I know I said I would write about things other than being pregnant. No such luck this time, though. The problem is that it’s the most interesting thing happening to me.
Tonight we took the tour of our hospital’s maternity floors. We’re going to do it again, though, since every room in the birthing center was occupied and we feel like we need to actually see it to make a decision. Both the birthing center and the regular labor and delivery floor have a lot to recommend them.
Birthing Center:
— Your practitioner is required to stay with you for your entire labor. This is why a lot of OBs won’t use the birthing center. But ours will. She also practices with a midwife, who could just as likely be the one to do the delivery.
— Family is welcome to stick around for as long as you’re there.
— There’s a family room with a kitchen.
— Two-person Jacuzzi in every birthing suite
— Each suite has a king-sized bed and the whole family can sleep together after the birth
— From what we hear, the surroundings are really lovely
— You’re one floor down from the labor and delivery floor, so you’re 30 seconds away from help if you need intervention
Labor and Delivery:
— Each delivery room has a little Jacuzzi and birthing balls, as well as a rocking chair. The beds convert so you can delivery from a sitting or squatting position if you prefer.
— Women are encouraged to drink all they want, and to walk the halls.
— The Big One: This hospital pioneered the walking epidural, and it’s the only kind they do. So provided your doctor approves you’re never confined to a bed. Coupled with that is the fact that they have an OB anesthesia department and that’s all they do. So they’re in the hospital 24 hours a day and they only work with the laboring mothers. So they’re pretty much always available to you.
It’s a good problem to have. Two good options.
I would normally be a little more leery of the epidural, but these guys are among the best in the world so I’m not going to worry about that too much. It would be a great comfort to me to know that’s available if I want it. But the killer is that if we are on the labor and delivery floor Damon won’t be allowed to spend the night.
I don’t know what to do. Maybe there will be more clarity once we see the birthing center.
jaysaint 
Posted by lemon_says on May 8, 2007 at 1:25 am
That birth center sounds like something we’d have loved! Why can’t he spend the night in the L&D? I’ve never heard of that. You’ll really need him with you.
Posted by lemon_says on May 8, 2007 at 1:25 am
That birth center sounds like something we’d have loved! Why can’t he spend the night in the L&D? I’ve never heard of that. You’ll really need him with you.
Posted by lemon_says on May 8, 2007 at 1:25 am
That birth center sounds like something we’d have loved! Why can’t he spend the night in the L&D? I’ve never heard of that. You’ll really need him with you.
Posted by lemon_says on May 8, 2007 at 1:25 am
That birth center sounds like something we’d have loved! Why can’t he spend the night in the L&D? I’ve never heard of that. You’ll really need him with you.
Posted by lemon_says on May 8, 2007 at 1:25 am
That birth center sounds like something we’d have loved! Why can’t he spend the night in the L&D? I’ve never heard of that. You’ll really need him with you.
Posted by travellight on May 8, 2007 at 1:29 am
He’s not allowed to spend the night, or he’ll have to sleep on the fold-outty thing?
Posted by travellight on May 8, 2007 at 1:29 am
He’s not allowed to spend the night, or he’ll have to sleep on the fold-outty thing?
Posted by travellight on May 8, 2007 at 1:29 am
He’s not allowed to spend the night, or he’ll have to sleep on the fold-outty thing?
Posted by travellight on May 8, 2007 at 1:29 am
He’s not allowed to spend the night, or he’ll have to sleep on the fold-outty thing?
Posted by travellight on May 8, 2007 at 1:29 am
He’s not allowed to spend the night, or he’ll have to sleep on the fold-outty thing?
Posted by travellight on May 8, 2007 at 1:31 am
Also, for what it’s worth, I wish you’d post about yourself every day.
Posted by travellight on May 8, 2007 at 1:31 am
Also, for what it’s worth, I wish you’d post about yourself every day.
Posted by jaysaint on May 12, 2007 at 12:56 am
You are too kind. Be careful what you wish for. Once this baby starts really kicking my fascination with myself may reach a new high.
Posted by jaysaint on May 12, 2007 at 12:56 am
You are too kind. Be careful what you wish for. Once this baby starts really kicking my fascination with myself may reach a new high.
Posted by jaysaint on May 12, 2007 at 12:56 am
You are too kind. Be careful what you wish for. Once this baby starts really kicking my fascination with myself may reach a new high.
