Is anyone doing a hospital tour?

hallie619 · June 2015

I noticed there are tours held of the L&D unit at the hospital that my OB is associated with. I really wanna go to one to make sure I like the facility before I go any further with this OB. But will I look totally ridiculous walking around on the tour with my tiny baby bump? Lol is there usually a certain point in your pregnancy when you do this? Just wondering if anyone knows anything about this! Thanks

lovemichelleleah · June 2015

I'm definitely curious about this as well! The closest hospital to me and the one my OB uses definitely doesn't have the best reputation. My fiance even got a staph infection there so I'm a little weary of delivering there. I've heard better things about their labor and delivery area but I definitely want to check it out for myself but I don't want to look ridiculous as well haha

xrum · June 2015

i didn't do one with my first. i knew what hospital i wanted to be in and that was it.

ACarter0914 · June 2015

With my first when I was taking my baby class they took us on a tour and it was so helpful!

colsen4 · June 2015

I will be doing a tour as part of the childbirth class my ob offers. It will be later as I am doing the one day class which is full till sept. My hospital has a good reputation so I am too concerned about it. Personally I would rather do the tour sooner if I had concerns. Do what is best for you and don't worry about looking ridiculous.

fmraglio · June 2015

My midwife will deliver at a choice of 3 hospitals and I have toured all 3 already before deciding which I wanted to deliver at. I plan on touring the hospital I have chosen again around 30-32 weeks. In one of my tour group there was a couple who was TTC and was already touring L&D. That was a little weird in my opinion but there were a few of us who barely looked pregnant and the rest looked like they could deliver right then and there so I don't think it'll be weird at all. My midwife suggests that if you're going to tour in the first or second trimester you plan on going again later in the 3rd to refresh your memory.

The way I see it, it's never too early especially if you may switch OB's based on what you see.

chewie5990 · June 2015

My OB recommended doing a tour and pre registering for a room sometime at the beginning of the third trimester but if you are thinking about switching then I'd go for a tour I don't think anyone will be judging your small bump

stephaniearthurs · June 2015

I'm actually excited to do a tour!! I will feel better going into this whole thing knowing where I'm going!

hallie619 · June 2015

Thanks a lot for the replies guys! I really love my OB and unless I see some seriously horrendous crap on the tour I don't think I will switch lol But I dunno, I guess it's just FTM nerves

I'm gonna schedule the tour, thanks again!

grkgdss00 · June 2015

I will definitely be doing a tour, maybe 5-6 months along with an intro class.

docandyaffa · June 2015

FTM. I took a tour at three months. I'm glad I did. Now I have an idea of what to expect when the time comes.

kategancla · June 2015

I did a hospital tour a couple of weeks ago. Most women on the tour seemed further along, but there were a few of us earlier on. I'm glad I went when I did and know what to expect. If your experience with a hospital may cause you to switch OBs then I would definitely go earlier rather than later.

ammnam14 · June 2015

My hospital doesn't offer tours because of budget cuts, darn government. But they do offer an online virtual tour so someday when I'm bored I might do that! Hubby knows the hospital so I'll have to do it alone. Boo.

bectons · June 2015

Where I live it's only one hospital and it is required they give you a tour and register you! You ideally go when your close to being due and that's when they tell you if anything happens bleeding cramps pains etc come straight to L&D not the ER! They even have you meet with lactation coach after you give birth!

dp1320 · June 2015

When I registered for mine with DS, they put in there they recommend doing it in the 3rd tri. I did mine at like 38 weeks and was hoping I would just go into labor while I was already there :P

Marchmellow2 · June 2015

I will do a tour in September some time. I'm not doin classes, just a tour.

Call the hospital and ask what days they do the tours. It's usually a certain day and time. My hospital does them every Thursday at 10am or 4pm.

Catherine1021 · June 2015

I will probably not be doing a tour until my 3rd trimester. I would do it now, but there is a new hospital under construction, and the hospital my OB currently delivers at will be closing when the new one opens. The last I heard, it was scheduled to open in August, so it would be kind of pointless to do a tour of the old hospital now. I agree that if the hospital may make you want to switch OB's, then it's better to do the tour now rather than later.

AlejandraN2 · June 2015

I did a tour last pregnancy around 15-17 weeks - and it freaked me out because i wasn't ready for all the labor stuff. I loved the hospital though. Most of the women on the tour were way further along but i didn't feel odd. We ended up having to deliver to another hospital because of other issues and that hospital didn't give tours so we just went with it. I knew it had a good NICU, i knew people that delivered there and liked it, and it was necessary for the other things we needed so that's all I could ask. It's important to feel comfortable in general and also get opinions of people that delivered there.

hummingbird35 · June 2015

I kind of want to do a tour of a different hospital than I'm delivering in... My OB is at Mercy, but BJC in St. Louis is nationally renowned for their L&D unit... I couldn't have my doc just meet me at the other hospital could I?

