BTDT Moms - Labor in the hospital?

When I am in labor and in the hospital (you know, pre delivery, pre pushing, which I know could potentially take HOURS upon HOURS of labor)

what actually is going on in the room?? Are nurses or doctors in there the whole time? Or just every so often checking up on things seeing the progression?

and can other people be in there besides DH? Like can my mom and/or MIL be hanging out w/me in there too?

Is only one person allowed by my bedside at a time? (DH has this idea that one side is completely inaccessible, so if my mom wanted to hold my hand, or comfort me, he'd have to be pushed aside...he's so annoying)

I'll be at St. Catherine's hospital, so anyone who's delivered there can probably give me more specifics, but I'm sure there are lots of similarities between this process in any hospital...

any insight would help!! thanks!

Re: BTDT Moms - Labor in the hospital?

Where I delivered I was allowed to have 2 people in the room at a time but I only wanted DH there. There was a nurse there most of the time and my doctor kept coming in and out to check on me. I was only in L & D for like 5 hours so not sure how it is if you are there for a long time - like if the nurse leaves, etc...

Re: BTDT Moms - Labor in the hospital?

thanks! ok so DH can stay whole time and if moms want to come in, they can rotate

i guess it's just television when you watch a baby story and stuff like that and there's like 5 diff ppl in the room w/the mom!!!

Re: BTDT Moms - Labor in the hospital?

I really dont know about this but I am thinking that each hospital is different and may allow different amounts of people in with you. Some are a lot more strict.

Re: BTDT Moms - Labor in the hospital?

When I delivered in Winthrop (March 2010) 2 people were allowed in the room at a time. My mom would just go out in the waiting area when other family members came to visit. I was in the room laboring for about 20 hours. The time I was in there, the nurses would just come in to monitor me every so often and take blood and my OB popped by to check on me. They had me hooked up to the machine to monitor my contractions and DS's heart rate the whole time.