When did you choose a hospital?

[mandaa1220]

I'm just curious when everyone has made or plans to make a decision about what hospital to give birth at?

My midwife group works with two different hospitals and I am able to choose which one. They told me at my 12 week appointment that they'd like me to schedule tours and make a decision soon... I'm 17 weeks now and haven't even toured yet. Getting into the tours has been a pain in the tush.

The one hospital is fitting me in around July 7th for a tour at the soonest, while the other, can fit me in earlier; however, I can't make the tour available, as it's my best friends bridal shower. Their next one isn't until I'm over 24 weeks.

Is that too late to be touring and then making a decision later after that?

 

[DissySunshine]

TBH I haven't even thought about it yet. There's way too much more happening in my life! My insurance also covers 2 different hospitals, but just by word of mouth in my family and past experience visiting relatives I know I prefer one over the other to start with, so maybe that's why I'm not worrying. I feel like 24+ weeks would still be fine! You just may not have as much time to decide between the two afterwards.

 

[MrsPear]

I think it seems okay to go then (I'm not an expert). Obviously you might give birth very prematurely but if that were the case you would probably go to the closest one or be told which one to go to depending on where the best facilities for premature babies are. In which case all the things you're likely to be looking at on your tour would not be relevant anyway.

I changed my hospital after my 20 week scan, I don't think it's really a problem. They didn't seem to mind either way. If that's the earliest you can go then that's the earliest you can go so I wouldn't worry about it. x

 

[Buttercup84]

I just opted for the hospital I had my DD at which is the standard one they assign to pregnant women in my area but afaik I can change to a different hospital at any point if I want to.

 

[Gingerspice]

The midwifes for my area operate out of one hospital. I had bad experience with dd there though so I asked to go to a different city hospital. They said that's fine but because it's out of area I would have to have all my scans and bloods at that hospital as they like to keep things 'internal'. As such it was easiest to choose and book in to that hospital at the 8 week appointment.

 

[calm]

I'm not given an option on the national health of Spain, it was a case of like it or lump it

 

[mandaa1220]

I'm not given an option on the national health of Spain, it was a case of like it or lump it

Yeah I guess it's cool to be able to choose between hospitals... American healthcare sucks, so I guess that's a positive lol

 

[mandaa1220]

I'm just going to call and book it. Who cares if we make a decision later... the doctors will deal!

 

[sprite30]

Glad you brought this topic up I was annoyed a couple weeks ago because I was told my by obgyn not to call until I was 20 weeks so I waited and even when I did call the clerk told me that they are reserving close appointments for people with sooner due dates so they can't get me in until I'm 32 weeks....I was majorly annoyed by this my obgyn group only goes with one hospital so if I don't like the hospital I'll have to find a new doc which would be fine because I have yet to see the same person every time I go it's someone new so the janitor could probably deliver my baby and it wouldn't make a difference at this point lol I figured the nurses are more on the front line anyway. I really would have preferred to see the hospital sooner rather then later but they are the closest and have the highest level nicu in the region so chances are I'm going with that hospital either way it would just be nice to see it

 

[mandaa1220]

Glad you brought this topic up I was annoyed a couple weeks ago because I was told my by obgyn not to call until I was 20 weeks so I waited and even when I did call the clerk told me that they are reserving close appointments for people with sooner due dates so they can't get me in until I'm 32 weeks....I was majorly annoyed by this my obgyn group only goes with one hospital so if I don't like the hospital I'll have to find a new doc which would be fine because I have yet to see the same person every time I go it's someone new so the janitor could probably deliver my baby and it wouldn't make a difference at this point lol I figured the nurses are more on the front line anyway. I really would have preferred to see the hospital sooner rather then later but they are the closest and have the highest level nicu in the region so chances are I'm going with that hospital either way it would just be nice to see it

It's insane! I've had such issues getting into tours - they're booking a month and a half away at the earliest! I thought I could just call and say "hey, we'll be coming in..." I even have to take time off of work for one of the hospitals, because they don't do the tour on the weekend, only during the day during the work week.

It's both hospitals that are difficult too, so it's not like there's one that is just sucky!