At the private hospital where I work we do not separate the family unless there are medical reasons, eg baby cold or resp distress and needs to be taken to SCN. The midwife attending the C/s stays with the mother and her support person in the OT, recovery ward and then accompanies them back to the maternity unit. We are able to facilitate skin to skin contact between mother and baby and the baby often has their first breastfeed in recovery or even on the way back to the ward in the lift!
As for support "people" the OT only allows one support person, but most often the anaesthetists are happy for them to be there throughout the insertion of the epidural or spinal anaesthetic. We did ask on one occasion when we had a 15 yr old girl with a 14 yr old partner whether she could also have her mother accompany her, but the OT manager wouldn't budge - it would have been a bit crowded and I don't think the mother would have been a calming influence anyhow, but the girl was terrified and her boyfriend bewildered. -----Original Message----- From: maxine hardinge <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Date: Saturday, 11 May 2002 07:38 Subject: support people in theatre >Dear Ozmidders, > >I am writing on behalf of some colleagues who are attempting to change our >hospital policy re: support people staying with the woman while her >epidural/spinal is inserted. Currently the regional anaesthetic is inserted >in the OR room and whether it is elective or emerg C/S the support person >waits at the red line until the anaesthetist is finished. What are current >policies/practices at other hospitals? Has anyone got any references to >support this? > >with thanks, >Maxine Hardinge > >_________________________________________________________________ >Send and receive Hotmail on your mobile device: http://mobile.msn.com > >-- >This mailing list is sponsored by ACE Graphics. >Visit <http://www.acegraphics.com.au> to subscribe or unsubscribe. > -- This mailing list is sponsored by ACE Graphics. Visit <http://www.acegraphics.com.au> to subscribe or unsubscribe.
