On Monday, Scott and I went to the hospital tour of the labor and delivery section at Scripps Encinitas. It was a little under an hour long, and I left with a very comfortable feeling about this hospital and the things they say they like to strive for. It's very in tune with what Scott and I want (or what I want, and by default what I am making Scott want!).
First, it's very easy to get to (we estimate that it will take about 20-30 minutes to get there, depending on traffic). Parking is free, there is a drop off circle right up front (like the hotel check in area), and there are plenty of parking spaces that you can park for an unlimited time right by the entrance. I am hoping that I can make it there and actually walk myself into the hospital!
Then, once we got inside, they took us up to the Birth Pavilion, which is a separate wing of the hospital that only birthing folks and support people can get into. So, there should be no sick patients walking the hallways or anything like that. Everyone needs to be buzzed in to enter this wing. They also said that if any babies have their ID bands on and they try to go through any of the doors that lead outside, an alarm will sound.
We were taken to a LDR (labor, delivery, recovery) room, and it was as nice as a room in the hospital can be. There is a bathroom with a shower, a bed that folds in multiple ways, a CD player, TV, and maybe a DVD player in the room. They have a 100% rooming in policy, which means that babies will not be taken to a nursery, they stay with you all the time.
A lot of the things that they said line up nicely with my "ideal" birth:
- No mandatory IVs
- They promote walking around - and even let you out in the gardens if you want to be outside
- No mandatory continuous fetal monitoring, and she even said that about 20 minutes an hour is all you really need if everything is going well
- The bed changes into multiple positions, and they support moms not delivering on their back or in a lying down position
- There may be a birthing ball in the room (but she said we should bring ours with us)
- It seems that it will be pretty easy to sneak food/water if I need it
- They said that they like to put babies on mom's tummy or chest, there is no need to take it away to clean it or do tests - that can all be done right on mom, and test can wait a few hours
- And the thing that this hospital is most known (and certified for) is the promotion of breast feeding. They said they like to help start the process within the first hour or two of birth, and really try to make it successful
The only downside is that after recovery, there is a possibility that there are 2 mom's in the same room. They try not to do this, unless they really need the beds. With July statistically being a heavy delivery month, hopefully we'll luck out. If the other bed is empty, they said dad is free to get in bed and spend the night. If it's not free, you just need to get the other person to agree to letting them sleep in a chair.
So overall, I think this will be a good experience, and hopefully we'll get some great nurses that day, too. This hospital also has midwives on staff, and maybe we'll look into that the next time around...
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
Thursday, June 04, 2009
Eighth month, and counting
It's been a while sice I've written, and it's about time for an update. I haven't taken any pictures of the buddha belly lately, so maybe this weekend we will get around to one of those. I am definitely bigger, Baby Z is definitely moving around and kicking harder, and strangers on the street are starting to ask me when I am due.
Scott and I had our 4th wedding anniversary. It was low key - Scott brought home beautiful flowers (sunflowers), and we went to dinner at Poseidon in Del Mar. We had an outdoor table, right on the beach. The food was good, and although the waiter was a little cold and distant at the beginning, he sure opened up when we started talking about anniversaries and children. He even pulled out a picture of his daughter to share with us. Another waitress asked us how long we have been married, and she said that if you live in CA you can double the number because marraiges don't last out here. That's a sad thought, and I don't think things would be any different, no matter where we live. While eating, we saw lots of people walking the beach with their dogs, but one group caught our eye. It looked as if they were walking, and a duck was walking next to them. We couldn't tell if it was a random duck just following them (but we don't normally see a lot of ducks like that on the beach) or if it was possibly their pet duck.
On a sad note, Grandpa Z passed away in May. Scott went home to upstate NY to be with his family, and although it may have seemed like a family reunion, everyone wished it would have been for happier reasons.
Rob, who's stationed out in Okinawa, was in CA for a work trip, and we got together with him for dinner one night. It was good seeing him, and surprisingly it's been over 4 years since we've seen him last. I wish Scott could have hung out with him more, but the day after he got into town Scott left for NY. Oh well, next time.
We started our Hypnobabies childbirth classes on Memorial weekend. So far, we have had 2 classes out of 6. It's a bit of a hike to Mission Viejo every Saturday, but I think it's worth the drive and have enjoyed them so far. I was a little nervous that Scott would be bored, or think that the concept is silly - but he's really been supportive and actually the one encouraging me to try my hardest to practice and let the program work for me. Basically, the program tries to "re-progarm" the way we think about childbirth, and that it is a natural function of life that does not need to be scary, painful, or over medicalized (is that a word?). What I really like about the class is that it is also full of useful, educational teachings (it's not all hypnosis). The first week, we learned about the body, and what is really happening when you get close to delivery time. Last week, we discussed the importance of good nutrition during pregnancy (I have to keep a food log this week), and exercises that are helpful and ideal positions for the baby to be in at delivery (and how to try to get the baby in that position ahead of time). There is a lot of homework - basically we have to
practive our hypnosis every day, but then I also have excercises to do each day, and this week need to keep my food log. I have found that hypnosis is really just teaching yourself to relax deeply, and I am finding that I look forward to the hynosis exercises each day - it's a chance to just sit and relax for a half hour each day, listening to scripts on CD or having Scott read them to me. And in class, they said that when mom is that relaxed, the baby feels it (hormone related, I'm sure), and they start to think of it as active play time. I must say that not every time, but a lot of the time, I do notice Baby Z start kicking and moving around during the scripts. They also say it's a great time for baby to start learning dad's voice. So all in all, I am happy with this program so far.
