Labor And Delivery Tour
Today, Mom and I went on the Labor and Delivery Tour at my hospital. It was great! The hospital that I have chosen to deliver my baby is Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital-Dallas, aka, Presby Dallas. So far I've been very impressed with the facility. It's not new and pretty, but it's a well-run establishment and the people are really good. On the tour today, the first thing they showed us was the parking lot we will enter in and where to check-in. The good news is that this is very easy to find. WOOP! They will get me registered, and then take me back into a Labor and Delivery room. This was interesting because I've seen many hospitals that have labor and delivery and the postpartum stay in the same room. At this hospital, they are separate.
The Labor and Delivery room is HUGE! There's a big TV, a sofa, several chairs and then the normal hospital equipment. These rooms were much bigger than I was expecting so it's nice to know that when I'm in the most miserable pain, I won't be cramped! Also, something I liked is that they will allow four visitors when I'm in labor. This is great because some of my besties that WANT to be there can be, if they so desire. For the actual birth, only my Mom is allowed.
Once he is born, they will immediately put him skin to skin with me for up to two hours. No visitors are allowed during this part, as it is supposed to promote bonding. Then after the two hours, they will take us up to Post Partum, which is on the 4th and 5th floor and from there on, I can have visitors and Adam can meet all of his family and friends that want to visit! :0)
Once in Post Partum, 1-4pm is considered Mommy and Baby time and no visitors are allowed. They dim the lights and don't bother you to give you and your baby time to bond. I thought this was sweet.
They have three choices of post partum rooms: The standard room, which is SUPER tiny, with very little seating, and costs no extra. Then they have the Junior Suite, which is bigger, has a coffee maker and a fridge, a little extra seating and costs 129$ a night. And then they have the Deluxe Suite, which is even bigger, has a fridge and coffee maker, plus an extra seating area and costs 189$ a night. Mom graciously offered to pay for a junior suite for us but honestly, I'd rather just get the standard room. Yes it's small, but we don't need a coffee maker or a fridge. And we can be cramped for two or three days. I can think of so many more important things that money could go towards. So we decided on just the Standard room and I feel good about it. My guests will just have to get close! :0) Honestly, I don't know how many visitors I will actually have, anyway, considering it's all the way in Dallas.
Some cool things about this hospital:
*They have a nursery on every floor! I love this!! I plan on him staying with me the entire time, but if Mom has to leave and I need a shower or something, it's nice to know that I can send him to the nursery on my floor so he won't be alone. I don't plan on doing this, but it's nice to know that it's an option.
*They have room service! How cool is that?! They don't do the traditional breakfast, lunch, and dinner trays. When you are hungry, you call room service with your order from their long menu and then they bring it to you! Awesome sauce?!
So far I've been REALLY happy with all the doctors and nurses at this hospital, and now that I know exactly what to do when I'm in labor, I'm feeling much more relaxed about it. I always have to have a plan, so I always feel so much better when I know what I'm doing!
For any of my visitors, it's going to be such a pain for them to find me. I will be nowhere near the entrance, I'm in a separate part of the hospital. There's a separate parking lot, with separate elevators and it's pretty confusing for anyone who doesn't know the hospital. Maybe I can have something sent out to all my close friends that can explain it well so it won't be an awful experience trying to find me.
It's starting to feel real. When we were in the Labor and Delivery room and I saw the little bassinet for the baby, it really struck a nerve that THIS. IS. COMING. It's just crazy! I haven't been a patient in a hospital since I was VERY little; it's going to be such a shock! It's certainly going to be a whirlwind, but I honestly cannot wait because in the end, I get to hold my baby boy and fall in love with such a special part of my heart! Come on, August!!!
The Labor and Delivery room is HUGE! There's a big TV, a sofa, several chairs and then the normal hospital equipment. These rooms were much bigger than I was expecting so it's nice to know that when I'm in the most miserable pain, I won't be cramped! Also, something I liked is that they will allow four visitors when I'm in labor. This is great because some of my besties that WANT to be there can be, if they so desire. For the actual birth, only my Mom is allowed.
Once he is born, they will immediately put him skin to skin with me for up to two hours. No visitors are allowed during this part, as it is supposed to promote bonding. Then after the two hours, they will take us up to Post Partum, which is on the 4th and 5th floor and from there on, I can have visitors and Adam can meet all of his family and friends that want to visit! :0)
Once in Post Partum, 1-4pm is considered Mommy and Baby time and no visitors are allowed. They dim the lights and don't bother you to give you and your baby time to bond. I thought this was sweet.
They have three choices of post partum rooms: The standard room, which is SUPER tiny, with very little seating, and costs no extra. Then they have the Junior Suite, which is bigger, has a coffee maker and a fridge, a little extra seating and costs 129$ a night. And then they have the Deluxe Suite, which is even bigger, has a fridge and coffee maker, plus an extra seating area and costs 189$ a night. Mom graciously offered to pay for a junior suite for us but honestly, I'd rather just get the standard room. Yes it's small, but we don't need a coffee maker or a fridge. And we can be cramped for two or three days. I can think of so many more important things that money could go towards. So we decided on just the Standard room and I feel good about it. My guests will just have to get close! :0) Honestly, I don't know how many visitors I will actually have, anyway, considering it's all the way in Dallas.
Some cool things about this hospital:
*They have a nursery on every floor! I love this!! I plan on him staying with me the entire time, but if Mom has to leave and I need a shower or something, it's nice to know that I can send him to the nursery on my floor so he won't be alone. I don't plan on doing this, but it's nice to know that it's an option.
*They have room service! How cool is that?! They don't do the traditional breakfast, lunch, and dinner trays. When you are hungry, you call room service with your order from their long menu and then they bring it to you! Awesome sauce?!
So far I've been REALLY happy with all the doctors and nurses at this hospital, and now that I know exactly what to do when I'm in labor, I'm feeling much more relaxed about it. I always have to have a plan, so I always feel so much better when I know what I'm doing!
For any of my visitors, it's going to be such a pain for them to find me. I will be nowhere near the entrance, I'm in a separate part of the hospital. There's a separate parking lot, with separate elevators and it's pretty confusing for anyone who doesn't know the hospital. Maybe I can have something sent out to all my close friends that can explain it well so it won't be an awful experience trying to find me.
It's starting to feel real. When we were in the Labor and Delivery room and I saw the little bassinet for the baby, it really struck a nerve that THIS. IS. COMING. It's just crazy! I haven't been a patient in a hospital since I was VERY little; it's going to be such a shock! It's certainly going to be a whirlwind, but I honestly cannot wait because in the end, I get to hold my baby boy and fall in love with such a special part of my heart! Come on, August!!!
So, maybe you and I should take a trip there so you can show me exactly where to go, if I do need to take you to the hospital in the middle of the night. :-) It'll definitely make me feel better, and I'm sure it will help you feel more relaxed knowing that I know where I'm going. LOL.
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