Yum Yum

After a two-day stay at the lovely Durham Regional Hospital during labor and delivery, I am happy to announce that I was absolutely pleased with the facility and services provided. I had about as fantastic an experience as I believe one can have at a hospital, and I would recommend Durham Regional to anyone who is planning to have a baby.
The check-in process was effortless, although the woman who wheeled me to my labor suite said some things I'll never forget. So, she's wheeling me out of the elevator and into the hallway where we wait to be securely buzzed into the labor floor. I must have mentioned my highly desired epidural and her response (not that I asked) was that she would NEVER get an epidural. There are just TOO MANY RISKS involved, she told me. Well, geez, thanks lady. I really appreciate your useless opinion and your lack of tact in announcing the dangers of the epidural right before I get one. Nice work, lady.
Anyway, after she was out of sight and my labor process began I encountered the best of folks. Everyone had a very calm, reassuring, professional aura about them. They were as quick and informative as they could be. The RN who labored with me was FANTASTIC. She was the perfect coach for someone who neglected to take a birthing class for preparation. She told Hubby and I exactly what to do when for the lengthy duration of my labor and remained positive and motivated the entire time. My doctor from the Durham Women's Clinic stayed with me for the final two and a half hours of pushing, and was patient and optimistic as well. He could have easily rushed us into using suction to pull the baby out, which was always an option.
The lactation specialists and baby nurses were so helpful and calming, just what the doctor ordered for new and overwhelmed parents.
Now on to the menu at Durham Regional. Honestly, I did not care one bit about eating. Yes, I was starving all the time, but I didn't have a preference or concern for what I'd shove down my throat.
They'd bring menu options each day for me to fill out. One day I ordered something called HEARTY VEGETABLE SOUP. Sounds good, huh? The lack of salt wasn't the problem. I love lack of salt. I'm a huge fan of low sodium. But I think they mislabeled this menu item. There was nothing hearty about it at all.
I took a photo to share. Not a drop of vegetable. Just flavorless, red broth and maybe one lone withered piece of celery. It gave me something to laugh about. I look forward to eating real vegetable soup in the near future.