Stork Walk and Hospital Bag

Well, for those of you who have been paying attention to my sidebar, you can see that we have merely two weeks left until Stryker #3's expected arrival. Up until this point, I have been feeling pretty good... big, but good. Thankfully, I'm still sleeping well, although my hips get sore from staying on my side all night. The baby is still pretty active, too, which is fun to watch, but painful at times when I can practically see it's heel trying to bust out... OUCH!

Last weekend, Ethan and I went on a "Stork Walk"- a tour of the hospital (or at least the maternity ward) where I will be delivering. Although we had the feeling that "We're not in Franklin Square anymore" (that's where I delivered Tim and Maddie in MD), we certainly weren't upset about the hospital conditions. The delivery rooms seemed quite standard. No, there's no wood paneling or windows, but it was still okay. One thing that the delivery room had that you wouldn't find in the States is "Gas & Air"- basically, laughing gas. You can administer your own laughing gas during labor as a form of pain management. They also said that they could loan you a TENS machine for pain management. I'm going to have to look into what that is. Hopefully, if all goes to plan, I will get my epidural and just go into my happy place during labor.

The delivery ward also had a room for tub births. I think that normally I would be open to that. However, since we've decided to have a VBAC, I think I'll feel safer remaining on a monitor at all times. (The baby's heart rate can be an indication of uterine rupture, etc.).

So, at this hospital, you deliver in the delivery ward and are then moved into the post-natal ward. The post-natal ward has 2 recovery rooms that hold 5-6 women and their babies. It also has a bunch of single rooms that you can get if you are recovering from c-section, or if you pay 80 pounds/night (available on a first come/first serve basis). I'm telling Ethan to book me a single room as soon as we step into that hospital!

Another difference between here and the States is that the fathers are not allowed to spend the night. Unless you are in labor, the daddies need to leave according to visiting hours. That is actually just fine with me, because I would rather that Ethan were home with the kids at night, and to be there in the morning for them. However, the post-natal ward also doesn't have a nursery to send the babies to. That means that the night after I have given birth, it will just be me and the baby in the room all night. That sounds like such a cruel thing to say, like, why wouldn't I want the baby in the room with me? I just remember that that was the only way I could get 2-3 hours of solid sleep when I first had Tim and Maddie.

Something else that's different is that they don't bring your food into the room. There is a small dining area on the post-natal ward where you go for your meals. And, when you go, you should just leave your baby asleep in your room alone, and tell the midwife that you're going to the dining room. Leave my baby alone in my room? That just seemed weird.

And also, if I have a boy, they will not do circumcisions in the hospital here. Culturally, I've heard that they think circumcisions are cruel and outdated. Hopefully, they will do a circumcision at the clinic on base for me, but I've heard rumors that they had to stop providing that service for legal reasons. I think I will be calling about that today.

A few weeks ago, I asked my mid-wife how long I should expect to stay in the hospital. Her answer was, "Anywhere from 6 hours to 3 days." Needless to say, I think I will be more anxious to get home after this baby is born, compared to my previous deliveries.

I've been spending some time during the past two weeks packing my hospital bag. A friend of mine who just had a baby here, gave me a list of what to pack. A lot of it is standard, but there are some significant differences. First of all, you need to bring something to wear to deliver the baby in. They do not provide a front-opening dressing gown for you. My question about this was, "Then how do you get that skin-to-skin experience when you first deliver?" My friend told me that they just strip you down naked! Fun! I'm also supposed to bring my own snacks and drinks for Ethan and myself to keep up our energy during labor. That sounded very different to me! In the States, I was told to drink a ton of water when I started having contractions, and then it was ice chips until the baby came. Weird. I also need to bring my own towels for showering, pads, diapers, baby blankets, and baby clothes. I literally bring the first clothes my baby will be put into! Oh, but I am not allowed to bring baby wipes... they confiscate them at the door practically. Apparently baby wipes are another form of cruelty on a baby's bottom. Instead, I have to bring these cotton disc-shaped things that they use for wipes. I got those to bring, but I think I'll hide some wipes in my suitcase just in case... don't tell!

So, that's what I've found out so far. Yes, it will surely be a different experience delivering here in England under the umbrella of National Heath Care. But, I'm trying to keep my mind open and am preparing myself to be flexible, knowing that, at the end of this whole delivery experience, God-willing, I will be coming home with a beautiful new baby.

P.S. We would certainly appreciate any prayers from people regarding our delivery. Our main concerns are obviously the health and well-being of both the baby and me, especially with a VBAC delivery. I've been told my multiple sources that I am a good candidate for VBAC, but you just never know. We would also appreciate prayers for whomever will be watching Tim and Maddie when Ethan and I are in the hospital. My friend Kelly is on call from now until my parents arrive on the 27th. And finally, we would also appreciate prayers that I wouldn't go late (especially when my parents will only be here for a week and a half), and that God would help us all to adjust to life with a newborn. Thank you.