I was delivered at Mercy, they did a pretty good job-- and let my mom pull me out!

yl1m32015 · June 2015

My hospital offers childbirth and expectation classes, during which you tour the labor and delivery unit. I will most definitely be participating as I want to be prepared.

redfallon · June 2015

We did the hospital tour with my first. I'll be at the same place, so no need this time. It was nice to see the layout and they explain how it all works. My hospital is great. 1:1 nursing - you have the same nurse the entire time (I did except when my nurse went on her lunch break) and we had a different night nurse. I was also in the same room for everything - labor, delivery, recovery - I stayed in the same room for however long I was there. Baby stays with you the whole time, unless you want them to take baby for you to have a break, but my hospital doesn't have a nursery.

amw2133 · June 2015

We are going to do a tour at our hospital in the 3rd trimester. I have a question... There is a hospital that is two blocks away from us (that we will not be delivering at ours is 45mins a away) that is specifically a women's and children's hospital. If anything goes wrong this is most likely where baby will end up. Should I tour this hospital as well just so we are familiar with it?

yl1m32015 · June 2015

amw2133 said:
We are going to do a tour at our hospital in the 3rd trimester. I have a question... There is a hospital that is two blocks away from us (that we will not be delivering at ours is 45mins a away) that is specifically a women's and children's hospital. If anything goes wrong this is most likely where baby will end up. Should I tour this hospital as well just so we are familiar with it?

I would. Couldn't hurt to be prepared just in case!

elise&babyB · June 2015

I'm thinking about taking a tour soon:) Did you all do a tour by yourself or bring a spouse and/or friend with you?

taysun · June 2015

Since I'll be delivering at a certain hospital no matter what (it's the closest/best hospital with a dedicated L&D unit to us) I probably won't tour until the third trimester, just so I'm more familiar with the L&D unit when it's time.

sweetadelina · June 2015

I did my tour a few weeks ago with two other expectant moms. None of us had baby bumps! It was nice to know exactly what to expect and make sure it was the place for us. I learned a lot of things on the tour that I didn't know as a FTM, so it's nice to have that knowledge way ahead of time.

amw2133 · June 2015

@Embuzz247 thanks! That's what I was thinking too.

amw2133 · June 2015

elise&babyB said:
I'm thinking about taking a tour soon:) Did you all do a tour by yourself or bring a spouse and/or friend with you?

I'm taking my hubby since it will his job to remember all the important things during that time.

vbrannin2010 · June 2015

I toured every hospital I've ever given birth in and always with my husband. In the end, he'll be the one receiving visitors, needing to feed himself at the cafeteria, or having to look for help so I made sure he knew where everything was located. I believe it gives.you one less thing to worry about as well as make the, possibly unplanned, birthing arrival more comfortable because it won't be a completely strange location. Helps to talk to the nurses that work L&D too. :-)

I would like to add that you should check the hospital your Dr delivers at because most times they'll have scheduled group tours. I found it more helpful versus individual since everyone brought different questions up that I hadn't even thought of.

elise&babyB · June 2015

Are there any questions you ladies would suggest asking while on the tour? I'm trying to make a list so I won't forget

thanks!

krick43 · June 2015

I am planning to do a tour, although I feel a little silly because I work at the hospital I am going to deliver at. However, I have never been to the L&D unit, and my husband isn't as familiar so I think it will be good for both of us!

Mizuiro007 · June 2015

elise&babyB said:
Are there any questions you ladies would suggest asking while on the tour? I'm trying to make a list so I won't forget thanks!

Some things that came up when we went were their policy on visitors during labor and after delivery, if there's a chance of a shared room, will you deliver in the same room you labor in or will you be moved, do they allow outside food in so hubby or whoever doesn't have to leave to eat, how plans might change in the case of an emergency c section or early labor, at what point to arrive, some places have a different entrance they want you to use after hours (or where we went you have to be buzzed in), what personal items they provide or they suggest you bring, policy on cell phones (would your SO have to leave the room for example).... There are a lot of questions and most might be covered in the tour or brochures anyway. I asked family and friends and kept a running list for weeks before the tour we went on with my last pregnancy.

LauraSmarterSpam · June 2015

I had a tour scheduled last time, but ended up going into premature labor 4 days before our tour date. O_o

TwinmamaNisha · June 2015

I will be doing a tour as well. My OB has rights at the hospital I wanted to go too, so I guess I don't have a choice. But since it's my first child I want to go on the tour to see what's what. I am waiting until I am further along too maybe like 6 months my husband and I will check it out! I'm excited though!

laceyglowacki · June 2015

When my doctors started their own practice they switched hospitals and that was the only time I've done a tour and to be honest I didn't feel like it was that beneficial. I would either deliver at that hospital which was 15 mins away vs a hospital that was over an he away. The l&d wong was newly remodeled and had amazing staff so it worked out but if it's something that's going to stress you out because it's your only option close then I wouldn't do it now unless you're willing to switch doctors with practicing rights in other hospitals.

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