Sad but true, many people who enter the hospital don't come back home and it's not from their original illness many times. Since the majority of women in the United States still give birth in the hospital, it's important to know what you can do to lower your risk of getting an unnecessary infection or illness. Recently CNN hosted an article on hospital caused infections and patient empowerment. After their son died, the Nahums started the Safe Care Campaign.

"Nahum says it all boils down to this: Passivity kills. 'People need to start participating instead of just being spectators when it comes to their medical care,' she says. 'You need to do your due diligence.'"

So advice for those having their babies in the hospital? Here are few tips from various sources:

• Stay home as long as possible and go home as soon as you can. The less time you're there, the less contact you have with potential infectious sources.

• Avoid surgery when you can. Hire a doula. Take childbirth classes and consider VBAC. All of these will lower your risks of having a cesarean section, which can lead to as many as 20% of women leaving with an infection.

• If you have cesarean surgery, stay warm before surgery and during surgery with blankets. If your surgery is planned ahead of time, ask if you should be washing your skin with a special soap in the days before surgery. Also ask them to use clippers and not a razor for any shaving of your pubic hair.

• If you have a catheter, get it out as quickly as possible. While a bed pan isn't fun, it's safer, infection wise, than a catheter.

• Have people wash their hands before they touch you or your baby. Some hospitals will allow their staff to handle babies without gloves after the baby has been bathed (to protect the staff from your amniotic fluid hazards). You and your baby deserve the same safety. This can help prevent cross-contamination from other babies and mothers.

Related:

Informed Consent | Patient Rights and Responsibilities | Birth Plans