Saturday, October 25, 2008
Thursday, October 23, 2008
Maternity tour
We took a tour of the maternity ward at our hospital last night. We were very happy with what we saw. It seems to be a state-of-the-art facility. We were expecting a very small tour of a wing of the hospital and got quite a bit more. There were about 40 people there and they served refreshments, showed a video with the history and practices of the hospital, answered questions, pre-registered patients, gave out all kinds of literature and then split into smaller groups and gave a very detailed tour. We got an added bonus, as we saw one of our doctors giving delivery news to a family in the waiting room. He smiled and waved, but I appreciated the close attention he was giving to the family he was speaking with so we didn't interrupt.
Most maternity patients there are assigned to LDRP (Labor, Delivery, Recovery, Postpartum) private rooms where you are assigned to the same room throughout the entire process. There is only one patient assigned to each of these rooms and they're very large (the rooms, not the patients... wait... actually both). They each include a large bathroom with a shower, as well. They're big believers in maintaining the parent-child bond as much as possible after the delivery, so the baby stays in the parents' room as much as possible unless the parents ask for them to be taken to the nursery. I had asked my doctor previously about the odds of getting one of these rooms and he told me that about 80% of patients are able to be placed there. The other option is a semi-private room where delivery would happen in one room and then recovery and post-partum in a room with two beds. There is the slight possibility of another patient being assigned to those rooms, but they told us that is very rare and only happens in extreme cases where they're over-loaded with deliveries. Otherwise, the dad is allowed to sleep in the second bed. If a C-Section is necessary, the private rooms are not an option, for obvious reasons - the semi-private rooms are closer to the nurse's station and the surgery has to take place in an operating room. So anyways.... come one, LDRP room!! Be available!!
There were some details about the tour and the hospitals practices that I found very interesting. Did you know that they lo-jack the babies after they're born?? An alarm will sound if anyone gets too close to an exit with one of the infants - even if Dad is taking the baby for a walk around the halls in the bassinet. They also put ID bracelets on Mom, Dad & Baby and they make the parents read the numbers on their bracelet every time they bring a baby back from the nursery. The poor infants have bracelets on every limb - four separate ones if they have to have any lab work done! To be honest, all of the security measures were making me a little bit nervous at first. I asked Andy "Did something happen here to make them lo-jack the babies??" The tour guide answered my question almost immediately without even hearing it (which makes me think it's a common one at that point in the speech!). She said that they have never had an incident, they are just taking every precaution to make sure that everyone remains safe and secure. They showed us the "lo-jack" in the nursery on a brand new baby (only 5 lbs!). It wasn't too bad - just a little anklet with a tiny little box on it. Still - it's crazy that we live in a world where things like that need to exist.
Another detail that I really like and appreciate is that they pre-admit patients. They give us the opportunity to fill out the check-in form months ahead of time so that when we're ready for delivery, we don't have to be bothered with it. There is a special driveway for maternity patients and when we're ready, we by-pass the check in counter and pull right up to the maternity ward. Dad is allowed to park the car in this little driveway (kind of like a hotel entryway) and keep it there until Mom is all settled into her room. It's a really nice set-up.
Overall we really enjoyed the tour. It was a good intro into our hospital experience and made us feel a lot more secure about how the process will flow. We also got all kinds of goodies to take home and read, as well as some freebies - a pacifier, a bottle, outlet plugs... a random assortment of little things. :)
In three and a half weeks we start our prepared childbirth (lamaze) classes. It's hard to believe we're this far along already. It seems to be going faster and faster as we go. Just a couple more weeks before we're in the third trimester! Crazy...
Most maternity patients there are assigned to LDRP (Labor, Delivery, Recovery, Postpartum) private rooms where you are assigned to the same room throughout the entire process. There is only one patient assigned to each of these rooms and they're very large (the rooms, not the patients... wait... actually both). They each include a large bathroom with a shower, as well. They're big believers in maintaining the parent-child bond as much as possible after the delivery, so the baby stays in the parents' room as much as possible unless the parents ask for them to be taken to the nursery. I had asked my doctor previously about the odds of getting one of these rooms and he told me that about 80% of patients are able to be placed there. The other option is a semi-private room where delivery would happen in one room and then recovery and post-partum in a room with two beds. There is the slight possibility of another patient being assigned to those rooms, but they told us that is very rare and only happens in extreme cases where they're over-loaded with deliveries. Otherwise, the dad is allowed to sleep in the second bed. If a C-Section is necessary, the private rooms are not an option, for obvious reasons - the semi-private rooms are closer to the nurse's station and the surgery has to take place in an operating room. So anyways.... come one, LDRP room!! Be available!!
There were some details about the tour and the hospitals practices that I found very interesting. Did you know that they lo-jack the babies after they're born?? An alarm will sound if anyone gets too close to an exit with one of the infants - even if Dad is taking the baby for a walk around the halls in the bassinet. They also put ID bracelets on Mom, Dad & Baby and they make the parents read the numbers on their bracelet every time they bring a baby back from the nursery. The poor infants have bracelets on every limb - four separate ones if they have to have any lab work done! To be honest, all of the security measures were making me a little bit nervous at first. I asked Andy "Did something happen here to make them lo-jack the babies??" The tour guide answered my question almost immediately without even hearing it (which makes me think it's a common one at that point in the speech!). She said that they have never had an incident, they are just taking every precaution to make sure that everyone remains safe and secure. They showed us the "lo-jack" in the nursery on a brand new baby (only 5 lbs!). It wasn't too bad - just a little anklet with a tiny little box on it. Still - it's crazy that we live in a world where things like that need to exist.
