Saw where the Action will occur!

Yesterday's Week 21, Day 4 picture

First off, here's the picture from yesterday that I neglected to post. Not long after I took this, we set off on a tour of the maternity ward of Brigham and Women's hospital where I'll be delivering. I was the only one there not due this summer so there was certainly less urgency for us than for the other couples on the tour.

The tour began in the lobby near obstetrical admitting. We were informed of the admitting process and who can be there (mother, partner and one other person) as well as parking provisions. Not that either of us drive, but I'm sure we're in the minority in that.

From there we went on to labor and delivery to see one of the delivery rooms. They have 24 rooms, all private. Each room includes a hospital bed for the mother, a recliner for the partner, a rocking chair, various medical things like heated bed for newborn if needed, monitors, oxygen, etc. They can also bring in an exercise ball if you want to sit and labor on that. There's a shower and you can walk the halls or even have a light meal. Yes, all this can be yours, unless you have an epidural. With an epidural there is constant fetal monitoring, no getting up and no food, only clear liquid (and I doubt they mean gin.) Yet one more check on the natural childbirth side for me!

After labor we saw a postpartum room for lying in. Generally one stays for 48 hours after vaginal birth and 96 after cesarean. There were a couple of babies in the nursery as well, so we got to peek at some fresh ones. You have the option to have your baby in your room with you the whole time though, which s good. There is also a recliner for partners to sleep on. Visiting hours are in the afternoon but they caution that visitors are going to keep you up and you really need to rest. Usually you can work out a signal with the nurse to come in and kick people out if you're uncomfortable doing it yourself.

Apart from that it was just nice to hear things like the encouragement of breast feeding, especially immediately following birth. They encourage skin-to-skin as well unless some medical intervention is actually needed. There are also free breastfeeding and bathing classes each day. Oh, and wireless ;) Because some of us are tied to our online lives too.