We (we being Mom and I) went to tour the hospital, particularly the maternity wing, last night.  Austin couldnt' go, since he was working.  I wanted Mom to go so that she would know how to get there and feel comfortable doing so when the time comes.  It is also helpful to her that she knows the procedures for getting into the maternity ward before hand.  And.....it got her out of the house for a while, and gave her something to do.  And....it was fun to have her there.  I do love my mother.  She's one of my very best friends.

Anyhow....the maternity wing is very secure. It is behind locked doors which you have to get permission to enter.  There is another exit to the outside of the building, but an alarm rings whenever it opens.  (Typical emergency exit.)  All the people who work on the wing have pink shading to their name tags, so if someone comes into your room with a name tag that is not shaded, you are perfectly within your rights to ask them who they are and what they are doing there.  Not that I am worried about someone absconding with my baby, but it is nice to know there won't be a whole lot of people just...you know....wandering through. 

There is a family waiting area, with a microwave, fridge with food for moms, couches, a TV.  And and ice machine.   There was no one in it last night.  In fact, it was quiet when we got there.  One woman had just delivered her baby about an hour or so previous to our visit. 

There are labor and delivery rooms, and everything you and the baby need is there.  Once he is born, they clean him up and measure and weigh him and do the APGAR tests and everything else they do.  There is a heat lamp (maybe they call it something else...heat lamp gives me visions of fast food) there, so he won't get cold.  And he doesn't have to leave the room unless something is terribly wrong.  We stay in that room for about an hour after delivery for a non-medicated, non-complicated birth, two if medication was needed.

If something does go wrong, or if he needs special care, they do have a NICU (Neo-natal care intensive care unit) right there that can handle most things except the really big ones, like surgery or some sort of massive trauma.  If that is needed, Flight For Life is based out of that particular hospital, so they can fly him straight to Children's.  Not me. I don't get to go in the helicopter.  Actually, I hope he doesn't, either.

After delivery and recovery, you go into the post-partem rooms, which are normal, average, everyday hospital rooms, where you husband and son can stay with you all they want, and all you want.  Husbands and coaches can bring coolers with food...small coolers, I was sure to emphasize to my mom (our family moved into University Hospital when Dad was there.....we resulted in new waiting room policies being posted).  I should stay in this room for 24-48 hours, at which point they will send me and my healthy son home.

They are very good at giving you what you want and not pushing things on you that you don't need or want.  (To a point, of course.)  But they let you decide the level of pain medication you want if any....stuff like that.  And, they said I can bring Austin back some time when he is off work to tour the wing.  That makes me happy, and him too.  All the nurses are cross trained so you don't have to wait for a shift change to get help with something.  And everyone seemed very nice.

Last night, the ward was full.  They will never turn someone away, they will find a place for them to be and deliver.  But if that happens, all this prep work might be for naught.  But I am glad I went.

I'm trying not to get anxious.