Tuesday, September 30, 2008

A Tour of the Birth Center

Exciting stuff around here... last night Scott and I got to go on an organized tour of the birth center where our baby will enter the world in the coming weeks. Castle Hospital holds these tours once a month and they give all the inquiring minds an outlet to see what we're about to get into and ask the same questions.

Castle has recently remodeled some of their rooms and it looks like a nice laid back relaxing (?) place to give birth. We were quite surprised by the number of people there at the tour though- there must have been 30 couples! Who knew Kailua was such a fertile town? Hopefully we don't all go into labor on the same day b/c that chillin' and relaxing (chillaxin') atmosphere would disappear rather quickly...

Anyway..

For me, it felt like a reassuring opportunity to see the facility, and to learn things like there is a refrigerator in each private room so you can bring your own food and water... you get to labor, deliver, and recover in the same private room so feel free to bring all your creature comforts from home and set up your little nest... there are 3 birth balls on premises but feel free to bring your own if you absolutely have to have one... etc.

For Scott, it was more of a cold water in the face realization that oh-my-gosh-I'm-going-to-be-a-dad-really-soon experience. I think he's known that all along (all you have to do is look at me and it's pretty tough to miss) but that little tour raised his anxiety level a tad. Ok, maybe more than just a tad. I've actually never seen his eyes so big. We came home and decided that the car seat should be installed this weekend. Time to really get ready because this is happening!

4 comments:

N.D. said...

That's great! definitely eases fears. When I started reading, I was thinking, hmm, I totally won't want to go have a tour, I don't want to do a birthing class, I just want to go into it blind and not remember any of it! I'm totally scared. But getting an idea of what to expect while you have to stay there is good. What is a birthing ball? Don't tell me if you don't think I want to know though...
We have a guest room with bed and dressers in it that is going to become the nursery. When do you think we should start moving things out? Baby arrival estimated 2/20!

Michelle Simmons said...

n.d. I think the tour was good. Scott and I didn't do any lamaze or anything like that, but we've learned the basics of what I'm gonna be going through by reading books and I found an online site that talks about the stages of labor, etc. I certainly don't know it all, but I understand enough to know just enough about what to expect. I think the birthing ball is just an exercise ball that you can sit on and roll around on when contractions start to hurt? To be honest, I'm not totally sure. ;)
Our nursery isn't totally done, but we've got most of what we need- it just needs to get organized a little more. Since you're working and don't have a ton of extra time, you might try to get yours ready during your Christmas break. That'll give you plenty of time. I fund I needed to start early b/c I didn't know what I was doing but little by little I figured it out as I went along :) You know, your baby and I could have the same birthday! I was born 2/18.

N.D. said...

Thanks mama Simmons!! I'm hoping little one comes later - around March 1 (well now that I'm not in pain or huge) - I think the later the better it will be for me with work! Thanks for answering my questions! And yea, maternity clothes are gross.

Kate Parker said...

can you cram ANY more into 9 months?!? sheesh. ;)