hospital tours for pregnancy

Taking a Hospital Tour During Pregnancy

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Updates to text, information, guidelines, formatting and sources, and new medical review.

Is a hospital tour necessary?

Read this next, when should you take a hospital tour , why are so many hospital tours virtual and how do virtual tours work, what can you learn during a hospital tour, questions to ask during a hospital or birthing center tour, updates history, jump to your week of pregnancy, trending on what to expect, signs of labor, pregnancy calculator, ⚠️ you can't see this cool content because you have ad block enabled., top 1,000 baby girl names in the u.s., top 1,000 baby boy names in the u.s., braxton hicks contractions and false labor.

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Questions to Ask on a Hospital Tour for Birth

When we think about having a baby very few of us think much past choosing the practitioner who will help us when labor comes. Once you've chosen a doctor or midwife, it often seems that they will tell you where their preference is to give birth. Some women may have an option to choose from one or more places, while others have only one option. Either way, it's important to ask questions or interview the place you've chosen or perhaps will choose to give birth.

The questions you ask should be tailored towards your needs, and should always serve the purpose of opening up the lines of communications between you and your birth team. Some of the answers might be dependent upon your practitioner, while other policies will be determined by the hospital or birth center. These policies can have a serious impact on how you labor or give birth, including your postpartum stay.

Here are some questions to help get you started in formulating what you need to ask at your place of birth:

Labor and Birth

• Do you offer any type of childbirth classes ? Who teaches them? What is the cost? Do you have specialty classes?
• Where do I go when it's time for labor? Is there a different place at night?
• What paperwork needs to be completed prior to admission for labor? Is there other paperwork to be done? Can it be done prior to labor?
• What will I need to bring with me when I'm in labor? Will my chart be sent over or will I need to hand-carry it?
• Do you have a triage system? How long does one usually stay in triage?
• What types of birthing rooms are available? Can I labor, give birth and recover in one room?
• What types of comfort measures do you encourage? Is there a tub or shower in the birth room ? Do you have access to birth balls, music, squat bar, etc.?
• What type of food or drink is allowed? Is there a kitchen area for myself or my family? Am I allowed to bring food or drink from home? Do you provide clear liquids like popsicles, broth, Jell-o®, etc?
• Are IVs required? What about a saline lock to provide access to my veins instead? Who would make this provision if it's not a standard policy?
• What type of medications are available? Should I choose medication? What IV medications are used? Do you offer epidural anesthesia ? Is there a special class to take for the epidural? Do you have anesthesiologists who only do obstetrical anesthesia? Do you have 24-hour anesthesia available on site? Can I have a pre-labor consult with the anesthesia group if I have special concerns?
• Do you have visitor policies in labor ? Do you have policies about siblings?
• Are cameras and film equipment allowed? Are there any parts for which we should turn it off?
• What type of fetal monitoring do you offer? External? Internal? Doppler/fetoscope? What are the hospital policies on monitoring in labor?
• How often do you experience an overflow of patients? What happens if all of your birthing rooms are taken?
• Do you utilize students or residents in any way?
• What is your hospital's induction rate? How many patients receive augmentation in labor? What is your episiotomy rate? Epidural rate? Forceps/vacuum rates? Cesarean rates? VBAC rate?
• Do you have doulas on staff? Do you have a listing of doulas?
• To whom should I send my birth plan? Does it need to be signed by my doctor or midwife? My pediatrician?

