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I have never understood the concept of post-partum women sharing a bathroom. Seems to me like they should all have private shower and toilet facilities.
The use of Jacuzzi tubs for laboring moms with ruptured membranes and for post-partum moms seems equally ill-advised. I have seen housekeeping clean these tubs between patients, and it doesn't seem adequate.
When I had my son, I specifically requested one of the 4 rooms on the hall (out of 18) that had a private shower. The room was a cracker jack box but I didn't care. Had I not had a private shower, I would have waited to bathe until I went home, no matter how gross I felt. Sharing showers, toilets, and rooms in postpartum (or in general, in any hospital) is GROSS.
Sounds icky, my postpartum bathroom looked like a double homicide had taken place in it, and that was just me :)
At the hospital where I gave birth the labor tubs were in the individual rooms (not one on the floor like I have seen some places). Between births when housekeeping was cleaning the room they filled the rub and ran the jets with a disinfectant solution so it got all through the jet and the tub. I was watching her clean tapping my foot to get in that tub and it seemed to be a prety good system.
When I had my son, I specifically requested one of the 4 rooms on the hall (out of 18) that had a private shower. The room was a cracker jack box but I didn't care. Had I not had a private shower, I would have waited to bathe until I went home, no matter how gross I felt. Sharing showers, toilets, and rooms in postpartum (or in general, in any hospital) is GROSS.
Out of three kids, I never once got one of those rooms, Arwen! I just couldn't wait to get home to take a shower, so I compensated by not touching anythings and spraying the floor down where I would be standing. It really is gross.
Guys, I guess its the same situation the world over. Here , (scotland), in our hospital, post partum women are mostly sharing showers, toilets and bidets between four. Used to be between six, certainly was the case when I had two of my babies here 20 and 15 years ago. Showers etc are not cleaned between use, unless these poor women are doing it themselves!
Now my daughters are growing up, and I'm thinking, I work in this hospital, but if they were to deliver babies there.. (WAY in the future!)...i would want them to come right home afterwards.....the infection risk is too great.
Worldwide problem!
magz53
153 Posts
How does JCAHO allow bleeding postpartum women to share shower facilities ?? We are a small rural facility and have only 2 showers for all women on the floor. I am sure they are cleaned daily, but not after every use. Just makes me wonder.