Our Hospital Tour

On Thursday, Bryan and I took a tour of the Maternity Center at Emory Crawford Long Hospital, where I will be delivering. We were both very impressed with the facilities and the people. They walked us through the procedure for checking in and what will happen once I'm admitted. After a basic evaluation, they will take us to a labor and delivery room. These rooms are very comfortable and cozy, with almost more of a homey feel than a medical feel. Each labor and delivery room has a baby evaluation station right next to the delivery bed, so that the baby can be cleaned, evaluated, etc. without ever having to leave mom's side! Within minutes, I'll be able to hold our baby boy and initiate nursing. The room also has a pull out couch, so if needed, Bryan can get a chance to nap in a relatively comfortable place. They will bring us birthing balls or labor bars (which aids in relieving pain associated with back labor, as well as easily achieving different birthing positions) if we would like them.

The hospital's default policy is that mother and baby stay together as much as possible once the baby is born. The baby is only removed to the nursery if there is a medical reason to do so (either for mother or baby). In fact, during the tour, there was only one baby in the nursery. All the other babies were in the room with their families.

Once I have delivered the baby and the doctors and nurses have determined that we are both stable and healthy, we will be moved to the mother baby suite. These rooms are also homey and comfortable, and provide a pull out couch for dads. In fact, the hospital encourages dads to spend as much time with mom and baby as possible, and have made every accommodation to make them comfortable and at home. In addition to the pull out sofa, there are private bathrooms for each room, so he will have a place to shower, and we even found out that all the rooms are equipped with wireless internet!

The hospital also has several IBLCE lactation consultants on staff to aid in any questions or problems arise regarding nursing. And all the nurses as well are trained in aiding and supporting the initiation of breast feeding as well. It makes me feel great to know that there is so much support in place to help the baby and I (and Bryan) get off to a great start!