To the hospital
for a tour!
Not the big day.. yet. Little lady still needs to cook for a few more weeks 😉
We met with a group of expecting parents to take a tour of the maternity ward, labor and delivery, and nurseries today at the hospital where our baby will be born. I wasn’t quite sure how I was going to like it, especially since I still would prefer a birth center birth over a hospital birth (and was vetoed by the husband), but it was actually much nicer than I had imagined.
After you’re checked in through Triage (and it’s verified that you’re in labor and have progressed far enough), they take you to your birthing room, which is like a small suite compared to regular-sized hospital rooms. It has monitors and computers close to the bed, so the nurses can chart and track everything in your room,
a comfy sitting area,
and an area for the baby to have his/her tests done under warming lights after the birth.
It was surprisingly nice and roomy.
Bonus: huge tub with a shower
I’m not much of a bath person –showers are supreme- but having the option, especially when it can help with relaxation, is bueno.
Next, we walked down to the transitional nursery.
After you have the baby, the baby will stay with you in the birthing room for about 2 hours while you recover, and then is taken to the transitional nursery to be cleaned up, observed and have tests done for about an hour and a half or so. I asked the nurse if these tests could be done in the room –it made me sad to see the babies alone in the plastic shells- and she said no, but that your partner can stay with the baby in the nursery during this time. Tom promised me that he’d go with her and stay by her side while she gets checked and they can bring her back.
After the transitional nursery, they take mom and baby into the actual patient room, which is pretty much a standard hospital patient room. The nice thing is that the baby is able to room-in with you, and you don’t have to share a room with anyone else. There’s a sitting area for visitors, and a flimsy plastic-y bed. I have a feeling we’ll be picking up some cheap pillows and blankets to make it more comfy in there.
While the tour was extremely helpful, it definitely contributed to the realness factor of everything. It made me a little nervous.
On the drive home, I called the madre and told her that I felt like while everything was nice and better than expected, it still had that horrible florescent feel and that I felt nervous.
She said “it’s ok to be nervous- get the butterflies out now. And I have a feeling you’ll pop that baby out so fast that you won’t care what the atmosphere is like.”
She always knows what to say to make me feel better.
Tonight’s fortune from Pei Wei:
I hope so <3
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You are such a cute preggs girlie! Good luck with everything. I have had so much fun following the family posts, even though I am not quite there yet ;). Still very good topics are being covered
thanks morgan! 🙂
🙂 I know nothing about giving birth but I do know that you will be happy wherever your baby girl is 🙂
becoming so very “real” indeed! wow, your mom said the perfect thing for sure, but im also sure its very true. you’ll do great.. i know it :] seriously, im sure 9 months of zumba ing will help heaps with the labor and delivery
I’m sure it is natural to be nervous, but you are right, the room is nice and will be sooo much different when the excitement of the day is taking place. Just imagination the moment you and Tom lay eyes on your new little girl, I’ll bet you wouldn’t even notice if the room had zebra print wallpaper, you will have tunnel vision for the lil cutie. This post made me so excited for you!
Even without baby, hospitals always make me feel a little nervous, but that goes away after an hour or so, then you will feel right at hone. 🙂
That fortune cookie is great! Perfect timing.
That’s cool you got to tour the hospital…it looks so nice! It interests me the way that different hospitals do different things. Here the babies stay with the mom in the room and the entire stay is in the birthing suite they don’t have the option for the baby to go and stay in the nursery so the parents can get some sleep. But, where my sister in law gave birth she was able to use the nursery to get sleep and they just brought the baby in when it needed to eat.
AH okay, that title was such a tease! Um how perfecttt is that fortune?! Love it.
Sounds like everything will great for ya!! Thats awesome that you were able to go through the process before hand so you’re used to it all! So cool that the hospital offers that 🙂
Girl when you’re in labor you don’t care. The rooms look really nice. I highly recommend having pillows and blankets. The hospital pillows are vinyl and uncomfortable. You look great!
I’m not pregnant, but I still got excited butterflies reading your post! So happy for you!
