Hospital Visit - Questions to Ask

So in an effort to try to have a feeling of control with all the unknowns coming up in my life, I resort to lists. My husband assures me this is endearing, but I think that may just mean he's extra scared of my crazy pregnancy hormones. But, in any case, here is a list I came up for touring our hospital.

Questions to Ask on Hospital Tour

1. If I believe I am in labor, where will I initially be examined? Will I have to wait in a general waiting area, triage, or will I be brought to a private room?

2. How many births take place here on average, each day?

3. What percentage of women here have c-sections?

4. Do you utilize students or residents?

5. Are there any situations that may take me away from my birth partner?

6. Are there any restrictions on who is allowed in the room during birth? How many people can be with me?

7. How comfortable is the hospital with natural births?

8. Am I able to avoid having an IV upon entering, and have a Hep Lock instead? (or nothing at all)

9. Can I eat and drink during labor? If so, what?

10. How often are you fetal monitoring? And what types of fetal monitoring are available? telemetry? Wifi?

11. Can I walk and move around during labor? Am I just allowed to walk around my room? If I can walk around elsewhere, show me where laboring mothers walk.

12. Is there a tub or shower available for me during labor? Is it in my room, or shared by the entire floor? If it is shared, how often are women are turned away from using it because someone beat them to it?

13. Is there a hospital photographer available for infants and new borns?

14. What positions do you allow mothers to give birth?

15. What birthing tools are available? Birth balls, birth stools, etc?

16. If I share a room, does my baby have to go in the nursery?

17. Will I be in one room during my entire stay, or will I be moved to a separate postpartum room?

18. Will I have a private tub or shower for my postpartum room, or will I have to share?

19. Will I have to share a room with another family?

20. What is your policy on baby care immediately after birth? If my baby needs to be checked, weighed, or placed in a heater - will he be taken out of my room? Or will the examinations take place in my room?

21. Make sure to assess the rooms. Do you feel comfortable there?

22. Where will your birth partner sit and sleep during your stay? Have them try out the chairs.

23. How does the hospital support breastfeeding? Who will be there to guide you, shortly after your baby is born? Is support offered seven days a week?

24. Does the hospital support supplementing breastfeeding with formula?

25. Does the hospital support formula feeding?

26. Can I have my child immediately placed skin to skin after a c-section?

27. Can I choose to breastfeed immediately after a c-section?

28. Is there a newborn intensive care unit (NICU)?

29. Are there any situations where my baby would need to be transferred to another facility?

30. What security measures are there? Do people have to be buzzed in, are there security guards, and is a device placed on your tiny baby to make sure he can not leave the floor?

31. Are there specific hours for visiting? Do you allow young children to visit?

32. Does the hospital encourage the baby rooming in with the parents, or do they encourage the baby to stay in the nursery?

33. Is there access to the Internet?

34. Is there valet? At what times?

35. Will we have a TV?

36. Is there a CD or MP3 player in the labor room?

37. Do you have an option for a special "stork dinner" during our stay?

38. Is there a cafe? What time does the hospital kitchen close?

39. What time of day does discharge generally occur? Families are often allowed to stay 48 hours post vaginal delivery, and 4 days post c-section.

40. What follow-up support do you offer for new parents? Can I call, at any time, if I have questions or need emotional support?

41. Does the hospital use an enema?

42. Does the hospital shave you?

43. Can I wear earrings, contacts, and nail polish?

44. Can father sleep in same room?

45. Does hospital provide infant photography? If so, how much does it cost?

46. What is the nurse to patient ratio? When do nurses switch shifts?

Anyway, I hope these questions help all other expectant mothers out there! They helped ease my mind (a very small bit, but it does help!). Patty