Cesarean Birth

• Can my partner stay with me for a cesarean birth ? My doula?
• Can we have photos of the birth?
• Will I be able to watch the surgery via mirror? Could the drapes be lowered? Or do you offer clear drapes?
• What is the policy about pre-operative medications? Postoperative pain relief?
• Will my baby be able to go immediately skin to skin after the birth?
• Will the baby be available to me during the surgery time? In the recovery room? When can I begin nursing?
• If the cesarean is planned, what is the admission procedure?
• Will my partner be able to go with the baby, should s/he need to leave the room?
• Will I have the same room postpartum that I did for labor and birth?
• Are all your postpartum rooms private? Will I ever be moved from my room?
• Do the rooms have showers or tubs? What about sitz baths?
• Can members of my family stay overnight? Is there an extra charge for this?
• What pain relief options are available postpartum? Does that differ if you've had a cesarean birth? What about nursing moms?
• What is the average length of stay for a vaginal birth? A cesarean birth?
• Is there a policy for early discharge?
• What is your policy on rooming in? Are there times that the baby cannot be in our room?
• Do pediatricians do their visits at the bedside? When would this not be appropriate?
• Do you have a lactation consultant? Is she available seven days a week? What are her hours? Does she see every nursing mom? Is she certified?
• What are the policies about breastfeeding babies and bottles/pacifiers?
• What are their sibling visitation policies?

By Robin Elise Weiss, PhD, MPH Robin Elise Weiss, PhD, MPH is a professor, author, childbirth and postpartum educator, certified doula, and lactation counselor.

Maternity Hospital Tour: 20 Critical Questions To Ask [2023]

By: Author Doug Penta MD OB/GYN

Categories PREGNANCY

Updated October 25, 2023

A question that is very often asked by pregnant women is “Is it necessary to take a hospital tour before my delivery?”

Why should you take a maternity hospital tour? Simple, you want to know what to expect when you are in labor.

It is normal to be nervous about what happens during labor and delivery. If you have never stayed in a hospital the experience can be intimidating.

One way to relieve your concerns is to take a pregnancy hospital tour or a tour of the birth center where you plan to deliver.

Most Pregnancy hospital tours take about an hour and are very informative.

Just knowing where to go when you get to the hospital in labor makes the tour worth the time.

A hospital tour is not a substitute for a childbirth class .

Yes, you really do need to take one of those too.

Table of Contents

Update for 2023: COVID-19 and Pregnancy

COVID-19 is an illness caused by the novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2. You’ll want to ask your doctor any questions you have about COVID-19 and your specific risk factors at your next visit.

For the very latest on COVID-19 and pregnancy, you should visit the CDC at the link below:

Coronavirus Disease 2023 (COVID-19) Based on what we know at this time, pregnant people might be at an increased risk for severe illness from COVID-19 compared to non-pregnant people. Additionally, there may be an increased risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes, such as preterm birth, among pregnant people with COVID-19.

20 Questions To Ask On Your Maternity Hospital Tour:

1. is there a newborn intensive care unit (nicu) what floor is it located on is it easy to access from the postpartum rooms.

Whether or not a hospital has a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), may determine what facility you choose for your delivery.

One reason may simply be that you want to deliver at a facility that has a NICU within the facility to avoid transport time from another hospital.

Another reason might be because your pregnancy is deemed high-risk for maternal reasons (twins, toxemia, gestational diabetes, premature labor, etc.) or high-risk due to neonatal concerns identified during your prenatal care (fetal cardiac malformations, fetal diaphragmatic hernias, intrauterine growth restriction, etc.).

If this is a question on your mind, become familiar with the levels of nursery care prior to your visit:

• Well Newborn Care –  Level 1
• Special Care Nursery –  Level 2 
• Neonatal Intensive Care Unit –  Level 3
• Regional Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (Regional NICU) –  Level 4

For more details about NICU nurseries, click HERE

2. What hospital entrance do I use when I arrive in labor?

When labor begins, most parents (particularly first-time parents) will want to have the hospital trip well-rehearsed.

You want to assume you will not have the time to think clearly about anything other than getting to the hospital quickly and safely.

Preparing for the onset of labor is crucial and you should focus only on the most fundamental details.

Don’t complicate matters. Knowing where the hospital entrance is, is no exception.

Hospitals are large facilities with multiple entrances and in the midst of active labor, finding the labor and delivery entrance can become a daunting task, especially at 2:00 in the morning.

During your maternity hospital tour, ask where the entrance is to labor and delivery.

Make a dry run to the hospital to determine the best route.

3. What are the pain management options available? Is there always an anesthesiologist present at the hospital?

The individual in charge of the maternity hospital tour could be a labor and delivery nurse or a non-clinical hospital employee.

