NATURAL DELIVERY IN HOSPITAL

(Page 5 of 5)

May/June 1971
By Sharon Maehl 
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The doctor held up our son (Ethan) for us to see and the baby promptly squalled and urinated all over me and the nice sterile drapes across my thighs. We cracked up.

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I had needed an episiotomy just before the baby was born (no discomfort or anything, he just had a big head). I asked the nurse to give Ethan to me, the doctor said, "Oh, what the hell, let her have him," . . . and I nursed the baby while the doctor sutured me up.

When that was done, I sat up and told everyone that we'd be leaving in an hour or so and . . . uh . . . would they please find a pediatrician to examine Ethan and would they bring the papers to be signed.

The nurses squealed like angry pigs and the doctor just said, "Well, we sure get the nuts on Christmas Eve." They put us back in the labor room and gave me a glass of water while the baby was checked over: 7 Ibs. 10 oz., 24 inches long and perfectly healthy.

One nurse snipped in and out glaring at us and generally making an ass of herself. Everyone else was nice and friendly . . . if a bit bewildered.

The obstetrician came in with the papers for me to sign and told us to go home and enjoy the holidays. So we did.

At eleven fifteen I was at home with my husband and baby having a cup of coffee and calling everyone I knew in the territorial U.S. to tell them how great it was.

And it really was.

*JOHN STARR, M.D. COMMENTS: I would remind Sharon that some post-delivery complications can develop well after the two-hour waiting period she mentions in her article.

Additionally, no matter how you handle the admittedly-touchy problem of notifying the doctor of your plans, it should be done in a way that leaves the hospital door wide open for your return in case a later complication does develop.

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