We took the opportunity of a quiet weekend to go on a tour of the labour ward today. They run tours every Sunday at 2pm and I was anxious to familiarise myself with the hospital. All my antenatal appointments are at the hospital, even though I could attend a antenatal clinic near my house. I hate hospitals so my hope is that the frequent trips will make it less scary when the big day comes. Is that stupid or do other people do the same?
Anyway, a few things I learnt today:
The delivery rooms are really small and full of scary machines
There’s about one midwife to every 2-3 women
There are only 2 birthing pool (what happens if I want to use one and they’re both occupied?!)
After giving birth you have to walk down the corridor to find the bathroom to shower!
If the labour ward is busy, or your labour has been complicated, they may send you to the postnatal ward
The temperature in the postnatal wards is unbearably hot – ‘for the babies’ the midwife said. So why must the room the baby sleeps in at home be a cool 18 degrees?
Both the delivery rooms and the antenatal wards felt a bit like prison (not that I’d know, obviously). You know, windows that don’t open but look across open concrete spaces littered with unwanted medical equipment. A security guard who makes you wash your hands before you enter the postnatal department. Rigid visiting hours for partners (11-8) and guests (6-8). And all meals have to be taken in the small canteen where there clearly isn’t enough space for everyone.
The postnatal department has approximately one midwife to every 9 women if they’re full
Oh dear. Before I wrote the post I was feeling a bit more confident about everything, but seeing it all written down is a different matter. So, I will be praying that my labour is straight forward enough to get through it and return home the same day. I like the idea of taking the baby home and recuperating in familiar surroundings.
Please don’t let me dream of being in labour and wandering round the corridors of the labour department trying to find a free room tonight!