Scott's almost done with the changing table he's making/refinishing. It's looking good. The nursery is starting to fill up - not just with furniture, but with clothing and presents that have started to arrive in the mail (how exciting, I love baby presents even more than presents for me!). Now, we just need to get a closet or armoire to put all these presents in.
Last weekend, we saw Sarah and Josh (who is 2 months old now, but was a premie and is about 2 weeks past his "due date" now). He has grown so much in 2 months, and Scott held him for about a half hour as we chatted away at a party. He is great with kids, and said that holding Jake has gotten him more excited about having Baby Z.
Next week, we will have a full house. Scott's parents, Kara, and Tricia are all coming in to stay with us. My mom is hosting a baby shower for us (thus the reason for their visit), and it should be a good time. I can't believe that we can actually say "Baby Z is due next month". Scary stuff.
Scott and I had our 4th wedding anniversary. It was low key - Scott brought home beautiful flowers (sunflowers), and we went to dinner at Poseidon in Del Mar. We had an outdoor table, right on the beach. The food was good, and although the waiter was a little cold and distant at the beginning, he sure opened up when we started talking about anniversaries and children. He even pulled out a picture of his daughter to share with us. Another waitress asked us how long we have been married, and she said that if you live in CA you can double the number because marraiges don't last out here. That's a sad thought, and I don't think things would be any different, no matter where we live. While eating, we saw lots of people walking the beach with their dogs, but one group caught our eye. It looked as if they were walking, and a duck was walking next to them. We couldn't tell if it was a random duck just following them (but we don't normally see a lot of ducks like that on the beach) or if it was possibly their pet duck.
On a sad note, Grandpa Z passed away in May. Scott went home to upstate NY to be with his family, and although it may have seemed like a family reunion, everyone wished it would have been for happier reasons.
Rob, who's stationed out in Okinawa, was in CA for a work trip, and we got together with him for dinner one night. It was good seeing him, and surprisingly it's been over 4 years since we've seen him last. I wish Scott could have hung out with him more, but the day after he got into town Scott left for NY. Oh well, next time.
We started our Hypnobabies childbirth classes on Memorial weekend. So far, we have had 2 classes out of 6. It's a bit of a hike to Mission Viejo every Saturday, but I think it's worth the drive and have enjoyed them so far. I was a little nervous that Scott would be bored, or think that the concept is silly - but he's really been supportive and actually the one encouraging me to try my hardest to practice and let the program work for me. Basically, the program tries to "re-progarm" the way we think about childbirth, and that it is a natural function of life that does not need to be scary, painful, or over medicalized (is that a word?). What I really like about the class is that it is also full of useful, educational teachings (it's not all hypnosis). The first week, we learned about the body, and what is really happening when you get close to delivery time. Last week, we discussed the importance of good nutrition during pregnancy (I have to keep a food log this week), and exercises that are helpful and ideal positions for the baby to be in at delivery (and how to try to get the baby in that position ahead of time). There is a lot of homework - basically we have to
practive our hypnosis every day, but then I also have excercises to do each day, and this week need to keep my food log. I have found that hypnosis is really just teaching yourself to relax deeply, and I am finding that I look forward to the hynosis exercises each day - it's a chance to just sit and relax for a half hour each day, listening to scripts on CD or having Scott read them to me. And in class, they said that when mom is that relaxed, the baby feels it (hormone related, I'm sure), and they start to think of it as active play time. I must say that not every time, but a lot of the time, I do notice Baby Z start kicking and moving around during the scripts. They also say it's a great time for baby to start learning dad's voice. So all in all, I am happy with this program so far.
Scott's almost done with the changing table he's making/refinishing. It's looking good. The nursery is starting to fill up - not just with furniture, but with clothing and presents that have started to arrive in the mail (how exciting, I love baby presents even more than presents for me!). Now, we just need to get a closet or armoire to put all these presents in.
Last weekend, we saw Sarah and Josh (who is 2 months old now, but was a premie and is about 2 weeks past his "due date" now). He has grown so much in 2 months, and Scott held him for about a half hour as we chatted away at a party. He is great with kids, and said that holding Jake has gotten him more excited about having Baby Z.
Next week, we will have a full house. Scott's parents, Kara, and Tricia are all coming in to stay with us. My mom is hosting a baby shower for us (thus the reason for their visit), and it should be a good time. I can't believe that we can actually say "Baby Z is due next month". Scary stuff.
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