Preoperative Information for the Birthing Center
Fletcher
Allen Health Care’s Birthing Center preoperative program services all patients
needing anesthesia for their procedure or surgery. This booklet is designed to familiarize you
and your family with our program.
Enclosed is information that we hope you will find useful during your
stay. Please feel free to call the
Birthing Center at 847-3830 and ask to speak to a nurse.
All of us at
FAHC, from the admitting clerk to the nurse who assists you with your
discharge, want to make your journey through this experience a smooth
process. We are pleased to answer any
questions you may have and help you with any problems.
Preoperative
Tests
Depending
on your surgery, you may have blood work ordered. If a blood
sample is required, you may have it drawn at any FAHC outpatient lab, or here
at the MCHV campus. Your provider will
give you an order slip for your lab work.
Bring this to the lab to get your blood drawn. Lab work should be drawn not more than 3 days
prior to surgery.
You
may have your pre-operative lab work drawn at the following places:
Fletcher
Allen Health Care - Main Campus
Hours:
Monday-Friday
Saturday-Sunday
Check
in with Registration at the desk and they will direct you to the proper place.
Fletcher
Allen Health Care -
Hours:
Monday-Friday
Check
in at the Registration desk
Fletcher
Allen Health Care - Fanny Allen Campus
Hours:
Monday-Friday
Saturday-Sunday
Check in at the Registration
desk
24
Hours Preop
You
can expect to receive a telephone call from our Registration Department the day
before the procedure. Pre-registration
will speed your admission on the day of the procedure. The representative will also have information
regarding any co-pay or deductible fees due on admission.
Instructions
for Fasting Before Procedure
It
is very important that ALL surgical
patients fast. This means no eating or drinking after
Following
these instructions will help to prevent nausea, vomiting and aspiration (breathing
in of stomach contents) during the surgery.
Your surgery may be cancelled or
postponed if these guidelines are not followed.
Your
doctor’s office will review any changes for your particular situation. If you have any questions please call your
physician’s office.
On
the Day of Surgery
Your
surgery has been scheduled in the Birthing Center on the MCHV campus. Valet services are available and can help
make parking easier. Valet parking is
available at the main entrance Monday-Friday for $8.00 per car (Please, no
tipping). Cars may be dropped off for
valet service between
The Parking
Garage fee schedule is as follows:
First
hour………..$1.25 3-4 hours……….$5.00
1-2
hours………. $2.50 4-5
hours……….$6.25
2-3
hours………..$3.75 5-24
hours……...$7.00
Please
bring your health insurance information, your hospital card and payment for
your co-pay or deductible charges due on admission.
After
you register, you will be sent to the Birthing Center.
Arrival
Your
doctor’s office will inform you of the time to arrive at the Admitting Desk,
and the exact time of the surgery. You
will in general be asked to arrive 2 hours prior to surgery if your
pre-operative blood work was drawn; you will need to arrive 3 hours prior to
the surgery if you have not had your blood work performed within 3 days.
All
jewelry (especially body rings - tongue, nipple, belly button), makeup, nail
polish, or toe polish and contact lenses should be removed before arrival. Please do not use any alcohol based products
such as hair spray, mouse or gel.
Birthing
Center Admissions
After
registering in Admitting, you will be sent to the Birthing Center, where you
will be prepared for surgery. You will
change into a hospital gown. Your health
status will be updated, an intravenous drip will be started and any blood work
will be sent. The admitting nurse will
obtain a baseline evaluation of the baby using the fetal monitor before
surgery.
You
will meet one of the anesthesia staff who will be with you during your
surgery. She/he will ask you some
questions and finalize your anesthesia plan of care.
There
is limited space for family and friends to stay with you before the surgery; we
ask that you adhere to our guidelines of no more than 2-3 people with you at one
time. There are times when visitors may
be asked to step out of the room while procedures are being done. They should wait in the family and visitor
lounge on the unit.
