No matter how long you've got until your due date, it's normal to be excited — and a bit nervous — about what goes down once labor starts. What’s more, if you’re not used to hospitals, staying in one might feel a little intimidating.
The good news is that you can calm some of your pre-birth jitters by touring the hospital where you plan to deliver — either in person if you're able to, or virtually.
Here’s more about what you’ll learn during a hospital tour when you're pregnant, plus some key questions you can ask.
Is a hospital tour necessary?
While some hospitals are still only giving virtual maternity tours, others have resumed in-person visits since the pandemic. Both offer a great way to dip your toe into the unknown, especially if you’re expecting your first baby and the whole experience is new.[1]
A hospital or birthing center tour pays off in a number of ways. If it’s in person, it can be a great practice run for getting to the hospital when you’re actually in labor. You can figure out the best route to take — which means you can (mostly) be on auto-pilot when it’s go time (no worries about a GPS failure).
You can also iron out other details during an in-person or virtual hospital tour — like where to park and what entrance to go to, whether you get there at lunchtime, during rush hour, or in the middle of the night. During an in-person visit, you may even get to meet some of the staff who will be helping you during your hospital stay, which can be comforting.
But perhaps the biggest benefit of a pre-delivery maternity tour, either virtually or in person, is that it gives you a sneak peek of where you’ll be and what will happen on the big day.
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When should you take a hospital tour?
A good time to take a hospital tour is at the beginning of the third trimester of pregnancy, in month 7. More specifically, you could take the tour between week 30 and week 34 of pregnancy.
Hospital tours are free, and setting one up is easy: Call the hospital or birthing center (or check the website to find dates and times of upcoming tours) and reserve your spot. Or see if you can do a virtual visit.
Why are so many hospital tours virtual and how do virtual tours work?
Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, virtual hospital tours are more common than they were before. Many facilities had to put a hold on in-person visits to limit the number of people on the premises and try to curb the spread of the virus.
So while you might feel disappointed if you can’t physically set foot in the place where you hope to give birth, know that both in-person and virtual hospital tours offer a lot of good information.
To take a virtual hospital tour, which is typically self-paced with 360-degree views, visit the facility’s website.[2] A virtual tour typically includes the lobby, admissions, most of the floor plans, operating rooms and various departments.
Most virtual hospital tours also feature detailed captions with every picture plus an FAQ section.
What can you learn during a hospital tour?
Wondering what happens during an in-person hospital tour? You’ll want to set aside about an hour for the tour, which usually involves a labor and delivery nurse or hospital educator who’s tasked with walking you through the whole delivery process, from admission to discharge.
The first stop will be the registration office. If you haven’t pre-registered already, circle back and do so after the tour — getting all the paperwork out of the way will make your admission process faster.
What else will you see? Though you may not get to enter, you’ll likely get a look at the triage area. That’s the pre-delivery part of the maternity ward, where a nurse will monitor your vitals and assess whether delivery is imminent. You'll also get a sneak peek of the family waiting rooms, a labor and delivery suite, and a postpartum room.
If the center has private and semi-private rooms, ask to see both.
Keep in mind that delivery wards can be intense places: There are tears, nervous spouses, well-meaning grandparents and actual screams sometimes. It can be a lot to take in — but remember, it's all in the excitement of bringing a new life into the world, so don’t be scared!
The best part is usually last when you’ll get to see the newborn nursery, so get ready to ooh and ahh over the little cuties.
Questions to ask during a hospital or birthing center tour
The nurse or hospital educator will provide lots of valuable information, but don’t be afraid to speak up about something that’s on your mind. Here are some questions to ask on a hospital or birth center tour:
- Insurance plans vary, of course, but what are the fees for private rooms and special birthing facilities?
- Are you testing patients and their partners for COVID-19?
- What should I pack in my hospital bag?
- What pain management options are available?
- Are you equipped to care for preterm infants, multiples and high-risk pregnancies?
- What birthing amenities does the hospital offer (such as a birth ball, birthing tub or squat bar)?
- Who can be in the room during the delivery? Is there a limit on the number of people?
- Are recording devices (like a video camera and tripod or cellphone) allowed in the delivery room?
- Can I play music, light a scented candle or have other mood-enhancing items in my room?
- Do you work with a cord blood bank (if you’re considering banking your baby’s cord blood)? If not, how can I arrange to transfer my baby’s cord blood?
- When are the visiting hours? Can children visit?
- Is my partner allowed to stay with me overnight?
- Can my baby stay in the room with me during our stay instead of in the nursery?
- What other security policies are in place?
- Do you offer breastfeeding support services?
- What kind of information will I go home with?
If you have other questions or concerns, your doctor or the hospital staff will be more than glad to address them. And don’t worry about sounding silly — the physicians and nurses have heard them all before and are happy to help.
Enjoy your hospital tour, whether it’s virtual or in-person, and remember, everyone has the same goal: to make sure your baby has a healthy entrance into the world!
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