06/10/2025
Do any pregnant moms wonder what happens when they arrive at the hospital to give birth?? I had to write an essay for class and I just thought I'd share it with ya'll!
What happens when I arrive at the hospital??
You have made all the preparations. You packed your bags a week ahead of time. You’ve taken all the classes and read all the books. You toured your hospital and you and your partner are prepared to meet your baby.
You have reached the point in labor where you need to make your way to the hospital. Have your partner drive you. Have someone selected ahead of time in case your partner isn’t available. Your partner/ selected person should not dive fast. Take your time getting to the hospital. You will be more aware of every bump and pothole. Remember to focus on your breathing and knowing you are getting closer to meeting your baby by the minute.
You will need to make your way to the emergency room if you give birth late at night as it may be the only entrance available. If you are able to walk, you may proceed to the maternity ward on your own. If walking isn’t possible use a wheelchair. An admitting nurse will greet you and take you to a birthing room or triage. Your condition will be observed such as the pattern of your contractions, a vaginal exam (if you consent), yourself and your baby’s well-being.
If the caregiver decides that you are in early labor, they will likely send you home until your labor pattern changes. Since oxytocin plays a major role in birth, your labor will probably slow down or can even stop due to the stress hormones that are expressed in stressful or uncomfortable situations. If you don’t want to return home for any reason, talk it over with your healthcare provider and find a place where you can feel comfortable enough to progress. The healthcare provider can help you with coping strategies, medications, reassurance, or other options/strategies.
You finally reach the point where you are ready to be admitted! Yay! You will be taken to your birthing room. You will get an assessment, your medical history will be taken, you will give blood and urine samples, and the baby’s heart rate and position will be checked. You will be asked to change into a hospital gown, or your own gown and you’ll get an identification bracelet. You may have an IV (intravenous) catheter inserted and the nurse will begin to monitor your contractions and your baby’s heart rate. Admissions to a freestanding birth center will be much like a hospital birth except your midwife will make the assessment, you wear your own clothing, and you don’t receive an identification bracelet.
After all the traveling and signing dotted lines, you are finally ready to focus on what you came for! Now is the time when all the preparation, the birthing classes, the books, and the videos all come into play. Remember those coping strategies and have a safe and successful birth!
