L&D gals

klone, MSN, RN · Apr 24, 2015

I don't think it's state dependent. It has more to do with the culture of the facility, as well as individual nurses. Wherever I've worked, the patient can have as many people in the room as she wants as long as it's not impeding the nurses and providers from doing their job.

I remember one patient, the first time I walked in the room I stopped short with surprise, and then physically counted them all. 18 people.

klone, MSN, RN · Apr 24, 2015

P.S. some of us here in L&D aren't "gals" (nod to NICUguy)

**LibraSunCNM, BSN, MSN, CNM** · Apr 24, 2015

Where I work as a midwife, there is a 2 visitor per room policy. I've seen this both strictly enforced, and not enforced at all, based on the nurse caring for the patient.

Side story: One of my most memorable deliveries was with a lovely woman having her 3rd baby. She had labored at home for a couple of hours, came into triage, broke her water, and delivered quickly thereafter. Husband and kids all came with her to the hospital (I guess they hadn't made a plan for someone to watch the kids in case she went into labor at night, or maybe the plan fell through, not sure). Husband sat with the kids in the waiting room because there was no one else to watch them during the birth (if it were up to me, they all would have been present in the room). But after the baby was born, husband came in with both little ones without asking, so they could all meet the baby. I kept glancing around furtively, waiting for the nurses to shoo them out of the room, but the kiddos were so wide-eyed and adorable during these first moments with the new baby that none of the nurses had the heart to say anything! So they had a nice 15 or 20 minutes of family time together. This unfortunately was an exception to the normal rule where I work.

queenanneslace, ADN, MSN, APRN, CNM · Apr 25, 2015

Everyone and their neighbor and their cousin and their boyfriend's sister can be there.

And I've counted 18 in a labor room. It gets crowded.

I'll shoo people out if mom doesn't want them there, if her condition warrants some attention (usually this happens when there's PPH), or sometimes during labor if she has pre-e and her pressures are getting up there.

ONE support person can go back into the OR for a c/s. I've seen 2 support people for lady partsl births in the OR.

But in the labor rooms - it seems like anything goes.

Graduation2016 · Apr 26, 2015

First of all, sorry for the NICU dude, our NICU is on another floor and besides we have only one Neo male Dr and one Neo male NP, so I apologize for assuming they're all gals.

The reason to ask is because we have been seeing ridiculously big amounts of people that show up even when mom comes into triage (sometimes we triage on a labor room on nightshirt so we can all help out since the OB triage is all the way to the entrance of the unit. Why bring 10-16 people with you if you're not even sure you're in labor yet, they all want to sleep on the floor, want blankets and pillows and be fed the patients food. It defeats the purpose of being a locked unit if everyone comes in. At one of my clinical sites only dad and 3 more people could go in with a special sticker and if someone else wanted to come in, someone had to leave.

klone, MSN, RN · Apr 26, 2015

First of all, sorry for the NICU dude, our NICU is on another floor and besides we have only one Neo male Dr and one Neo male NP, so I apologize for assuming they're all gals. .

His username is nicuguy, but he's an L&D nurse. :)

Like I said above, as long as they're not impeding our work or disrupting the work flow of the unit, it's all good. Triage, however, is totally different. I am very okay with kicking out to the waiting room anyone else besides the two people of the patient's choosing.

queenanneslace, ADN, MSN, APRN, CNM · Apr 26, 2015

"Why bring 10-16 people with you if you're not even sure you're in labor yet..."

Oh yeah, that. I've also seen crowds show up, order take-out, and hang around with prime who's being ripened with a Bishop of 1 wanting to know "what time the baby's going to come."

Stepping/tripping over people is annoying, but I try to see it as people caring about their loved one - they have a right to be there.

Sometimes I think there needs to be an observation deck - that would allow folks a view of the 'action' and they'd out of the traffic flow. :)

ahunt224 · Apr 27, 2015

2 are allowed during active labor and delivery, unless approval given by the doctor for more. We have a 2 hour recovery during which is family time with baby, but the delivery nurse can allow more visitors, if pt wants.

Katie71275 · Apr 27, 2015

My hospital allows 3 visitors, which includes the s/o. And they can take turns going in. This is during labor and pushing.

labordude, BSN, RN · Apr 29, 2015

P.S. some of us here in L&D aren't "gals" (nod to NICUguy)

His username is nicuguy, but he's an L&D nurse. :)
Like I said above, as long as they're not impeding our work or disrupting the work flow of the unit, it's all good. Triage, however, is totally different. I am very okay with kicking out to the waiting room anyone else besides the two people of the patient's choosing.

I think I'm going to have to change my name to 'deliverydude' or something fun like that. I might also have to post a picture of me wearing my bright pink 'Keep Calm and Labor On' t-shirt. Thanks for the nod!

Graduation2016 · Apr 29, 2015

This is hilarious! How are we supposed to know when you were not even the one who commented and it was someone else making reference to your name? Sorry, my magic lamp is at the shop.