| Considerations you need to take when choosing a | | | | become familiar with the delivery room and other |
| Hospital | | | | facilities. If, after discussion with your carers, you |
| Information about the hospitals in your area is | | | | find that your hospital is not living up to your |
| available from your doctor, antenatal clinic, social | | | | expectations, remember that a hospital is there |
| worker, friends and acquaintances. However, the | | | | to serve you, and you do have the right to |
| only way to find out what a hospital can offer | | | | refuse certain procedures. If the hospital is |
| you and whether you feel that it is right for you, | | | | unwilling to listen to your point of view, you can |
| is to visit it and to ask questions. Take a list of | | | | arrange for a transfer to a different one, or opt |
| questions with you and make sure you get | | | | for another type of care such as a family-centred |
| satisfactory answers so that you can come to a | | | | hospital. If, however, your midwife is part of the |
| confident and wholehearted decision. Only you can | | | | domino or team midwife schemes, she will come |
| decide what will suit you best. | | | | into the hospital with you and deliver your baby |
| Types of Hospital | | | | there; the hospital staff are only rarely involved. If |
| There are various kinds of hospitals, most of | | | | all goes well, you are discharged within a few |
| which provide maternity care. Without question, | | | | hours and need have little to do with the hospital's |
| the most modern facilities are found in teaching | | | | routines. |
| hospitals. Here, doctors are always on duty so if | | | | A Birthing Room |
| you run into any complications one would attend | | | | Quite a few hospitals now have birthing rooms |
| you. As a rule, doctors at teaching hospitals are | | | | that are nonclinical and more like your own home, |
| usually more experienced in dealing with | | | | with comfortable chairs, low lighting, soft music, |
| complicated births. Although there may ht limited | | | | piles of cushions on which you can arrange |
| pain relief available, the smaller community | | | | yourself and even a television and drinks and |
| hospitals tend to be more friendly and flexible with | | | | snacks available. |
| less red tape because there are fewer staff and | | | | The whole aim of a birthing room is to help the |
| fewer patients its easier to meet the people who | | | | mother relax, overcome fears and relieve tension. |
| can help you, and yea will be able to arrange a | | | | A normal routine prior to birth makes for a |
| more personalized childbirth. | | | | normal delivery, and once you're in a birthing room |
| Visiting your Hospital | | | | you will not be moved unless an emergency |
| To help you make your choice, the first thing to | | | | occurs that requires immediate attention. This |
| do is to tour one or more hospitals with your | | | | ensures there are no uncomfortable breaks with |
| birth assistant. There may be a formal maternity | | | | a jarring change of movement, mood and |
| tour, often as part of the hospitals antenatal | | | | surroundings. It's not necessary to lie down to |
| classes, but if not, ask for a personal tour | | | | have your baby, or to be surrounded by rather |
| accompanied by a member of staff who knows | | | | intimidating technological paraphernalia. In a birthing |
| the hospital well. If the hospital will not allow you | | | | room you can take up whatever position you |
| to see the facilities, ask questions. If they're rigid | | | | want to have your baby. |
| in their approach to visitors, they are likely to be | | | | For many women, a birthing room provides the |
| equally rigid in their approach to maternity care. | | | | ideal compromise between home and hospital |
| The Hospital's Approach | | | | births because it provides similar surroundings and |
| Once you have decided, it is a good idea to visit | | | | facilities to home, but with emergency expertise |
| the hospital of your choice again so that you can | | | | on tap if the need arises. |
| meet the staff who will be looking after you, and | | | | |