tubs in LDRs- need advice for new hospital

[PegRNBSN]

Another question has arisen in our new hospital design. We (the nursing staff reps) are lobbying for tubs in every room. They (architects and administration) are pushing for portable tubs or two centrally located tub rooms. Because we don't have them right now we can't speak from experience on their benefits. All we know is that we are a aging nursing population and the thought of moving tubs is not attractive.

Any insights and experience would be appreciated

Thanks

[L&D_RN_OH]

They (architects and administration) are pushing for portable tubs or two centrally located tub rooms.

We originally had one jacuzzi room, and three rooms with "portable" tubs. They weren't actually portable, because they were so huge we never moved them.The problem came with filling and draining them. We had to use garden hoses. It was a big PIA, and very messy. not to mention unsafe due to the hoses stretched out across the floor.

We now have replaced those tubs with jacuzzi tubs in 3 rooms, (out of 12 LDR's). Much easier to work with since they have their own plumbing. It took awhile to have them all instilled since we are on the 7th floor and the floors had to be reinforced for the weight. Just the three rooms with tubs seems to be enough for us, as we rarely, okay never have more than 3 women wanting to labor in the tub at the same time. We also still use the jacuzzi room for pts in rooms w/o tubs if they want to use it. Generally they are not planing a waterbirth, or are planning an epidural at some point.

Don't know if that helped or not.

[Jolie, BSN]

The LDRP unit where I worked had 14 private rooms all with Jacuzzis. Most patients used them early in labor, and those who didn't want epidurals used them throughout labor. But the biggest benefit seemed to be for post partum moms who needed relief from stiffness and soreness (episiotomy pain, back pain, etc.) They would get in for a brief bath several times a day. Most of our OBs and CNMs would let the C-section moms use the Jacuzzi if they wanted. We had a few try and take their babies in with them, so we had to caution them on doing that only if there was a second responsible adult in the bathroom. Our pediatricians didn't seem to care about the cords getting wet.

[Gompers, BSN, RN]

My hospital got a few of those portable tubs and wished that they had gone the regular jacuzzi route instead. Like others have said, there is often a problem with filling and draining the portable ones. The other problem our L&D has is that their portable tubs are just like wading pools, so the moms sometimes have trouble stepping in and out of them because they're pretty deep. If there's an emergency in the tub it takes a lot of people to lift her out, risking a lot of back injuries there! Many of the installed jacuzzis have water-tight doors on them so the mom can just walk in and out of them and it's easier to "rescue" her if necessary. I think the drains are like super-fast too, like in less than a minute they're empty.

From talking with friends, it seems like the hospitals that had the built-in jacuzzis were much more willing to let them labor in the tubs than those who had to lug out the portable ones. Customer relations!!!

[BabyRN2Be]

The LDRP unit where I worked had 14 private rooms all with Jacuzzis. Most patients used them early in labor, and those who didn't want epidurals used them throughout labor. But the biggest benefit seemed to be for post partum moms who needed relief from stiffness and soreness (episiotomy pain, back pain, etc.) They would get in for a brief bath several times a day. Most of our OBs and CNMs would let the C-section moms use the Jacuzzi if they wanted. We had a few try and take their babies in with them, so we had to caution them on doing that only if there was a second responsible adult in the bathroom. Our pediatricians didn't seem to care about the cords getting wet.

Boy, what a wonderful setup! Our hospital just built a multi-million dollar birth center, and the pts (and doulas) don't like the fact that they don't have tubs! If at all possible, have them build tubs in every room. Carrying around tubs is not good for backs, and at the other hospital which has only one jacuzzi tub, there have been times in which there has been a line of pts waiting to use it.

Good luck.. I still wish we had some tubs. It would really come in handy.

[TammyWilson808]

I work on the Big Island In Waimea, Hawaii and we have five LDRPs and a tub room which includes a laboring tub/jacuzzi. I wish we had a tub in each of the five rooms but space is pretty scarce. We make do---and couple of the nurses are in the middle of redecorating it.

[nekhismom]

I WISH we had even a single tub. *sigh* I've bounced back into the middle ages here. LOL