Valley Hospital

Last night, Garrett and I toured the hospital where Max will be born. About ten or so other couples toured with us. Garrett commented that he'd never seen so many women looking uncomfortable. That's so true. I couldn't help looking around at all of us and wondering what everyone looked like...before. the weight gain. the sleepless nights. the sciatica. the morning sickness. the unexpected emergency room visits. the concern for a healthy baby. Not that we'd trade any of it, but it certainly takes its toll.

Of course, there's "one" in every group.

A chipper, pretty, slim girl who couldn't be more than 25 joined our tour. She was dolled up to the point that she'd even curled her eyelashes. Her high heels and cute pants perfectly accented the halter top that showed off her tanned shoulders. The girl showed no sign of water retention...yet.

Her enthusiasm and opinions resonated throughout the tour even though her husband wasn't with her. He probably thought it was too early to tour hospitals. "We just found out last week that we're pregnant. We're really surprised. It was, like, can you believe it?" I congratulated her. She beamed.

She was hospital shopping. She whispered conspiratorially, "Did you know they don't practice water births at this hospital? If you want a holistic birth you have to go somewhere else."

I assured her that I want drugs early and often.

Shock made her stutter. "I...I... I'm going to sit down."

I couldn't help but think, Yeah, she's new.

Apparently, hospital shopping is common. The extent to which our guide discussed security is alarming. Garrett told me that someone he knows went on a tour of a different hospital and they modeled how the security works--resulting in bars sliding down and a complete lock down of the hospital. Should I be more concerned someone is going to steal my baby or is it simply a scheme to have people choose one hospital over another?

The hospital plays a snippet of a lullaby every time a baby is born. While we were there, we heard the lullaby twice. The guide told us it's a way for people in the hospital who are there for different reasons to share in the celebration of birth. Nice, huh?

Garrett was completely enthralled with the nursery. The hospital allows "rooming in" where the parents can have the baby stay with them, but they also offer the nursery so that parents can get some rest. Through the window, we glimpsed three babies in bassinets. We also witnessed a father wheeling his baby to their private room. Garrett looked at the brown mass atop the baby's head and commented, "He has more hair than I do!"

Ah, yes. Time changes things.