Day 593: The Birth Experience - Postpartum Meals

Now, besides delivery room experiences, our postpartum experiences at these two hospitals were very different as well.

Grayson was born at 7:17pm, and from that moment on things became a blur. By the time Northside mobilized Serena’s wheel chair pusher and Grayson’s bassinet cart pusher it was getting close to 10pm… and guess what folks? None of us had eaten anything since lunch time.

For those of you who have been to Northside, you probably know about the maze of postpartum wings strung throughout the hospital. I half expected David Bowie waiting for us around each corner. Thank God for the Lo-Jack bracelet around Gray’s ankle. It was almost 11pm by the time we reached the postpartum room and during this journey through the hospital is where we became overcome by hunger. I was almost delirious with a singular focus. I had to eat.

Luckily, for Serena, they had a little late night dinner waiting for her… nothing glamorous or very appetizing for that matter. But after pushing out a baby, Serena took down the food like a champ.

As for me, when I asked the hospital staff about food options they behaved as if they has never been asked the question before muttering, “There is a Café’ and a McDonald’s downstairs… but they closed at 3:30pm.” I stared blankly for a moment waiting for a “but…”, it never came. Finally I asked, “So what do people do when they have babies after 3:30pm?” “Umm… there are some vending machines downstairs.” I hadn’t eaten for almost eleven hours and they directed me to potato chips and candy bars.

Since then, Northside has opened a Morrison’s franchise, which is a tad helpful. It’s open until 7pm, but it’s closed on weekends. I just don’t understand… the hospital is open 24 hours… and it’s one of the busiest in the world… why not have one food option available at all times?

“So, what do you guys do for food while you’re on duty?” “We bring our own food.” Stone walled again. You have to be kidding me! Finally, I talked them into giving me some menus for delivery places they had stashed somewhere… only one of which was open… it was the best cold fatty steak sandwich and undercooked baked potato of my life.