As a military spouse, I have heard my fair share of horror stories about labor and delivery in a military hospital. The bad stories are usually the ones you hear the most.
Unfortunately, I had a rough first delivery experience in California. I will spare you the details because they don’t really matter. I walked away with a beautiful, healthy child and that’s all that mattered to me.
It was my first pregnancy, my husband was deployed, my ignorance was bliss and I knew no different. Your options can be very limited in the military community and I was not as assertive as I should have been, to say the least.
During my second pregnancy, PCSing in my third trimester was a little nerve wracking. I was late in the game and chances were, I would not have much say in the care I received - especially since the base we are currently stationed at has no hospital. I was told I would be receiving care at a military clinic in town and deliver at a different military hospital.
I lost all hope. It was bad enough that I had to find a new doctor, but finding out my new provider wouldn’t even be delivering me was upsetting, to say the least.
My husband and I were able to tour the labor and delivery floor at the hospital a couple weeks before my due date. Although I was not receiving my prenatal care there, just pulling into the facility was a positive experience.
The hospital was brand new and absolutely beautiful. We met with the staff, spoke with some nurses and everyone was wonderful. The private room with a large TV and gaming system may have won us over as well. Maybe my expectations were low but I was actually excited for my stay in the hospital.
The odds were against us the weekend I had my son, who was born one week early. The base and surrounding area was hit with a terrible storm and 80 mph winds. The hospital and the entire base lost power and while we were in the hospital a 30-foot tall tree fell and landed on our home.
Luckily, no one was hurt but it definitely complicated things. In the hospital we had limited power provided by generators, which meant no TV or games. Guess my husband and I got to make up for all that time apart during the last five years. Be careful what you wish for, right!
Despite all these events, my labor and delivery experience in Virginia was much different and everything I dreamed of. I was in control and comfortable thanks to the wonderful nurses and best of all, my husband who was by my side. We had a beautiful, healthy new son. During our three day stay, we had no access to most hot food in the café because of the power outage and limited water usage (I had to sneak in a shower). But I still walked away with such a great experience. Although both of my experiences having my boys were very different, they both had the same outcome and I am so lucky and blessed for that.
I have changed my attitude about my previous, “bad” experience because it doesn’t really matter how my son came into the world. All that matters is that he did. I have two wonderful gifts and for that I would go through any bad experience over and over again.
