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on 18/6/02
wrote:
hospitals current policy stands because they say
that yes, they do clean the baths, but no amount of cleaning can get rid of
every single germ that is put in there. We were also told during
ante-natal (16 months ago) that the hospital policy on water births was a NO
because they were concerned with workplace health and safety re: Midwives backs
leaning over the bath, slipping etc.
What may help
this cross contamination issue is the alternative use of birthing pools with
disposable linings - either in the original 'bath' or in a frame pool.
Anyway, the same sort of germs/contamination is evident on hospital bed
matresses, pillows, chairs and regular baths - whats the
difference?
I used to advise
my A/N class parents (on the advice of my sister who is a doctor herself!)
to take in disinfectant wipes to clean toilets, basin edges and baths before
they used them. (However this is from an English perspective when often
bathroom faclities were shared between 2 or more labour rooms). I have had to
clean blood from the previous occupant off the facilities in the past when I had
my first baby in hosp.!!! - needless to say the next were home
births!!
Cross infection
in hosp. - ESPECIALLY a maternity unit as part of a general hospital is an
absolutely major issue and infection after C/S, episiotomy and other open wounds
is a real threat to otherwise healthy postnatal women.
However - don't know what the solution
is except for suggesting that home birth offers a real benefit
by excluding non-familial 'germs' from the equation of this risk
factor.
Steph.CBE
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