Preventing Infection in Labor and Childbirth
Ways Parents-to-be can Protect Mother and Baby From Illness at Birth
Apr 13, 2009
Some hospitals have recognized that childbirth is not a form of illness or disease and should not be managed in the same building with sick patients. However, most hospitals do not have a separate building for labor and delivery, postpartum, and nursery wards. This makes the wards susceptible to contamination of viruses and bacterias that are spread by hospital staff, shared equipment and tools.
It is also likely that the parents-to-be or the new baby will come in contact with someone ill during a hospital stay. Parents can ask friends and family members to avoid visiting in the hospital or at home if symptoms of a cold or flu exist to cut the risks of passing it on to the mom and new baby.
MRSA at Boston Hospital
A Boston area hospital, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, received a citation from the State’s Bureau of Health Care Safety and Quality in April 2009. According to a report by local radio station WBUR, 18 mothers and 19 infants had contracted methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, or MRSA. This form of staph is resistant to the standard broad-spectrum antibiotics that are used to treat it.
For these mothers and infants this infection has turned into mastitis and diaper rashes. About a third of the patients with MRSA had to return to the hospital for treatments.
Prevention Before Labor
The expectant couple should plan to bolster their immune systems in the final weeks of pregnancy as the best defense against illness and infection. Ask a nutritionist or naturopathic doctor for dietary and supplement suggestions that are safe during pregnancy.
Many people suggest washing hands and body with castile soap to help maintain a natural skin pH level. A bar of soap can be packed in the mother’s bag along with preferred waterless hand sanitizers.
Any cuts or open wounds should be cleaned and bandaged before going to the hospital. Even small cuts, such as a paper cut on the hand, can be an opening for bacteria or a virus to enter the body. Keep it clean and protected from exposure.
Steps to Protect the Mother During Labor
There are many interventions that can pose a risk of infection to the mother so here are some steps to prevention during labor:
- Keep the vaginal exams to a minimum – the fewer foreign objects introduced to the birth canal during labor the less chance of infection to the mother and baby. This includes both hospital contaminants and any existing bacterium or virus that is on the mother’s skin.
- Request that the hospital staff wash their hands before touching the mother, every time.
- The nurse and/or doctor should be wearing a full gown, gloves and mask when performing invasive tasks such as inserting a bladder catheter.
- Anyone that enters the room should thoroughly wash his hands before touching the mother or her partner.
- Partners and family members that are sick should avoid exposure to the mother – ask for a face mask to contain sneezing and coughing if the person cannot do so themselves.
- Cover or disinfect surfaces that the mother's exposed skin comes in contact with, such as placing a sheet over the birth ball.
Hand Washing Safety
The mother's personal attendants, her partner, the birth doula and any family members should consider these guidelines for proper hand washing:
- Roll up the sleeves to expose the wrists and hands
- Rinse the hands with warm water then apply soap
- Briskly scrub the hands for as long as it takes to hum “Happy Birthday to you”
- Rinse and dry the hands with a disposable towel
- Use a second towel to turn off the sink faucet and open the bathroom door
Consider every surface in the hospital as contaminated – after touching any surface wash the hands thoroughly before touching the eyes, mouth, nose or other orifices.
Resources:
- Beth Israel Deaconess Cited for Infection Control Problems by Sacha Pfeiffer, April 10, 2009, WBUR
- MRSA infection by Mayo Clinic staff
 |