Pain management options for labor can best be addressed by your personal healthcare provider.

However, regarding access to pain management (anesthesia coverage) in the hospital, there is one question you will want to ask.

Is there an anesthesiologist in the hospital 24/7 and if not, what is the labor and delivery coverage arrangement?

4. Does the hospital offer wireless fetal monitoring?

Fetal monitoring during labor is used to confine laboring patients to their beds.

Laboring patients using standard electronic fetal monitoring needed to remain at bed rest because the monitor requires a direct connection of the FHR and contraction transducers to the bedside monitor.

Wireless fetal monitoring has been an option for many years.

However, it may not be available at every hospital so it is best to ask when you tour the labor and delivery floor.

Your maternity hospital tour and your childbirth class should both discuss fetal monitoring, but if you have questions about wireless monitoring during your tour is a good time to ask.

Wireless monitoring, also known as Telemetry monitoring uses a transmitter that is attached to the patient’s thigh and the wireless signal is recorded at the central nursing station in labor and delivery.

Telemetry monitoring allows patients to be monitored while walking around the hospital floor.

Since it is often encouraged to ambulate during early labor this type of monitoring was introduced so laboring patients did not have to remain on bed rest throughout their labor.

Though wireless monitoring has been around for many years, it was not used very often.

This was because the signal transmission was poor.

The two most common reasons for this were:

• A poor wireless signal
• The transducer stopped picking up the FHR because activity (mother and fetus) would cause the transducer to move.

*When the signal is lost during telemetry, an alarm sounds.

Most often this required adjusting the position of the transducer. Unfortunately, this would occur often and was anxiety-provoking for the mother.

Image credit: (Maternity Comfort Solutions)

5. How many people are allowed in the delivery room?

I have seen this policy change many times within the same hospital. Ask if the hospital has a policy if it is not addressed during your maternity hospital tour.

You may want to specify this in your birth plan if you have made one.

Remember, this is your labor and your delivery. You get to decide who you want to be with you during your delivery.

You may want your spouse or partner. You may want a doula, your best friend or your mom. Maybe all of them.

This is an important question to ask on your maternity hospital tour and an important topic to discuss with your partner before your labor begins.

If your birth partner will be with you in the delivery room, it is a great idea if you have both taken a childbirth class together.

It is a really good idea if your birth partner knows how to take care of you in labor and knows how to take care of themselves!

Labor can be a long haul, it can be painful and scary at times, and often your partner may not know how to comfort you or advocate for you.

T hat is why we recommend the online course Supporting her f or birth partners! 

The class teaches your partner actionable skills and techniques they’ll need to take care of you during your labor and delivery.

The class is 2 hours long, they can take it on their phone, and on their own time. 

 6. Who do I give the birth plan to when I arrive at the hospital?

It is best to make two copies of your birth plan .

Let the triage nurse know you have a birth plan and give one copy to the nurse caring for you in labor and delivery.

Give the other copy to a family member attending your birth.

If you arrive at the hospital right before a shift change, make sure your new labor and delivery nurse has a copy of your birth plan.

Labor and delivery units are busy places as you will see on your maternity hospital tour.

It is always a good idea to check with the oncoming nurse to make sure she received your birth plan in the report from the nurse going home.

If you have not done a birth plan you might want to consider doing one and be sure to take a childbirth education class.

A recent study found that women who had a birth plan and/or took a childbirth class had a greater likelihood of having a vaginal delivery and avoiding a cesarean section.

7. If I have a c-section, who is allowed to attend the delivery?

Recently, there have been many changes to this policy.

Hospitals are trying to be more accommodating.

Keep in mind that a cesarean section is done in an operating room.

So some restrictions are mandated by the state to ensure patient safety.

Hospitals and OB/GYNs have been trying to make c-sections more family-centered and supportive.

Most facilities and doctors will allow for your partner and doula to be with you during your c-section.

You will want to discuss this with your doctor so you know what their policy is.

We would suggest you ask this question on your maternity hospital tour, in case you have an on-call doctor or if the hospital has a laborist that covers deliveries on the unit.

