Hospital tours?

purplecurls · August 2012

So, I found out kind of late in the game (21 weeks) that we're expecting and now I've got a ton of stuff to do! My doctor's office asked where I would like to deliver, and I haven't even though about it, of course. Today I tried to schedule tours of the two hospitals where she has privileges, and both of them are booked solid for the next five weeks. I feel uncomfortable waiting that long to even start the decision process, but am I being unreasonable? At what point did you do hospital tours and decide where to deliver?

LoveIsOwlYouNeed · August 2012

My doctor's office is only affiliated with one hospital. So, I didnt' have the same problem as you do. If I did though, I'd do some research on the hospitals themselves. Does one have a better reputation or is ranked higher in its care? I'd pick that one. Or even check with your insurance. It's possible you may end up paying out of pocket more for one than the other, which might be a deciding factor for you. Think about how close it is to home. Do you know anyone else who delivered at either hospital or has been there for other reasons? Maybe they can tell you about it.

If you don't want to wait to do the tour, there are a lot of ways you can research to determine which hospital you'd like. It just depends on what factors are important to you.

Good luck!

drpayne · August 2012

I guess I've never understood hospital tours anyway... It's not like you'll be up wandering around there. We use a birthing center, so maybe I'm missing something.

JBos82 · August 2012

I chose the hospital I wanted to deliver at because it is closest to my house (and the only hospital my doctor delivers at). I won't be getting a tour of the birthing center until November when I go for birthing classes - not sure if I can schedule one ahead of time, but I'm not going to look into it. I also asked a friend who delivered two babies there what she thought of the hospital's birthing center, and she had a positive opinion.

2u2wow · August 2012

i'd check with your insurance first too to make sure which one works for them.

i LOVED the hospital tour - we actually did walk around the hospital and l&D ward to see it first hand. i'm glad i had the experience to see what i was in for and what to expect.

i'm sure you can do research before hand instead of the tour - but i'd for sure book the tour later even if it's in 5 weeks

fennyann · August 2012

i just did my hospital tour yesterday and im 27 weeks. so i dont think that you are late in the game. i actually really enjoyed it.. they were very informative and really help you come up with a birthing plan as well. plus, i got to see some cute babies. that was a plus.

schnena77 · August 2012

My doctor is only affiliated with one hospital and I am very familiar with it as my sister delivered her babies there. DH and I have a tour schedule in December a month before we are due - that way we can remember what the show/tell us.

I think in your case you may want to check reviews and view online pictures, but I still think you have plenty of time to decide.

mattdk06 · August 2012

purplecurls:
So, I found out kind of late in the game (21 weeks) that we're expecting and now I've got a ton of stuff to do! My doctor's office asked where I would like to deliver, and I haven't even though about it, of course. Today I tried to schedule tours of the two hospitals where she has privileges, and both of them are booked solid for the next five weeks. I feel uncomfortable waiting that long to even start the decision process, but am I being unreasonable? At what point did you do hospital tours and decide where to deliver?

Wow, that's amazing! How did you find out? I

I think it's a little crazy that both are booked - can you see if they can make an exception and get you in? Otherwise, maybe you could talk to other women in your area for suggestions. I really don't know that a hospital tour is necessary if you can get information from other sources.

dande2129 · August 2012

I didn't tour hospitals with my first, and all was well. It's a place you go to have a baby... it's not a vacation.

If I were you, I'd look up reviews for the maternity ward for each hospital online, talk to your OB about which hospital he/she prefers and go from there. There really aren't going to be huge differences between them. There may be some amendities in one that is not in the other (i.e, updated maternity rooms, more spacious rooms, plasma TVs over the old ones, etc) but those are always extas that you'll be paying for.

Talk to your insurance and see if one hospital over the other makes a difference.

ETA: Level of care will be important too. If they don't have a NICU, or they don't have a level 1 NICU, I would forego that hospital.

JennV514 · August 2012

We took our hospital tour around 32 weeks. We found it very informative. We also stayed after to talk to the L&D nurses for a bit.

purplecurls · August 2012

mattdk06:
purplecurls:
So, I found out kind of late in the game (21 weeks) that we're expecting and now I've got a ton of stuff to do! My doctor's office asked where I would like to deliver, and I haven't even though about it, of course. Today I tried to schedule tours of the two hospitals where she has privileges, and both of them are booked solid for the next five weeks. I feel uncomfortable waiting that long to even start the decision process, but am I being unreasonable? At what point did you do hospital tours and decide where to deliver?
Wow, that's amazing! How did you find out? I
I think it's a little crazy that both are booked - can you see if they can make an exception and get you in? Otherwise, maybe you could talk to other women in your area for suggestions. I really don't know that a hospital tour is necessary if you can get information from other sources.

Whole story is here: https://community.thebump.com/cs/ks/forums/thread/68041236.aspx

Thanks, everyone - I'll calm down a little about the delay in touring the hospitals. I'm still trying to decide between a freestanding birth center and these two hospitals, so I feel a lot of pressure to get more information now...but it sounds like I'm getting ahead of myself a little. I'll start with my insurance company and go from there.

