The Shadow Lady and I, as part of our Childbirth classes, got a tour of the Childbirth Center at Overlake Hospital.  Since we'll be heading there in a few weeks, most likely, it was good to know where to go, and, more importantly, how to get there!

The center was pretty easy to find... From the road, its the same entrance as the emergency room... you just park and enter in a different building in the complex.

After briefly meeting in a classroom, we piled into elevators and made our way up to the birth center.

As we made our way up, the elevator opened on a lower floor... the elevator was full, of course, so the lady who was coming in stepped back with a worried look... the instructor asked "Are you in labor?"

Just as the doors were closing, we heard "I think so..."

It wasn't funny for the lady, I'm sure, but we sure got a good laugh...

Our instructor showed us the Post Natal room first... its from here, she explained, where our "24-hour" clock starts ticking - most insurance companies pay for a day, and then need some sort of approval for more... but the time doesn't start until you're in this room.

That way, if you're in labor for 20 yours, you don't have to worry about getting moved out in 4!!!  :-)

The staff were very friendly as we all tromped by... most of them were asking if anyone needed to stay... :-) 

Here, our instructor is describing how the "Birth Print" imager worked... when you have time, you wheel the baby down, and get the prints made here - a card will be in the welcome packet with some picture credits on it... plus you can buy more.

The pictures go on the website, or you can email them out.... I'll have my Camera, of course, but I'm sure BabyJ will be wheeled under this thing at least once!

 
We went back down to the classroom - all the labor rooms were filled... busy night I guess!

Later, near the end of the class, one of them opened up, and we were allowed back up to see the labor room.

She described the process of arrival, the "rules" surrounding what to wear and bring into the room with you...

She also shared ideas for dealing with the labor "experience"... and showed us how the bed worked, as well as different position options for dealing with labor, and the delivery itself.

The bed is pretty cool!  Its got some amazing functionality!

Hopefully, we'll figure it out when we need to!

She also showed us a control that automatically aimed the spotlights in the ceiling, which would help the doctor when the moment we're learning about actually arrives.

Its was pretty cool... at least we have some idea of what's in store for us...

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