8. Are there lactation specialists available? Do you have a lactation consultant on staff at the hospital?

Ask if the hospital has a designated lactation consultant. They most likely do.

If you plan to breastfeed it is good to know how many lactation consultants are available.

What hours do they work?

Will they come to see you automatically or do you need to ask?

9. Does the hospital allow pacifiers and bottles in the nursery?

There are some hospitals that have new policies about pacifiers and bottles.

Ask if you are unclear about the policy.

Over 500 hospitals in the US now have the Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative (BFHI) designation.

The BFHI program is designed to offer women the support and education they need to successfully breastfeed their newborns (Baby-Friendly USA, 2018).

If you plan to breastfeed, a BFH may be the perfect choice for you. You will receive care from providers who are specially trained to help you be successful in breastfeeding.

If you are not sure about breastfeeding, a BFH may offer you the support and confidence you need to breastfeed your new baby.

If you know you plan to formula feed and the hospital you plan to deliver at is a “baby-friendly” designated hospital, tell them your plans right away. Some hospitals may require you to bring your own formula.

The easiest option is to bring small bottles of ready-to-feed formula.

Stand your ground if pressured in any way about your choice. Your baby, your body, your choice.

If you plan to use a pacifier, be sure to bring your own in case the hospital does not provide them.

Breastfeeding isn’t always easy.

10. What security measures are there? Do people have to be buzzed in, are there security guards, and is a device placed on my baby to make sure he/she cannot leave the floor?  

Hospitals have very strict security policies.

Be sure to ask about the policy if it is not discussed.

It is exceedingly rare for a baby to be taken from the mother-baby unit of the hospital, but it is important to be sure the hospital you are going to uses a device on you and your newborn to be sure the baby can’t leave the unit with anyone else.

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

This is a common question. Ask about visiting hours and age restrictions.

In addition, you may also want to inquire about the hospital’s overnight policy.

Due to COVID-19, many hospitals are not allowing any visitors or may be limiting them.

So be sure to ask what the current policy is.

You may want to ask if your partner can stay overnight.

If possible we suggest this so you have help caring for your newborn in the hospital.

12. Does the hospital support supplementing breastfeeding with formula?

Hospitals have been implementing new policies to specifically address this issue.

It depends.

As we discussed in question 9 above, many hospitals have become or are working on becoming “Baby-Friendly” designated.

One of the standards of care under BFHI is that unless medically indicated a newborn is given nothing but breastmilk.

Having said that if you want to supplement with infant formula that is your right.

We are big believers that no woman should be bullied or guilted or shamed for her infant feeding choice.

13. Is there wireless internet access?

If WiFi is available, you may want to ask about connectivity as this can pose a problem depending on your internet provider and the device you are using.

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

Your hospital will have one of the following arrangements. ask if you have any questions:.

• Admission to Labor and Delivery after which you will be transferred to the postpartum floor
• LDR – A room for labor, delivery, and recovery after which you will be transferred to the postpartum floor
• LDRP – One room for your entire hospital stay: Labor/Delivery/Recovery/Postpartum

15. Is this a teaching hospital? Will students or residents a ttend the birth? Can I request that they not attend if I don’t feel comfortable with them there?

We love this question and feel it is an important one to explain so you can make an informed decision about whether or not you want students (medical or nursing) or residents examining you or being there for the delivery.

Teaching hospitals are often tertiary care hospitals.

These hospitals deal with complex medical and surgical interventions.

This includes the management of routine and high-risk pregnancies .

As a result, the staff that manages pregnancy (perinatal staff) and newborns (neonatal staff) can be extensive.

The following is a list of the individuals you may meet on the labor and delivery and postpartum floors of a tertiary teaching hospital.

