I haven’t mentioned much about what things were like those four days while I was in the hospital; but mistake my lack of words up until this point as a sign that things weren’t.  It was rather the opposite. Because I’m an expat and I am still not 100% fluent in German, I am always nervous about times when I might just find myself relying on gestures to get the point across. But I think things went quite smoothly and I almost always knew just what was going on…a very welcome relief.,

I gave birth at a non-state-owned hospital, but rather one run by the church and that may be part of the reason why things were so good there. I have heard some horror stories about other places and I might as well have been staying at the Ritz. This is thankfully the first time I have ever stayed in a hospital so I can’t compare it – but I’d go back there if I needed to.

Breakfast and dinner were served buffet-style. For breakfast you’d get a rather typical European buffet with rolls & breads, a couple cheeses and meats, a few different cereals and yogurt. You could choose from several different teas, coffee or orange juice…and there was always a supply of bottled water on hand. During the dinner buffet more salad elements were added to the basic breakfast stuff and sometimes something like cold schnitzel was included. Lunch was always a warm meal and you had 3 options to choose from. It didn’t have much flavor but it was always edible. And as long as you keep food in your belly, you’ll keep getting better and be able to get out of there quicker.

Although I was in a double room, the second bed was only occupied a short part of the time I was there. It seemed that most of the other people in the same wing were sharing with someone else so I’m not really sure how I lucked out…but I really was thankful. Although you go a bit crazy while being in the hospital for four days, I would have been more insane if I’d needed to share the room and bathroom with someone else all the time.

Why was I there four days? In Germany, they take things a bit more slowly and reserved, especially with first-time moms. There’s no rushing around to clear the new mother and get her out the door. You are encouraged to stay until after the baby’s second examination, after you’ve grasped breastfeeding and once you have had a few days of forced relaxation. It wasn’t fun to be in there and by the fourth day I was going a bit stir-crazy; but at home I would have felt that I needed to be active – which was certainly not the case.

One interesting thing they offered at the hospital was a physical therapy session instructing mommies with a few exercises to help strengthen and tighten the pelvic muscles again. Unfortunately for the therapist working down there in the basement, no one seems to take advantage of it. I was the only mommy that went down there on my last day there and when I showed up, she seemed shocked what anyone had appeared at all. I guess most days during this block of time she just reads a book or something – but I did feel rather sorry for her since she seemed pretty lonely. The exercises were…interesting. I guess they are made easy enough that moms in various levels of health can participate. Can’t say that I actually did any of them when I got home but I am planning to start doing yoga with my Wii starting January 2nd.