Posted by jaysaint on May 12, 2007 at 12:56 am
You are too kind. Be careful what you wish for. Once this baby starts really kicking my fascination with myself may reach a new high.
Posted by travellight on May 8, 2007 at 1:31 am
Also, for what it’s worth, I wish you’d post about yourself every day.
Posted by travellight on May 8, 2007 at 1:31 am
Also, for what it’s worth, I wish you’d post about yourself every day.
Posted by travellight on May 8, 2007 at 1:31 am
Also, for what it’s worth, I wish you’d post about yourself every day.
Posted by willowkitty on May 8, 2007 at 2:30 am
wacky. i have never heard of the daddy not being able to spend the night. your birthing center sounds even better than the womens center where we had ours (kennestone) and that was pretty fantastic.
Threaten to go home if they dont let him stay.
Posted by willowkitty on May 8, 2007 at 2:30 am
wacky. i have never heard of the daddy not being able to spend the night. your birthing center sounds even better than the womens center where we had ours (kennestone) and that was pretty fantastic.
Threaten to go home if they dont let him stay.
Posted by jaysaint on May 12, 2007 at 12:57 am
I may do more than threaten. I may really just go. It’s not like they can stop me.
Posted by jaysaint on May 12, 2007 at 12:57 am
I may do more than threaten. I may really just go. It’s not like they can stop me.
Posted by jaysaint on May 12, 2007 at 12:57 am
I may do more than threaten. I may really just go. It’s not like they can stop me.
Posted by jaysaint on May 12, 2007 at 12:57 am
I may do more than threaten. I may really just go. It’s not like they can stop me.
Posted by willowkitty on May 8, 2007 at 2:30 am
wacky. i have never heard of the daddy not being able to spend the night. your birthing center sounds even better than the womens center where we had ours (kennestone) and that was pretty fantastic.
Threaten to go home if they dont let him stay.
Posted by willowkitty on May 8, 2007 at 2:30 am
wacky. i have never heard of the daddy not being able to spend the night. your birthing center sounds even better than the womens center where we had ours (kennestone) and that was pretty fantastic.
Threaten to go home if they dont let him stay.
Posted by willowkitty on May 8, 2007 at 2:30 am
wacky. i have never heard of the daddy not being able to spend the night. your birthing center sounds even better than the womens center where we had ours (kennestone) and that was pretty fantastic.
Threaten to go home if they dont let him stay.
Posted by samae on May 8, 2007 at 2:47 am
— Your practitioner is required to stay with you for your entire labor. This is why a lot of OBs won’t use the birthing center. But ours will. She also practices with a midwife, who could just as likely be the one to do the delivery.
Required to stay the entire time – as in the room, the entire time? Not something I would want. There were long hours of labor that I didn’t want anyone but Will with me. I guess if you wait until the end of labor to go to the hospital then its good – but then what’s the use of having a kitchen? I guess I just can’t picture it.
And the father can’t spend the night? That’s crazy. With child #2 and #3 I always sent Will home but he was there (and needed) with that first baby. I think I would be too overwhelmed and lonely to have been there alone that first night.
Posted by samae on May 8, 2007 at 2:47 am
— Your practitioner is required to stay with you for your entire labor. This is why a lot of OBs won’t use the birthing center. But ours will. She also practices with a midwife, who could just as likely be the one to do the delivery.
Required to stay the entire time – as in the room, the entire time? Not something I would want. There were long hours of labor that I didn’t want anyone but Will with me. I guess if you wait until the end of labor to go to the hospital then its good – but then what’s the use of having a kitchen? I guess I just can’t picture it.
And the father can’t spend the night? That’s crazy. With child #2 and #3 I always sent Will home but he was there (and needed) with that first baby. I think I would be too overwhelmed and lonely to have been there alone that first night.
Posted by geobabe1 on May 8, 2007 at 2:57 am
Seriously! A guy on my friends list, his wife just had a baby, and they didn’t let him spend the night. I was all, “WHAAAA??!?!” I’m stunned that any hospital nowadays would be like that. I would have pitched a royal fit if they hadn’t let my husband stay!
Posted by geobabe1 on May 8, 2007 at 2:57 am
Seriously! A guy on my friends list, his wife just had a baby, and they didn’t let him spend the night. I was all, “WHAAAA??!?!” I’m stunned that any hospital nowadays would be like that. I would have pitched a royal fit if they hadn’t let my husband stay!
