CRZ

Let's take a step back and think clearly about your situation. First of all you pay a provider for their expertise and to provide care for you and your baby. Write down all your questions and next time you go to the doctor, ask the nurse for answers. Do not leave until you feel all questions have been answered to your satisfaction. If you cannot get answers then perhaps you do need to try another provider. I do agree that you need to relax a little and trust your body. The baby will come when it is ready. Do not ask for an induction of labor. You will be in a hospital and they are there to provide safe care for you. If there is a previa or an abruption or a large for gestation baby or a preterm baby they will know what to do. I doubt very much there is a previa. Any doctor that saw a previa on ultrasound would be talking to you about a scheduled c/s. You may be a little too emotional right now to deal with this so find some one to support you and go with you to the doctor's office next time. Good luck.

It breaks my heart to hear that there are still hospitals caring for newborns and their families in such outdated nonresearch based ways. Family Centered Maternity Care became the standard of care in this country in the 1980's and anything less indicates a hospital that is behind the times, happy to continue status quo even though such care is not supported by research. These nurses and administrators cannot be attending conferences, reading the journals, and staying updated. There are hospitals in our area that don't even have central nurseries any more and found it to be much more cost effective to provide mother/baby care. There is ample research to show that parents rest better if the baby is in their room, that breastfed babies get more feedings and gain weight better if left at bedside, that the newborn baby's temperature is more stable if left skin to skin (investigate kangaroo care even for pretermers-it's being done with great success all over the world), that even one bottle of anything can significantly alter the intestinal tract in the newborn and cause problems for certain infants and should only be given if medically indicated. I could go on and on. The point is that this hospital is providing very outdated care. Why? Because they get away with it. When will it change? When health care consumers are educated enough to demand change or take their dollars elsewhere and that will involve insurance companies and HMO's. Whose baby is it, who will remember the precious moments after birth years from now? You may not have the energy it takes to effect change on a large scale but you do need to make your requests, which are very reasonable, known. And the hospital does need to respect and honor your requests. It is your birth experience not theirs. I have worked in this specialty over 30 years and have raised 4 children of my own. I work in a rural hospital with a level 2 nursery. All nurses are cross trained to work all areas as well as gyne surgicals.We have limited dollars but strive to stay updated and provide the very best care to our families. Frankly, I don't see how this hospital passes muster when Joint Commission comes through. They certainly would never achieve Baby Friendly Hospital accreditation, but of course it doesn't sound like they would even know what that is or why it is important. My heart goes out to you. Pregnant women should not have to fight these battles-you have too much else to think about right now. Your energies should be focused elsewhere. Just do the best you can-my thought will be with you.