These are in addition to your personal doctor and nurses:

• Medical Students/Nursing students
• Residents – Physicians in OB/GYN, Pediatrics, and Anesthesiology who have completed medical school and are receiving training in their respective specialties. Resident physicians range from first-year interns to chief residents.
• Fellows – Physicians who have completed their residency and are in training to become a subspecialist. In labor and delivery, the OB Fellow is training to become a perinatologist (see below).
• Obstetricians – Typically your prenatal care physician is an obstetrician/gynecologist.
• Perinatologist – Teaching hospitals will often have a perinatologist on staff. This physician manages high-risk pregnancies.
• Neonatologist – Since tertiary care hospitals have a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), the hospital will have neonatologists to manage the NICU. Neonatologists are physicians who have completed a pediatric residency and a subspecialty fellowship in neonatology.
• Pediatricians – Your pediatrician will examine your newborn on the postpartum floor.
• Obstetrical Anesthesiologist – Anesthesiologist that specializes in the care of labor and delivery patients.

*This list is not all-inclusive. Since there are also primary and secondary teaching hospitals, the staff will vary depending on the level of care offered at the hospital.

You will likely not have all of these people parading in and out during your labor and delivery and postpartum stay. But it is good to know who you could possibly see.

There are always policy changes taking place in teaching hospitals, you will want to ask this question on your maternity hospital tour for clarity.

Generally, the answer is yes, you can request that students or residents not attend your birth.

You will definitely want to address this issue with your doctor so there is no confusion when you arrive at the hospital.

Some hospitals have a laborist on staff that handles the deliveries on the unit.

Be sure to ask about this on your maternity hospital tour, so you know to tell the Laborist on the unit that you do not want residents or students attending the birth.

16. What is the preregistration process?

Most often this is done through the mail before you go to the hospital.

When you arrive, the admissions office will have your file.

Confirm you are registered in the hospital system.

You want to ask this question because you don’t want to arrive at the hospital and not have your insurance and other paperwork in order.

17. What birthing equipment is provided by the hospital? ( birth ball, squat bars, showers, jetted tubs, rocking chair, birthing stool)

Hospitals vary tremendously on this topic, so it is best to ask.

For hygienic purposes, it is best to bring personal items that are portable (birth balls, etc.).

18. Where will I be evaluated when I arrive at the hospital?

Labor and delivery departments have a designated triage unit.

This is where you will initially be evaluated before being admitted to labor and delivery.

It is essential you know where the triage area is located and how to get there from the hospital entrance.

Some hospitals may want you to enter through the Emergency department.

You will be brought to Labor and Delivery from there.

19. What is the hospital’s policy about photography? (ie. cameras/video cameras during labor/delivery/c-section)?

This is a definite question you will want to ask on the maternity hospital tour.

Hospitals have different policies about photography in the delivery room.

Due to COVID-19, the facility you are giving birth at may not be allowing birth photographers on the unit.

Hiring a professional birth photographer for your labor and delivery is becoming increasingly popular.

If you are planning to have a photographer attend your delivery, find out the hospital policy about photography in labor and delivery.

Also, find out what the policy is among the providers in your medical group (not only your personal provider).

Hiring a photographer requires a great deal of planning and is costly. If this is part of your birth plan, you will want to be sure this decision goes smoothly when you are in labor.

Hospitals and providers may allow filming and photos of your labor but may not allow the filming of your actual delivery.

There are a couple of reasons for this, one, of course, is potential complications and liability issues.

The second is tied into the first, you want your medical and nursing team completely focused on helping you deliver your baby safely.

Remember to ask these questions to avoid any last-minute changes in your birth plan.

Hospitals and providers are strict about this policy and are unlikely to make an allowance for this if it has not been addressed ahead of time.

It is stressful enough when you arrive at the hospital in labor. You want to avoid any conflicts that could have been addressed during your prenatal care.

The following, are the specific questions you will want to ask the hospital and your provider:

Hospital:  (Ask these questions well before your due date and ideally before your hospital tour.)

• When are professional photographers allowed to film during your labor and delivery … Labor? Delivery? Postpartum?
• If you have a cesarean section, can the photographer come into the delivery room, and what can be filmed during the surgery?
• Will all the delivering clinicians in your medical practice, allow professional photography in labor and delivery?
• Are there any restrictions about what can be filmed? Can the delivery be filmed or only before and after delivery?
• If I have a cesarean section and the hospital allows filming of the delivery, will your colleagues allow this as well?

