Hospital Tour tonight - what questions to ask?

Tulip · Oct 13th, 2010, 02:24 AM

Morning all.
We've got our tour of the hospital at 8pm and as this is our first we're not quite sure what we should be finding out (apart from where we turn up to on the day!)

So far I've got:

- How often is the birth pool in use? Is it likely to be already occupied?
- Are all the labour rooms en-suite?
- Can the lights be dimmed?
- Is there a CD player for my music? If not, can I bring my own?
- Do all the rooms have birth balls/stools/mat/beanbag? If not I will bring my own ball.
- What security is in place on post-natal to protect my baby? Ankle tags?
- What is the discharge policy? If I have baby in the late afternoon will there be anyone around to discharge us in the evening?

Ta x

x.cupcake.x · Oct 13th, 2010, 02:53 AM

im glad you asked about this, im having my tour on sunday and tbh hadnt even really thought about what questions to ask but sounds like u got them covered and have some good ones there alot of those have already been answered for me as my midwife works in the hospital i will be giving birth in so she knows what the facilitys are etc but il be asking about the security side of things with ankle tags and also about being discharged there good ones to ask about

hope you enjoy your tour! x

jeanettekaren · Oct 13th, 2010, 03:27 AM

I will definitely be asking what there policy is on how long they "let" you push for. Some places have a 2 hour limit (I think my hospital is one of them) and then they start trying to talk you into intervention.

xoxsarahxox · Oct 13th, 2010, 05:08 AM

do all hospitals do tours???

caz101 · Oct 13th, 2010, 05:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by xoxsarahxox

do all hospitals do tours???

No they don't. The JR in Oxford stopped doing tours just before my son was born (nearly 3 years ago now). The only way you can see the facilities is by a video tour. I think all the midwife-led units do tours though.

One of the bits of information I do remember was how the Gas and Air works, whether they use a mask or a tube to breathe it in, and they also explained about the pain relief options which are available and what happens if you need an epidural or other intervention, what your partner will need to do etc.

Might also be worth asking how long you can stay in the delivery room for and can you have a shower while your partner looks after baby in delivery room. I was under pressure to move out the room onto the wards but they weren't allowed to move me until he had fed. He wouldn't latch on so they gave him formula which I wasn't happy about!

veganmum2be · Oct 13th, 2010, 06:08 AM

weather you'll be likely to stay in the same room you give birth in or be moved to a post natal ward?
my hospital you stay in the same room for 6 hours afterwards but if they are busy and you want/need to be in longer they move you to post natal.

visiting times maybe?

xxx

39YrMumtoOne · Oct 13th, 2010, 07:20 AM

How about how many ladies there are per midwife? It lets you know how much attention you'll be getting. Oh, and whether student midwives are likely to be present (if so then see if you can get one - they're keen and often more up to date than the others!!)

Rainbowpea · Oct 13th, 2010, 09:34 AM

Not sure if you're going midwife led or consultant led, but I went midwife led with my dd and looked all round and it was great. then in labour i was transferred to the consultant part, which I had not looked around doh! so afterwards I didn't know where I was in the hospital even, let alone where everything was like the toilets, change of sheets, midwife office in the middle of the night etc. i was on a ward so was completely unprepared as i thought I would be in the nice cosy midwife led room! So I would say look around EVERYTHING that you can, just to familiarise yourself. Good luck!

Mrschoochoo · Oct 13th, 2010, 10:51 AM

How soon they will move you out of a delivery room onto the ward (as soon as I have had a shower, I get moved), if you need to bring your own towls, milk etc. Visiting times for spouses.

I was very dissapointed with the security at mine, when I was waiting to go round on the tour a family came out and luckily were fussing with the car seat and coats in reception for a bit. A nurse then came down and said the ankle tag had been left on!
As soon as I can I am getting out of there.

Tulip · Oct 13th, 2010, 11:08 AM

Thanks everyone that's really helpful.

Caz if anyone comes within ten feet of my son with a bottle of formula there will be HELL to pay!!

