I also have been concerned about the combined LDRP rooms and their effect on
women who want to be noisy in labour.

Our local hospital's current labour & delivery area is separate from the
post-partum area, and has a long hall that I find very helpful for walking
with women in labour (when I'm working as a doula). It is quite private and
I think many people find that helpful.

However, the hospital is completely renovating the whole area, and now we'll
have (guess what) LDRP rooms instead. Pediatrics will also be in the same
area. So everyone coming in to visit children in pediatrics or mothers with
new babies will need to check in at the reception desk - which is right
across the hall - not very far - from the first LDRP room.

When I mentioned my concern about this to the supervisor, I was told that
the plan is to put "noisier women" in the back rooms, further away from
reception. (I can just envision this scene "do you plan to be noisy or quiet
during this labour? Noisy? Fine, you're assigned to the back hall.") I asked
about how women who want to walk in labour will feel about going down the
hall filled with visiting co-workers who've come to see a newborn baby, kids
from pediatrics, etc. Her response was that if they wanted to walk they
could walk in their rooms. (Have you been in any of these rooms? More like
marching on the spot.)

Our epidural rate fluctuates, but is around 60%. I wonder what it will be
once the new rooms are in place. Stay tuned.

Teresa Pitman
LLL Leader, Oakville, Ontario, Canada