Pregnancy Info HOME

Here's what I did for my last in 2004. First, I pre-registered, so there would be a lot less paper work for me in the hospital. When I felt I was really in labor(and I was) I called my dr., and he told me to go to the hospital. I went straight to labor & delivery, told them I was in labor, they asked who my doctor was, and sent me to get my weight, blood pressure, etc. Normal things they do in the doctor's. They also hooked me up to a machine to test my contractions, and to check the baby's heartbeat. Saw that I was in labor, and I was just hooked to that, having contractions more & more for the rest of the night. When I was really in pain, they asked me to give them the pain measurements on a scale of 1-10, to see if they should give me the epidural. They gave it to me, and a couple of hours later I had the baby. I just slept most of the night though so that's all I really remember.

I preregistered as well. Once my water broke, I called the hospital, and they told me to come in when my contractions were 5-10 minutes apart, unless in 12 hours they were still mild. So about 8 hours later we called to let them know we were coming in. Once we got there, they checked me, hooked me up to the fetal moniter then took me down to the room and started my IV. Once I wanted the epidural, they gave it to me....I am not sure that they go by your weight for it though....it is just a nerve block, that is usually just a stady flow of a certain percentage anesthetic (I work in a dental office, so I am assuming that it would be simialar). They go by your weight for the Pitocin though.

I think it may vary slightly depending on the hospital. I delivered at a Womens & Children's hospital. When my contractions were 3-5 minutes apart for an hour, I just went right to the hospital. They sent me to triage where they hooked me up to measure my contractions, took my blood pressure, and temperature; I don't remember them weighing me...once labor was established they asked who my doctor was and they paged him. I also pre-registered, I think I did so at about 33-34 weeks so I wouldn't have to complete as much. I'm really not sure how they measure the epidural. I do know that the aneseologists came in every hour to be sure that I was still comfortable. At one point I couldn't feel or move my legs at all so I think they lowered the dosage. I'm not really sure that it is measured since it is a cathader, it is probably the same for everyone. But I honestly don't know.

I pre-registered also so I didn't have to do much paperwork when I got there. I was induced so they new I was coming. But the hospital I was at offered tours of the labor and delivery floor. You should call your hospital and ask them if they offer one, mine was free. It answered all my question about what to do when I get there and what would happen.

I was told that once sign of labor start, to call doctor and follow his instructions, no matter what time of the day it is. I was todl to go to the emergency room, they will take to L&D.