Mentoring With Hospital 2-Support Person Policy

Beth · 05-23-2009, 01:50 PM

Hello Doula Lovelies,

In my area, we have many wonderful, experienced doulas that are happy to impart their wisdom to doulas who are just beginning their careers. There is much enthusiasm over the possibility of mentoring, but we have stumbled across a major obstacle that we have no idea how to get around: our local hospitals have a very strict rule that each labouring mother may only have a maximum of two support people with her.

Does anyone have any suggestions on how we can work around this rule? Has anyone had any success with squeezing in an "apprentice doula"?

Thank you!

Beth

1stimestar · 05-23-2009, 04:17 PM

Have the mom's insist with their doctors and have them write it in her charts.

Polly Perez · 07-20-2009, 02:15 PM

I couldn't figure out where to post this info so I'm posting it in the labor doula and doula mentors. Hope it is OK to post it in both places.

I have a new article online now that doulas might be interested in- I chose to have it published online so that it is available to more doulas.

The article is in the CAPPA Quarterly for April 2009
www.cappa.net/quarterly.php

The current issue of the CAPPA Quarterly has been posted to the website and can be viewed by clicking here: CQ. Please let your friends, clients and network base know that they too can access it now.

http://www.cappa.net/quarterly/2009-april.pdf

Hope y'all enjoy the article!

Polly Perez

MindOverLaborDoulas · 07-20-2009, 05:23 PM

I simply remind the hospital staff that they woman has hired me to be at her birth just as she hired them to be at her birth. Usually shuts them up. And I don't act like it is even an option..

(yes, I am a b*tch like that and I'll make them feel completely stupid if that's what it takes)

golden pregnancy · 08-07-2009, 12:39 AM

How clear is the policy on the number of support people allowed?
For example, the community hospital where I live has a recently imposed limit of 4 people. However, this applies to the number of support people in the room during the birth itself, while during labor the number is unlimited.
One time, I witnessed the hospital staff allow an extra (5th) person to stay during the birth in order to keep mom (and, in this case, the extra family member, too) from experiencing any separation anxiety. There was a room full during labor and the staff let everyone know when it was time to leave, other than the predetermined 4. However, it was a nurse who stopped the sister to let her know she could stay for the birth if she wanted to. Of course she said yes and watched from the side of the room.
Would it be possible to approach the healthcare providers about having the extra support person assist during 1st stage, leave during 2nd stage, and return at 3rd, or perhaps remain in the room but out of the way to observe only during 2nd and 3rd stage?

TO Doula · 08-07-2009, 10:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MindOverLaborDoulas

I simply remind the hospital staff that they woman has hired me to be at her birth just as she hired them to be at her birth. Usually shuts them up. And I don't act like it is even an option..

(yes, I am a b*tch like that and I'll make them feel completely stupid if that's what it takes)

Wow. And how does it go when the nurse you've made feel stupid is then providing care to your client for the next twelve hours?

Acting like that would not only get me banned from the hospital, but hospitals then call up the cert. orgs and try to file grievances.

Here, the hospital visitor policies are written down, posted on the walls, and very clear. Asking nicely for an exception sometimes works, if the right charge nurse is on. Otherwise it's their house - they do not have to let you in just because your client hired you.

MindOverLaborDoulas · 08-08-2009, 04:14 PM

Considering I AM hired just as the DOCTOR and NURSES are hired by the woman, it is completely appropriate. And I would make sure to spread the word if an OB or RN wouldn't "allow" me in the room. There is no way I would want other women to be duped by the doctors that do not care enough about women to allow their other hired help in the room. That shows a lot about the character of the OB right there.

DoulaCBE · 08-08-2009, 07:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MindOverLaborDoulas

Considering I AM hired just as the DOCTOR and NURSES are hired by the woman, it is completely appropriate. And I would make sure to spread the word if an OB or RN wouldn't "allow" me in the room. There is no way I would want other women to be duped by the doctors that do not care enough about women to allow their other hired help in the room. That shows a lot about the character of the OB right there.

Here we have a 4 person limit and when push comes to shove it's not the DR's right to manipulate that limit but the hospital.

Having been hired by your client doesn't give you any more power than her mother, or mother in law or even a casual friend. You are still a *guest* in the hospital. They don't care if she's paying you a million dollars to be there, if they want you out, you're out.

I have to agree with Rean, playing nice garners much more acceptance than trying to boss someone around in their own "home." I had a client have a cesarean recently and the nurse told everyone to leave the room when the client was brought back to her labor room from the OR, since I know the nurse, have worked with her many times and established a relationship with her, I knew that rule didn't apply to me. So I simply remained seated and caught her eye to double check that she was cool with me remaining.

We had a doula in our community recently that pulled a little something like you describe here on the hosptial staff and it went over like a lead balloon. To the point that the nurse manager called MY home on a Sunday morning to make sure this woman wasn't one of our doulas. (I run a group doula practice that has been practicing in our community for over 13 years.) A week later the head of security called ME to ask what they should do about it. Banning ALL doulas because of this one doula wasn't acceptable to ME, but it was a HUGE topic of discussion for THEM. Instead of that happening she's been black listed. Not only by our practice (she's ineligible to ever become a doula with us) but by the hospital AND the local midwifery practice even though this doula's client wasn't a midwifery patient. That day one of the midwives from that practice was on the floor and she made such a stellar impression that the head midwife blacklisted her just on what she saw and heard going on that day.

Instead of talking down to someone who has more authority in this situation than you, why not approach the hospital and have doulas exempted from the "visitor" and "room limit" policies? We did, and it was received warmly and only supported our professional reputation with the medical community in our town.

TO Doula · 08-10-2009, 12:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MindOverLaborDoulas

Considering I AM hired just as the DOCTOR and NURSES are hired by the woman, it is completely appropriate. And I would make sure to spread the word if an OB or RN wouldn't "allow" me in the room. There is no way I would want other women to be duped by the doctors that do not care enough about women to allow their other hired help in the room. That shows a lot about the character of the OB right there.

Hey, even the father/other parent of the baby can be kicked out of the hospital. Their house, their rules. If you want to change the rules you have to negotiate.