Getting Ready for Delivery Day
THE UNEXPECTED MAY OCCUR—AND THAT’S OKAY.
As your due date draws closer, expect excitement and, possibly, the element of surprise. Will you go into labor in the middle of the night or in the middle of a work presentation? That remains to be seen.
Don’t let any of the surprises that your baby may have in store for you throw you for a loop, however. Your doctors are prepared to handle any situation. The birth itself is just the precursor to the best part of all: The arrival of your baby.
“This is probably the most important thing you will do in your life,” says Linda Peláez, MD, a maternal-fetal medicine specialist at New Jersey Perinatal Associates in Livingston and a member of the Barnabas Health Medical Group. “No matter what happens, a positive approach will pay off.”
Dr. Peláez recommends that expectant moms discuss the following delivery-day matters with their OBs ahead of time so that they’re prepared to face common unanticipated situations—just in case.
BIRTH PLAN: If unforeseen circumstances require your doctor to deviate from your birth plan, remember that your OB will have the best interests of you and your baby in mind.
“I always encourage a birth plan. Putting your thoughts on paper is good. But I also always say that patients have to have more than the birth plan—they have to have an open mind to other possibilities if they should arise,” Dr. Peláez says.
EPIDURAL: Many patients insist that they don’t want to get an epidural, only to change their minds. If that happens, don’t worry.
“You never know what you’re going to feel until you’re in that situation,” Dr. Peláez says. “I can’t tell you how many patients want an epidural unexpectedly.”
DOCTOR ON CALL: Your favorite doctor is likely part of a group OB practice, so another doctor in the practice may be on call when it’s time to deliver. However, you can be confident that group doctors are in close communication.
“In this day and age, obstetrics is more commonly practiced in a group setting, as the solo practitioner has become less common,” Dr. Peláez says. “There’s a chance that someone else will be covering the hospital when you go into labor. Know that he or she will be fully briefed on your needs, wants and your health.”
CESAREAN SECTION: If you’re planning for a vaginal delivery, but a C-section turns out to be necessary, rest assured that it’s all for the good of you and your baby. “We won’t do a C-section on you unless the situation warrants it,” Dr. Peláez says.
If you’re carrying twins or triplets or have another type of high-risk pregnancy, it’s likely that you’ll have a scheduled C-section. What happens if you go into labor early? That depends on how close you are to your scheduled C-section date.
“Sometimes labor can happen before your scheduled C-section date and if it does, the labor and delivery team is able to perform your C-section when needed,” Dr. Peláez says. “Sometimes labor can be delayed by a few days or longer. It’s a case-by-case situation.”
HOW TO CHOOSE A PEDIATRICIAN
There are many factors to weigh when you’re trying to find the right pediatrician for your child, from practical considerations to your gut feeling.
For starters, find out the names of pediatricians who are in-network providers with your health insurance plan, says Tatyana Liptsyn, MD, a pediatrician at Saint Barnabas Medical Center. Then ask local friends and relatives to recommend their pediatricians and see if any of those doctors are covered by your insurance.
Put your zip code on a form on the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) website to see if those pediatricians are fellows of the AAP (FAAP). You can also get information about a doctor’s certification on the website of the American Board of Pediatrics.
“If you do this homework, by elimination, you can exclude some doctors,” Dr. Liptsyn says. “Then ask yourself: ‘My sister takes her child to this doctor and she’s happy with this doctor. How far is he or she from my house? Is the practice on my insurance plan?’”
Once you’ve narrowed your list, make an appointment to meet with a pediatrician to preview his or her philosophy, personality and office space before your baby is born. Ask questions like:
• What are your hours, including evenings and weekends?
• What happens if my baby has an emergency in the middle of the night? Do you return calls?
• Who answers questions by phone during business hours—you or your nurses?
• Who might see my child during scheduled appointments, if not you?
• What is your philosophy about breastfeeding/home remedies/nutrition/discipline?
“That’s a very important visit,” Dr. Liptsyn says. “The mother should be comfortable and trust the pediatrician. The trust comes partly from how the pediatrician was trained but, more importantly, how the pediatrician came across during your first visit.”
To learn about having a baby at Saint Barnabas Medical Center, call 973.322.5360 or visit our website.