Have you ever seen that show? Dexter? Serial killing forensic dude? Well, the more I hear and see about labour and delivery, the more I keep hearing the theme tune from DEXTER in my freaking’ head! :-/
So, this week was the week where we *finally* registered with our hospital. First things first – Methodist (Sugar Land), what, on God’s green earth is the point of having an online registration form, if it’s not worth the – ha! I was going to say ‘paper it’s printed on’. Dang!
I filled in the online form and thought that was enough to register at the hospital – wrong. It’s not.
I figured that after filling in all the patient registration forms in the labour and delivery ward last week during our brief scare – THAT – would be enough – wrong. It’s not.
You have to physically fill in a *specific* pre-labour registration form and bring it to the front desk of Methodist S.L. where they then hand you about 10 forms that all need signatures, printed name, and signed on behalf of ‘bump’.
I have no idea what would happen if you went in to labour, without having signed these bazillion forms for everyone, but it’s done. We are officially registered with the hospital of our choice, which, after having priced it on my Health Insurance pricing tool thingy, turns out we’ve picked the most expensive L&D process that is local to us (though I’ve maxed my insurance, so it shouldn’t cost me anything – here’s hoping!)
While we were there, we opted to take a little tour around the L&D ward (Mostly cause Amber made me!) – in spite of the receptionist lady telling us we’d have a lengthy wait cause they were all busy – a nice Scottish lady took a time-out from whatever she was doing, to bring us around the floor. We learned some interesting things, asked some important questions, and came away feeling much better about the whole L&D process (aside from the Dexter thing obviously!)
She told us a few things that we could bring with us if we wanted (pillows – which were already on our list after our visit last week, nothing with an open flame, but if we want to bring aromatherapy or Scentsy stuff, that’s fine. Nothing valuable, no ‘good’ clothes and shoes that we aren’t ok getting covered in blood – which again, Amber had already prepared me for, clothes hangers, music for bubble to be born to and a soothing desert landscape dvd – if we are so inclined!)
We learned that you actually birth in one of 13 delivery rooms (complete with Jacuzzi tub) and are moved to one of 26 post partum rooms (no bath, but a shower with a removable shower head ‘so you can schoosh all the blood off you after he’s born’ – another Dexter moment!) Epidural can go in as early as 3-4cm or as late as 10cm, it’s my timetable, I cry ‘uncle’ and the epi goes in.
On weekends, the kitchen shuts at 2pm, not just for patients – but for staff also! :O ouch!! She said that often the nurses tend to ‘order in’, so to ask my nurse if they are bringing in lunch so we can piggy back, or request the folder of menus from places that deliver. Again – this was something Amber had said, check the hours of the kitchen so you don’t go hungry, local places that deliver, as well as the fact that her mum brought her food-gift-cards post-Averie’s birth, so she could send Aaron out for food when the kitchen was closed.
Nurses are on a 7am-7pm twelve hour rotation, my concern was that I’d have to get to know a ton of nurses changing every few hours, and repeat my wishes/concerns/preferences to all of them, over and over. Thankfully, that’s not the case! 🙂
Visiting hours are 9am – 9pm, though this is often flexible – as long as I give them permission ahead of time. Col has unlimited access, and can come and go as he pleases, whenever he wants – all good!
They have VERY strict security, every baby has a ‘lojack’, this lojack corresponds to the bands that the parents wear. If you go near a different baby in the nursery – an alarm will sound to tell EVERYONE that you’re at the wrong baby (totes embarrassing, right?!). If someone tries to take a baby (aside from me stabbing them repeatedly in the eye with a blunt object), the entire hospital goes on lock-down, everyone has a station to go to, all doors to L&D are locked, including stairwell access and no one is allowed in or out. All very reassuring measures to ensure it’s as difficult as possible to steal a baby from the floor.
She told me that all nurses are trained in breastfeeding, that it’s a pro-breastfeeding hospital and that many of the nurses are ex-midwives, with a wealth of experience in the area. They have three lactation consultants, two on during the day shift and one that does the overnights. This was a HUGE relief for me. If the Dexter images of birthing a baby aren’t quite enough to scare the bejeezus out of me, the one major pothole that I was dreading being faced with, was breastfeeding. I believe, I had even started to panic a little over the whole ordeal.
Thankfully she was able to put my mind at rest, that even if bubble is born in the middle of the night, there will be any number of people on-hand who can help me learn to feed him and get a rhythm down. She also said that if we are categorically against formula, pacifiers, don’t want visitors etc, to make a list and talk through it with my nurse so that she can put my notes up on the board in the staff room so that everyone knows my preferences, and they can be followed to the letter. She said it’s our choices, our baby, our way and they’d do whatever they can to help us achieve what we’d like to achieve.
I definitely felt reassured about the feeding thing, and, as a result, Col was more relaxed about it when we left too. He felt better, because I felt better.
She also said that our only, ONLY job before arriving at the hospital (aside from grabbing our bags) is to call ahead. To let my OB know I’m coming in, so she can rearrange her patients, or her private life to accommodate us. I think that’s fair, no?
Advice
– Take the time out to do a hospital tour. Our hospital information was online, and even though we didn’t arrive at a ‘designated’ tour-time, they made time for us.
– Ask questions. Whatever is bothering you, whatever’s on your mind, or, a spur of the moment ‘oh what about…’ kind of question. Ask them all. No question is too stupid. Col very thoughtfully asked which door to come to when I’m in labour – which, actually, was a very smart question, because they only have one door open 24-7!
– If you aren’t sure about the hospital, staff, procedures – don’t go there. In Houston in particular, there are any number of hospitals. Seriously, we have a bunch. If you don’t like one, just go to another. These people are in charge of your life and your baby’s life – you need to be happy with the facilities, the staff and the whole ‘vibe’ of the place. Don’t compromise.
We came home and put together a quick ‘what’s left to do list’, including things I need to buy/get together for my hospital bag, Col’s hospital bag and bubble’s hospital bag, which I’ve worked through a little today (I’ll undoubtedly post a ‘what to bring to the hospital’ post in short order also!)
On Friday, I’ll be 32 weeks pregnant. Full term can be 5-8 weeks after that. We still have no name and our ‘nursery’ has no decorations (we’re waiting to find out if we’re coming or going first!) but we seem to be talking more and more about bubble’s arrival (and how he’s getting here) because we are officially on the final stretch – and I dunno about you, but I can’t WAIT to meet him!!