Posted by geobabe1 on May 8, 2007 at 2:57 am
Seriously! A guy on my friends list, his wife just had a baby, and they didn’t let him spend the night. I was all, “WHAAAA??!?!” I’m stunned that any hospital nowadays would be like that. I would have pitched a royal fit if they hadn’t let my husband stay!
Posted by geobabe1 on May 8, 2007 at 2:57 am
Seriously! A guy on my friends list, his wife just had a baby, and they didn’t let him spend the night. I was all, “WHAAAA??!?!” I’m stunned that any hospital nowadays would be like that. I would have pitched a royal fit if they hadn’t let my husband stay!
Posted by jaysaint on May 12, 2007 at 12:59 am
I don’t think the doctor or midwife has to stay in your room with you, but she has to stay in the birthing center for the duration.
I think I’ll be like you with #1. I suppose it’s possible I would be fine with going to sleep and letting him go home, but I definitely want to retain my options because it’s also possible that I will lose it if he leaves me alone with the baby.
Posted by jaysaint on May 12, 2007 at 12:59 am
I don’t think the doctor or midwife has to stay in your room with you, but she has to stay in the birthing center for the duration.
I think I’ll be like you with #1. I suppose it’s possible I would be fine with going to sleep and letting him go home, but I definitely want to retain my options because it’s also possible that I will lose it if he leaves me alone with the baby.
Posted by jaysaint on May 12, 2007 at 12:59 am
I don’t think the doctor or midwife has to stay in your room with you, but she has to stay in the birthing center for the duration.
I think I’ll be like you with #1. I suppose it’s possible I would be fine with going to sleep and letting him go home, but I definitely want to retain my options because it’s also possible that I will lose it if he leaves me alone with the baby.
Posted by jaysaint on May 12, 2007 at 12:59 am
I don’t think the doctor or midwife has to stay in your room with you, but she has to stay in the birthing center for the duration.
I think I’ll be like you with #1. I suppose it’s possible I would be fine with going to sleep and letting him go home, but I definitely want to retain my options because it’s also possible that I will lose it if he leaves me alone with the baby.
Posted by samae on May 8, 2007 at 2:47 am
— Your practitioner is required to stay with you for your entire labor. This is why a lot of OBs won’t use the birthing center. But ours will. She also practices with a midwife, who could just as likely be the one to do the delivery.
Required to stay the entire time – as in the room, the entire time? Not something I would want. There were long hours of labor that I didn’t want anyone but Will with me. I guess if you wait until the end of labor to go to the hospital then its good – but then what’s the use of having a kitchen? I guess I just can’t picture it.
And the father can’t spend the night? That’s crazy. With child #2 and #3 I always sent Will home but he was there (and needed) with that first baby. I think I would be too overwhelmed and lonely to have been there alone that first night.
Posted by samae on May 8, 2007 at 2:47 am
— Your practitioner is required to stay with you for your entire labor. This is why a lot of OBs won’t use the birthing center. But ours will. She also practices with a midwife, who could just as likely be the one to do the delivery.
Required to stay the entire time – as in the room, the entire time? Not something I would want. There were long hours of labor that I didn’t want anyone but Will with me. I guess if you wait until the end of labor to go to the hospital then its good – but then what’s the use of having a kitchen? I guess I just can’t picture it.
And the father can’t spend the night? That’s crazy. With child #2 and #3 I always sent Will home but he was there (and needed) with that first baby. I think I would be too overwhelmed and lonely to have been there alone that first night.
Posted by samae on May 8, 2007 at 2:47 am
— Your practitioner is required to stay with you for your entire labor. This is why a lot of OBs won’t use the birthing center. But ours will. She also practices with a midwife, who could just as likely be the one to do the delivery.
Required to stay the entire time – as in the room, the entire time? Not something I would want. There were long hours of labor that I didn’t want anyone but Will with me. I guess if you wait until the end of labor to go to the hospital then its good – but then what’s the use of having a kitchen? I guess I just can’t picture it.
And the father can’t spend the night? That’s crazy. With child #2 and #3 I always sent Will home but he was there (and needed) with that first baby. I think I would be too overwhelmed and lonely to have been there alone that first night.
Posted by geobabe1 on May 8, 2007 at 2:57 am
Seriously! A guy on my friends list, his wife just had a baby, and they didn’t let him spend the night. I was all, “WHAAAA??!?!” I’m stunned that any hospital nowadays would be like that. I would have pitched a royal fit if they hadn’t let my husband stay!
