In the past three years, 29 hospitals have stopped delivering babies, and nearly 50 obstetrics departments have closed over the past decade. California lawmakers are trying to slow the trend by addressing the closure of maternity wards in urban and rural communities. Hospitals have closed or suspended nearly 50 maternity wards over the last decade, often citing high costs and labor. Seventeen were in Los Angeles County, where maternity ward closures have far outpaced the region’s declining birth rate. However, fewer than half of rural hospitals now have maternity units, prompting government officials and families to scramble for answers.
One solution gaining ground across the U.S. is the closure of labor and delivery wards across the country may lead to maternity care deserts, or counties with a lack of no obstetric services or providers. Hospitals are closing maternity wards in urban and rural communities, with Los Angeles County recording the most closures. Hospital fees can be quite high, as maternity wards have to be staffed every hour of the day, every day of the year, with access to operating rooms and other facilities.
Midwives are often considered “money losers” and are vulnerable to closure due to their reliance on equipment. Before packing a hospital bag, make sure to know if your hospital will allow hair dryers, flat irons, curling irons, and other appliances. It is essential to take a shower and wash your hair after the birth, as it can go wild if left dry naturally.
In conclusion, maternity care deserts are spreading across the U.S., with many communities scrambling to save maternity care.
📹 3 Must Have Items for Your Hospital Bag | Having a Baby in 2021 Hospital Bag Must Haves
Here are 3 Must Have Items for Your Hospital Bag. These 3 items are not what you would immediately think of when you are going …
Can a pregnant woman enter hair dryer?
A study by U. S. researchers suggests that children whose mothers had high exposure to electromagnetic fields while pregnant may have an increased risk of developing asthma. The research, which adds to an ongoing debate, suggests that many previous studies have failed to consistently show that chronic exposure to electromagnetic fields from power lines and appliances like microwaves, ovens, hair dryers, and vacuum cleaners is harmful to human health.
What to do with your hair in the hospital?
The procedure for a patient’s hair removal involves reviewing their care plan, ensuring there are no contraindications to positioning the patient flat in bed, and decontaminating hands according to WHO’s 5 moments for hand hygiene. The patient should be informed about their usual hair routine and gain their consent for the procedure. If necessary, analgesia should be administered to relieve pain associated with moving the patient.
The patient’s privacy and the environment should be warm and free of draughts. The patient should empty their bowel/bladder before the procedure. Assemble equipment and ensure everything is to hand to minimize the time the patient is lying flat. The bed should be at the correct working height, and decontaminate your hands and put on an apron to reduce the risk of infection.
Remove the patient’s clothes from their upper body and cover them with a sheet to maintain dignity. Position the patient’s head on the shampoo tray, following manufacturer’s instructions. Place a plastic sheet under the patient’s head and shoulders and wrap a towel around their shoulders. Position the patient’s head on the shampoo tray, ensuring the receptacle that collects water from the shampoo tray is positioned under the drainage spout.
Fill a disposable wash bowl with warm water and allow the patient to check the temperature. If required, cover the patient’s eyes with a disposable washcloth to protect them from water and shampoo. Wet the patient’s hair with a jug, apply shampoo, massage it into the hair, rinse it with water, and apply conditioner if needed.
Regularly check the patient’s comfort and position, pat the hair with a towel to remove excess water, and dry the surrounding skin. Change any wet bed linen and dispose of soiled bedlinen directly into the linen skip. Reposition the patient and help them get dressed. Style the patient’s hair according to their preferences, making it a social situation.
Finally, make the bed and ensure the patient is warm and comfortable with a call bell, drink, and belongings within reach. Dispose of equipment according to local policy, decontaminate the shampoo tray and drainage receptacle, and dispose of your apron and hands.
What can you not bring to the hospital?
The hospital is kindly asking patients to adhere to certain guidelines to ensure a safe and secure environment during their stay. These guidelines include not bringing electrical appliances, valuable items like jewelry or expensive clothing, and cell phones, which are now a part of daily life. The hospital cannot accept responsibility for personal items left in patients’ rooms, so they are advised to ask a family member or a nurse to take them home. If a personal item is lost, the hospital should be contacted by Security at Ext. 4444. Cell phones are also prohibited on all patient units due to potential interference with medical equipment.
Can you use a hairdryer in a hospital?
It is recommended that patients refrain from bringing electrical items to the hospital. In the event that such items are required, an updated electrical safety certificate must be provided. Upon arrival, the patient is to inform the ward sister or nurse in charge. The hospital reserves the right to prohibit patients from utilizing equipment in the absence of a valid certificate.
Can you dry hair in the hospital?
The ward provides access to hair straighteners, curling wands, and dryers. In order to avoid distressing other patients, CDs and DVDs with explicit or violent content may be removed until the patient is discharged from the facility.
How do you wash someone’s hair in a hospital bed?
In order to wet and rinse the hair, it is recommended to use a small cup or pitcher of water. A small amount of shampoo should then be applied, and the lather should be distributed throughout the hair and scalp. Finally, the excess shampoo should be rinsed out.
Are hair dryers allowed in hospitals?
Sentara hospitals provide complimentary hair dryers for patients’ convenience. However, for safety reasons, nurses must be notified before patients use personal electrical devices.
Why don t hospitals use hand dryers?
Hand dryers can spread more bacteria than paper towels due to their large volume of air used to dry hands. These air particles can harbor contaminants, allergens, and bacteria. Although hand dryers use filters to prevent pollutants from transferring to hands and clothes, they require regular filter changes. This is not the case in hospitals and facilities that use paper towel dispensers. A study by the National Library of Medicine suggests that paper towels are more effective in hygiene settings, such as hospitals and clinics.
