Hospital Tours

Knottie1443924966 · November 2016

Hey there Ladies I just had my hospital tour today and it was so great to sit down with an RN and have her explain the ins and outs of their labour, delivery and post pardum care procedures and costs.

Have you booked your tour yet?

What are some questions you were happy that you asked?

Knottie1443924966 · November 2016

I was happy to hear that Kaiser offers

1. Dimmed lights during labour
2. Labour balls and showers
3. Delayed Clamping
4. Wiping of vernix but not bathing the baby until 24hrs after
5. The Bonding Hour where the nurses tip toe around you attempting not to interfere with your bonding

And

The fact the they JUST renovated the labour and delivery wing so everything is sparkly new!!

KarliQ88 · November 2016

No...i haven't done a tour and don't plan to. I work at the hospital I'll be delivering at and have seen the unit many times. I'm a cardiac ICU nurse so more often than not im in charge and carrying the code pager. We have to make rounds to every unit to do "check ins" to me it's pointless but whatever. So I've seen it...i get the idea. One of my best friends works in L&d and I've just saved my questions for her.

It's great that you did go though. Anything that puts your mind at ease! It's a scary time especially with everything being unknown. I probably should ask my husband of he wants a tour to ease his mind...i forget about his feelings sometimes. I did a tour of the hospital with him when we were at my GD test waiting that one hour. I showed him all the good spots for food and the quickest way to get me to L&D. Plus what all the sounds mean, hospital policies for family etc. I think it eased his mind a bit but this thread does make me think i should ask him if wants to tour L&D.

BrennansMom2012 · November 2016

I enjoyed touring the hospital with my husband the first time we were pregnant. It definitely helped both of us realize, "holy crap, this is real!" Lol Also helped that we knew what to ask for ahead of time. During labor I knew I was allowed popsicles and ice chips, he knew where to get them without bugging the nurses, we knew we could count on the nurses to keep my MIL out of the room and knew what it meant when they finally rolled the delivery cart next to the bed. Knowing what to expect given it was our first experience put our minds at ease. Only thing I didn't like is that I had to deliver in the birthing suite with the bathtub in it. Respect to those who would enjoy a water birth but the mere thought creeps me out. I had chairs moved in front of it. I'm weird but I own it!

moosette113 · November 2016

I went on 3 hospital tours back in August in order to decide which one I would like to register with. It gave us the opportunity to get a feel of how busy each hospital was, get more details on things like their c-section rates, options for donating cord blood, etc. We originally thought we would opt for the hospital with the best neonatal unit, but actually went with the hospital that accepts a limited number of expecting mothers per due date (and no on-site neonatal unit) because of how much more relaxed the environment was. It really helped to be able to see the spaces and talk to the staff to make that sort of decision.

christac1010 · November 2016

We had our hospital tour a few weeks ago. It was led by a nurse that works on the unit, so she very informative. I didn't even think to ask any questions because she explained everything.

I will say our overnight there was more helpful than a tour though (not that I hope anyone is admitted early). I would suggest talking to possible friends/family that delivered on the unit. It gives you a different perspective (like why do you only get limited pillows/blankets and why are the outlets so far from the bed).

jsl82 · November 2016

BrennansMom2012 said:

I'm weird but I own it!

LOL I love this sentence! One of my good friends says this all the time.

We have our hospital tour on the 12th. I was planning on asking all of the questions you had already listed and am following this thread for anything I might have missed. None of our family/friends lives in the area so we are the first to deliver at this hospital, but I have a dental hygienist who recently delivered there and the pediatrician I interviewed yesterday said she delivered at the same hospital (with my OB group) last year. The information I found out from them has already eased my mind- so I imagine I'll be pretty calm after our tour.

I will say that when my hygienist delivered (5 months ago) the other hygienist was showing me pictures and telling me about the photo-shoot they do in the hospital. I was able to find out from her that Bella Baby Photography comes into the hospital to do a newborn shoot and the pictures cost around $300. It was nice to have that information months ago so we could look into the photographer and decide if we wanted to save up for the pictures.

