Check the hospital's site; they may have a recommended time when you should pre-reg by. Mine says 20 weeks (does that sound really early to anyone else?)
Expectant parents are encouraged to take this complimentary tour of the mother/baby services. Take the tour about 4-6 weeks before your due date. Pre-registration is required. This tour is for adults only. (STARTING ON 10/12/09 CHILDREN UNDER 18 ARE NOT ALLOWED TO VISIT IN THE HOSPITAL DUE TO WIDESPREAD FLU - MOM-TO-BE & PARTNER UNDER 18 PERMITTED). Register up to two adult participants per family. There is a separate class/tour for grandparents and a Sibling class for ages 3-10. Wheelchairs are available in the hospital lobby for tour participants who are accompanied by tour participant who can get them around. Please BE ON TIME for your tour. You will not be able to join the tour after it has started. Please stop at the Info Desk in the Main Lobby to pick up a Visitors Pass. The tour begins in the main lobby waiting area. These tours are in high demand. If you are unable to attend a tour for any reason, please call us and cancel so we can make room for another.
I preregistered like at 17 weeks ... my hospital didn't have a recommended time and it was easy to take care of online. As for the classes, I'm taking a tour with my class at week 33.
We filled out the registration papers and filled out information (minus the info for the baby) for the birth certificate at our first appointment- what a trip! but we won't tour the L&D until closer to 30-35 weeks.
Re: pre-registering and touring hospital
my read shelf:
We toured last week so 25 weeks. When we toured they gave us the pre registration forms so I filled them out and turned them in the next day.
I looked on my hospital's site...
Expectant parents are encouraged to take this complimentary tour of the mother/baby services. Take the tour about 4-6 weeks before your due date. Pre-registration is required. This tour is for adults only. (STARTING ON 10/12/09 CHILDREN UNDER 18 ARE NOT ALLOWED TO VISIT IN THE HOSPITAL DUE TO WIDESPREAD FLU - MOM-TO-BE & PARTNER UNDER 18 PERMITTED). Register up to two adult participants per family. There is a separate class/tour for grandparents and a Sibling class for ages 3-10. Wheelchairs are available in the hospital lobby for tour participants who are accompanied by tour participant who can get them around. Please BE ON TIME for your tour. You will not be able to join the tour after it has started. Please stop at the Info Desk in the Main Lobby to pick up a Visitors Pass. The tour begins in the main lobby waiting area. These tours are in high demand. If you are unable to attend a tour for any reason, please call us and cancel so we can make room for another.
My doc says to pre-register some time prior to 32 weeks. I haven't done it yet.