We took a tour today of El Camino Hospital in Mountain View, CA, where I’ll be delivering baby #2. It’s a really nice hospital, and I feel better all the time for choosing midwives Olga, Lin, and Bethany. With all the ideas about birth within a hospital environment, it’s so comforting to know these women are there to support us “Queens of Labor” in our important work with as little intervention as possible.
It’s a really nice facility. The laboring rooms have lots of seating, a tv, storage, private bath, etc. One chair even pulls out into an extra bed. Olga Libova gave our tour (10+ people) and showed us all the ways their laboring mothers can use the room (pretty much anywhere and any position that helps!), where helpers can sit (though this isn’t a spectators sport 
), the supplies available in-room (super-feminine hospital underwear 
, balance ball, water bottle, sheets, towels, newborn care station). I don’t know how others were feeling but with the very topic that can make me so emotional, her stories and descriptions made me laugh (kicking out too many people. big dinner and active labor? forget the sick pan, bring over the trash can!). She described the monitors (which actually show everyone on the floor, she said one was pushing), their procedures for babies who “aren’t behaving” and mothers who need help, how to communicate to the nurses about what you’d like. Anyway, there was a lot to see and hear about how things work there.
A couple things I found interesting regarding safety and security. No one is allowed to walk through the halls, or out of the hospital carrying the baby. During the hospital stay, newborns in the hallways have to be in the bassinet. In one’s room of course, they can be held. When leaving the hospital, Mom holds the baby while pushed in a wheelchair. We saw a few leaving, they all had the baby in detachable car seats on their lab. Mom, baby, and designated helper (Dad or other) get matching bracelets. The only non-employees allowed in the nursery are those with bracelets.
The midwives recommend Mom hold baby right after birth to encourage skin-to-skin, get started breastfeeding, and keep the baby in-room for the duration of the stay (as long as she hasn’t been overly exhausted by labor). She spoke of birth plans but actually calls them “Letters of Introduction”. These let nurses know who the family is and how they prefer Mom and baby be cared for as long as all is well. It’s not a list of “do not”’s. She even recommended photos, using it as a way to build a relationship with the nurses.
Upon arriving home, I started a written list for what we’ll need to bring along.
~ installed infant car seat
~ snacks. sandwiches were also recommended. (They have “nourishment” room with snacks and turkey sandwiches that are “ok”.)
~ trash-able tube top and skirt for laboring if a hospital gown is undesirable
~ Other clothes and toiletries for me and Tim
~ white robe (it’s lightweight and waffle knit) and flip flops
~ music player, chargers.
~ baby clothes for departure
~ blanket (from home to be cozy)
~ camera
~ Letter of Introduction
Labor & Delivery is on the first floor of the Women’s Hospital/Orchard Pavilion, which is one floor up. Ground floor has registration, the gift shop, garage parking entrance. On the first floor by the elevator is a waiting room but we saw a few people come to visit someone and Olga directed them elsewhere, “to the hippo”. Tim and I wondered if that’s really what she said. And there, walking between the postpartum nurses station and the nursery window, was a visiting area with a life-size hippo statue lying on the floor. It is a favorite with visiting children and an encouragement to women who feel like hippos. As I said, I’m really happy that I’m seeing this group of midwives and with El Camino. I’m looking forward to a good experience.
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