What questions should I ask when touring a hospital labour & delivery ward?

Question

The closest hospital to me is something of a horror, I can't get a midwife for a home birth, so I'd like to be fairly thorough in my hospital-shopping.

Did you run into any weird rules, anything you wish you'd known before you ended up giving birth there, with yours?

Answer 1

In the hospital tours, their job is to make the hospital look at good as possible, so don't be afraid to ask all the questions you'd like. Here are some that we asked:
-Is there a separate labor and delivery room (there shouldn't be, but if there is, you wouldn't like that place)?
-Can my partner accompany/give our baby their first bath (the nurses do this for a living so they are really rough with the babies, a parent wouldn't be. If they won't let your partner give the bath, they will be more gentle if he/she is there.)
-Usually the recovery rooms are separate from the LDR, ask if there are VIP suites (there were in our hospital, definitely worth the $200/night extra, more room for someone else to sleep. Also, if you aren't going to opt for the VIP suites, make sure that the regular recovery rooms are individual, who would want to share a room with another newborn baby/mama?)
-Can newborn procedures be delayed (usually up to an hour) for optimum bonding?

Just use your judgement, if the staff/rooms look nice and the questions are mostly answered to your liking, go for it. My birthing experience wasn't what I thought I wanted, but it was perfect. Before you give birth you get caught up and worried about all these details that aren't important once you are in the moment.

An invaluable way of getting the stresses to tone down is making a birth plan, and going over it with your doctor (bring extra copies to the hospital to make sure they have it, and watch them read it.) The big day goes so quickly and seems rushed, so make sure your most important requests are followed.

If you wanted a home birth but can't have it, read up on the Bradley method, it makes for a happy, natural birth. Knowledge is definitely power in this case. Links below are for a birth plan and the Bradley Method. Good luck and congrats!!

Answer 2

See if there is a bed for your mate to sleep in the room with you and if the baby sleeps in the room w/ you as well. Some hospitals leave the baby w/ you in the room 24/7, others have a nursery where you can request to see your baby and send them back when you need a nap. Everyone has their own preference.

Answer 3

What kind of services they offer [i.e. at the hospital I am delivering at they have massages, whirlpool baths, tv, music, and such avaiable for before, during and after labor] how many doctors/nurses they have on staff daily... if you will be given a private or shared room [joined by bathroom] those are just a few things you can ask.

Answer 4

What was most important to me was the security of my baby. You might want to ask what measures they take to protect your baby from being taken. Where I delivered, they put an alarm band on the baby. If he left the floor, by either elevator or stairs, it would sound and the elevators would lock down as well as the doors to the stairs. It would also alarm if someone had taken it off. (I know that because the nurse forgot to de-activate it when we were leaving and it caused quite a stir!!) GL!!!

Answer 5

My one and only suggestion is too talk to your friends and find out there opinion and experience. Then find a place that is safe and if you would be better off staying with family some place else until the baby is born than feel free. This is your baby, do what you feel is right.

My concern after safety was keeping my baby with me in my room.

Good luck!

Answer 6

Ask whatever is on ur mind so that way you won't have any doubts.