[blparent] Challenges with hospital

Wed May 26 23:08:01 UTC 2010

The hospital where I delivered my first child, where I ran into trouble with 
the staff, was a very large hospital, and I did my tour of the birthing 
center with my birthing class, so there was a whole group of us.  I didn't 
know any of the staff when I went in to have the baby, except for the young 
resident doctor who had seen me a few times during my prenatal care.  It was 
a teaching clinic, and I saw many different doctors throughout my pregnancy 
and never established any kind of relationship with any of them.  I didn't 
know them and they didn't know me.
With my second and third, I went in alone to tour the birthing center (I had 
my husband with me both times, but I mean I was not in a group.)  I spoke to 
the staff and let them know what I would need when I went in, and what I 
could manage on my own.  I assured them that I would ask for help if I 
needed it.  They were both smaller hospitals, so I knew that my messages 
would be easily passed throughout the staff in the maternity ward.  I also 
asked my doctor, who I saw every time and who knew me very well, to assure 
them all that I was capable of handling everything just like any other 
mother.  Obviously, after my experience with my first child, I was much more 
prepared for what might happen the second and third time around.
Maybe the NFB should compile a list of mentors who are blind parents, who 
could help new parents prepare for child birth.  I know I certainly could 
have used someone to talk to who had been in my shoes.
Leanne
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Jo Elizabeth Pinto" <jopinto at pcdesk.net>
To: "NFBnet Blind Parents Mailing List" <blparent at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Wednesday, May 26, 2010 3:59 PM
Subject: Re: [blparent] Challenges with hospital


>I agree.  I know nothing of the history of this family, but I can't suggest 
>strongly enough that a blind mom or couple should check out the hospital 
>where the birth will take place well beforehand.  I went in with a bunch of 
>questions, basically to find out if the nurses, doctors, social workers, or 
>anybody else would have a problem with a blind mother taking a baby home 
>after delivery.  The supervisor of the prenatal clinic sent out an e-mail 
>to all of the involved staff, stating when I would be expected in, and 
>putting the position of the hospital in writing, that there was officially 
>no problem with my situation.  One of the doctors did ask if I would have 
>help at home, but I assumed he probably asked that of most or all of the 
>women he attended because it really is important to get a support system in 
>place for any new mom.  So I said yes, I would have help, which I did have, 
>though not 24/7, and that was the end of the discussion.  I can't stress 
>enough that conditions vary from hospital to hospital, and if you don't 
>like the answers you get when checking a place out, move on and find 
>somewhere you can be comfortable.
>
> Jo Elizabeth
> --------------------------------------------------
> From: "Karla Hudson" <HudsonKC at msu.edu>
> Sent: Wednesday, May 26, 2010 1:23 PM
> To: <blparent at nfbnet.org>
> Subject: [blparent] Challenges with hospital
>
>> Hi Group,
>>
>> I have been watching the posts regarding the family who may have taken 
>> their
>> baby away by CPS. I have mentioned this before on this list. When I had 
>> my
>> first child I had an interesting experience with hospital nurse with 28 
>> year
>> of experience. The hospital Social Worker also offered us WIC when we 
>> were
>> totally not qualified. I believe these individuals have an interest in
>> protecting the child. I am thinking they just do not know exactly what to
>> protect them from when it comes to blind people. They make all kinds of
>> assumptions as they are unable to believe that they themselves could care
>> for a child without sight.
>>
>> Also, I think as persons who are blind we need to become better at lying.
>> When asked if I would have sighted help at home with my baby I lied and
>> indicated that I would have such help. The joke was on them as the friend
>> who came to help me was also blind and happened to be on staff at the
>> hospital. Anyway, after all the annoying challenges the hospital put my 
>> way
>> I finally wrote a letter to the CEO a few months after my daughter was 
>> born.
>> Well, the Social worker had to contact me and apologized. Did I let her 
>> off
>> the hook? No, she received a lecture from me regarding the importance of
>> reviewing the file before making assumptions. She would have seen there 
>> that
>> we did not qualify for WIC and that our OBGYN wrote a note indicating 
>> that
>> we were extremely independent and prepared to have our child.
>>
>> So this can happen to the best and most independent of blind individuals.
>>
>> Karla
>>
>>
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>
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