Hospital-Based Procedures
Labor and Delivery
Vaginal Delivery
Contractions will signal the beginning of labor. In the first stages, your cervix opens (dilates) and it also becomes thinner (effacement). Delivery of your baby during vaginal delivery starts when your cervix is fully dilated. Shortly after your baby’s scalp comes into view (crowning), your baby will be born, followed by the placenta.
Labor and post-delivery instructions.
Cesarean Section
 |
If, for some reason, you need to deliver your baby surgically (cesarean section), typically you will receive anesthesia to block the nerves from your waist down so you can remain awake and feel no pain during the delivery of your baby. The doctor makes an incision in your abdomen and uterus and delivers the baby and placenta.
Depending upon your situation, if you have future pregnancies, you may or may not be able to deliver vaginally. Your doctor will provide this information to you.
C-section, post C-section instructions. |
Induced Labor
 Your doctor may decide that you and your baby would benefit from delivering sooner rather than later. If so, she may schedule a date to induce your labor. Some reasons for inducing labor:
- There's an infection in your uterus.
- Your baby has stopped growing at the expected pace.
- There's not enough amniotic fluid surrounding the baby
- You're one to two weeks beyond your due date, and labor hasn't started naturally.
- Your water has broken, but you're not having contractions. .
- Your placenta has begun to deteriorate or separate from the wall of your uterus.
- You have a medical condition that may put you or your baby at risk, such as high blood pressure or diabetes.
Ob-Gyne Associates of Libertyville physicians have staff privileges at Condell Medical Center, Libertyvllle, and Lake Forest Hospital, Lake Forest, IL. Here are links to their Maternity Centers, which include a wide variety of childbirth preparation education as well as information on their facilities:
http://www.condell.org/women/maternity/
http://www.lfh.org/content.cfm/obstetrics_maternity_womens
Induction Instructions
Hysterectomy
 A hysterectomy is a surgical procedure to completely or partially remove the uterus. An oophorectomy is a procedure to remove the ovaries. A salpingectomy is a procedure to remove the fallopian tubes. This procedure is performed in the hospital. The type of hysterectomy your doctor will recommend will depend upon your specific condition and medical history. Some options include: removal of organs through an incision in the abdomen, a vaginal incision, or by using a laparoscope (see information on Laparoscopy below).
If non-surgical treatment options exist for your condition, your doctor will discuss those with you. Each case is different and requires consultation with your doctor. She will recommend a therapy plan designed to meet your needs with the greatest likelihood for the best outcome for you.
Some reasons hysterectomy may be recommended:
 For more information on hysterectomy:
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/hysterectomy/HQ00905
http://www.acog.org/publications/patient_education/bp008.cfm
http://www.acog.org/publications/patient_education/bp080.cfm
If you are scheduled to have a hysterectomy:
Patient Instructions and Consent Forms
Abdominal Hysterectomy Pre-Op Instructions
Abdominal Hysterectomy Post-Op Instructions
Laparoscopic Hysterectomy Pre-Op Instructions
Laparoscopic Hysterectomy Post-Op Instructions
Vaginal Hysterectomy Pre-Op Instructions
Vaginal Hysterectomy Post-Op Instructions
Physicians perform hysterectomy – the surgical removal of the uterus – to treat a wide variety of uterine conditions. Each year in the U.S. alone, doctors perform approximately 600,000 hysterectomies, making it the second most common surgical procedure.
Learn more about our hysterectomy procedures here
Laparoscopy
A laparoscope is a small telescope, which your doctor inserts into your abdomen through a small incision (cut). It brings light into the abdomen so she can see inside. Laparoscopy is typically done on an outpatient basis, not requiring an overnight hospital stay. . It has taken the place of surgery in some cases and offers the benefits of fewer problems and shorter recovery.
 Laparoscopy can be useful in diagnosing and treating many gynecologic problems, such as:
- Endometriosis -- Tissue like endometrium (the lining of the uterus) growing in places outside of the uterus, which can cause pain, scar tissue, and infertility.
- Adhesions -- Tissues that stick together and form scar tissues, typically due to infection, endometriosis, or surgery.
- Fibroids -- Growths that form on the inside, outside, or within the wall of the uterus.
- Ovarian cysts – Fluid-filled sacs that your doctor may recommend removing if they are causing menstrual disorders or infertility. Others are harmless and may disappear over time.
- Hysterectomy -- The laparoscope can be used in removal of the uterus and/or ovaries.
- Tubal Ligation – Cutting, clipping, or cauterizing the fallopian tubes as a permanent method of birth control.
- Ectopic Pregnancy – Embryo attaches to the fallopian tube rather than the uterus, causing tube rupture and abdominal bleeding. Laparoscopy can be used to remove the ruptured fallopian tube.
How Laparoscopy is Performed
The typical pelvic laparoscopy involves a small (1/2" to 3/4") incision in the belly button or lower abdomen. The abdominal cavity is filled with carbon dioxide. Carbon dioxide causes the abdomen to swell which lifts the abdominal wall away from the internal organs, so the doctor has more room to work.
Next, a laparoscope (a one-half inch fiber-optic rod with a light source and video camera) is inserted through the belly button. The video camera permits the surgeon to see inside the abdominal area on video monitors located in the operating room.
Depending on the reason for the laparoscopy, the physician may perform surgery through the laparoscope by inserting various instruments into the laparoscope while using the video monitor as a guide.
For more information on Gynecological Hysteroscopy:
http://www.acog.org/publications/patient_education/bp061.cfm
If you are scheduled for a laparoscopy:
Patient Instructions and Consent Forms
Laparoscopy Post-Op Instructions
Other Hospital-Based Procedures
If you are scheduled for a procedure at the hospital not listed above, below is a link to the patient education library on the website of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. You will likely find information on your procedure here:
http://www.acog.org/publications/patient_education/
|
