Obstetrical Emergency Department (OBED)

Specialized Emergency Antepartum and Postpartum Care

Norman Regional Hospital has an Obstetrical Emergency Department (OBED) to elevate the standard of care in its Labor and Delivery triage area.

During the course of a pregnancy, a woman (20 weeks of gestation or above) may be referred to or seek care at the OBED for evaluation and/or treatment of potential urgent medical conditions.

The elevated level of care at our OBED allows for a patient and her unborn child to be evaluated by a physician, who is a board-certified OB hospitalist, 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

The OB hospitalist will work closely with the patient’s OB-GYN and the nursing staff to assess her condition, discuss her care options, and provide appropriate treatment.

All unscheduled labor and delivery patients should use the Emergency Entrance located on the south side of Norman Regional Hospital.

Please note that insurance carriers will process any visits to the OBED as an emergency room visit, subject to any co-pays, co-insurance, or other applicable fees under a patient’s policy.

Postpartum Concerns

The OBED also treats postpartum patients up to six weeks postpartum with specific conditions.

Post-Birth Warning Signs

There are multiple post-birth warning signs. Some require calling 911, while some may just require a call to your healthcare provider.

Call 911 if you are postpartum and experiencing:

• Chest pain
• Obstructed breathing or shortness of breath
• Seizures
• Thoughts of hurting yourself or your baby

Call your OB-GYN if you:

• Are bleeding, soaking through one pad an hour, or passing blood clots the size of an egg or bigger
• Have an incision that is not healing
• Have a red or swollen leg that is painful or warm to the touch
• Have a temperature of 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit or higher
• Have a headache that does not get better after taking medicine, or a bad headache with vision changes

Where to Go

If you cannot reach your healthcare provider, go to urgent care, the emergency department, or call 911.
You can refer to this page for information to help you decide where to go for same day care.

If you end up calling 911, or visiting either urgent care or the ER, be specific. Tell the 911 dispatcher or your healthcare clinician, “I had a baby on [this date] and I am [having these specific warning signs].”

The Blue Band Program

The Blue Band Program is a program where labor and delivery patients who are diagnosed during their hospital stay with high blood pressure issues, such as preeclampsia, gestational hypertension, or chronic hypertension, are given a blue wristband they are instructed to wear up to six weeks postpartum.

The labor and delivery staff have worked closely with the emergency department to ensure all staff are familiar with these programs and any patients presenting with post-birth warning signs, symptoms, or who are wearing a blue band are evaluated promptly.