Checking out hospital before or no?!

mrsaleslie30

Does anyone recommend checking out the hospital beforehand? Our hospital offers tours (First Tuesday of the Month, Husband works) but I really don't want to go by myself! If you went did you go by yourself or with anyone?

Thank you for your help!!

Kiyoshima

Yes!! You learn so much about what to expect when you come in to deliver. It makes you feel more comfortable because you have an idea of what will happen. Also I learned that they have extensive security measures in place to ensure the safety of the baby and mother. 

RK125

I went and felt much better about where I would go and what to expect when the it day comes. My H came with me, but I could have done it by myself.

foxyroxy

Definitely go. I don't see a potential downside. If your husband can't go and you really don't want to fly solo, invite your mom or maybe a BTDT friend who will know good questions to ask. 

mrssamarataylor

Yes, yes, and YES! I went on the tour when I was about 20 weeks and it answer ALL the questions I had about the Labor and Delivery unit. They show you everything and we even pre registered right then and there. It is definitely worth it, and HIGHLY suggested!

mrsaleslie30

Thank you everyone for you input! I might try to schedule an appointment to take the tour when my husband can go, we don't need two nervous wrecks!! LOL Also thanks for reminding me about pre- registering, I definitely want to do that!

inthelost

I would say go ahead and take the tour. It couldn't hurt! 

Arielle27

I'd definitely recommend going with your husband if possible, or whomever will be with you during your labor/birth. That way you both know where to go, what to do, etc. really helps ease things when the time comes. You will not necessarily be in the right frame of mind to remember!

katiebenes

I wish I could, but their tours are right smack dab in the middle of my sleepy time. and I need all the sleep I can get lately

knottie3c0525a8a3c64eaa

I went with my husband and I would recommend. At least you will know where to go, what happens in that room etc.

amandarins

Definitely go. You will have a better idea on what to bring and how liberal they are. H couldn't make the Saturday group tour, so they were more than happy to take us privately on another day. 

Michelle N

I'm so jealous, my hospital doesn't offer them! I'd definitely go. All we get is an online virtual tour.. 

ahssabino

GO!! and take a buddy make a date of it. (our dr is at our hospital so we make it a date day with lunch every time we go) they give you a lot of information and its always good to have two sets of ears at things like this.

magdalina.h

Nope. I was supposed to with my birthing class, but I ended up having a micro preemie and went straight from the dr to the hospital.

JCWhitey

Well, I guess it depends.  Do you care at all about how your birth goes or have any control over what hospital you use anyway?  If not, there's really nothing to do at the hospital tour besides register which you can probably do with your OB. 

We toured hospitals before selecting our caregiver because I wanted a large, private birthing suite with a jacuzzi tub rather than a small shared room.  We toured all of our options to learn what the likelihood of getting that was at each hospital and learned that on the day we toured (a Friday) all of the private suites were filled and only the small private and small shared rooms were left.  Yeah... not interested.  The hospital we eventually chose had only large private rooms.  So we picked our caregiver based on who delivered at that hospital.

I also am planning a natural birth so I wanted all of the options that help with that, like birth stools, a private tub, etc. and that's the only hospital that offered those things in our area.  I honestly learned nothing else from the tours besides those things.

grace_smith03

Can't hurt. Good luck!  

M0ON

Definitely go on the tour, even if you have to go by yourself.

I had already done tons of research on my hospital and spent a long time talking to my midwife (who works for the hospital), but just actually being in that environment made me think of other questions I would've never thought of before.

And now, when I visualize labor, I have the actual place in my mind, not just the imaginary hospital room I'd been picturing before. I think that will help me be more comfortable there when the time comes.

RedLucia

I toured the hospital by myself back in January.

I plan to tour the hospital again with DH so he knows the lay of the land too. I think it will help him feel more comfortable and knowledgable. 

mommyaudra

I went for the maternity tour with my husband, I would recommend going with some one just in case you didn't catch something they said it's nice to have someone to go with. I'm all about doing the tour and classes that the hospitals offer! we did the tour, breast feeding class, and lamaaz.

etoussa

Alicia0817:

We didnt take a tour and we were just fine.

ditto.

shelbell1028

I did a hospital tour with DD. I was a FTM and just thought that was what everyone did. I honestly thought it was a waste of time. There wasn't much to see other than what was in the room.

I am delivering at a different hospital this time and will not do a tour.

TB2005

I went by myself and toured the entire unit with their director and met with the neonatalogist.  I'm new to my area and my first child sent time in NICU on a vent, so I wanted to make sure they could handle any issues.  I enjoyed meeting one on one with everyone and was able to ask any questions. 

rooftop

Some hospitals will also do private tours if you call and set it up ahead of time. If your set on having hubby with you than you might wanna check with them to see if this is a possibility.

MJHershey

Oh yes, it really helps to know where things are, what to expect, what they offer.  Ours was part of our childbirth class (which was also really helpful for what to expects the weeks before and after as well as L&D).

naorwick

Absolutely you should go! My husband I just went on Wednesday for our hospital tour and there were quite a few Moms there by themselves.

It makes you feel tons better knowing exactly where to go and what is going to happen when you get there. And I had never been to the hospital before so I had no idea what it would be like.

Definitely go, you will be glad you did!

Good luck! :-)