Oct 13th, 2010, 02:24 AM	#1
Tulip Trying to conceive (TTC) BnB Elite Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: UK Posts: 17,804	Hospital Tour tonight - what questions to ask? Morning all. We've got our tour of the hospital at 8pm and as this is our first we're not quite sure what we should be finding out (apart from where we turn up to on the day!) So far I've got: - How often is the birth pool in use? Is it likely to be already occupied? - Are all the labour rooms en-suite? - Can the lights be dimmed? - Is there a CD player for my music? If not, can I bring my own? - Do all the rooms have birth balls/stools/mat/beanbag? If not I will bring my own ball. - What security is in place on post-natal to protect my baby? Ankle tags? - What is the discharge policy? If I have baby in the late afternoon will there be anyone around to discharge us in the evening? Ta x

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Oct 13th, 2010, 02:53 AM	#2
x.cupcake.x Mum (Mom) Active BnB Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: South Yorkshire Posts: 192	im glad you asked about this, im having my tour on sunday and tbh hadnt even really thought about what questions to ask but sounds like u got them covered and have some good ones there alot of those have already been answered for me as my midwife works in the hospital i will be giving birth in so she knows what the facilitys are etc but il be asking about the security side of things with ankle tags and also about being discharged there good ones to ask about hope you enjoy your tour! x

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Oct 13th, 2010, 03:27 AM	#3
jeanettekaren Mum (Mom) Chat Happy BnB Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Altrincham, Cheshire Posts: 1,262	I will definitely be asking what there policy is on how long they "let" you push for. Some places have a 2 hour limit (I think my hospital is one of them) and then they start trying to talk you into intervention.

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Oct 13th, 2010, 05:08 AM	#4
xoxsarahxox Mum (Mom) Active BnB Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: bedworth Posts: 935	do all hospitals do tours???

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Oct 13th, 2010, 06:08 AM	#6
veganmum2be Waiting To Try (WTT) BnB Addict Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Middlesbrough Posts: 4,746	weather you'll be likely to stay in the same room you give birth in or be moved to a post natal ward? my hospital you stay in the same room for 6 hours afterwards but if they are busy and you want/need to be in longer they move you to post natal. visiting times maybe? xxx

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Oct 13th, 2010, 07:20 AM	#7
39YrMumtoOne Pregnant (Expecting) Active BnB Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: UK Posts: 202	How about how many ladies there are per midwife? It lets you know how much attention you'll be getting. Oh, and whether student midwives are likely to be present (if so then see if you can get one - they're keen and often more up to date than the others!!)

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Oct 13th, 2010, 09:34 AM	#8
Rainbowpea Pregnant (Expecting) Active BnB Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: cardiff Posts: 638	Not sure if you're going midwife led or consultant led, but I went midwife led with my dd and looked all round and it was great. then in labour i was transferred to the consultant part, which I had not looked around doh! so afterwards I didn't know where I was in the hospital even, let alone where everything was like the toilets, change of sheets, midwife office in the middle of the night etc. i was on a ward so was completely unprepared as i thought I would be in the nice cosy midwife led room! So I would say look around EVERYTHING that you can, just to familiarise yourself. Good luck!

Status: Offline

Oct 13th, 2010, 10:51 AM	#9
Mrschoochoo Pregnant (Expecting) Active BnB Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Posts: 680	How soon they will move you out of a delivery room onto the ward (as soon as I have had a shower, I get moved), if you need to bring your own towls, milk etc. Visiting times for spouses. I was very dissapointed with the security at mine, when I was waiting to go round on the tour a family came out and luckily were fussing with the car seat and coats in reception for a bit. A nurse then came down and said the ankle tag had been left on! As soon as I can I am getting out of there.

Status: Offline

Oct 13th, 2010, 11:08 AM	#10
Tulip Trying to conceive (TTC) BnB Elite Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: UK Posts: 17,804	Thanks everyone that's really helpful. Caz if anyone comes within ten feet of my son with a bottle of formula there will be HELL to pay!!

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