Maternity care in Ireland

I cannot remember if I mentioned it in a previous post but am too tired to look, I can barely focus on the screen right now, BUT our new neighbors are Dax and Sarah Bryant, OM Ireland team members from Las Vegas. Well Sarah is the 2nd of the 4 of us pregnant OM'ers on the team to have a baby. She has had so many contractions that I am just glad for her sake the baby is finally here. I always joke that I think that God's way of not letting us not be scared about what we are about to go through is by allowing us to be so miserable by the 9th month we could care less if the baby came out of our nose! Well we finally got the call at 2:52 am Friday night. Sarah was in labor and so Ludie went to their house to watch the boys. Sarah and Dax left the house at 3 am to go to the hospital. The hospital is 40 minutes away, but they made it in 30! (Go Dax!). Then we got a text at 4;25 te baby had been born at 4:05 am! ....25 minutes after they got to the hospital. I am telling this only because I am so amazed. The husbands can be in the hospital during delivery but they cannot stay the night and have to come during visitor hours after the baby is born. At 6 am, Ludie came back in. I ran to the door asking who was watching the boys, he said that Dax was home. (The fastest hospital trip ever!!!!) I think that should go in some Guiness book of world records.

For the Americans reading this there are many similarities and differences in having a baby in Ireland. I am sure I can tell you more when I have our baby, Lord willing, only 5 more weeks of baking time to go. Let me start off by saying we are GRATEFUL for the health care in Ireland and because of the pro-activeness in the beginning of this pregnancy of the medical professionals, I was able to receive the diagnosis and hormones needed to sustain this pregnancy, all praise to God!

First of all, there is no "pelvic exams" until you are in labor unless there is something wrong that needs to be checked and even then they may not do a pelvic exam. Ultrasounds are at every hospital visit, but it is a quick check. (Here is the baby, here is the heartbeat.) You rotate every other check with your General Practitioner and the hospital. At the hospital the Ob's check you out but the nurse midwives are the ones that deliver the babies, and if there is complications, the pediatrician comes in. Afterwards, the baby is well checked on and you can get checked if you need to or suspect any problems.

For your first child you can stay in the hospital with a normal delivery up to 5 days, for additional children only up to 3 but can leave within 24 hours if you so choose and are okay, as well as the baby.

The nurses wipe the baby off when it is born but it is up to you to give it a bath and fully clean the baby. It is also highly recommended that alcohol swabs are not used on the umbilical cord area, nothing is to be used. You do get tea and biscuits (cookies) for a snack in the evening (yeah!).

I have started showing some signs that this pregnancy is getting closer to the due date. I cannot be up for too long periods of time because of my varicose veins. Ouch! I feel so sorry for the kids because I don't feel like they are getting all the attention I would love to shower them with, but they are doing well and are playing well together.