Posted by steakums on May 8, 2007 at 7:45 pm
My friend just had her second in a birthing center and loved it (she had a water birth).
Posted by steakums on May 8, 2007 at 7:45 pm
My friend just had her second in a birthing center and loved it (she had a water birth).
Posted by jaysaint on May 12, 2007 at 1:13 am
I want to learn more about this. So many women swear by it, but I don’t understand what’s so great about it. Aren’t you just in pain and… wet?
Posted by Anonymous on May 12, 2007 at 1:32 am
You crack me up.
Chance did have a water birth. And it was natural. So, yes to both of those.
I’m happy to send you her email. She just had her baby about a month ago, so I’m sure it’s still fresh in her mind.
Posted by jaysaint on May 12, 2007 at 10:52 pm
That would be great, thank you. I’ll probably wait until after I talk to my midwife or OB but after that I’ll drop her a line.
Posted by jaysaint on May 12, 2007 at 10:52 pm
That would be great, thank you. I’ll probably wait until after I talk to my midwife or OB but after that I’ll drop her a line.
Posted by jaysaint on May 12, 2007 at 10:52 pm
That would be great, thank you. I’ll probably wait until after I talk to my midwife or OB but after that I’ll drop her a line.
Posted by jaysaint on May 12, 2007 at 10:52 pm
That would be great, thank you. I’ll probably wait until after I talk to my midwife or OB but after that I’ll drop her a line.
Posted by Anonymous on May 12, 2007 at 1:32 am
You crack me up.
Chance did have a water birth. And it was natural. So, yes to both of those.
I’m happy to send you her email. She just had her baby about a month ago, so I’m sure it’s still fresh in her mind.
Posted by Anonymous on May 12, 2007 at 1:32 am
You crack me up.
Chance did have a water birth. And it was natural. So, yes to both of those.
I’m happy to send you her email. She just had her baby about a month ago, so I’m sure it’s still fresh in her mind.
Posted by Anonymous on May 12, 2007 at 1:32 am
You crack me up.
Chance did have a water birth. And it was natural. So, yes to both of those.
I’m happy to send you her email. She just had her baby about a month ago, so I’m sure it’s still fresh in her mind.
Posted by jaysaint on May 12, 2007 at 1:13 am
I want to learn more about this. So many women swear by it, but I don’t understand what’s so great about it. Aren’t you just in pain and… wet?
Posted by jaysaint on May 12, 2007 at 1:13 am
I want to learn more about this. So many women swear by it, but I don’t understand what’s so great about it. Aren’t you just in pain and… wet?
Posted by jaysaint on May 12, 2007 at 1:13 am
I want to learn more about this. So many women swear by it, but I don’t understand what’s so great about it. Aren’t you just in pain and… wet?
Posted by steakums on May 8, 2007 at 7:45 pm
My friend just had her second in a birthing center and loved it (she had a water birth).
Posted by steakums on May 8, 2007 at 7:45 pm
My friend just had her second in a birthing center and loved it (she had a water birth).
Posted by steakums on May 8, 2007 at 7:45 pm
My friend just had her second in a birthing center and loved it (she had a water birth).
Posted by jaysaint on May 12, 2007 at 12:56 am
You are too kind. Be careful what you wish for. Once this baby starts really kicking my fascination with myself may reach a new high.
Posted by jaysaint on May 12, 2007 at 12:57 am
I may do more than threaten. I may really just go. It’s not like they can stop me.
Posted by jaysaint on May 12, 2007 at 12:59 am
I don’t think the doctor or midwife has to stay in your room with you, but she has to stay in the birthing center for the duration.
I think I’ll be like you with #1. I suppose it’s possible I would be fine with going to sleep and letting him go home, but I definitely want to retain my options because it’s also possible that I will lose it if he leaves me alone with the baby.
Posted by jaysaint on May 12, 2007 at 1:13 am
I want to learn more about this. So many women swear by it, but I don’t understand what’s so great about it. Aren’t you just in pain and… wet?
Posted by Anonymous on May 12, 2007 at 1:32 am
You crack me up.
Chance did have a water birth. And it was natural. So, yes to both of those.
I’m happy to send you her email. She just had her baby about a month ago, so I’m sure it’s still fresh in her mind.
Posted by jaysaint on May 12, 2007 at 10:52 pm
That would be great, thank you. I’ll probably wait until after I talk to my midwife or OB but after that I’ll drop her a line.