If you’ve spent more than five minutes on the "nursing side" of TikTok, you already know Jen Hamilton. She’s the labor and delivery nurse who managed to make the terrifying world of hospital births feel... well, manageable. But lately, there’s been a specific phrase circulating through her community and the wider birth-worker world: read the red words Jen Hamilton fans often cite. It sounds like some cryptic code from a spy novel, right? Honestly, it’s much more practical—and potentially life-saving—than that.
Labor is messy. It’s loud, it’s unpredictable, and it’s arguably the most vulnerable a human being can ever be. When Jen talks about "reading the red words," she’s tapping into a vital piece of advocacy that many patients don’t even realize they’re allowed to do.
What Does "Read the Red Words" Actually Mean?
In a hospital setting, your medical chart is your life story in digital form. Most hospitals use software like Epic or Cerner. If you’ve ever glanced at a nurse's computer screen (come on, we all do it), you’ll see a sea of black text, blue links, and then—glaringly—the red.
Red words in a medical chart usually signify allergies, high-risk flags, or "Hard Stops."
Jen Hamilton has built a massive platform by demystifying these clinical barriers. When she advocates for patients to understand their own data, she’s pushing back against the old-school "doctor knows best" mentality. For a long time, the medical establishment kept the "red words" behind a curtain. You were just a passenger in the birth process. Jen’s whole vibe is: "Hey, it’s your body. Look at the screen."
The Power of the Patient Portal
Most people don't realize they have a legal right to see their records in real-time. Thanks to the 21st Century Cures Act, those notes that doctors used to hide are now largely available on your phone via apps like MyChart.
When people search for "read the red words Jen Hamilton," they are often looking for the courage to ask, "Wait, why is that flagged in red?" It could be a penicillin allergy you outgrew at age five, or it could be a "Late Deceleration" warning on a fetal heart monitor.
Knowing the difference is everything.
Why Jen Hamilton’s Approach Hits Different
Let’s be real: medical influencers can be annoying. They’re often too polished or too "corporate." Jen is the opposite. She’s usually wearing scrubs, maybe some messy hair, and she talks to the camera like she’s whispering to you in the breakroom.
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She doesn’t sugarcoat.
She’s seen the worst-case scenarios. Because she’s a real L&D nurse, her advice to read the red words isn't about being "difficult" for the sake of it. It’s about safety. Errors happen. In a fast-paced labor ward, a nurse might miss a red flag that you, the person literally experiencing the event, might catch if you’re informed.
I’ve seen cases where a patient noticed a "Red Word" flag for a medication they knew they reacted poorly to, even though the admitting resident had cleared it. That’s the "Read the Red Words" philosophy in action. It’s a secondary safety check.
Navigating the Anxiety of the "Red Flags"
There is a downside, though. If you see something in red, your heart rate probably spikes. You think, Am I dying? Is the baby okay?
This is where the nuance of Jen’s message comes in. Red doesn't always mean "Emergency." Sometimes it just means "Pay Attention."
- Allergy Alerts: Usually bright red.
- Blood Type Incompatibility: (Like Rh-negative status) Often flagged.
- Infection Risks: GBS positive status might be highlighted.
If you’re staring at a monitor or a chart and see these things, the goal isn't to panic. The goal is to ask the question. "I see the red alert for GBS, have the antibiotics been started yet?" That single question, prompted by Jen’s advice, ensures that the standard of care is being met. It turns the patient from a passive recipient into an active partner.
The Viral Impact of "The Red Words"
TikTok is a strange place for medical education, but it works because of the "social proof." When Jen posts a video explaining a clinical term, thousands of women in the comments share their own stories.
"I read my chart and saw they had my blood type wrong."
"I saw the red flag for preeclampsia symptoms before my nurse mentioned it."
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This isn't just "content." It’s a shift in the power dynamic of the delivery room. For decades, the "Red Words" were the domain of the elite—the doctors and the administrators. Now, they belong to the person in the bed.
Honestly, it’s about time.
Advocacy vs. Antagonism
A common misconception is that Jen is teaching people to be "Karens" in the hospital. That’s not it at all.
Actually, most nurses want an informed patient. A patient who knows their "Red Words" is a patient who is engaged. It makes the nurse's job easier when the family understands the "why" behind certain interventions. If the "Red Word" on the monitor says "Fetal Distress," and the patient already knows what that implies, the conversation about a C-section becomes much more collaborative and much less traumatic.
Practical Steps to "Read the Red Words" Today
If you’re pregnant or heading into a major medical procedure, you don't need a medical degree to follow this advice.
First, get your login for the hospital’s patient portal (like MyChart) weeks before your due date. Don't wait until you’re in active labor to try and remember your password.
Second, when you’re in the room, ask the nurse to explain the monitor. "Hey, I follow Jen Hamilton and she talks about being informed—can you tell me what these colors and numbers mean?" Most nurses will be thrilled to explain it. It builds trust.
Third, if you see something in red on a screen or a printout, ask about it immediately. Use the phrase: "I noticed the red highlight regarding [X], can you help me understand what that means for our plan today?"
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Beyond the Screen: The Emotional Weight
The "Red Words" aren't just data points. They represent the hurdles of birth. For some, the red words might be "Previous Loss" or "High-Risk Pregnancy." These are heavy labels.
Jen Hamilton’s genius is in her ability to hold the weight of those labels while stripping away the fear. She reminds her followers that a "Red Word" is just a piece of information, not a destiny. You are more than your chart.
How to Apply Jen’s Logic to Your Next Appointment
You don't have to be in labor to use this. Whether it’s a routine checkup or a specialist visit, the "Red Word" rule applies.
- Request your "After Visit Summary" (AVS). This document often contains the flags that weren't discussed verbally.
- Look for the "Problem List." In many electronic records, the most "urgent" issues are listed at the top, sometimes in bold or red.
- Check your "Flagged" Lab Results. In the MyChart app, any result outside the "normal" range is usually highlighted in red or orange.
Instead of Googling "low neutrophils" and spiraling into a dark hole of health anxiety, take Jen’s advice: Read the word, then ask the provider for the context.
Information is only power if you know how to use it. If you see a red flag, it’s an invitation to a conversation, not a reason to lose sleep.
Final Thoughts on Patient Advocacy
Jen Hamilton has done something remarkable. She’s taken the cold, sterile world of hospital charting and made it accessible. By encouraging people to read the red words, she isn't just sharing a tip; she’s leading a movement toward transparent healthcare.
Next time you’re in a clinical setting, don't look away from the screen. Look at it. Find the red. Ask the question. It’s your life, after all. You deserve to know what the "Red Words" are saying about you.
To take this a step further, start by opening your health app right now and looking at your most recent lab results. If there's something in red you don't understand, send a message to your provider today asking for a simple explanation of that specific flag. Doing this while you're healthy makes it much easier to do when you're in the heat of a high-stakes medical moment.