Such an important post, I think.

I got an unplanned tour of ours when I was having cramping one night. And after that and reading about it online, I found out things I never even knew I should consider. Our hospital doesn’t have a nursery. At all. The baby stays in the room, which I think I really love (but you might want to check with me again after I actually give birth on this one). They also kick everyone out of your room 15 minutes after the baby is born except your significant other, and you get 2 hours of skin-to-skin time with the baby, which again, I had never considered, but sounds like SUCH a great thing.

Learning about the hospital made me so much more aware of things that I should consider and made me feel much more comfortable about delivering a baby there.

We didnt have time to take a tour. We had so much going on. But we were there alot and knew what to expect for the most part.

I ended up touring the wrong hospital! For my second pregnancy, I was expecting twins, and was prepared to deliver at the main hospital in my town. I had visited friends and family who had delivered there, so I was familiar with it. I toured it anyway, and wasn’t surprised by much. I found out little things, like my husband wouldn’t have the option of getting a meal with me from the cafeteria (you couldn’t even buy an extra tray, it just wasn’t optional). When the time came, my doctor ended up having me go to the brand new, smaller hospital nearer to his office. It was so new that I was going to deliver only the second set of twins ever there! I had no idea what to expect, and didn’t know anyone who had ever even been there. It all happened so fast. But it ended up being an incredible experience. I ended up delivering one twin vaginally and the second by c-section due to complications, and through all that I kept thinking that everything was so bright, new, clean and wonderful. The nurses and staff were amazing, the food was abundant and great and my husband got a tray with me every single meal. Free! There was a very sweet celebration meal that they set up for us on a set table they brought in, with sparkling juice and a beautiful cake! They encouraged skin-to-skin, left me alone when I asked, were quick to get me meds when I needed them, and were extremely helpful as I recovered. They changed my bed for me every time I got up, and kept my room impeccably clean. The lactation specialist visited several times, for HOURS at a time. It was incredible. I’d heard some bad comments right before I went, that their website wasn’t that impressive or some parking lots weren’t even opened/completed yet, the gift shop wasn’t that big, etc. But it was still wonderful. Now I tell everyone to go there!

I am definitely taking a tour…I have moved since my older children were born..I do know the hospital quite well and have been in the birthing center but never been a patient there…my husband is a first time dad and we are expecting twins..I have more nerves about him then I actually have about giving birth..he is Mexican and doesn’t speak English…I am hoping that we will not be alone when ” It’s time !”..and I am not going to scream that to him either..lol..I am going to try to be as calm as possible…I am planning on doing some birthing classes with him so that he will be more comfortable with the whole process…but we are having twin boys ..so you never know what will happen…I guess I fantasize that everything will go wonderful and perfect and be the amazing experience we both want..lol…I pray !!…I think it is a wonderful idea to tour your hospital even if you have been there a million times…I am glad I read this..cause now I am going to make a list of questions to ask on my tour..!!