Sibley: Baby-Friendly?

[Anonymous]

I'm getting prenatal care at RHJ and was asking my doc at my last prenatal appointment about some labor questions. I was encouraged to hear that you are allowed to move as much as you need during labor at Sibley (permitting baby is doing well and depending on epidural status, etc).

However, I forgot to ask about a few baby-friendly items: do they give you immediate skin-to-skin time after delivery? Do they rush to cut the cord or can you wait until it stops pulsing? (Again, assuming all is well with mom and baby)

TIA!

[Anonymous]

Yes both of those are pretty standard at this point. I delivered at Sibley 3 years ago and the skin to skin was a given. The nurse was like "yeah, we do that for everyone." Pretty much the same with delayed cord clamping. The doctor delayed and even checked with me before cutting it. Like "are you ok with me cutting it now?"

[Anonymous]

Baby Friendly doesn't really have to do with cord-clamping. STS is a given unless something is wrong with you or baby.

Baby Friendly's mission is to support breastfeeding as in... no nursery, baby rooming in, no formula unless medically necessary, discouraging pacifiers, hospital can't get FREE formula (they have to pay for it), etc. See here: https://www.babyfriendlyusa.org/for-facilities/practice-guidelines/10-steps-and-international-code/

If all of this is your goal then this is something you have control over. You can decide if you want baby in the room constantly, feed baby on demand, etc etc. You can do all of this in a non-baby friendly hospital. In fact, I find that baby friendly does not equate to mom-friendly. I have taken care of so many moms without a support person who literally cannot take care of the baby in the room because they are recovering/miserable from a C-section. In these cases, if mom wishes, baby goes to the nursery so someone can watch him/her if they spit up, need a diaper changed, etc. I would hate for the mom to not have this option in a baby-friendly facility.

[Anonymous]

Sometimes I wonder who is really behind these "movements" in baby/mom care. It sounds like someone who really hates women or at least someone who really wants to ENSURE that they suffer as much as possible during and after childbirth.

I had a very difficult labor and a very large child at Sibley, and the best thing that ever happened to me was the nursery. I was completely exhausted, dehydrated, almost dead - how would I be able to care for a baby in my room immediately after delivery? I couldn't even stand up.

My husband was caring for our 18-month-old and in-and-out of the hospital, and I was far more interested in my friends and family helping them than helping me.

Sorry, not what the OP asked for, but I needed to get that out there.

[Anonymous]

Sibley does the things you ask but I echo other posters in their dislike for the 'baby friendly' model. I think it verges on negligence for maternal care TBH.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Sibley does the things you ask but I echo other posters in their dislike for the 'baby friendly' model. I think it verges on negligence for maternal care TBH.

Ditto. Endured the "baby friendly" nonsense with my first. My second had to stay in the NICU, and while of course I didn't like that she had complications, my own recovery was SO much better because I actually got rest during my stay.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Baby Friendly doesn't really have to do with cord-clamping. STS is a given unless something is wrong with you or baby.

Baby Friendly's mission is to support breastfeeding as in... no nursery, baby rooming in, no formula unless medically necessary, discouraging pacifiers, hospital can't get FREE formula (they have to pay for it), etc. See here: https://www.babyfriendlyusa.org/for-facilities/practice-guidelines/10-steps-and-international-code/

If all of this is your goal then this is something you have control over. You can decide if you want baby in the room constantly, feed baby on demand, etc etc. You can do all of this in a non-baby friendly hospital. In fact, I find that baby friendly does not equate to mom-friendly. I have taken care of so many moms without a support person who literally cannot take care of the baby in the room because they are recovering/miserable from a C-section. In these cases, if mom wishes, baby goes to the nursery so someone can watch him/her if they spit up, need a diaper changed, etc. I would hate for the mom to not have this option in a baby-friendly facility.

+1000. OP those things aren't what makes a hospital baby friendly. It means no designated nursery aka you can't recover from GIVING BIRTH because you have a crying baby in your room. It was hard to recover for me and I felt guilty asking the nurses to take my baby.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Sometimes I wonder who is really behind these "movements" in baby/mom care. It sounds like someone who really hates women or at least someone who really wants to ENSURE that they suffer as much as possible during and after childbirth.

I had a very difficult labor and a very large child at Sibley, and the best thing that ever happened to me was the nursery. I was completely exhausted, dehydrated, almost dead - how would I be able to care for a baby in my room immediately after delivery? I couldn't even stand up.

My husband was caring for our 18-month-old and in-and-out of the hospital, and I was far more interested in my friends and family helping them than helping me.

Sorry, not what the OP asked for, but I needed to get that out there.

I'm sorry about your difficult labor. I think that hospitals can absolutely promote breastfeeding without having to make the mom "suffer" as you probably would have if you had to do it all (as in no nursery).

Some people have uncomplicated births and so these guidelines are probably not that much of an issue... but for those who have gone through a lot, the no-nursery thing I just don't get. I really think it should be available. This is coming from a postpartum nurse and lactation consultant.

That being said, there are some parents (both present) who exclusively want to breastfeed and send their baby to the nursery hoping to sleep but then won't allow the baby to get a pacifier. They get upset when the baby is crying and returned to the room because all they want to do is feed. Parents need to be set up for the expectation AHEAD OF TIME that babies feed what feels like ALL THE TIME in the first few days. Ok this has nothing to do with the OP's post but I am not a fan of baby friendly.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm getting prenatal care at RHJ and was asking my doc at my last prenatal appointment about some labor questions. I was encouraged to hear that you are allowed to move as much as you need during labor at Sibley (permitting baby is doing well and depending on epidural status, etc).

