Moms...what happens at the hospital before delivery?

I am terrified of the labor process - and I am NOT referring to the "pain" part of it! DH and I have big families who want to "be there" from the first contraction until delivery. Meanwhile, I'd prefer not even telling anyone I am there until the baby is born! The thought of having them all sit there and watch me sweat through the pain of labor makes me ill.

So my question is...once you are admitted, are you in a regular room where everyone can visit you and watch your misery until you are fully dilated and ready to go? Or, do you go directly to the room you deliver in where only you and DH are allowed? Did your families just wait in the waiting room for hours on end?

Sorry if this sounds unimportant or weird, but it is really worrying me!

Re: Moms...what happens at the hospital before delivery?

I dont know what hospital your delivering at, but when I had my son I was in a labor room and only my husband was allowed in. Once the baby was born I was taken to a room on the maternity floor and thats when I had visitors.

Re: Moms...what happens at the hospital before delivery?

Thanks. I'll be at Huntington.

Re: Moms...what happens at the hospital before delivery?

It's not unimportant. It's a legitimate concern. I went directly to a L&D room, so just DH and my sister (but because I wanted her to be there) were able to be there.

I'd say that you have the right to choose who you want to be there. Labor is a very intense and private moment and you have to be and feel as comfortable as possible.

Re: Moms...what happens at the hospital before delivery?

I went to Huntington. Just tell the L&D nurses and your doctor that you only want DH there. They'll play the bad guy in this.

My mom waited downstairs which annoyed me when I found out because I felt like I had to hurry up. I hate having people wait for me.

You could tell them after you're admitted so no one meets you there.

Re: Moms...what happens at the hospital before delivery?

Re: Moms...what happens at the hospital before delivery?

I delivered at Winthrop, but they only let in those I "authorized".

My parents, Al's parents and my sisters were all in the waiting room. But they did not come into the delivery room until a few minutes AFTER I had Ella. I was happy they could be there so soon after, and that they could all meet her, but there's no way I wanted them in there while I was in labor. I was surprised they were all there.

They DID wait hours on end (5 hours actually, but thats nothing compared to the 45 hours *I* 'waited'). Ella was a stubborn lil thing, and she took her sweet time - 10 days late!

Re: Moms...what happens at the hospital before delivery?

I also delivered at winthrop and it was only DH in the room with me. My DH called my mom once I was in the L&D room so by the time he called it was close to 2:30am and she got their around 3:30 and then I delievered at 5:02am so her and my sister and the babies godfather (my cousin) didnt have to wait long at all. Once I delieved they told me they were waiting and wanted to know if I wantexd them in the room and I said yes but not to send them in for like 10 minutes. I wanted time with just the 3 of us for a little. I know at winthrop and I think all the hospitals they are not to give information to people in the waiting room so if they keep asking the nurses they have to call your dh and he has to inform them so if he is constantly leaving the room it doesnt help you to much. You can always call when you are ready to push that way by the time they get their you might have had the baby already and no one is waiting for you.

Re: Moms...what happens at the hospital before delivery?

we were only allowed 2 in the room at a time and they had to trade off. But since my family was not loud they let more than 2 in. They ended up waiting in the waiting room all day and eventually it got exhausting for me but it was good Dh had someone besides me to talk to for 12 hours...

Re: Moms...what happens at the hospital before delivery?

I was induced and was sent directly to the L&D room. I delivered at Stony Brook. The room was so comfortable and didn't seem like a hospital room. After Bella was born I was transfered to a regular room (they have all single rooms which is wonderful!) which wasn't as nice and cozy as the L&D room.

I only had my DH there. We were allowed 2 people though. I didn't want anyone else there. Since it was a scheduled induction everyone knew when I was going to the hospital but I asked them not to come up until we called them to tell them she was born. I am a person who loves her family but needs her space!

Good luck!

Re: Moms...what happens at the hospital before delivery?

Thanks everyone. I think they will kill me if I don't call them before I'm close to the pushing stage, but I will definitely tell the L&D staff that nobody should come in except DH and let them be the bad guys!

Re: Moms...what happens at the hospital before delivery?

My DH was the only one with me. Our families didn't wait in the waiting room. They stayed home and waited for the phone call. He was born at 7:48 am, and grandparents visiting hours started at 2:00 pm, so that's when they came. It was perfect, because I felt like crap right after the c-section, so I didn't want an entourage in there right after giving birth!! I always read other people's stories on here about how people were waiting in the waiting room, and I felt like I was always in the minority, I didn't want anyone milling around the hospital waiting for me to give birth!

Re: Moms...what happens at the hospital before delivery?

Dh's aunts wanted to be there when we delivered (um, hi, I am shy about my body and such a prude!) and meanwhile my parents and dh's dad are so old fashioned I literally think they would have passed out or died if I told them they had to be there - but dh and I decided that we would just go ourselves and thats exactyl what we did - we didn't even tell anyone until the baby was born (which was easy since it was a quick labor!)

when we got to the hospital, admitting was closed (middle of the night) so we entered from the er and got checked in, then they brought us up (I walked on my own but they do offer you a wheelchair if you want) to l+d...it varies from hospital to hospital but there is a small waiting rm outside the labor and delivery area at st charles where I delivered, and they supposedly had a rule of no more than 3 people in the room w/you...