Once you know you’re expecting, one of the first decisions you’ll have to make as a new parent-to-be is to choose an OB/GYN and hospital where your baby will be born.
Often, the choice of a physician and birthing location go hand-in-hand, since most OB/GYNs have relationships with the hospitals at which they routinely deliver.
That’s why choosing a well-respected maternity hospital is so key.
What to look for in a maternity hospital
You want to bring your baby into the world in a setting that’s safe and inviting. To find the birthing center that’s the right fit for you, ask to take a tour of the hospital’s maternity unit and meet with staff there. During your visit, ask about the hospital’s approach to routine labor and delivery:
- Do mothers labor and deliver in the same room?
- How many family members are allowed in the labor room at one time?
- Do laboring women have access to tubs or pools to relieve labor pains? Are birthing balls or other labor management tools available?
- What security protocols are in place to keep newborns safe and matched with the correct parents?
- Can babies stay in their mother’s postdelivery room overnight? What nursery services are available?
- Are breastfeeding support services offered?
- Can the hospital handle a high-risk pregnancy and delivery?
- What insurance plans are accepted?
Pain management options
Decisions regarding pain management are personal ones. When considering a maternity hospital, be sure to ask about the types of pain management that are available there.
- Are “natural” (drug-free) births accommodated?
- What are the options for drug-assisted pain management during labor?
- Does the hospital have a board-certified anesthesiologist on staff at all times?
At-risk births
No one likes to imagine a problem arising during labor. But you want to be sure that if one does occur, your hospital team is prepared to handle it.
During your tour, ask about the neonatal intensive care unit on-site and the hospital’s ability to respond to premature births, delivery complications and other high-risk situations.
"The newly renovated Labor & Delivery wing at Riverside Regional Medical Center welcomes more than 2,000 babies each year – more than any other area hospital,” says Barbara E. Simpson, M.D., board-certified obstetrician/gynecologist. “With a 21-bed Neonatal Intensive Care Unit or NICU, and neonatologists on staff, our patients know that expert care is available here, if their baby needs special attention.”
Classes and resources
As you prepare for your baby’s arrival, you’ll want to select a maternity hospital that understands this is an exciting time for your family – but one that comes with lots of questions. Choose a hospital that provides an array of parent-to-be classes on topics such as pregnancy health and wellness, infant CPR, breastfeeding basics, newborn care and more.
“Our teams at Riverside Women & Infant Care want to help make your pregnancy, labor and delivery as pleasant and stress-free as possible,” Simpson says. “Our goal is to help make your baby’s birth day a wonderful memory for the whole family.”
