question about baby's position (possibly not head down).

They may want to do an internal exam. Keep these to as few as possible.....especially if your water has broken. Internal exams after your bag of water breaks could potentially introduce bacteria to you and baby. If the bag of water is still intact, it's still best to keep them to a minimum so that they don't accidently rupture your bag while checking. (Labor is much easier with the bag intact. Less pressure!) Internal exams may be a little uncomfortable, especially since they are usually done DURING a contraction. It's just inserting their hands to feel with their fingers, no instruments or anything.

Answer 2

When you first get to the hospital they will most likely hook you up to the external fetal monitor. This will measure the baby's heart rate and the strength and duration of your contractions. They do not put it tight enough to hurt you or the baby. They also will do cervical (vaginal) exams about every hour to see if you're dilating. If the monitor shows that you are indeed in a labor pattern then you will be admitted to the hospital. If the baby shows signs of distress later or if they can't get a good reading from the external monitor, they may do an internal monitor. Your cervix has to be dilated some for this, and your water has to have been broken. The attach an electrode to your babys scalp,which helps them gauge better whether the baby is ok. They will generally not measure your stomach as they find out where the baby is at from the internal examination, and they most likely will not do an ultrasound. Hope this answersyour questions!

Answer 3

They would probably do an ultrasound if they suspected the baby was breech. Otherwise there would probably be no need for it.

The fetal monitor is just like wearing a belt, not tight at all. Other procedures might include checking you for dilation, although too many checks can increase your chances of infection if your water has broken. They might break your water to ramp up your labor a bit or give you Pitocin to speed things up a little. If you test positive for Group Beta strep, they will give you an intavenous infusion of an antibiotic.

These procedures can vary greatly from hospital to hospital, though. You also have the option of a birthing center as well, where they will be a little (or a lot, depending on your wishes) invasive, provided you are having a normal, healthy pregnancy.

Answer 4

My experiance

They did not do an ultrasound, I have never heared of one being done during labor or delivery.

They did feal my entire belly to see what position my son was in. It did not hurt.

They put 2 straps thingys on me. One was a heart rate monitor where they had to find the babies heat to postion it, The other was to monitor the contractions. Those were not uncomfertable at all, The heart rate one was a little anouying becuase everytime the baby moved they had to move it(my baby moved so much that they gave up on using that one, Instead they stuck a probe up my birth canal and attached it to his head)

I hope this has answered all of your questions

Answer 5

Its not uncomfortable. They dont hurt. They find the area where the babys heart will pick up on the monitor, put one there and then they will put one towards the middle of your belly to monitor the contractions. They monitor the baby the whole time and check you for dilation. But I have never had an ultrasound during labor and delivery.

Answer 6

Well, I shouldn't have one among my possess; thank God all my hard work and deliveries have been pleasant - painful seeing that I had they all common - however pleasant. However, we did have a scare simply a few weeks in the past whilst my grand daughter gave start to her first youngster. She used to be in hard work and toward the top they misplaced the youngster's heartbeat and did an emergency C-phase. The youngster had the wire wrapped round her neck. All is pleasant despite the fact that. She's a truly cutie. I do have a humorous tale despite the fact that - whilst my final baby used to be born I used to be 39. It used to be my most effective boy. I reside in Arizona and the temperature in May, June and July are horrible. Estevan used to be now not due till August however I might not stand it and on July twenty seventh I sat looking TV at approximately 6 pm and I drank a few caster oil. They say that precipitates contractions. I did not understand how so much to drink, so I drank the entire bottle, bit by bit. At 10 I had the runs, however all for the period of the night time I had little contractions now not unhealthy in any respect, like with my different kids. I acquired up took a bath and went to the health center. Sure adequate I used to be already 6 cm dialated with out a truly ache. The midwife informed me she'd meet me on the sanatorium inside the hour. Well, I needed to pass get up my children and husband, get them showered, dressed and fed, % a bag, prefer up movie for the digicam, so I did not exhibit up on the sanatorium till approximately two:00. The Midwife used to be frantic. I simply saved having small pains. Well, I used to be eight cm whilst I acquired there. And the rigors persevered that means till approximately three:30 whilst I began having a few most important ones, however most effective approximately 12 of them, seeing that Estevan slid out. He got here out pooping and pooped everywhere the midwifes sneakers. I gave her a present certificates for her to shop for herself yet another pair. He used to be the one one among my children that didn't have cholic. I bet the cleansing earlier than start helped.

Answer 7

In my first delivery they took me into triage, strapped me onto the monitor and left me there for about 1/2 hour. Then a doc came in, did an internal exam, said i was 3cm dialated and said to walk around a bit. I walked for an hour, they brought me back to the bed, strapped monitors on me again and did another internal, I was 4cm dialated then they broke my water, monitored me for 1/2 hour and got me up to walk around again. Unfortunately I didn't progress on my own from there and they gave me an epidural a few hours from that point. I had hourly internal checks (I think) they put an IV in me, they had me constantly being monitored. I ended up with an infection after 18hrs in labour and they took my temperature, gave me antiobiotics. Oh and ever 2 hours they came in and drained my bladder with a cathater. Ummm, they did do an ultrasound after 20hrs in labour to check the baby's placement, he was posterior. They took blood twice, once in triage and once 12 hours after labour started. They took my vitals every few hours, blood pressure and heart rate.

After I delivered they gave me a shot of something that made a grose taste in my mouth and it helped me deliver the placenta. they checked my vitals again and pushed on my belly high up (checking the fondus). They continued to check fondus ever couple hours for 2 days, and they checked my bottom too making sure I wasn't bleeding too bad. They didn't do anymore internal exams or anything after.

I think that's it, I can't really remember most of it is happening and you're like in a daze. hehe.

Answer 8

If you are being induced or take an epidural they will moniter the baby's heartbeat and your contractions with two belts attached to moniters. It's not the most comfortable thing in the world but it isn't terrible.

Answer 9

for me they put the monitor on...it was snug but not tight. they check your cervix from time to time. i never had any kind of sonogram during labor or anything.