That room is way nicer than mine. And I agree, it didn’t matter to me at all. Is the green banquette thing where hubs sleep, if labor runs overnight? We had a recliner is all, and felt lucky for that!
yep, but it’s not very wide- like 1/2 the width of a couch. i’m going to see if they can bring in a cot, or he can sleep in bed with me
Ha, ha… you are definiately not going to want him in the bed with you after birth…believe me…you should bring your snuggle pillow. My husband tossed and turned so much on the plastic cot next to me that I kicked him out the second night to get some sleep. I needed him to be well rested too.
hahah good to know 🙂
how exciting! You look absolutely adorable with your preggo belly 🙂 I worked at a hospital that didn’t even have a nursery. Everything including the first bath, tests/injections were all done in Mom’s room. Interesting how different places have different policies.
Aww I love that fortune cookie! How true! And wow, those hospital rooms are super nice! I hope you have the best birthing experience!
It looks so good! Was your mom really fast or something? I wonder if how long your mom was in labor can you anything about how long you should expect to be…
What a perfect fortune!! I totally thought after first reading this post’s title that you were going to say you had the baby!
Such a teaser post from the title!! I saw your tweet earlier so I knew what was up! lol It must be exciting to go and see where the magic will happen! Very excited for you two 😀
Those rooms were a lot like the ones in the hospital I transferred to. At mine, you could dim the lights and they even had some with a more homey yellowish glow so it took away the hospital feel.
And yay for the big tub! That’s an awesome option to have.
How cute! I love your blog. You and your hubby are adorable. I love your bag in the first pic. What brand is it/ where did you find it?
wow – what a perfect fortune!!! So excited for your little girl to arrive! You guys are going to be amazing parents!
I’m glad that everything worked out with the hospital tour, and that you feel good about it. 🙂 That would be definitely something I’d be anxious about if I were expecting too.
I’m Team Edward all the way! And I’ve dragged the husband to every Twilight movie. Sometimes he just takes a nap. 😉 We’re waiting for the crowds to die down and we may catch it next week.
I can tell you’re going to be a great mother 🙂 that baby is gonna be very loved!
Interesting to see how every hospital is different! At mine the baby never left your side unless medically necessary (ie NICU). They did all tests and observation in your room. My 2nd will be at a different hospital though, I wonder if they have transitional nursery too… I didn’t even know this existed to be honest. Thank you for sharing!!! 🙂
That fortune gave me such a smile!
I’m am pregnant also and have gotten a ton of moms advising me to take advantage of the nursery option in the hospital. I used to think that was selfish. But it’s not meant to be selfish at all. It’s kind of the last little rest moms have a chance to get before taking the little bundle of joy home for good. I plan to do whatever feels right at the time. I’m sure you’ll do the same. So excited for you and Pilot!
That place looks great! Totally a great hospital without feeling too hospitaly if that makes sense 🙂 Take advantage of being in a place with lots of help and time for you to rest up before you head home with your lovely family.
Just an FYI about the flimsy bed, the hospital where I work has extra mattress pads available, you just have to ask. I know it varies from place to place, but it might be worth asking for when you’re there!
“Tom promised me that he’d go with her and stay by her side while she gets checked and they can bring her back.” That part made me all warm and fuzzy. You’re going to have such an amazing birth experience with a man like that by your side <3
i’m very lucky
Hi Gina,
We have chosen the family birth centre so my husband can stay – can Tom stay at your hospital? One of the biggest reasons I chose FBC was so my husband could be with us for the first night. Did this not bother Tom as it seems he was anti-FBC? Maybe it’s not an issue at your hospital, but unfortunately it was at ours.
You have been so fit throughout your pregnancy, I am sure you will have a very smooth birth! I am crossing fingers for the same.
Lisa x
thank you, sending the same wishes to you!
yes, tom can stay. anyone we want in our birthing room can stay as long as they like
It must feel so nice to know exactly what the big day is going to look like. Knowing as much as I can know always makes me feel better. You look so cute in the first picture too!!
