Happy Minot Monday! After a couple weeks off, to celebrate the arrival of our new little one, I’m thrilled to be back. Today I’m sharing my Minot labor and delivery experience. Minot Monday is made possible through a partnership with BeLocal Minot. For more on living and thriving like a local be sure to read their publication and follow them on Facebook and Instagram.
If you follow along with me on Instagram or Facebook (which you totally should, because it’s super fun) you have seen lots of pregnancy content lately. Just over two weeks ago our family welcomed a new addition. COVID-19 has led to the cancellation of labor and delivery unit tours. Today I’m sharing my Minot labor and delivery experience with you. It’s not the same as an in person tour, but if you are expecting and this is your first time delivering in Minot I hope this will set your mind at ease and answer a few questions.
Checking In To Have a Baby
I’m sure your OB will tell you this, but I’ll reiterate. When it’s time to have your baby, go in to the Trinity ER. Park across the street (Burdick Expwy), right across from the ambulance bay.
Check in at the General Admissions desk. Walk in through the main ER door and walk straight ahead. There’s a big sign above it.
Staff will get you set up. Then you can head up to the 3rd Floor.
Visitors
Visitors are checked in at the admissions desk. They’ll receive a PIN number to access the labor and delivery unit. Nearby, there is a kiosk where they’ll have a quick photo taken and receive a visitor pass. (More on COVID restrictions for visitors in the COVID section of this post.)
Minot Labor and Delivery Rooms
Due to a minor complication, I deliver via C-Section. (We’ll discuss that in just a bit.) Because of this, I didn’t spend much time in a delivery room. This was simply where we “checked in” and I got monitored and changed for surgery. However, I do have a photo of the room for you. (This was taken when I was hospitalized at the end of September for abdominal pain, which turned out to be renal-related.)
These rooms are private, and all but a couple have a private bath as well. There’s a bed, chair and TV. Besides that, it’s equipped for laboring.
Recovery Rooms
On the “other side” of the Labor and Delivery Unit are recovery rooms. These rooms are also private and most have their own full bathroom. (My understanding is that rooms without a full bathroom have a private half-bath, but share a shower.)
In addition to the bathroom there is a sink in the room and TV. Sleeping/visiting accommodations for your partner is a recliner. Derek spent one night in the hospital with me and said it was surprisingly comfortable.
Things Provided, Things You Need
There’s very little that you need in your hospital bag. Most things just make your stay a little more comfortable. The hospital provides the basics.
When I delivered our firstborn, we lived in South Dakota. Items provided were slightly different. To accurately prepare your expectations, here is what was provided at Trinity and what we found helpful to bring from home.
Things Provided:
- Hospital gown
- Hospital robe
- Non-slip Socks
- Mesh underwear (flattering for every body type)
- Abdominal binder
- Newborn diapers
- Wipes
- Receiving blankets
- Classic pink and blue hat
- Big plastic cup for ice water
- Small snacks and juice available from the nurse’s station
- Meals available from the cafeteria (7am-7pm), with room delivery
- Pads
- Towels
- Ice packs
- Heating pad
- Baby bathing supplies
- Supplemental formula, if needed
- Pump attachments/syringes if needed for pumping colostrum
- Lanolin upon request
- Lactation support, if needed
Helpful Things I Brought From Home
- Bathrobe (something that fits better than the one-sized hospital robe–for me it was less of a tripping hazard)
- Toiletries
- Pajamas
- Breast pump (both my littles had a tough time breastfeeding at first, I used my pump in the hospital and returned to breastfeeding after about a week)
- Baby clothes/hat (we brought a hat that stayed on a bit better than the one from the hospital)
- Phone, headphones, charger
- Face mask
- Car seat
Minot Labor and Delivery and COVID-19
COVID-19 has brought changes to everything. Having a baby is no exception. Here are a few ways labor and delivery stays are affected by COVID.
- Limit to one visitor. Not one visitor at a time–only one authorized, designated visitor per patient is allowed.
- Water and ice is brought in a new cup each time you need a refill–then you can put it in your cup. If you’ve got a water bottle you love, feel free to bring it from home.
- Visitors are asked to wear their mask at all times, even in patient room.
- Patients are expected to wear a mask in halls and common spaces.
- Staff wear masks at all times.
C-Section Notes
My delivery happened via C-Section. Here are a couple notes on my experience.
- You’ll check in, get changed and monitored in a labor room then be taken down to the OR.
- Your partner will join you in the OR after your spinal tap has been administered.
- After delivery, if the baby is healthy, you may do skin-to-skin while the doctor finishes the procedure.
- Photos are allowed in the OR, but not of the procedure or staff performing the procedure
- A kind member of staff offered to take a couple photos for us
- After the procedure your partner and baby will go up to recovery. You’ll join them there once a bit of the spinal tap has worn off.
A Thank You To The Staff
In my opinion, giving birth (no matter how it happens) is intimidating. I can’t say enough good things about the staff at Minot Labor and Delivery. They were harrowing to me in September when I had mysterious and excruciating pain (which turned out to be renal clots.) On delivery day, they helped me feel comfortable from start to finish.
The staff who prepped me for surgery were amazing. Especially since I was pretty nervous. (A couple even told me they followed my IG account–which was so fun to hear!) Everyone downstairs was so kind and helpful. Everyone in the OR was equally amazing. All were professional, skilled and had exceptional bedside manner.
Upstairs in recovery I had another set of amazing nurses. They gave me brilliant care. In the night after my C-Section pain management became a problem. (I was unable to receive traditional pain treatments.) While I literally cried out in pain, my nurse, Betty totally showed up and took charge. I was in good, capable hands and you will be too.
To everyone, who had a hand in my care–and my wonderful OB, Dr. Johnson–thank you, thank you from the bottom of my heart. You cared for me during some of my hardest, most important days. You got my sweet Silas into this world safely and our family home and healthy together.
For More Minot and Encouragement
For more on life in Minot, see the Minot archives here–and be sure to follow me on Instagram and Facebook. There I share daily encouragement for living intentionally and positively. And for even more Minot favorites and insight on living like a local be sure to follow BeLocal Minot!
