jewelry in the labor suite?

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My daughter handed me a picture of her newborn being cleaned up minutes after delivery. I can't see the persons face but the person cleaning my just born grand baby has three large clunky gold bracelets on her right arm. The person is wearing gloves and green scrubs so I know it is staff. It does not seem very sanitary, going from infant to infant with those bracelets dragging in the gunk. What do you labor and delivery nurses think? I remember being a student and not even be permitted to wear a wedding band.

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Specializes in Maternal - Child Health.

You're right, it is inappropriate, not only from an infection control standpoint, but also basic safety. Jewelry can scratch an infant.

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LOL I can't believe I wrote, "sweet". Must be thinking of my "sweet" grandchild. Of course I mean "suite".

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Specializes in LTC, geriatric, psych, rehab.

Yes, when I was in nursing school, we were not allowed to wear any jewelry. I have never worn much. I had my first baby when I was young, and I was so afraid I would scratch her that I wouldn't wear it then. I have a beautiful mother's ring, large, custom made b/c I had so many children. Absolutely will not wear it to work for fear I will scratch a patient. I know you asked about the nursery, but my elderly residents have such fragile skin too.

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I bet that she is violating policy and now you have an image as documented proof. For the safety of newborns I myself might have even called the hospital to voice my concern. Good catch! :yeah:

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When I did my clinical in OB one of the nurses had very long ARTIFICIAL nails. I guess she saw me staring at them because she said "I know I shouldn't have these but I got them for a wedding". She had them the two weeks I was there, even during the delivery of a 26 weeker. She pulled them off my last day.... AT THE NURSES DESK; pieces went everywhere.

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I'll take the devils advocate and say that humans have been delivering babies for millions of years in areas less sterile than a modern day delivery room. Newborns and mothers that go normal spontaneous without complications are pretty much ready to take on the world.

Of course it is not ideal, dangling jewelry, etc., but most of the world still delivers at home, cuts own cords, performs placenta rituals, etc. ... Just sayin', I have no axe to grind here on this topic.

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I think what makes it such a big deal is the very fact that the nurse is in the hospital. She is going from patient to patient. Newborns can and do die of sepsis even today. Infection control is especially important in high risk deliveries; however even a healthy newborn could suffer. Fear of hospital related infection is one of the reasons behind the rise in home births in the USA.

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Specializes in LTC.
I'll take the devils advocate and say that humans have been delivering babies for millions of years in areas less sterile than a modern day delivery room. Newborns and mothers that go normal spontaneous without complications are pretty much ready to take on the world.

Of course it is not ideal, dangling jewelry, etc., but most of the world still delivers at home, cuts own cords, performs placenta rituals, etc. ... Just sayin', I have no axe to grind here on this topic.

How many women and infants are dying in these countries due to infection?

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I'll take the devils advocate and say that humans have been delivering babies for millions of years in areas less sterile than a modern day delivery room. Newborns and mothers that go normal spontaneous without complications are pretty much ready to take on the world.

Of course it is not ideal, dangling jewelry, etc., but most of the world still delivers at home, cuts own cords, performs placenta rituals, etc. ... Just sayin', I have no axe to grind here on this topic.

And for millions or years, as well as now, infant and maternal mortality rates were and are extremely high in those less than sanitary conditions.

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You're right, it is inappropriate, not only from an infection control standpoint, but also basic safety. Jewelry can scratch an infant.

That is a good point. This is the third grandchild for me and I never wear even a watch around them because of the possibility of scratching.

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Specializes in LTC, geriatric, psych, rehab.
I'll take the devils advocate and say that humans have been delivering babies for millions of years in areas less sterile than a modern day delivery room. Newborns and mothers that go normal spontaneous without complications are pretty much ready to take on the world.

Of course it is not ideal, dangling jewelry, etc., but most of the world still delivers at home, cuts own cords, performs placenta rituals, etc. ... Just sayin', I have no axe to grind here on this topic.

You are so correct on most of the world. I have been to many places where cleanliness is not even thought of. It is only that if I scratched a newborn, or in my case an elderly resident, I'd feel so bad.

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