Smiley-1980 · November 2016

We had a tour when I was pregnant with our daughter and I really enjoyed it. It really made me feel a lot more comfortable with the process... Then my daughter decided to stay breech and we had a scheduled c-section so a lot of what I learned I didn't even need haha. This little boy is also still breech so he better turn or I'll be doing the same

canavara · November 2016

We did a tour about 3 or 4 weeks ago at 27/28 weeks and I didn't really have to ask many questions because the guide was very thorough but some things that came up that I'm glad they talked to us about (that you might want to ask if they DON'T mention them and they're concerns):

Who exactly to give a copy of your birth plan to in L&D (my OB has one copy but they informed us if we had one to make sure the triage nurses were the ones who were given another copy)
Availability of rooms with tubs if we were interested in hydrotherapy during labor. Some of the rooms, but not all had the tubs, so it was on a first come first serve basis and they told us you have to specifically request them as you're in triage.
Whether or not you need to pre-register (our hospital doesn't do it)
How many people can come in for C-section... we have a doula, so I was glad they mentioned this because the number is just 1 support person meaning we'd have to leave our doula outside if one was necessary.
Whether there was a maternity ward photographer... our hospital used to have one but doesn't anymore! So if you're for some reason really wanting that, ask.
How long they keep people for vaginal delivery and c-section in recovery. It's typically 48/72 but some hospitals vary and some let you stay longer if you need.
Whether or not babies spend any time in the nursery and how nap times for moms work out and anything we might need to do to indicate that to nurses visiting so that we're not disturbed.
Lactation consultant scheduling (if it's on-demand or if they visit regardless of need)

shlecks · November 2016

I scheduled ours the other day and I was kinda annoyed that they were booked up all through November so ours is December. I'm hoping it doesn't interfere with our childbirth classes we are planning on doing. But I am so looking forward to checking it out.

stumptownmama · November 2016

We will be doing a tour this time again because I'll be at a new hospital. I need to get on that and make and appointment! Last time, it made everything feel so real.

Salliejabl · November 2016

We did the hospital tour the first time around with DD and glad we did. It gave us an idea of what the L&D floor was like, the rooms, the staff and what to potentially expect. They also talked about if a C-Section was required what would happen. They also then gave us a tour of the Mom and Baby floor which is where they transfer you after you deliver. Again, very helpful as we had some questions that were posted above such as the tests they do for the baby while there and when they do it, if you can get quiet time with the baby in the nursery,etc. I highly recommend it for FTMs. We won't be doing the tour again as nothing really has changed and not sure if I will have a C-Section again. The one thing I do like about our hospital that I will be doing is that they offer a class for siblings to take a tour of the Mom and Baby floor. My DD who is three gets to see where her little sister will be and what happens. They even give them their own t-shirt for the class which I thought was cute.

MamaandNurse · November 2016

Second baby but we're doing another hospital tour. I'll be delivering at a different hospital that I've never been to so we need the low-down.
My biggest questions will be whether I can send the babe to the nursery for rest and what's the maximum length of stay for vag and c-section. It might sound crazy but I'm taking advantage of being there for as long as possible. Coming home to a very active five year old is going to be a lot and I'm going to need all of the rest I can get.

MaryNog · November 2016

I have Kaiser insurance too, unfortunately the hospital closest to us (and the one I'd want to go to anyway because it has a NICU) doesn't offer tours. We watched the online video tour - better than nothing, I guess!
We're touring another Kaiser hospital with our Centering group, so at least we'll get a general vibe of a maternity ward.
By the way, if you also have Kaiser don't automatically assume that every facility has yoga balls for every room, ours only has one for the whole floor

families are definitely encouraged to bring their own!

LoneStar21416 · November 2016

We are doing ours on November 18, along with the hospital birth class. I was admitted to L&D (unfortunately) and have met a lot of the nurses so I don't know how much information I'll really gain that I didn't learn already. I also have to go for ante partum testing all the time now which is right around the corner. I'll go through the motions I guess, though!

litzi-2 · November 2016

I never got to do a tour. Was admitted at 24 weeks for about 4 days and got a decent idea of the place. Now since being on bedrest I won't be able to do a formal tour (unless I make it 6 more weeks to 34, which isn't super likely). I was definitely looking forward to doing it

laufisch · November 2016

We're doing our hospital tour as part of our birthing class on Dec 10/ 11, but most of the information for our hospital is available online, so I'm not sure that I would have booked one if it wasn't part of our class.

streulim · November 2016

laufisch said:

We're doing our hospital tour as part of our birthing class on Dec 10/ 11, but most of the information for our hospital is available online, so I'm not sure that I would have booked one if it wasn't part of our class.

Same here but our class is this Saturday!

ThePax89 · November 2016

I went during my first pregnancy so I won't go again. It was a good experience. I recommend doing it. (I was super anxious during it, for it dawned on me that I'd be delivering there, but overall it prepared me)

vssbrm · November 2016

I did my tour at about 12 weeks, we had to pick out a new doctor, and the two we were going between each delivery at different hospitals, so I wantd to know what we were getting with each.

