scared of going hospital?

The news has made a point of hyping MRSA and other staph infections. The actual infection rate at most hospitals is extremely low. Most cases of staph infections are the result of a surgical procedure and actual infection comes from the med-surg areas. Even before the media blitz about MRSA most hospitals had already increased and improved sterilization and disinfecting procedures and policies. You can find out the infection rate at the hospital you are going to use by contacting their administration. The federal government requires them to report infection rates now and it is public record. I could not find any infection rates that narrowed it down as far as L&D/OB departments but I am sure it is very minimal in those areas. You can decrease your risks while there by using a bacterial hand sanitizer and keeping your hands clean as well as any visitors and this alone is a big help in reducing any chance of contracting a staff infection. I somewhat know how you feel though as we had a patient that had flesh eating fasciitis some years ago and we did not know when we made contact with him. It was a pretty scary ordeal for my partner on the ambulance and myself. Thankfully we had followed our safety precautions and we were both fine. I really think you are worked up over a situation that has been blown out of proportion by the media. Check into the infection rates for your hospital and I would bet they are pretty low. Again the biggest thing you can do is keep your hand clean and any visitors that may hold or touch your baby. Asking someone to use a bacterial hand sanitizer before any contact with your baby is not an unreasonable request. Good luck!

I can understand your worries. I think catching something in the hospital is probably as likely as getting hit by a car. You also have to think about how many people go into the hospital and don't catch anything. But if you truly are scared you might consider a home birth with a midwife. I have a number of friends who have done so and they really loved the experience.

I'm not worried about that. The hospital where I will give birth separates maternity from the rest of the hospital, there are two locked floors dedicated to maternity so the chances of catching a disease from the general hospital population is very low. Additionally, the nurses and doctors in the maternity ward work ONLY in the maternity ward and so would not be mixing with the general hospital population either.

If you are anxious about how your hospital works, request a tour of the facilities or talk to your doctor about the procedures for laboring women at the hospital.

Don't worry at all. In most cases the L&D floor is not only away from the others in some hospital it is it's own floor. That mean their are no other patients on that floor but pregnant women who are there to get an ultrasound, give birth and recover after birth. Some hospital even have a triage (like an ER for pregnant women) on the same floor. You truly have nothing to worry about. Cheers~!

Hospitals are known to be the cleanest and safest places, but you are right about all the diseases floating around from the sick people. But rest assured, the labor and delivery unit of the hospitals stay cleaned and sanitized for the new mommy and baby's sake. Relax, everything's going to be okay. You won't even be around the regular part of the hospital. The women's center with the labor and delivery, is normally separate from the actual hospital.

Besides, I think when it's actually time for your little one to get here, you'll be too excited to think about that. But you and your baby will be safe. Congrats and wish you well!!

Your going to be in a part of the hospital where all they do is deliver babies. Your not gong to be around the kind of people with the contagious diseases. They aren't going to have the newborns any where near where they can get sick. You have nothing to worry about as far as that. As long as you go to a good hospital every thing should be clean and steril, with a very minimal chance of you or your baby getting sick.

Most hospitals have their L&D area away from other areas. So the chances of catching anything is rare. It is also rare that people just you catch diseases. I have worked in the emergancy room for years and have yet to catch any diseases. Try to relax and stop worrying.

im actually excited about the hospital trip and the baby coming, BUT im completely scared about going thru the actual labor part of it. I have been thru it once, with my daughter (4), and I honestly think I was better off not knowing whats gonna happen versus already having the experience.....Good Luck to you!

Nope, I am more worried about being the woman who thought she was in labor and she wasnt too many times. At the hospital we go to you dont even go near anyone BUT pregnant ppl and doctors/nurses.

Usually hospitals keep the L&D floors pretty clean.