Other Frequently Asked
Questions
about
the Birthing Suite at Pennsylvania Hospital
Do I need to stay in bed during labor and
birth?
No. At the Birthing Suite, we encourage
you to walk around and move about as you choose
during labor. You can choose the positions
that are most comfortable and work best for
you during labor and birth. We use a hand-held,
portable, waterproof Doppler to listen to the
baby’s
heartbeat during labor, so your movements are
not limited by an electronic fetal monitor strapped
to your belly.
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Who can be with me during labor and birth?
You
can have the support people of your choice while
you are in the Birthing Suite. There is no age
limit for your younger helpers, but children
under 12 years of age need to have their own ‘support
person’ designated to them in case they
have questions or need special attention while
you are laboring. You are also welcome and encouraged
to have a doula or specially trained labor support
person with you during your labor and birth.
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Can I eat and drink when I am in labor?
Unless you are nauseated or vomiting, we encourage
you to drink fluids such as water and juices
throughout labor. If you are feeling hungry during
labor, we encourage you to eat small, low-fat
meals/snacks for energy such as energy bars,
crackers, clear soups and fruit. Feel free to
bring your favorite snacks or drinks for yourself
and your support people. We provide a small refrigerator,
microwave and stove.
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How do you help mothers feel as comfortable
as possible during labor?
During labor,
we encourage you to get into different positions
and walk around. We have a rocking chair, a
birthing ball, a birthing stool, a jacuzzi
and showers in each room. You can wear your
own clothes, and bring music to listen to.
We have CD and tape players available, and
a great selection of music. We use heat packs,
massage, accupressure and breathing techniques
to help you stay as comfortable as possible
without medication. If you choose to take pain
medicine, we can usually give you pain medicine
intravenously or in a shot in the Birthing
Suite.
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What happens if I change my mind in the middle
of labor and I want an epidural?
Receiving
an epidural during labor is not a problem.
We would start an IV in the Birthing Suite
and transfer you to the Pennsylvania Hospital
Labor and Delivery Unit for an epidural and continuous
fetal monitoring.
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Does everybody need to have an IV? Routine
blood drawn?
No. In the Birthing Suite, there
is no ‘routine’ preparation,
IV or blood draws. However, if an IV or blood
draws are medically necessary, we are able to
do them quickly and easily.
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If I need to have my labor ‘induced’ or
started with medications. Can I still deliver
in the Birthing Suite?
If your provider tells you that there is a
medical reason that you or your baby need to be
monitored continuously, then the Labor and Delivery
Unit is the best place for you to deliver your
baby. When you are receiving labor inducing medications,
such as Pitocin, your contractions and the baby’s
heart rate need to be continuously monitored
the entire time the medication is being given.
Sometimes, labor can be started with medications
and then the medications can be stopped as your
body kicks in naturally with strong regular contractions.
We evaluate on a case by case basis whether these
people can be transferred from Labor and Delivery
to the Birthing Suite to birth their baby.
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What happens if there’s an emergency
in the Birthing Suite?
We know that a small percentage of people are
going to have problems during delivery, so there
are systems in place to deal with quick transfers
to the main hospital for mothers and/or babies.
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How can I have my baby in the Birthing Suite?
The
Birthing Suite is designed for mothers experiencing
healthy, low-risk pregnancies with healthy babies
seeking natural childbirth. Talk to your provider
at your next prenatal visit to see if the Birthing
Suite is an appropriate delivery option for you.
To schedule a tour of the Birthing Suite, please
call 1-800-789-PENN and ask for the Birthing
Suite at Pennsylvania Hospital or email Doreen.Follett@uphs.upenn.edu.
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Where is the Birthing Suite located?
The
Birthing Suite is located at:
801 Spruce Street,
8th Floor
Pennsylvania Hospital - Spruce Building
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