Erin Litton · August 2012

I would definitely make sure your insurance covers one or both of them. My Dr. delivers at 2 and both are covered by my ins, but only one is equipped to handle things if something goes wrong. If we went to the other and something were to happen the baby would have to be transferred to another facility. I would recommend checking to to see if they both have the same abilities and if they can handle it if the baby or you need more care or if you would have to be transferred somewhere else.

MonicaClaire13 · August 2012

I live in the Bay Area in California, after having horrible experiences growing up with Sutter Delta and Kaiser (The two hospitals in my city) I knew exactly where I wanted to give birth as soon as I found out I was pregnant. At 3 months I toured John Muir Hospital which is about a half an hour away from me, and I registered for my hospital stay in the following weeks because I was told to and I wanted to be prepared and set everything up.
When I toured everyone there looked at me like they couldn't understand what my purpose was there since they were all 7/8 months and I was hardly showing at the beginning of my 2nd trimester. But the idea of walking around a hospital for an hour at that late in the game was unappealing to me.
I'm one of those people who likes to be prepared for everything lol, though I seldom am, so i got started early!
I'm 20 weeks now and all I have to worry about is getting baby gear and attire once I find out what it is

I'm going to get started on my hospital bags at the end of my six months, other than that, I just have to shop! Which is the fun part

eli_belle · August 2012

I went at 18 weeks and I was the only one on the tour not about to pop. I don't think you are too late to tour, even if you aren't sure which to pick. You have your doctor, that is the most immediate decision. You won't really need to pick your hospital until you are closer to ready to deliver. My hospital said that they prefered patients to preregister by 7 months. You definitely still have time.

adamsabigail14 · August 2012

MonicaClaire13:
I live in the Bay Area in California, after having horrible experiences growing up with Sutter Delta and Kaiser (The two hospitals in my city) I knew exactly where I wanted to give birth as soon as I found out I was pregnant. At 3 months I toured John Muir Hospital which is about a half an hour away from me, and I registered for my hospital stay in the following weeks because I was told to and I wanted to be prepared and set everything up.
When I toured everyone there looked at me like they couldn't understand what my purpose was there since they were all 7/8 months and I was hardly showing at the beginning of my 2nd trimester. But the idea of walking around a hospital for an hour at that late in the game was unappealing to me.
I'm one of those people who likes to be prepared for everything lol, though I seldom am, so i got started early!
I'm 20 weeks now and all I have to worry about is getting baby gear and attire once I find out what it is
I'm going to get started on my hospital bags at the end of my six months, other than that, I just have to shop! Which is the fun part

I had a similar experience went to tour one of the two hospitals my new Dr delivers at and the nurse giving the tour looked at me and said "your not very far along are you" I thought that was rude but I would rather be safe than sorry. Especially since I don't want to see this new Dr hate both hospitals and have to switch AGAIN!

The doctor I had been established with and seeing for a while only delivers at one hospital and this hospital I found out had several malpractice suits against them not only against their Drs but also the nurses! That was a deal breaker for me even though I trusted my Dr I know that one bad nurse could make all the difference. I know I can't protect myself and my baby from all harm but being well educated and informed about the hospital is better then nothing.

Aisham28 · August 2012

I didn't take it until 30 weeks or even later. It wasn't a big deal for me because I am stuck going to one hospital and don't get to choose.

Kingston54 · August 2012

We only have one option, but I didn't tour it. 26 weeks will give you plenty of time to decide. Maybe in the meantime try to gather input from people who have delivered at both, do some research...

dodo1202 · August 2012

i'll have tours this week.

mattdk06 · August 2012

purplecurls:
mattdk06:
purplecurls:
So, I found out kind of late in the game (21 weeks) that we're expecting and now I've got a ton of stuff to do! My doctor's office asked where I would like to deliver, and I haven't even though about it, of course. Today I tried to schedule tours of the two hospitals where she has privileges, and both of them are booked solid for the next five weeks. I feel uncomfortable waiting that long to even start the decision process, but am I being unreasonable? At what point did you do hospital tours and decide where to deliver?
Wow, that's amazing! How did you find out? I
I think it's a little crazy that both are booked - can you see if they can make an exception and get you in? Otherwise, maybe you could talk to other women in your area for suggestions. I really don't know that a hospital tour is necessary if you can get information from other sources.
Whole story is here: https://community.thebump.com/cs/ks/forums/thread/68041236.aspx
Thanks, everyone - I'll calm down a little about the delay in touring the hospitals. I'm still trying to decide between a freestanding birth center and these two hospitals, so I feel a lot of pressure to get more information now...but it sounds like I'm getting ahead of myself a little. I'll start with my insurance company and go from there.

Wow, I'm just shocked (although my cousin said if she hadn't been "trying," she wouldn't have known until very late). Congratulations!!! Don't worry about all those bad things - nature has a way of correcting something when it's not right. Good luck

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