thankLavor And Delivery at CDH

Added - Barb gives you good advice, especially about your birth plan. Just remember, the hospital can change their rules any time, and just because they allowed something last year, doesn't mean they allow it now. That's why it's best to find out their current rules. If I were you, I'd get your doula to tour CDH along with you, since she has never been there.

Original:
The first part of your question makes sense to ask here, but really and truly, do you expect people to be able to answer the second question? You need to ask the hospital! Perhaps your doula knows the answer if she works in your area hospitals. Especially if she has worked at CDH.

I did not have my babies at CDH, as I didn't live in Illinois at the time. But, I have had surgical proceedures there, and I was happy with their professionalism and their skills and doctors.

Good luck with the birth,
Dawn

Call them and get a tour of their department and write down your questions such as people allowed, what the wait time for epidural from request and once they get a doc order how long then(just in case your like me and change your mind about the pain), when and what type of food do they serve post partum and are you allowed to have your own food brought in. Get your birth plan written out and have your doc sign and date it. This way you can show nurses the number of people allowed, how you want things and for myself I would have written if patient changes mind about anesthesia she may receive an epidural at anytime she decides it is needed for pain control and must be order to anesthesia right away. Have the doctor sign off and use the plan as your Doula should have told you to get this done as quickly as possible after potentially viable baby is ready....between 26 to 32 weeks. Congrats and good luck.

Have you asked them? I'm sure you can call, or go take the tour that they offer. I had my daughters there, and the L&D nurses were WONDERFUL.

I delivered there with both of my children. They allowed me to have my husband, mother and MIL in the room with me. They just instructed my mom and MIL to stay off to the side and out of the way. They were WONDERFUL at CDH. Good Luck!

I'm not sure since I had two scheduled c-sections, but I just want to say that CDH is fabulous! I had the best experience there when I delivered my twins and just recently my baby girl. My husband said he felt like we checked into a hotel, not a hospital. Good luck!

I delivered at Hindale Hospital and they have the 2 person rule too, but what I found is that's more based upon the doctor or what's going on in the room. For example, if you have 5 people in there and some of them start giving you or the staff problems, they can be escorted out under the "2 person" rule. I had 5 people and my Midwife was totally cool with it. It really depends on the doctor. Congrats on your new baby! Having a doula is a great idea. I used a friend who had a natural birth 2 yrs prior with my midwife and she was a great help - though a doula would be even better. ;)

Before you get yourself upset simply ask what the number that is permitted. In a possible case scenario, sometimes if only two are permitted they will allow rotations: mom, husband, doula, etc. but just ask them. Call the nurses on the ward or the doctors or the department.