Loud hand dryers can also disturb resting patients in healthcare facilities, as they operate by audibly blowing hot air at speed on someone’s hands, causing discomfort that should not be present. Therefore, paper towels should be used in areas where hygiene is paramount, such as hospitals and clinics.
Can you shave while pregnant?
Pregnant women should avoid waxing due to increased skin sensitivity and avoid harsh hair removal creams and chemicals. Instead, they should use shaving as the safest and most convenient method. However, it is important to use a sharp, clean razor and pregnancy-friendly products. While waxing is acceptable, hormone changes can make you more sensitive to pain, so it may be better to use a razor during pregnancy. It is advised that pregnant women should stop shaving beyond 36 weeks gestation, as shaving pubic hair can increase the risk of infections during labor.
Is a hair dryer too loud for a baby?
Noise is a ubiquitous issue, from small appliances to traffic and subway noise, and even lawn mowers. It is crucial for adults to be aware of the noise in their environment and protect children from harmful noises. Children are also susceptible to noise-induced hearing loss, as they may play their personal music devices louder than they should. Symptoms of noise-induced hearing loss include ringing in the ears, difficulty hearing soft or faint sounds, muffled conversations, and a stuffed head.
Exposure to loud noise can lead to health issues such as high blood pressure, increased heart rate, stomach upset, difficulty sleeping, irritability, fatigue, muscle spasms, trouble concentrating, and memory issues. Additionally, children may experience personality changes, such as aggressive or violent reactions to events or situations. The World Health Organization found that children living near busy highways and railroads were three to four months behind in their reading levels compared to those not living near a rail system.
Should I pack a hair dryer in my hospital bag?
To optimize comfort, it is recommended to bring a variety of toiletries, including a toothbrush, toothpaste, deodorant, chapstick, makeup, hairbrush, shampoo, soap, lotion, and a hairdryer. Additionally, it is advisable to bring your preferred brand of sanitary pads for enhanced convenience.
📹 My Hospital Bag – What I Really Used
I chose to do this video after the delivery to edit down the items that were most used–It is now 8 weeks after my daughter’s arrival:) …
Thank you for making this article! I’ve been reading what to bring for my D-Day which is in 10 weeks and this totally narrowed it down! I had a lot of “Ahhhhs” and “omg, my Nipples are gonna hurt”,etc…I am with first child, so this is all very new to me! Thank you for making this article! And God bless you and your new born!
Thank you for this article! I can now unpack half of what I packed! ::hug:: I’ve missed your helpful articles! If I dont have a diaper bag by then, I’ll bring an empty backpack/overnight bag. We have plenty of those. What I love about my hospital is the vending machine takes debit/credit cards! So helpful for when we’re out of change! I’d also ask for someone to bring food after delivery. I found out if you give birth when the cafeteria is closed, you’re stuck until breakfast! Mom is on standby!!
I agree, you can ask hospital for the disposable underwear, I don’t feel like wearing my own after C-section anyway, and you can ask for diapers, diaper wipes, pads, and maybe even the pacifier and more (that green one shaped a certain way), because your insurance covers it. Helpful and also helpful where you said take your own pillow and make sure it’s a different color from hospital pillows so they don’t take it away. I learned from advice about not needing to take own diapers and wipes.
oh gosh… we travel everywhere. I think it depends on ages and the kid. my oldest throws up SOOOO much on the plane. so for her i have to bring lots of motion sickness remedies and extra clothes. I have little prizes and games I bring from the dollar store and give it to them one at a time when they start getting bored or antsy. I also bought one of those little dvd players and kid headphones so they can watch movies if we have a long wait at the airport. little simple crafts are always good
the NMBS deals with hemorrhoids AND perineal soreness using natural ingredients (which hazel and cucumber). Does not numb very much. The Dermoplast numbs the crap out of everything (contains benzocaine, an analgesic–sorta like a mild anesthetic) while letting nature and time do the healing. I actually used the Dermoplast for about a wk and then switched to the NMBS.
aaahhh…i can’t believe i forgot to mention it. Both my nursing tanks and bras are from Bravado. They can be pricey but worth it because I used them for an entire year. Also, look for NO-Underwire for daily use because the underwire may interfere w milk supply. Of course a cute push up one is needed once in a while.
i sure do rock baby to sleep. sometimes I rock her for 20 mins and she only sleeps 15 mins after i put her down. it is tiring, but i have never heard of a baby that does not need rocking or some soothing to sleep. hang in there. I will def make articles sharing my tips and what i am discovering. sleep/naps will be one of them.
hey sara! I watch your articles when I’m only in the early 20’s haha but I love the advice’s and tips you give as a mother. But its definitely something I cannot relate YET 😉 If you can, could you also make advice articles on marriage itself or about giving birth and whatnot? I honestly am scared of getting married and having a kid in the future :/ and these things are awkward to talk about with my mom… lol
Hello Sara! Congratulations for the newborn baby girl! ^^ I feelt really happy when I saw this.. I thought you had more time until you will give birth.. Actually my aunt will also give birth to a girl on this tuesday, she have two boys. =D (I know the date, cause she have decided to not give birth the natural way this time..) I’m going to send her this article, it’s really helpful! Even if it’s not the first time, you can forgett things and you can always learn from others 😉 Thanks for the article
Mommy Sohn! you are absolutely gorgeous! I don’t have babies yet like many of your subbies hehe, but I love your vids! So fun to watch! Also, i’ve read that you speak three languages and that one of them is Spanish (my native language)…..I would love to see a article in Spanish! haha ~~~ porfavor haz uno! okay, besos hermosa mamá!