However, I forgot to ask about a few baby-friendly items: do they give you immediate skin-to-skin time after delivery? Do they rush to cut the cord or can you wait until it stops pulsing? (Again, assuming all is well with mom and baby)

TIA!

I had a baby at Sibley with RHJ in 2017, so a long time ago. Both of the things you are asking about are pretty standard unless you specifically want something different.

Have you looked at the birth plan template on their site?

https://www.rhjn-obgyn.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2021/05/RHJ-Birthing-Plan-Template-.pdf

Note that on page 4, those things are specifically addressed.

As for the hating on the baby friendly designation, I get it. I really do. But I think that the intention of programs like this gets lost pretty easily. The point of "baby friendly" is to support breastfeeding. I get that there are women who don't want to/can't breastfeed, but in the past, women were not encouraged to breastfeed in the hospital, babies were given formula by nurses in the nursery even when moms specifically asked them not to do that, etc. Even if you are a person who does not want to breastfeed your own baby, you should support the provision of those services to other women who do want to breastfeed. I understand the sh*tty way that hospitals have implemented the program, but they are not taking the nurseries away just to punish moms who have c-sections and it is certainly not an attempt for nurses to provide even less postpartum care than they already were.

[Anonymous]

Agree with PPs that these things are standard at Sibley (had 2 babies there) and I HATE the baby-friendly label and movement. Just a ploy by hospitals and insurance companies to cheap out (yay no more paying to staff nurseries!) Horrible for moms who actually need support or sleep after exhausting labor or major surgery

[Anonymous]

I've had two babies at baby friendly hospitals. All I'll say if for my third I'm finding the most baby unfriendly hospital I can.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm getting prenatal care at RHJ and was asking my doc at my last prenatal appointment about some labor questions. I was encouraged to hear that you are allowed to move as much as you need during labor at Sibley (permitting baby is doing well and depending on epidural status, etc).

However, I forgot to ask about a few baby-friendly items: do they give you immediate skin-to-skin time after delivery? Do they rush to cut the cord or can you wait until it stops pulsing? (Again, assuming all is well with mom and baby)

TIA!

I had a baby at Sibley with RHJ in 2017, so a long time ago. Both of the things you are asking about are pretty standard unless you specifically want something different.

Have you looked at the birth plan template on their site?

https://www.rhjn-obgyn.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2021/05/RHJ-Birthing-Plan-Template-.pdf

Note that on page 4, those things are specifically addressed.

As for the hating on the baby friendly designation, I get it. I really do. But I think that the intention of programs like this gets lost pretty easily. The point of "baby friendly" is to support breastfeeding. I get that there are women who don't want to/can't breastfeed, but in the past, women were not encouraged to breastfeed in the hospital, babies were given formula by nurses in the nursery even when moms specifically asked them not to do that, etc. Even if you are a person who does not want to breastfeed your own baby, you should support the provision of those services to other women who do want to breastfeed. I understand the sh*tty way that hospitals have implemented the program, but they are not taking the nurseries away just to punish moms who have c-sections and it is certainly not an attempt for nurses to provide even less postpartum care than they already were.

No one is testing to stop women from being supported breastfeeding. Those hospitals leave bleeding exhausted pain med soaked mothers alone with infants without adequate support and care. That isn’tv supporting breastfeeding it’s close to mandating it at the expense of mom. It’s draconian and not in the best interest of mom or baby. Infants have actually died from being left with postpartum moms that simply could not stay awake

[Anonymous]

+1000

All of this!

[Anonymous]

Sibley doesn’t deliver babies, your doctor does. Ask your doctor if they do skin to skin, delayed clamping, etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm getting prenatal care at RHJ and was asking my doc at my last prenatal appointment about some labor questions. I was encouraged to hear that you are allowed to move as much as you need during labor at Sibley (permitting baby is doing well and depending on epidural status, etc).

However, I forgot to ask about a few baby-friendly items: do they give you immediate skin-to-skin time after delivery? Do they rush to cut the cord or can you wait until it stops pulsing? (Again, assuming all is well with mom and baby)

TIA!

I had a baby at Sibley with RHJ in 2017, so a long time ago. Both of the things you are asking about are pretty standard unless you specifically want something different.

Have you looked at the birth plan template on their site?

https://www.rhjn-obgyn.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2021/05/RHJ-Birthing-Plan-Template-.pdf

Note that on page 4, those things are specifically addressed.

As for the hating on the baby friendly designation, I get it. I really do. But I think that the intention of programs like this gets lost pretty easily. The point of "baby friendly" is to support breastfeeding. I get that there are women who don't want to/can't breastfeed, but in the past, women were not encouraged to breastfeed in the hospital, babies were given formula by nurses in the nursery even when moms specifically asked them not to do that, etc. Even if you are a person who does not want to breastfeed your own baby, you should support the provision of those services to other women who do want to breastfeed. I understand the sh*tty way that hospitals have implemented the program, but they are not taking the nurseries away just to punish moms who have c-sections and it is certainly not an attempt for nurses to provide even less postpartum care than they already were.

No one is testing to stop women from being supported breastfeeding. Those hospitals leave bleeding exhausted pain med soaked mothers alone with infants without adequate support and care. That isn’tv supporting breastfeeding it’s close to mandating it at the expense of mom. It’s draconian and not in the best interest of mom or baby. Infants have actually died from being left with postpartum moms that simply could not stay awake

This!!