Below please find the text of the prepare-for-birth email my Daddy sent out to friends and family.
OK. For starters, this should not be taken as an “expectation” that you’ll be here for Jackson’s debut. We know that some of you are going to want to share this wonderful experience with us, so we thought we’d provide directions. If you would rather visit after mom and baby come home…that’s fine too. Just so everyone’s on the same page, Erin will accept visitors prior to the birth provided she’s feeling up to it. Once the actual delivery begins, her mother and I will be the only family members in the room. Everyone else will have to wait in the waiting area outside of the birthing ward. Please understand, the ward is key-card access only. I will have to swipe anyone who wants to visit her beforehand in and out of the ward. So, like my father used to tell me when I was a child: in or out - make up your &^%$ mind! LOL! Maybe I’m ready to be a dad after all.
Moving on. Here’s the game plan. There will most likely be two phone calls. (OK, so we all know it’ll be more like fifty, but bear with me here.) The first will be something along the lines of, “We think she’s in labor. We’re going to get checked out.” The second will be, “She’s been admitted to the hospital.” Obviously, there could be some time between these calls depending on how her labor goes. (Can you tell we just had our last birthing class last night?) PS: if you get a third phone call, it will be: “You’re too late. He’s already here.”
Directions:
From 83 South:
83 South to 695 East towards Towson (opposite the direction you’d go if coming to our house)
695 East to the first exit “Charles Street/MD Route 139 South”
See “Once on Charles Street” below
From 95 South:
95 South to 695 West towards Towson
From 695 West travel approximately 10 miles and exit onto “Charles Street/MD Route 139 South” - if you see I-83, you’ve gone too far
Once on Charles Street:
Travel approximately 1.5 miles south, passing through 2 traffic lights. At the second light, you will see a blue and white sign on the side of the road telling you to go straight for GBMC. At the third light, you will see another blue and white sign telling you to turn left for GBMC. Turn left. Grab a parking ticket at the gate - you will need it to get out. At the top of the hill, follow the large black and white sign directing you to turn left for Obstetrics/Visitors. Follow the signs to the Obstetrics/Visitors parking garage. The garage will be on your left opposite the Emergency Room entrance on your right. Park. Note: on your way up the hill you will pass an area for Obstetrics drop-offs. There is no parking available here - not even temporary. Only use this if you are dropping someone off. Additionally, at the Emergency Room entrance, there is Valet Parking available. Once you’ve parked your car, there are two ways to get to the Obstetrics waiting area. 1) Walk back down the hill to the Obstetrics drop-off area and enter there. 2) Enter the hospital via the Emergency Room entrance (note: there is a big, red, “Emergency” sign over the door). Once through the outer glass doors, bear left, following signs to the main hospital. Keep following the signs to the main hospital until you pick up signs for Obstetrics and follow them.
The waiting area is not unlike a hotel lobby. There is a reception desk where I’m sure you can ask them to ring our room if you like.
A few final notes:
1. My cell phone will be off once we get to the hospital.
2. If you get LIB (lost in Baltimore) call the hospital at (443) 849-3111.
3. I will have extra house keys and directions to and from our house to the hospital should you need to use our house for any reason |