Smoking
If
you are a smoker we encourage you to stop smoking before your surgery. This will help to keep your lungs clear and
reduce the risk of developing congestion or pneumonia following surgery. FAHC is a
smoke free environment. No smoking is
allowed in any hospital building or on the immediate hospital grounds. Your cooperation with this is greatly
appreciated.
Valuables
All
jewelry, even wedding bands, must be removed prior to surgery. If you have a ring that you cannot remove, we
encourage speaking with your provider. If
he/she says you do need to remove it, please see a jeweler who will take it off. Please
leave all valuables at home.
Family
and Visitor Waiting Area
There
is limited space for family and friends to stay before the surgery; therefore,
we ask that you adhere to our guidelines of no more than 2-3 people with you at
one time. There are times when visitors
may be asked to step out of the room while procedures are being done. In general, one support person is allowed in
the operating room if the procedure is a cesarean delivery; occasionally there
are no visitors allowed, so please ask your physician and
anesthesiologist. During surgery, your
family may wait in the family and visitor waiting area located next to the
Birthing Center or in the Lobby next to the Coffee Shop. In consideration of maintaining privacy for
all our patients, your family and friends may not wait in the hallways.
Visitation
after Surgery
While
you are in the Birthing Center, visitation is limited. Please refer to our Birthing Center
visitation policy. Your cooperation is
appreciated in making arrangements for your children. You can expect to stay in recovery for 1-2
hours after the surgery, or until your condition is stable. During that time you may have one family
member present (this is usually your husband or partner). This individual can then report back to the
rest of the family or visitors. Speak
with your nurse for any clarifications needed.
Discharge
Instructions
For outpatient
procedures (planning to go home the same day):
Once
your recovery is complete, and before you go home, a nurse will go over the
written discharge instructions and give you a copy of them. All patients must leave the hospital with a
responsible adult after anesthesia or sedation.
Patients are not allowed to drive home after anesthesia or conscious
sedation. Public transportation home is
acceptable if traveling with a responsible adult.
Someone
should be available to stay with you for the first 24 hours after the
procedure. Remember - For the first 24 hours after receiving sedation or
anesthesia, you should NOT make
important decisions, drive, operate machinery, or drink alcohol.
For inpatient
procedures (includes all deliveries):
After
the delivery of your baby, you will be transferred to the Mother-Baby unit. A typical
stay following cesarean delivery is 3-4 days.
Your discharge instructions will be tailored to your needs and those of
your baby.
Pharmacy
Services
If
you have prescription needs when you leave the hospital, you may have them
filled at the Health Center Pharmacy on the third floor of the ACC. Please note that narcotic prescriptions for
Patient
Responsibilities
Follow
the eating and drinking guidelines given to you.
Bring
any paper work requested of you.
Shower
or bathe the night before and again the day of surgery with an antibacterial soap
(Dial). Remove all makeup and nail
polish.
Bring
eyeglass case or contact lens case if you wear corrective lenses.
Please
leave all valuables, money, and jewelry at home. Remove rings (belly button, tongue, nipple
and finger).
Follow
the instructions you were given regarding your medications. Bring inhalers, nebulizers, and insulin to
the hospital.
Please arrive
promptly
at your scheduled time. Being late can
postpone or cancel the surgery.
If
this is an outpatient surgery, arrange to have a responsible adult bring you
home and stay with you overnight.
Notify
your doctor if you become ill before the surgery, or develop a blemish, cut,
rash, or abrasion on or around the operative area.
Bring
your infant car seat and any packed essentials for you and your baby.
If,
because of religious beliefs, you do not wish to receive blood or blood
products during your surgery, please discuss this with your doctor and
anesthesiologist before surgery.
Residents
/ Interns / Students
Fletcher
Allen Health Care is a teaching hospital and it is likely you will have
residents, medical students, and student nurses as a part of your health care
team. Your physician (or group) is fully
responsible for and in charge of your care. If you have any questions regarding the role
of your physician as a teacher, please discuss this with them.
Local
Accommodations
Please
click
here for local lodging information.
Publication
Date
Ownership
: Birthing Center Operations Committee, 3/2005
Updated: 9/30/05, 9/10/06