[blparent] Challenges with hospital

Wed May 26 23:11:36 UTC 2010

I think the mentoring idea is really great!  I know I would have felt good 
about talking to someone, and I would also be glad to have contact with 
younger moms in my area if they needed it.

Jo Elizabeth

--------------------------------------------------
From: "Leanne Merren" <leemer02 at gmail.com>
Sent: Wednesday, May 26, 2010 5:08 PM
To: "NFBnet Blind Parents Mailing List" <blparent at nfbnet.org>
Subject: Re: [blparent] Challenges with hospital

> 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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>
>
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