We are finally making our way home from the hospital today.  3 evenings in a hospital is more than my fair share for at least the next couple of years (until we have our next baby probably).  I had to sleep on the most uncomfortable couch-thing that I have ever seen.  I call it a couch thing because it starts out at the size of a love seat, but transforms into a single sized bed in the most unusual way.  

 

So, this is the only entry that I plan on writing that addresses our birthing situation at Northwestern.  To make a very long story short, Michelle and I had been seeing the midwives at Northwestern for the entire time that Michelle was pregnant.  Going into it, we knew that we could get any one of the 6 or so midwives that are on staff at Northwestern Memorial Hospital (NWMH).  So, when Michelle gets to the point of being ready to head to the hospital we call the designated number and ask for the midwife on call.  Much to our surprise, we find out that there are no midwives on call on Saturday and none will be on call through the entire weekend, instead, we get your run of the mill doctor.  Now to some, this may not seem like that big of a deal, but to someone who is looking to have a natural birth and avoid all of the potential interventions that befall so many women in the delivery room, this not only presented a giant problem, but it is the nastiest curve ball that could have been thrown at us.  This particular incident completely altered our mindset and experience from the moment we found out about it.   While everything turned out to be fine, let this be a lesson to any other women that may happen upon this blog.  Talk to your practitioner about what the contingency plan is should the person you are expecting to be at your birth not be present.  Always remember that you are in control of what is happening to you when in the hospital.  Regardless of what they say, the decisions always rest with you and not the doctor.  Do not be afraid to ask questions and most importantly ask what are my alternatives.  How long do I have before I absolutely need to do whatever it is that they are asking you about.  Try as best as you can to mentally prepare yourself for the unthinkable because chances are, it may happen.

 

Okay, enough with the venting.  We would like to thank the doctor on call for allowing Michelle to give birth in the tub, a small victory for us and a compromise on the part of the doctor.  So, we thank her for her understanding and compassion.