Baby’s due date is coming up! Part of a thorough birth plan is choosing your hospital. While you may have insurance restrictions [1], here are some other details to consider when choosing the hospital where you’ll give birth.
Research online. Forums and reviews are very useful. Also use social media to crowdsource recommendations (or learn which hospitals you should stay away from!).
Visit in person. Pictures of the hospital may present a very different reality than being there in person. Stop by and check it out for yourself.
Visit the maternity and neonatal wards. Chat with staff , ask questions, and get a feel for how those wards run. Look at the rooms and how crowded and clean they are, find the bathrooms, and ask about private rooms and visitation policies [2].
Learn about the hospital’s services and specialization. If your pregnancy includes special considerations or conditions, find out if your hospital candidates specialize in cases like yours. This includes doctors and nurses who see mamas like you regularly. Also find out if there’s a breastfeeding consultant on site regularly. If there are any services that are important to you or will give you peace of mind, ask whether they are available [1, 3].
Find out if there are restrictions or requirements for patients and/or for births. If certain policies are in place regarding admission, post-birth, or other aspects of your labor and delivery, learn what they are ahead of time. This may include visitation, doulas, and midwives, as well as when baby will be placed with you in your room after delivery [2]. Also ask about policies such as filming or photographing the birth, if that’s something you plan to do.
Make sure your preferred hospital is open. Find out if they close for any holidays or seasons.
Choose a hospital with a NICU. Check out whether your preferred hospital has the means to deal with an emergency scenario, just in case [1].
Choose an accessible hospital. Is your hospital on the other side of town? Will traffic be an issue if you go into labor at rush hour? Do you know how to get there easily by several routes?
Choose your doctor carefully. Research your doctor online. Get recommendations. Talk to a few candidates. Make sure your chosen doctor is experienced and well-reviewed, but also that they listen well and give you their full attention. They should keep good records and show signs of being reliable.
