On Wednesday evening Will and I attended the Providence Hospital's Alternative Birth Center orientation. From 7-9 p.m. Nurse Heather took us through the history of the ABC, provided some facts and figures about the facility, gave childbirth class recommendations, reviewed admission procedures and led us on a tour.
The ABC opened about 35 years ago and until 2002 was a free-standing building across from St. John's Providence Hospital. After a safety audit by Dr. Eric Knox, a controversial OB consultant and a proponent of C-sections, the ABC was temporarily closed. No quantifiable reason was given, leading most to believe it was simply the opinion of the highly-compensated consultant. Over 1000 ABC supporters - doctors, midwives, nurses and families - led a community protest and Providence re-opened a relocated ABC within the hospital, at the end of the postpartum unit hallway. (An interesting bit of info - the C-section rate at the free-standing ABC was 3%. Now that it's housed within the hospital, it's 6%. The national average is 34%.)
There are three birthing rooms, all a little different. Each has a large tub (two rooms tubs are jetted, one is just a soaking tub), queen sized bed, private bathroom with shower, television, fridge and plenty of seating. What happens when laboring lady #4 shows up? Apparently, that rarely happens. Usually one of the rooms is occupied by a mom who already gave birth and can either be discharged early or go a few rooms down to the postpartum hospital unit.
Will checking out the baby's first bed.
Two things (besides the queen bed and hydro tub) you don't find in every labor and delivery unit... A birth stool (squat and push) and towel warmer ("to warm and stretch the perineum so episiotomies are infrequent" - imagine Will's face when I explained "perineum.")
Laboring mothers (and coaching fathers) are encouraged to eat and drink while at the ABC - no ice chips only policy here - so there is a small kitchen to prepare food. Will is already planning his spread. And checking on pizza delivery. (I personally like the dual purpose baby scale. Weigh your cheese. Weigh your infant. Or do both at once.)
Last stop - Family Lounge. We had to be sure Bill, Katie, Bob, Betty, Paul, Colleen and Pete would be comfortable while I pushed this baby out. 
One thing I was relieved to discover - our loved ones would have plenty of award-winning reading material to keep themselves occupied while we labored down the hall.
And comfortable furniture, plenty of powdered-cheese-coated snacks and vending machine cafe au lait. Now, fingers crossed I remain low-risk and am able to give birth here!
