Well, tonight Chris and I had a tour of the hospital. We are going to be delivering at Saddleback Memorial Hospital . I had been at the hospital once before when our friends had delivered and they had mentioned that the hospital was great – this is what first peeked our interest of delivering at the hospital. Since then, we have heard from several of our friends positive things about the hospital and their maternity ward. So, we elected this as the place to bring our new child into the world.
When we first arrived at the hospital I saw several pregnant women walking in as well. There must have been about 150 or more people at the meeting we had attended. It is hard to describe the reaction of being surrounded by SO many pregnant women and to know that I was a part of the “in-group”. There were several women just starting their pregnancy and hardly showing to woman who were in their 9th month and looked like they were ready to pop. It was interesting to look around and see the other women checking each other out – just as I was – and comparing themselves. I was the most relieved when I saw a woman pregnant with twins and was thankful that I was not that huge.
So, the tour! The meeting was very informative of what to expect when you arrive at the hospital and then we took a walking tour of the maternity ward. We walked through three different rooms that I will soon be visiting. There is an evaluation room where you are first checked in to evaluate your labor and progress and to ensure you are in ‘active’ labor. If you are not in ‘active’ labor you get sent home. But, in the event, you are in ‘active’ labor you are then admitted and moved to the delivery room. At this point I’m scheduled to have a normal delivery but in the event I have a C-Section I will be moved to the O.R. to have the baby surgically removed.
The delivery room looks somewhat like a hotel room (well, at first). There is a nice floral printed bed spread over the hospital bed and there is a lovely wood dresser that contains a TV, radio and mini fridge plus the bathroom has a private Jacuzzi tub. Within a few minutes the room is transformed from a hotel suite to a delivery unit. It was quite interesting how the bed itself pulled apart into two separate pieces when it’s time to deliver. So, this is where I get to bring my child into the world – it was a relief to see how nice and clean it was but it was also a reality check that this is where my child would be born and this is where I would officially become a parent. The emotions became intense.
After we toured the delivery room we went to the ‘post-delivery room’. This room is much smaller then the delivery room but it is private and I will have no roommate. There is a small chair that somehow pulls out into a small sleeper for Chris and a fridge across the hallway for treats and a nursery right down the hallway.
Overall, I was very impressed with the hospital, how it is set up, and even the security measures that they take to ensure our safety. I take comfort in knowing that I have top notch medical professionals looking at for the well being of my child and myself. ALSO – totally freaked out that I will be a guest at the hospital and my life will forever be changed.
