I had to wear one during a stress test. I nearly passed out while running on the treadmill. They basically caught me as I fell back onto the hospital bed. As my vision flickered and I said I couldn’t breathe, they told me I was fine and to make sure I kept the mask on.

I survived.

I also had to wear a mask during my surgery even though I had a negative covid test and was fully vaxxed.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you want to continue having skilled nurses in the room while you deliver your baby, wear your mask. It’s for the nurses safety. Even though you had a negative test and are vaccinated, test can be wrong and we all know the Delta break through the vaccinations. It’s not all about you mama! Sounds like you delivered a healthy baby with no lasting negative affects from wearing a mask. Also it’s not just holy Cross.

So this kind of pisses me off. Why can’t it be about giving what comfort we can to the laboring mother? I would be annoyed to wear a mask given full vaccination and negative test. I can guarantee you it would not be policy if men were giving birth.

Only here would people tell a mother during labor, it’s not all about you mama! In a condescending way.
We have got to do better with maternal care.

Seriously. That more than one person is responding saying that a woman in active labor should be thinking about other people’s needs and comfort above her own is sick and disgusting. That many women have been brainwashed to feel this way is a sign of a failing society. We absolutely must do better.

Nope. The pandemic and staff safety outranks "mama's" wants. Sorry. Don't like that they follow their policy? Don't deliver there.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OMG OP had to wear a noninvasive mask.

OP you need parenting classes the first rule of parenting your kid's health comes first.

Shame on you.

I've had six kids gladly would have worn a mask.

How does her wearing a mask put her kids health first?
Quite possibly the dumbest post I have ever read. Talk about someone focused on themselves just needing to sneak in I had six kids.

This. How does wearing a mask help her child's health? She's not going to wear a mask around the baby at home. Also, the baby was LITERALLY IN HER BODY and could have caught COVID that way, since it can be transmitted in utero.

Because it prevents transmission, including to the mom, during delivery which reduces the risk that the mom passes it to her child after she goes home.

Also, post partum women are high risk, and losing your mother as a newborn is bad for mental health.

Anonymous wrote:I would complain to hospital management.

For what? Staff following hospital.policy? I'm sure they'd give you a conciliatory pair of hospital branded slipper socks.

Anonymous wrote:And if the woman in the throes of childbirth refuses, takes it off every time they put it on and/or fights back, what’re the hospital people going to do? Abandon her? Physically restrain her? Shoot her up with chemical restraints? People in medical facilities too commonly forget that patients are not prisoners or children and it is the professionals who owe the duty to the patient, not the other way around.

If she refuses to follow hospital policy, her insurance should refuse to pay. Bet she'd find a way to keep the mask on then, just as hundreds of thousands of other women have when giving birth during a pandemic.

Anonymous wrote:I had to wear one during my Sibley delivery last year. Why are you surprised?

+1. Negative tests can be wrong or premature, so not catch the positive because it's too early.

Pushing involves repeated sharp exhalation of air, yelling, etc.

Remind us why you're surprised again?

The mask mandates I've seen (from the health department) usually have an exception if you are engaged in strenuous physical activity. I'm a man so I can't totally relate, but being in the room with DW and it sure seems like being in labor would count! I realize a hospital can make stricter policies, but this seems like a case where an excpetion should be made.

I had planned surgery a few months ago, and I was put under. I had to get a Covid test the day before and my mask was removed during surgery.

Anonymous wrote:OMG OP had to wear a noninvasive mask.

OP you need parenting classes the first rule of parenting your kid's health comes first.

Shame on you.

I've had six kids gladly would have worn a mask.

Wow talk about not doing the reading...

Her kid was not at risk. Her kid was being born.

And the inconsistency around mask policy is real. My OB said she would never insist a laboring woman wear a mask since all of the pain management techniques center breathing. But she wasn’t the OB who delivered my baby so what she thought didn’t matter even though she was, in theory, the person responsible for my care.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OMG OP had to wear a noninvasive mask.

OP you need parenting classes the first rule of parenting your kid's health comes first.

Shame on you.

I've had six kids gladly would have worn a mask.

How does her wearing a mask put her kids health first?
Quite possibly the dumbest post I have ever read. Talk about someone focused on themselves just needing to sneak in I had six kids.

This. How does wearing a mask help her child's health? She's not going to wear a mask around the baby at home. Also, the baby was LITERALLY IN HER BODY and could have caught COVID that way, since it can be transmitted in utero.

Anonymous wrote:Quick tangential question as I’ll be giving birth in the next 2 weeks. Did you also have to sleep in your mask? I will be induced at 38 weeks due to a pre-existing condition and with my first pregnancy it took a long time. I was overnight in L&D 3 nights and then recovery.

I assume my DH and I will be required to sleep at night in masks?

You may have to wear a mask when a staff members enters your room- which is often. But they’re not going to check that you’re wearing a mask while sleeping.

Anonymous wrote:OMG OP had to wear a noninvasive mask.

OP you need parenting classes the first rule of parenting your kid's health comes first.

Shame on you.

I've had six kids gladly would have worn a mask.

How does her wearing a mask put her kids health first?
Quite possibly the dumbest post I have ever read. Talk about someone focused on themselves just needing to sneak in I had six kids.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here is Holy Cross safety procedure. Masking at all times is required, even if patients. This shouldn't have surprised you.

https://www.holycrosshealth.org/health-and-wellness/safe-care/

do they mask patients in surger? No, they do not. there is obviously a difference between a vaccinated, covid negative woman in active labor, and a hacking patient coughing in the ER waiting room.

I had two surgical procedures this summer. One in July and one in August. Both with twilight sedation. I was required to remain masked for both.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you want to continue having skilled nurses in the room while you deliver your baby, wear your mask. It’s for the nurses safety. Even though you had a negative test and are vaccinated, test can be wrong and we all know the Delta break through the vaccinations. It’s not all about you mama! Sounds like you delivered a healthy baby with no lasting negative affects from wearing a mask. Also it’s not just holy Cross.

Patients owe no duty of “safety” to nurses, who are nonetheless liable for damages and possibly open to prosecution if they indulge any “walk out” fantasies.

So, maybe you’re new to America, but nurses aren’t slaves. It’s not a “fantasy” to quit your job. It’s totally legal!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OMG OP had to wear a noninvasive mask.

OP you need parenting classes the first rule of parenting your kid's health comes first.

Shame on you.

I've had six kids gladly would have worn a mask.

Ah, the mommy-shaming has begun! OP isn't even out of the hospital yet.

OP, this is how it goes. As a pp said, everyone has an opinion. You'll have to learn how to ignore it all. Congrats on the baby. I'm sorry about the crappy mask experience.

+1. What a gross post.

Anonymous wrote:OMG OP had to wear a noninvasive mask.

OP you need parenting classes the first rule of parenting your kid's health comes first.

Shame on you.

I've had six kids gladly would have worn a mask.

Ah, the mommy-shaming has begun! OP isn't even out of the hospital yet.

OP, this is how it goes. As a pp said, everyone has an opinion. You'll have to learn how to ignore it all. Congrats on the baby. I'm sorry about the crappy mask experience.