Hospital Tour

redfishbluefish12 · April 2013

I will be 16 weeks on Sunday and I've never delivered at this hospital. I'm wondering if it is too early to take a tour of the maternity ward and maybe meet some of the nurses since I know that they will play a large role in my direct care during labor... I didn't do that with my 1st so I don't really know how to get the process started. I can't just show up at the nurses desk and say hey I kinda wanted to look around and maybe meet some of the nurses since I'm going to be popping a baby out here soon, or can I? Joking aside. TIA!

tmccord21 · April 2013

My hospital doesn't do a tour until you are 27w.

Delight34 · April 2013

Check the hospital website or call. My hospital encourages tours and they offer Lamaze classes too

lbethke99 · April 2013

Just ask your Dr about it at your next appt. Most of the times they have them once a month for pg women to come and look. That being said I would wait till 30w or later.

I took a birthing class at our hosp and they gave a tour. Didn't really take to many nurses since they were busy.

OrangeGrove · April 2013

I went on one in December before I even got pregnant! I took a second one around 10 weeks pregnant and that tour confirmed that I wanted to deliver at the second and switch doctors. The mat. ward was brighter and cleaner, the nurses were friendlier and I found out that the hospital practices certain things that are important to me (skin to skin contact immediately after birth, baby never leaves room, etc.) Obviously neither had requirements touring moms be at a certain week in their pregnancy (or even pregnant!). Both did not allow children on the mat. ward tour though (FYI).

CousinVicki · April 2013

the nurses are busy, you won't directly meet or talk to any of them most likely... and really who knows who will be on shift when you have the baby. *shrug

marianaz0 · April 2013

Call the hospital or check out their website! My hospital does tours once a week and they recommend you be in your third tri. You don't get to meet or talk to the nurses though, just a quick hi and you walk down the halls ;]

carriebro3 · April 2013

The hospital I deliver at does them starting at 20 weeks but I am going to wait till my husband gets home which wont be back till a few weeks later.

Ayreka · April 2013

If you are deciding between different hospitals I think the earlier the better for the tours. If you just want to know what you're doing when you get there then I would wait until third tri. I did a tour with my last and it really helped me feel at ease knowing their policies and procedures.

BlessUrHeart29 · April 2013

My hospital does tours once a month. It's like a day long thing. I'm going in a couple of weeks because my summer is going to be so busy that I just wanted to get it out of the way. I guess I'll be around 18 weeks.

redfishbluefish12 · April 2013

I should have mentioned that it would be to decide where to deliver as I have had bad experience with the ER nurses at this hospital. I don't want to write off the entire place over one department, you know? I am considering my options and their support of natural birth, baby not leaving my room, etc. My current OB is the only one in town so my chances of him being there for delivery are sketchy. I also have a midwife though but I know the nurses will be the ones who are or aren't pushy with pain meds and changes in my birth plan. At least they were at the hospital where DS was delivered.

Nickisiebert · April 2013

CousinVicki:
the nurses are busy, you won't directly meet or talk to any of them most likely... and really who knows who will be on shift when you have the baby. nbsp;shrugnbsp;

This. The tour is just to show you where you'll be, and maybe get some questions answered by the guide.

Nickisiebert · April 2013

ER nurses are the busiest most pressured and stressed people in that hospital....I wouldn't judge the whole place by that. At my hospital they tend to be a little curt, and some don't have amazing bedside manner, but they deal with all the front line crap and have to remain incredibly efficient so I don't take it personally. Obviously I don't know your exact situation but generally the floor nurses are a bit more relaxed.

redfishbluefish12 · April 2013

The 1st bad experience in the ER that comes to mind is when I went into labor with DS and they actually ran me over with wheelchair before I could get my legs up in the stir up I mean completely ran over my whole body with the chair. I couldn't make this stuff up. And another was when DS was still very little and had a fever of over 103 and I overheard the nurse rudely mocking my concern to someone. Poor bedside manner is understandable, but unprofessionalism and intentional rudeness are unnecessary. Rant over. But yes I definitely know what you mean I had surgery on my spine a few years ago and the nurses that I had on that floor were wonderful!

kimbo1216 · April 2013

Depends on the hospital. My old hospital was a local one in a smallish town. You could come by any time for a tour and if they had a room available, a nurse would show you around.

At my new hospital, a bigger one in Dallas, they have scheduled group tours a couple of times a month or you can pay for a private one that you set up through their mother/maternity store staff that is inside the hospital. So nurses don't give them.

I'd just call and find out what they do.

RunningGal900 · April 2013

Mine doesn't have a limit of when you can go weeks wise, but you have to sign up for a specific time. Fwiw, the woman who did my tour is no longer a nurse there and I didn't meet anyone who was there while I was in labor

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