20. Can my baby room in with me instead of being in the nursery?

Rooming-in is becoming more the norm, but you’ll want to ask just in case the hospital your delivering at has a different policy.

Some pregnant women may have the opposite question.

They may want to know if the baby can go to the nursery.

You will want to ask because many hospitals have done away with their well-baby nurseries in favor of the baby with the mother 24/7.

As we talked about above some of that is due to hospitals becoming “baby-friendly” certified.

Baby-friendly isn’t always “brand new mom-friendly”

If this is the policy of the facility you plan to have your baby, you should strongly consider having a support person who will be with you throughout your hospital stay.

I know this can be difficult if you have other children at home or don’t have a partner.

Ask a friend, ask your mom, or hire a postpartum doula.

Be sure you have help. 

Even with an uncomplicated vaginal delivery, you will be sore and exhausted.

Your stay may only be 24 hours, but that is a very long 24 hours if you are alone with a newborn and need assistance.

If you have a C-section you will likely be in the hospital for a few days and will want to have someone there as a support person to help you take care of the baby.

You will need to rest and rooming-in policies can make that difficult for new moms, so be sure to ask about the room-in policy on your maternity hospital tour.

Other pregnancy-related posts you might find helpful:

• 5 Best Pelvic Support Belts For Pregnancy
• How To Prevent Swelling During Pregnancy
• Are Childbirth Classes Necessary?

Finally, If possible, hold your questions until the end of the maternity hospital tour since most questions will be answered during the tour.

If you get to the question and answer period and there are a lot of people and a lot of questions there are four questions we suggest you focus on :

At your maternity hospital tour, try to avoid asking questions about labor management as those are best answered by your healthcare provider.

The tour is intended to answer questions about hospital policies and help you become familiar with the layout of the facility.

Dr. Doug Penta, MD - Co-Founder of Maternity Comfort Solutions Dr. Doug Penta, is a seasoned Obstetrician and Gynecologist with over 38 years of practice, co-founded Maternity Comfort Solutions to provide evidence-based pregnancy and parenting information. A Boston University alum and former Clinical Professor at Harvard, his articles on Maternity Comfort Solutions offer expectant mothers invaluable nutritional insights.

View all posts

Sue Winters, RN - Co-Founder of Maternity Comfort Solutions Sue combines 20 years of nursing with a rich background in early childhood education. Co-founder of Maternity Comfort Solutions, her articles provide creative toddler activities and practical tips on pregnancy nutrition and baby shower planning, embodying her commitment to supporting families through early parenthood.

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• Third Trimester

How to Shop Around for the Best Maternity Hospital

What’s the labor and delivery experience of your dreams? Plenty of designated areas for natural childbirth? In-house lactation specialists at the ready? A place for your spouse to spend the night with you and your newborn?

Whatever you’re hoping for, don’t leave it up to chance. In fact, the factors mentioned above aren’t always a given. So if you “pick” your maternity hospital by default—aka going to whichever one your ob-gyn is affiliated with—then all you can do is hope for the best. A better bet? Shop around for your hospital as carefully as you shop for your OB. Especially now in the age of COVID-19, you’ll want to give birth in a comforting and safe environment. Here’s how to find the best labor and delivery hospital for you.

Why Shop for a Maternity Hospital?

Of course your doctor matters. But depending on your OB and their on-call schedule, they may not even be the one to deliver your baby. It could be another doctor from the practice or it could even be an ob-gyn who happens to be working at the maternity hospital the night you go into labor——someone you’ve never met before.

In addition to the doctor whose hands you’re in, your surroundings can greatly influence how comfortable your birthing process will be, as a whole. After all, even if your OB is able to swoop in at the right moment to deliver baby, the majority of the time, you’ll be tended to by hospital staff. Labor and delivery—as well as the recuperation process (which, physically, is no picnic, either)—is much more pleasant in an environment that’s comforting and supportive.