“still had that horrible florescent feel and that I felt nervous.” —- to be expected. Hospitals make anyone nervous, I think. Or at least a little unsettled, pregnant or not, sick or not.
You are very wise to have Tom stay by the baby’s side. You will be fine, you have a voice, can talk, and can be your own advocate. She…will be tiny and helpless and will need an advocate, and love, and her strong, protective father near her. Good thinking, good planning. Scott and I did the same thing.
So glad you liked the hospital! I bet it did start feeling real just walking around and seeing everything! I am SO happy for you guys! I will say that a million times ; )
LOVE the fortune! It is true, joy to your little girls life!!! <3
Very clever with the post title. haha
I know what you mean about hospitals and all of that fluorescent lighting. I think it’s a great idea to bring some comfy things from home to make it feel a little less sterile. And I’m with you about having your husband stay with the baby – I would definitely want the same thing.
You’re going to do great. 🙂
I’m so excited for your little lady’s birth!! I know it’s weird but one of the things that’s on the “pro” side of having a 3rd baby is that I’d get to experience giving birth again. Labor is a bitch (and neither went the way I wanted) – but the delivery part is just indescribable! Those are the most amazing days of my life!
As for the baby staying with you — I’m surprised that they still take the baby away. I thought Florida was one of the most ridiculous states when it came to that sort of thing and in the past 3-4 years they’ve even switched. That said – it will be a blip in the radar. They took my son away for maybe an hour and I snuck in a little catnap. It ended up being a good thing!
i just feel like i’ll be worried about her the entire time :/
We had our hospital tour as well yesterday! I am with you on being nervous but I think it’s only natural. We have just about 5 weeks to go till our due date but everyone keeps telling me I am going to go early which I wouldn’t mind. So cute about the fortune cookie. My husband has been saying that the baby will arrive on December 22nd and on September 22nd my Thai Food fortune cookie said, “Remember 3 months from today, something will change in your life.” It was so cool to read it and my husband is now even more sure that our little baby will be here by then. Well best of luck to you and Tom! Can’t wait to read more family posts.
Those butterflies are part of the fun! As soon as things get moving, you’ll be excited and focused and the butterflies will disappear. You’re going to do beautifully 🙂
What an appropriate message in your fortune cookie 🙂 Your little girl is so very lucky to have you both as parents. P.S. Those are some very familiar surroundings for me, since I work right around the corner from transitional nursery, L+D and mom-baby in the NICU. Let me know if there is anything you need 🙂
NO WAY! good to know 🙂 i apologize if the first time you meet me is while i’m yelling and swearing up a storm haha
oh JUST KIDDING. you changed your blog name. i know you already, haha 🙂
The hospital tour made me a little nervous too! Our hospital was fantastic. Amazing fews, queen size bed in my room and they don’t have a nursery so Ella roomed in with us. The tub is amazing during labor! I know it’s not for everyone, but I loved it for the 20 mins or so I was in it.
that is an awesome fortune
“It made me a little nervous.”
I’m not surprised! 🙂 I’m not even pregnant and for some reason these photos have totally freaked me out, ha.
you can ask them to shut the overhead lights off, they have their own light that they can use to keep an eye on things
Your mom is right…when the time comes, you are not going to be concerned with your surroundings…you won’t even notice them…and once your baby girl arrives, you won’t notice anyone else! Don’t worry, you will do great!
I gave birth to both of our little girls in that same hospital! The nurses are wonderful, and the birthing suites rock. I have fond memories of that place!
that’s good to know – i’m always happy to hear good stories from that hospital. a lot of my friends had positive experiences, too
What a cool fortune cookie! Wow!
You will bring your baby joy just like you do all of us!!!
Everything will be wonderful. You have an amazing support system, a great, educated plan, and a well-nourished, well-cared for little girl growing in a healthy body. And her Mommy rocks. 😉
Thank you for sharing…it’s helpful and amazing for all us way-future-Mommies to be who are still in the planning stages!!!! 🙂