Questions we asked that were not covered initially, but perhaps they were getting there:

Security measures taken to make sure baby is safe. My hospital has proximity bands, security is allerted if baby get to far from Mom, then if baby some how makes it past one of the secure doors to the elevators w/o Mom the elevators are shut down and go to the first level with security waiting for them b4 the doors open. I like this.

If there is no Nicu, what is the plan if we need it? Ours does not have one. The hospital they would send baby to is 5 min away by car, they call and St. J's sends an ambulance with all the necessary doctors in it, they are there in like 3 min.

How to request a certain room for prefered birthing methods

Are the rooms labor, delivery, and recovery? Our hospital is this way, though as a form I don't know the difference, I like the idea of not being all over the place.

Policy for allowing guests in and out, not that there is anyone we don't want to visit, but while I'm in labor only my husband, Mom, and dad can come into the room.

how many beds are there. The hospital we are at has 16 beds and the nursing staff far out numbers the amount of rooms that are usually full - again a +! And from a few incidents we have had which require sleep overs at L&D we have learned that we LOVE the nurses here! the other hospital we were looking at had well over 25 beds, and when my cousin delivered I did not see any nurses going above or beyond, in fact she said some of them were awful.

Food!! What do you do if you deliver after food services closes?! Ours has a snack room, and if it looks like you will be delivering late they take your dinner order and put it in the the fridge for you then warm it up. Or you can have outside food brought in. We stayed the night last night for BHs that were getting too often for the docs comfort, my mom brought prime rib, asparagus and gratin potatoes that we had been planning to prepare for dinner. I would have been disappointed w caf food after knowing that was what was supposed to be for dinner.

Knottie1443924966 · November 2016

You are lucky that you work at the hospital iis such a benefit for you bc are already in a familiar place

Knottie1443924966 · November 2016

MaryNog said:

I have Kaiser insurance too, unfortunately the hospital closest to us (and the one I'd want to go to anyway because it has a NICU) doesn't offer tours. We watched the online video tour - better than nothing, I guess!
We're touring another Kaiser hospital with our Centering group, so at least we'll get a general vibe of a maternity ward.
By the way, if you also have Kaiser don't automatically assume that every facility has yoga balls for every room, ours only has one for the whole floor families are definitely encouraged to bring their own!

Yes you are totally right about the yoga balls!

luckily our Kaiser was just renovated so they have everything and more but not all Kaiser are the same

Guess ehat!! i juse found out that I'm eligible for a free breast pump through my Kaiser insurance!! plus you can take home all the diapers, wipes, sections etc that they put in your room !!

Knottie1443924966 · November 2016

Litzi said:

I never got to do a tour. Was admitted at 24 weeks for about 4 days and got a decent idea of the place. Now since being on bedrest I won't be able to do a formal tour (unless I make it 6 more weeks to 34, which isn't super likely). I was definitely looking forward to doing it

Are you back home now?

MaryNog · November 2016

@Knottie1443924966 when are you allowed to request the pump? I can only submit the request after the baby is born, which bums me out because I'd like to have the opportunity to ask the lactation consultants for tips on how to use it. Other ladies on the board have mentioned that it was helpful for them to have the pump in the hospital.

Knottie1443924966 · November 2016

I know I wish we could have it in the hospital too but Kaiser says that once the baby is born you can request it. and it takes up to 3 days to get

vssbrm · November 2016

@Knottie1443924966 as soon as my DR recorded me as being pregnant, I could order the pump at anytime. I had it in order so it would get to me by 28 weeks. I think it varies w each insurance company for when you can order it.

TinaBelcher · November 2016

Our tour is Saturday and I'm so nervous. Shit is getting real! I'm going to have babies before Christmas!!

hjmorgan-2 · November 2016

We toured our birthing center before signing up. I looove their room, so comfy. And they let you pick a 'preference.' There this one called the Paris room, it's very comfy, nice and big. I am so glad their beds are more comfortable than hospital beds, they let us sit/lay on them to see what we thought. haha.

aishmc · November 2016

We're going on Saturday. I've got a good working knowledge of the way the unit runs since my mom worked in it, but the whole unit moved to a brand new hospital 2 years ago so it'll look physically different. I think just seeing the L&D unit will help ease some nerves.

cabu14 · November 2016

We go on our tour on Nov. 14th I also signed us up for a newborn preparedness class on Nov 17th. I was hoping to do the birthing class but it is full.

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