Y2K Birth Fears
Dateline: 11/29/99As the end of 1999 approaches there seems to be a lot of concern about the technologic readiness of hospitals in conjunction with the predicted Y2K Baby Boom.
You can't seem to turn on your television or pick up the paper without someone shouting that doomsday is upon us.
For the moms who are due in late December and early January these fears become bigger because they are concerned about their health and the health of their baby.
While some television crews will be out scouring labor wards for the millennium baby, there are many organizations who have assured us that all will be well in the hospital scene at the time of birth.
The American Hospital Association and others say that many hospitals have been ready for Y2K since 1997. Many are worried about more than just the hospital in general, but the specific medical equipment that they might need.
The biggest issue for many women is the fetal monitoring equipment used in many hospitals today. These are usually run on electrical current and not by battery. Fetal monitoring in labor by machine is actually not the first choice of many organizations who have argued about computer error for years. The best way to monitor a baby is actually by auscultation, a person listening with a stethoscope or fetoscope. "Know that your baby will be safe with a human being on the other end," reminds one labor and delivery nurse. "We're used to monitoring babies without monitors, even if most people aren't used to seeing it."
Epidural and other medication pumps are another fear for women due in this time frame. Personally I can say that all of the pumps in my local hospitals have had "Y2K Compliant" stickers for over a year. The good news about these pumps is that they can be run either by electricity or by battery.
Despite the big hype the majority of hospitals, birth centers and practitioners are not reporting record highs in the numbers of pregnant women due at this time of year. Although some doulas (professional labor support) are reporting higher client loads due to fears of the unavailability of medications and/or staff.
Overcrowding is the last big issue facing the would-be Y2K families. Since we know that due dates are merely guesses, it's unlikely that women will all just spontaneously go into labor on 01/01/00. Due to the added health risks to mom and baby, the use of induction simply for this date will hopefully not be seen.
In response to the large number of media calls about inductions on December 31st, The American College of OB/GYNs had this to say, "The vast majority of labor inductions are, and should only be, administered when medically indicated. Inducing labor to meet some arbitrary millennial timeline is frivolous and certainly would not be considered a valid indication to preserve the mother's and newborn's health."
Women who are at higher risk of complications and those scheduling cesareans may be advised to avoid inductions and cesareans on this day for a variety of reasons, if medically possible. However, these reasons are not computer or mechanical in nature.
Tips for Millennium Moms
Just like the Boy Scout motto says, "Be prepared." Wise words for would-be moms.
- Talk to your midwife or doctor about plans for emergencies.
- Take a tour or call the hospital or birth center, if you're not having a homebirth. Ask about specific concerns that you have.
- For those having a homebirth talk to your midwife or doctor about plans they have. Ask if the have equipment that might be effected. Order your birth kit early to avoid holiday shipping delays.
- Read about Emergency Birth in case you get caught alone or outside of your birth place.
- Hire extra labor support.
- Read about pain relief alternatives in case medications aren't available.
Birth really will be a natural process for the majority of women. Women have been giving birth without the aid of machines since the beginning of time. However, there are no expected machine failures for birthing women.
Remember why you got pregnant? You wanted another baby. Y2K aside, you still get that baby, which is the best prize of all.