Another detail that I really like and appreciate is that they pre-admit patients. They give us the opportunity to fill out the check-in form months ahead of time so that when we're ready for delivery, we don't have to be bothered with it. There is a special driveway for maternity patients and when we're ready, we by-pass the check in counter and pull right up to the maternity ward. Dad is allowed to park the car in this little driveway (kind of like a hotel entryway) and keep it there until Mom is all settled into her room. It's a really nice set-up.
Overall we really enjoyed the tour. It was a good intro into our hospital experience and made us feel a lot more secure about how the process will flow. We also got all kinds of goodies to take home and read, as well as some freebies - a pacifier, a bottle, outlet plugs... a random assortment of little things. :)
In three and a half weeks we start our prepared childbirth (lamaze) classes. It's hard to believe we're this far along already. It seems to be going faster and faster as we go. Just a couple more weeks before we're in the third trimester! Crazy...
Tuesday, October 21, 2008
Carpal Tunnel
Did you know that carpal tunnel can be brought on by pregnancy? Earlier this week I started waking up multiple times in the middle of the night with numb hands. Now it happens throughout the day at various times - my hands will feel like they have fallen asleep, get tingly or just ache. According to the research I've done, this is very normal during pregnancy. It's supposed to go away after delivery, thank goodness. But isn't that strange? Repetitive tasks are not necessarily the cause for it when it happens to pregnant women - it has to do with the fluid retention, but repetitive sharp finger motions will aggravate it. So let's see... computer and paper work during the day, emailing and web browsing in the evening, knitting and crocheting a baby blanket... yeah. It fits. Bummer.
I'll be talking to the doctor at my next visit about a brace for my hand/wrist to try to minimize it.
I'll be talking to the doctor at my next visit about a brace for my hand/wrist to try to minimize it.
Monday, October 20, 2008
Cranky!
Man, I'm cranky. I don't know what has gotten into me lately - wait, yes I do. I should rephrase that. I don't know how pregnancy can have such a dramatic influence on your mood, but it has on mine over the last few days! I am so easily irritated... to the point of screaming or yelling at myself. Luckily this has not happened toward anyone else but my poor husband has had to listen to the effects of it several times in the last few days. He has just patiently come alongside me each time and asked what he can do to help - saving me from more of a fit than I'm already having. Things as simple as putting the sheets on the bed just make it seem like the world is falling in around me! Two minutes later I can look back and say "That was stupid - why did that seem like such a big deal?", but at the time - aaaagghhhh!! If I had one of those veins that pulsed in my forehead when I was mad, it would probably explode. Luckily the episodes don't happen too often (according to me), but even once is silly! I want so badly to NOT be one of those cranky pregnant women that are demanding and difficult to be around. Lately it has just gotten harder.
Please say a prayer for Andy when you think of it... I'm so thankful for him. He is my sanity during these moments and he is doing such a great job at being supportive and strong for me when I'm... well, loco. If he wasn't there to alleviate the "problems," I would hate to see what I'd be like!
Please say a prayer for Andy when you think of it... I'm so thankful for him. He is my sanity during these moments and he is doing such a great job at being supportive and strong for me when I'm... well, loco. If he wasn't there to alleviate the "problems," I would hate to see what I'd be like!
Sunday, October 12, 2008
Thursday, October 9, 2008
22 Week Appointment
We had our 22 week appointment yesterday and everything went well. It was the most uneventful visit so far, with the only glitch being my blood pressure. It is still within a reasonable level at 138/81 (they said it's okay as long as it's under 140/90) - but that is pretty high for me, as the nurse pointed out. She asked me if I had been stressed out about something that morning, which was not necessarily the case however the last week at work has been VERY high stress at work. I have projects piled up and a new one seemingly being added daily, as well as some recent events that have created some added pressure. I normally function well under pressure and stress, but now I have more to think about than myself - I have to consider that it can affect the baby and that my blood pressure is more easily disrupted now. So... I've got some reading up to do on how to manage blood pressure. And I need to focus on not getting stressed out at work, which is easier said than done.
Good news from the appointment - healthy heartbeat; movement is normal and expected; weight gain is on track; verification that the tests all came out negative and everything looks healthy! He said they're seeing just what they want to see. Other good news - I can play the Wii Fit! Andy bought it last week and I haven't used it because it said to consult a doctor if pregnant. The question got a chuckle and a "that's awesome" remark from the doc - and a blessing to proceed as long as I'm not doing any "crazy stuff". We'll see just how balanced this bubble-burdened body can be! :)
Good news from the appointment - healthy heartbeat; movement is normal and expected; weight gain is on track; verification that the tests all came out negative and everything looks healthy! He said they're seeing just what they want to see. Other good news - I can play the Wii Fit! Andy bought it last week and I haven't used it because it said to consult a doctor if pregnant. The question got a chuckle and a "that's awesome" remark from the doc - and a blessing to proceed as long as I'm not doing any "crazy stuff". We'll see just how balanced this bubble-burdened body can be! :)
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