Question about hospital tour & such..

ITGurl0626

When should I do my hosptial/L & D ward tour?  I'll be 22 weeks this week, is that too early?  My next question has to do with registering at the hospital...the hospital I want to give birth in allows you to register with them online, is it too early for me to do that now?  Am I jumping the gun?

Cat-in-Boston

Your not jumping the gun on registering on line - letting them know early what your due date is and that you plan on delivering there helps them provide adequate staffing when they are able to know potential periods of high volume.

I would call them after the holidays about the tour as many hospitals do them on scheduled time and that way they can tell you when they feel you would benefit most from it.

kabarbanel

I don't think it hurts to register now. May as well get it out of the way. As far as the tour goes, I'd call and ask them when people generally come in for them. They may suggest a time frame for you where it would benefit you the most. I think I did mine a month or two before I was due with DS.

Scout05

We registered, but for a tour in March. Their spaces fill up, so we wanted to reserve our spot, but we don't feel ready for the actual tour right now.

mamababyrn

Register now, it is something quick and easy to get out of the way. When to take the tour is totally up to you. I work in L&D and our tours have people who are just recently pregnant and deciding on a hospital to those who will deliver within the next couple of weeks. We have every size bump walking through our halls on tour days. In general, I would say it is better to get it done early, that way if you need to come in for an NST or have any complications that would get you into L&D earlier than expected, you are ready.

ITGurl0626

Thanks, ladies!  I really wasn't sure if I was jumping the gun or not, but I am giong to go ahead and register with them online so they can have my information on hand.  I really appreciate your input!

Mrs.Pnut

I actually had my appt today and I pre-registered and scheduled my hospital tour.

Our hospital recommends between 27 and 34 weeks to do the tour  

alovelylady

I went to a dr apt last week and they had me go over to the hospital next door and do a u/s. While I was there, the lady went ahead and did my registration. Its not too early for that.

+Mommy2Be+

I don't think it's too early. I like to be prepared with no surprises so I went at 18 weeks with DH for my L&D tour. AND I registered online today with the hospital although my due date is not till 4/29

jojobean26

Definitely not too early! Our hospital actually doesn't recommend any certain time for tours, so I signed up and we went around week 17. I was the only woman in the group without a big belly I figured it would be best to make sure we were happy with the hospital in advance in case we needed to choose another one. I am also living in a new area and had to find a new OB, so it may have been a different situation for me.

croberts22

I'll be 24 weeks when I go in for the hospital tour since my hospital only does 2 of the more involved ones a year. (They do simple walk throughs every month). My book of info from the hospital also asks for pre-registration to be done between 20-24 weeks.  I'm going to do it after my anatomy scan in a couple weeks.

desdemona39

I toured mine at 12 weeks. For me, I was seeing a new Dr who I liked, but didn't know very well, and its the only hosp he's affiliated with, so if I hated it, I was considering switching to a birthing center/mw a friend recommended.

kristennd

My hospital does the tours as part of the formal childbirth classes, which are usually taken at the 7-month mark.

The hospital is part of this huge clinic complex with every other kind of medical office, including my OB's, so I was automatically registered with my first appointment.