What to look for when choosing a hospital for childbirth?

How to choose a hospital for childbirth?

The decision related to the choice of hospital for childbirth is often difficult for Parents to make, so it is worthwhile while still pregnant to get an idea of the delivery rooms in the immediate area. Nowadays there are many groups on social networks or online forums, where information about various maternity wards is exchanged. Other moms’ experiences also provide information on the attitude of a particular hospital’s staff toward the birth plan, vertical positions, perineal incisions or lactation support. However, it should be borne in mind that these opinions are often subjective, and in most cases one delivery room evokes both very positive and conversely negative emotions. For this reason, many Parents choose to take advantage of the opportunity to visit the branches even before the dissolution. They can thus get to know the ward and the midwives who work there, see the prevailing conditions, or inquire about the availability of methods of alleviating labor pain, both pharmacological ones such as epidurals and non-pharmacological ones such as ladders.

• Birth home

Some pregnant women want to give birth under as natural conditions as possible. In such a situation, they can take advantage of the so-called. birth homes, where the greatest emphasis is placed on the physiological course of labor. However, it should be remembered that one of the criteria for giving birth in a birth home is a pregnancy without any complications.

• Private hospital

Private hospitals are becoming increasingly popular. By design, they have more comfortable conditions than public hospitals and more personalized care. They also allow you to buy a postpartum room, where a companion can stay at all times. Interestingly, some of the public hospitals also provide this option, so it is worthwhile to get an idea of the possible options before giving birth.

Distance of hospital from home

Parents choose a hospital for childbirth based on various criteria. Many people pay attention to the distance of the facility from where they live. This is especially important for subsequent pregnancies, when labor can take much less time than it does for the firstborn. If the hospital is too far away, it may be necessary to change plans or even give birth in the car.

Hospital’s degree of reference

A very important aspect, especially related to the safety of the newborn child, is the so-called “newborn”. The degree of reference of the facility. This is because some moms-to-be need to give birth in a hospital with  3rd degree of reference, where the most specialized care is provided for her and the newborn. In the case of physiological pregnancies, Parents have more choice, as there are usually more hospitals with lower levels of reference in the area.

The attending physician and childbirth

Some Parents want the birth to take place in the hospital where the doctor in charge of the pregnancy works. However, this is a criterion that should not be decisive, since there is a high probability of delivery, for example, during on-call hours, when the attending physician will not be present at the hospital.

Read also:
How to choose a pregnancy doctor?

Reserve hospital

If there are no indications for delivery by cesarean section, and thus it is impossible to make an appointment in advance, there is always some risk of not having enough seats in the delivery room when you arrive for delivery. That’s why it’s always a good idea to have a backup option selected that you can go to in the event of a full delivery at our No. 1 hospital.