Labor and Delivery Tour?

Question

Tomorrow my husband and I are taking a labor and delivery. I am currently 28 weeks. What should I expect when I go? Should I take notes to compare to other places? This is our first child.

Answer 1

My only suggestion is don't judge a hospital by how pretty the rooms are decorated. Some hospitals don't have the budget for remodeling, but yet they might retain the best staff. Talk to the person giving your tour and ask questions about the staff, not about the facility itself. Scenery is not as important as the care you will receive while there.  

Answer 2

Take a list of questions.  Some topics you may want to find out about:

use of fetal heart monitor

rooming-in

tests/exams they do right after birth

can the baby stay with you

percentage of c-sections

hospital view on breastfeeding, giving bottles, pacifiers

visitor restrictions

can you eat/drink during labor

length of stay for a normal delivery

I wouldn't worry about taking notes, but be aware of how the place and the nurses make you feel.

We had a tour about a month ago.

I'm also having my first, due 11/19, also a boy!

Answer 3

ASK ABOUT FETAL MONITORS

LAP TOP ULTRA SOUNDS DONE AT BEDSIDE

HOW MANY PEOPLE ALLOWED IN ROOM DURING LABOR AND CHILD BIRTH

HOW MANY NURSES FOR YOU AND HOW MANY FOR BABY

CAN WE CUT CORD

HOW LONG BEFORE WE GET BABY

DO THEY SPECIALIZE IN NEONATAL CARE DO THEY THEY HAVE ICU FOR NEONATAL

Answer 4

my husband hated our tour, mostly because he has been to the hospital a thousand times (he's a paramedic) but i thought it was interesting. most of the information didn't apply to me because i am doing natural drug free childbirth and most of it had to do with moms that were going to be medicated. (i was the only person in the whole tour who was doing natural).  it was pretty boring but i learned what floor to go to and that's about it.