1950s chilbirth education video

Video Link

In my prepping mode, I found this video this morning. It's funny to see how things have changed. Today, families are encouraged to write up a birth plan (even with c-section) to help achieve the least stressful experience. Of course, things don't always go according to plan, but it's nice to know you have a say in your big day. I know for years women were put out for the birth and had little or no memory of the whole thing. They don't highlight that in this video, but I read several experiences even into the 1970s that were quite similar to this:

This is my story. I gave birth to my first child in 1958. I read a book on natural childbirth and asked my doctor if my husband could be present for the birth. He looked at me as if I was insane. I was thrilled with the pregnancy, but the birthing process was the worse experience of my life.

I went to a very large hospital in Los Angeles and was taken to the basement. Yes, pubic hairs went and a very large enema was given. I was not quite 22, a child by today's standards. My husband was allowed to stay with me until I had pain medication. I was left alone in the room once I was given a sleeping pill; that I do remember. Imagine, 22, in labor and all alone.

I have no memory of giving birth. My daughter was born at 11:04am and I did not see her until the next morning.

They brought her in twice a day. I wanted to breast feed, but they gave her bottles in between the visits, so she really couldn't latch onto the breast.

I was in the hospital for five days. Visitors were allowed in twice a day I think at 2:00pm and 7:00pm. A woman sat near the elevator and visitors had to sign in. Only two allowed at a time. I roomed with a very nice girl and we spent the days talking.

This is a very sad memory for me and I still grieve the loss of my memory. I'm glad it has changed.

This is what we can expect at our hospital, the newer women-centered/ family-centered approach...even for c-section:

Anesthesia for Cesarean Birth

Women who have a planned cesarean will most likely have spinal anesthesia.

For unscheduled cesareans, if the mother does not already have an epidural she will be given a spinal in most cases. If she have received an epidural catheter during her labor, it can be used to provide anesthesia for a cesarean. General anesthesia may be necessary in an emergency if the mother does not already have an epidural.

TAP blocks: Transversus abdominis plane (TAP) blocks can be placed at the conclusion of a C-section to provide up to 18 hours of analgesia after an operative delivery.  Using an ultrasound machine for guidance, the anesthesiologist can deposit local anesthetic (numbing medicine) between the muscle layers in the abdominal wall, next to the nerves that transmit pain to the brain from the incision.  Because the mother will still be numb from the epidural or spinal when the anesthesiologist does this procedure, she will not experience any discomfort during the nerve block placement, which takes around five minutes to complete.  Once the spinal or epidural wears off, she should experience little or no pain where the incision is but will need some pain medicine for the uterine discomfort (cramping).  There are no side effects from this block and it will reduce the amount of narcotics the mother will need in the postoperative period and their unwanted side effects (nausea, itchiness and constipation).

Inside the operating room will be the following people:  the mother’s nurse, the anesthesiologist, the scrub tech (who hands instruments to the physicians), the attending physician, one or more resident physicians, one or more assisting nurses, and a pediatrician.  Before starting surgery the entire team will perform a “time out” to make sure that everyone is aware of the mother’s plan of care. Once surgery is ready to begin, the mother’s family/friend will come in and sit next to her.

The Delivery and Immediate Postpartum Period

The first two hours after delivery are spent in labor and delivery with one-on-one nursing care. This is to ensure that mother and baby are stable. If the mother delivers vaginally she will stay in the same labor room. If she delivers by cesarean she will be transferred to a labor room. Either way the mother will be cared for by the same nurse who attended the delivery. Most babies stay with their mothers in labor and delivery for the first two hours after delivery. Babies who are born prematurely or have problems breathing after birth may be transferred to the nursery for observation.

The following will answer many questions expectant mothers have about what to expect during and immediately after delivery. Women with questions about any of these topics should discuss them with her physician during one of her prenatal visits. 

Umbilical Cord Cutting

Delay - Unless the baby requires emergency treatment immediately at birth, the cutting of the umbilical cord will be delayed for close to one minute. This allows more blood from the placenta to reach the baby.

Partner - A support person is commonly given the job of cutting the umbilical cord. This does not cause any pain to the baby, but there is no shame in choosing not to cut the cord. Note: this is not possible during a cesarean delivery.

Cord Blood Banking

The hospital does not encourage or discourage this practice. We do not recommend any particular cord blood bank. Arrangements are made directly between the mother and the company. A mother who wishes to bank her cord blood should discuss this with her physician. We will accommodate her wishes. After delivery she or her support person will be responsible for calling the company courier to pick up the cord blood banking kit.

Skin to Skin

The labor nurse will encourage the mother to place the baby on her chest so that they are “skin to skin”. This is the best way to keep the baby warm. Skin to skin contact is also a great way to get mother and baby prepared to breastfeed.

Breastfeeding

For mothers who have chosen to breast feed their baby, this is the time to start. There are enormous benefits to breastfeeding in the first hour of life. Babies are alert at this time and highly receptive to getting started. The nurse will help with positioning and latch on. Though this is a great time for family visits and celebration, mothers may want to have some of those two hours in recovery be private time with their baby and support person. The nurse will be happy to run interference if needed.

Identification

• Baby’s name: For ease of identification and security purposes, the baby will be admitted to the hospital under the mother’s name (e.g., Baby Boy Jones). The baby’s legal surname will be determined by what the mother places on the birth certificate worksheet that she will complete during hospitalization.


• ID bands: A set of four identical identification bands will be completed by the nurse during the recovery period in labor and delivery. The same number is imprinted on each band. The bands will include the mother’s name, the baby’s medical record number, the name of the baby’s doctor, date and time of birth and the baby’s gender. Two of the bands will be placed on the baby’s ankles, one will be placed on the mother’s wrist and one will be placed on a person designated by the mother.


• Footprints: The nurse in the delivery room will take a print of mom’s index finger and baby’s feet to be placed in the baby’s medical record. We will give the mother a copy as a keepsake. If she has a baby book with her we will be happy to take prints for the book.

Erythromycin eye ointment

This antibiotic is given to all babies in the delivery room. It is given per Connecticut state law to prevent the transmission of gonorrhea and/or chlamydia from the mother to the newborn. We can address common concerns:

• Side effects include slight redness and puffiness of the eyelids.


• Many patients prefer to wait until the end of the first hour for the antibiotic because the newborn’s vision may be blurry from the ointment.


• The baby may still get the antibiotic if either parent is allergic.


• Overuse of antibiotics: This is an appropriate use of antibiotics.

If the mother prefers that the baby not get this medication she may discuss this with her obstetrician. At delivery a physician will need to take a culture to ensure there is no infection present. Mothers will receive the results of the culture in two to three days. The mother’s discharge may be delayed pending the results.

Boy or girl?

We won’t tell! The mother will have that privilege. We are not able to give this information over the phone or to visitors without the mother’s permission.

Weight and length

After “Is it a boy or a girl,” the first question asked is usually “What was the weight?” The baby’s weight and length will be measured in the delivery room before tranfer to the Mother-Baby Unit.