Learning our ABC(s)

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!

Baby booty

No, not booty as in bottom. Booty as in loot. Gifts. Pressies. Always generously looked after by family and friends, I am embarrassed (and a little giddy) to report that the trend extends to my belly and its occupant. In addition to countless cards and well-wishing emails, here's a rundown of the great gifts I've received thus far.

An infamous Aunt Robin home-made baby blanket and heart-melting (up for debate pineapple or lemon) hat, frog toy and onesie were waiting for me in the mailbox after work on Tuesday night.








I returned from Chicago with adorable gender-neutral leather booties from Auntie Sue, a pregnancy journal, body oil and belly butter from Auntie Karyn and a feel-good foods for pregnancy book from Auntie Jen.






And not to worry - Will tested both the Tummy to Toes and Tummy Honey lotions that we received from Aunt Bonnie and Uncle Greg. That hairy man belly has never been so smooth...

Girl talk

Though snowy (this is a street near Sue's house), I had a great weekend. We didn't play "Girl Talk" (Zit stickers?), but we engaged in a lot of it. I arrived Friday night, caught up with Sue and headed to bed.

After Saturday brunch (which included bacon wrapped dates, a steak quesadilla, chorizo burrito and virgin bloody mary) at Karyn and Ed's place, Moe's, a nap and pedicures at Lincoln Square's Spa O, the girls and I met up for a pre-dinner meal at Maude's Liquor Bar.

These are shots of our light apps. (wink) My favorite - the french onion fondue and at Sue's suggestion, pomme frites dipped in escargot butter.






Also a necessary inclusion - a shot of our wind-bag waiter, Dean. After schooling us on the food of the French countryside, sweet meats, West Coast oysters and mocktails, he asked Karyn what she thought of the wine. Dissatisfied with her less than enthusiastic response, he wanted to know what, exactly, she didn't like. When she responded, "the smell," he reacted by leaning over her shoulder, sniffing the glass in front of her, then whirlpooling the syrah out of the goblet and down the front of her shirt. Yeah, he acted sorta sorry and provided her with a soda-water-soaked bar towel, but really, he was still a total asshole.













Next stop - Girl and the Goat - conveniently located across from Maude's. Being a Top Chef devotee, I was as excited as Will was jealous to try out concoctions from the kitchen of Season Four winner, Stephanie Izard. We had a perfectly professional, kind waiter that managed to keep my companions' wine IN their glasses, and a fabulous parade of plates (indicated on the photo of the autographed menu K, J and S gifted the baby). Included in the repertoire - Pig Face. Though all I could picture was 1997's The Butcher Boy film poster, it was surprisingly tame. It's the fried egg plate. Tasted like breakfast. Did I mention the face was rolled around the tongue? (The restaurant is named such because Drunken Goat was taken and Izard is also a kind of Pyrenean goat.


On my way out of town I stopped at Karyn's abode for chocolate croissants and quiche (as if I needed brunch after the previous night's dinner, which, by the way, ended around 1:30 a.m.). Besides practicing my parenting skills with best baby Charlie, we talked bouncy seats vs. swings, Baby Bjorn vs. Ergo Baby, City Minis vs. Orbits and the necessary Bumbo Baby Sitter. It was hard getting a word in with all Ed had to share! (See couch.)

Go plow go

I'm off to the eye of Snowpocolypse 2011. Though I'm sure Lake Shore Drive is buzzing along and not as pictured on the left, as of noon, Sue's street was still unplowed. On the docket - some O'Douls, Girl and the Goat, Maude's Liquor Bar, and probably a lot of baby chatter. Both about me, and with Karyn and Ed's 7 month old Charlie.

Shutting my Yellow Door

Last weekend Will and I headed to Berkley to disassemble my Collard Dogs "shop" inside Yellow Door Art Market. Although it was a great experience, and connected me with a wholesale buyer, the meager sales couldn't justify another 3 month contract.

Until Baby S. arrives, I will continue selling on Etsy, via my own website and to interested buyers via word of mouth. I've started looking at street fairs and craft shows, particularly for my Collard Green Dog line - collars crafted from reclaimed seatbelts and recycled fabric or simply old canvas belts, balls felted by hand and dyed using KoolAid and recycled sweater "bone" toys.

The question really is whether I'll continue this endeavor post-baby. As friend Brenna suggested, baby collars, maybe?

Snowpocolypse 2011

Snowpocolypse. snOMG. Snowmageddon. Although it's still snowing, the "Wake up to 13.1 inches" didn't quite pan out. But hey, for once I'm not complaining about the alarmist Detroit meteorologists and newscasters. Their fervor meant both workaholic Will and I had a day off.



So we hoofed it to mainstreet staple, Klancy's, where I could stuff my pregnant face full of breakfast goodies. (We are celebrating the first day of Week 13, you know...) And of course, explore Milford's winter wonderland en route.












Main Street Snowpocolypse belly shot.













Alas, best burger, fries and a chocolate shake joint was NOT open at 9 a.m.
















Ahhhhh - let the week-13-face-stuffing commence. Nothing like a skillet over easy with a side of cinnamon french toast on a blustery snow day. Happy Snowmageddon, All!