Serving Whitman County since 1877
Serving Whitman County since 1877
There is a new freedom in the birthing process at Whitman Hospital. Last November, the hospital received a General Electric mini-telemetry system and put it to use after the first of the year.
The four by eight-inch device gives mothers the ability to be up and more mobile during the labor process. Before, an expectant mother had six feet of room, allowed by cords which connect to her and a stationary unit.
Now, with the battery-powered mini-telemetry system, the mother wears the device around her neck or hangs it from an I.V. pole. The system transmits the baby’s heart rate and the mother’s labor and contraction patterns wirelessly to monitors at the nursing station.
“It’s very easy for anyone to tag along with them,” said Cristi Schindler, obstetrics coordinator for Whitman County Hospital. “Patients have been very happy with the results, as opposed to being literally tied to the bed.”
The device, which costs between $5,000 and $6,000, was introduced to the market in August of last year.
“The great thing is that we could use this with the monitor we already own,” said Shindler.
The hospital has one device for two labor/delivery rooms.
Shindler said that since not every mother needs to be continually monitored, it’s not rare for one mother to go without the device when both rooms are occupied.
On average, 50 to 55 babies are born per year at Whitman Hospital.
“It’s been a great asset from both the nurses’ standpoint and the patients’,” said Shindler.
Garth Meyer is a former Whitman County Gazette reporter.
Reader Comments(0)