Maternity Floor?!?!

I have read several Hysterstories where ladies were put on the maternity floor while in hospital. Is this a normal practice?? That is kind of rubbing it in your face when your door is open and you can stare right down to the nursery or hear the brand new babies crying. I don't know if this is easier for the older ladies here to deal with (?) but in my case I am 31 and didn't excpect not to have another bambino (3 already..LOL) and this would just really be too much to handle. I will be sure to ask about this when I check in.

Hi Nicole,
I am in Missouri also. I wasn't on the maternity floor when I had my surgery.
I didn't even think about being put there to recover. I hope everything works out great for you and if you think of anymore questions let us know.
Take care.
Kim

My recovery was in the "women's pavillion" of my local hospital, which includes maternity. I actually asked if I'd be able to have my room there because it's a fairly new wing with VERY nice rooms. Every room is private and large. I imagine it might be hard for some people to be by the nursery, but for me it was okay. I already have 2 lovely boys and was happy to be rid of my fibroid plagued uterus.

Nicole,

I can understand why this would upset you. Your Dr will know which floor you will be put on. Since it is important to you, why not call his office and ask? Let them now how important it is to you. It just might make a difference I wouldn't wait until check-in, as you might not have a choice at that point.

I wish you the best. Also, would you mind adding your hysterectomy date to your profile? That will help you get the best support.

s,
Kay

Hi Kay, thank I will ask at my pre-op with my GYN. I would LOVE to add a surgery date! I had my appmt yesterday to get that set up but ended up having to see the URO/Gyn that will do the bladder part first and then they can get their schedules matched up! Thanks for the info....

This is something I'm going to ask about, too. I'm having my surgery at the same hospital where I had both of my babies. There is a women's hosptial attached to the main hospital, and this is the whole materinity section. On one side, like what another posted said, the rooms in the women's hospital of the hospital I'm going to have my surgery at are very nice rooms, and they are all private rooms, and I'd love to have my own room (I'm going to request it for sure). However, I have thought about how it might be strange to be on the same area where not only people are having babies and with their brand new babies, but it's also the same wing of the hospital where I had both my babies. Kind of like the place of "the beginning and the end".... but like one poster said, I'm so happy with both my children, and we are done, and I'm so at peace about this surgery, so if I do end up in the women's hospital for recovery, I'm fine with it. I've prepared my mind for it. But, I'm definitely going to ask my doctor IF that is where I'll be so mentally I'll be prepared for it.

I would definitely call your doctor's office and ask, and put in a request for a different area of the hospital if that is what you think you'd be most comfortable with.

I'm sure most doctors would be sensitive to this issue.... at least I'd hope they would be. :-)

Good luck!!

I had also heard that they sometimes put hysterectomy patients on the maternity ward and that didn't appeal to me at all.

I asked and my surgeon always puts his patients on the "surgical" floor.

I had read here that you can ask for a private room, and I did ask, and I got one I was so relieved about that. I was at the end of the hall, no interruptions unless it was something for me. It's worth asking for.

Good luck to you

I asked for a private room and didnt get one, they even had to move me to the maternity floor after 36 hours due to the lack of care on the floor I was on originally..

I live in a VERY rural area, but only 5 miles from the castle. I was on the maternity floor, at the very end in a private room. (all the rooms were private on this floor) The nursery was in another area of the hospital. Maybe once they get the addition completed this will change.
My MD stated the only time he would not put his patients there is if it would cause severe emotional trauma. His reason for putting many of his hyster patients there made alot of sense. The nurses on maternity floors are better experienced with the type of care that is necessary for hysterectomy patients.(incisions/movement) Considering 2 of my nurses were fellow hystersisters I would definitely agree. They assisted me in ways that even surprised my MD.
I would also have to add, although I did see one patient "doing laps" pre delivery I did not here one single baby cry during my stay. I don't believe that any hospital would even think of putting a "new mom" in the same room with a "hyster sister". But I do know from previous stays in the maternity ward, if your roommate complicates your recovery they will move one or the other patients.

I was originally intended to be housed on the maternity floor post-op, but I stayed too long in recovery. Instead, I ended up on the pediatric floor, complete with a crib in my room! Once I arrived and started to be aware of my bearings, someone asked me if I was ok with the crib being there, or if I needed it removed. I'm not so sure that's the best question to ask the patient - I'm almost thinking it would be better to ask whomever is accompanying the patient, or just realize that a crib could be upsetting so it's best to remove it before the patient is wheeled in. The room didn't have the maternity or peds decor, at least, but there was what sounded like newborn in a room just up the hall and I could hear it crying. Frequently.

I suspect that they use maternity because the nurses there might be more familiar with patients who have had uterine work, from all the c-sections. Well, in general, the nurses there are more familiar with women's health issues, to say the least.

Peds didn't seem to know what to do with me, they didn't even have an abdominal binder to give me... they had to send someone to a different floor for one! I suspected they had to go to a separate floor for my meds, too, because it often took them a long time to fetch them. Once I finally got cleared for solid food, dietary unfortunately hadn't had the message and they sent me liquid diet - when I told the nurses, they came in very apologetic with a tray... they had to bring me a child's diced dinner.