More importantly, recent research suggests that c-section rates vary greatly, not only from state to state but also from hospital to hospital within a state or even city. And the maternity hospital you choose can have an effect on whether you end up giving birth vaginally or not.

In order to deliver your baby at a particular hospital, your doctor has to have admitting privileges to the facility—meaning they can’t deliver babies in any hospital you choose. So it makes sense to ensure that your current ob-gyn is affiliated with a maternity hospital that feels right to you. If that’s not the case, you just may want to find a hospital that does, and then look for a new OB who practices there.

How to Draw Up a List of Maternity Hospital Contenders

It’s never too early to start shopping. “People can start to think of [this] even before they’re pregnant," says Sarah Little , MD, a maternal-fetal medicine specialist in the department of obstetrics and gynecology at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston. Of course, most women won’t start seriously looking until they get a positive pregnancy test, and that’s fine too. While you can switch doctors at any point in your pregnancy, it makes sense to find a provider you want to stick with as early in your pregnancy as you can. This means you need to settle on your maternity hospital of choice as early as possible too.

Start with the basics

Unfortunately, given medical costs and health insurance policies, “you likely can’t just go anywhere,” says Neel Shah , MD, assistant professor of obstetrics and gynecology at Harvard Medical School. Your insurance carrier dictates the doctors it will cover and therefore the maternity hospitals that are available to you. Other factors, such as where you live and your particular health situation, may narrow your choices too. From a practical standpoint, find out about:

• Travel distance from your home. In general, the distance between your home and the hospital has no overall effect on birth outcomes—but you don’t want your hospital to be so far that you’re worrying about traffic when baby is on the way. Which is why, as Little says, “Birth is mostly local. Most people are choosing hospitals nearby.”

• Insurance coverage. Look for maternity hospitals with doctors who take your insurance, since what gets covered in and out of network can vary greatly.

• Facilities for high-risk pregnancies. If you’ve had a difficult pregnancy, a complicated past delivery or any preexisting health condition that may affect your pregnancy, find a labor and delivery hospital that will be able to accommodate you in the worst-case scenario. For instance: Does it have a blood bank? Is there an ICU? An NICU? Rarely are these used, Little says, but “people who have high-risk pregnancies need to be somewhere with appropriate care.”

Brush up on COVID-related policies

Childbirth can spark its fair share of anxieties for women under any circumstances, but delivering during a pandemic raises some additional questions to have answered before you settle on a maternity hospital. According to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG), even during this pandemic, hospitals and accredited birth centers remain the safest places to give birth.

• Ask about safety measures in place to test admitted patients. Risk of exposure is on everyone’s mind these days. Christian Pope , DO, a Massachusetts-based ob-gyn and clinical instructor of obstetrics and gynecology at the Warren Alpert Brown University School of Medicine, suggests asking about testing policies and whether patients who test positive are isolated away from patients who are negative.

• Look into the hospital’s policies on birth support partners. In an effort to reduce exposure levels, some maternity hospitals are placing limits on the number of people you can have with you in the delivery room. Pope recommends asking whether partners are allowed into the hospital for the birth, whether they’re allowed to leave and return during labor and what criteria is in place, and whether doulas are permitted to attend as an additional support person.

• Learn what safety procedures you may have to follow during labor and delivery. Aside from thinking about how pandemic policies may apply to other patients and to your birth partners, get up to speed on how they might impact you as well. As Pope points out, will you have to wear a mask during the birthing process? And if you were to test positive for COVID-19, what are the CDC’s recommendations for maternal/baby separation and does the hospital support those practices? Also, certain labor props like tubs and birthing balls may not be allowed, so be sure to ask.

Consider your birth plan

Beyond the must-haves, think about how you envision your birthing experience. Some maternity hospitals are more supportive of natural childbirth than others. Some have rules that limit visitors, particularly in areas that have a high number of COVID cases. “It’s shocking to people the idea that hospitals can be that different,” says Jill Arnold, a maternity care consultant and an editorial advisory board member of the Institute for Perinatal Quality Improvement . But, in fact, they’re as different as each individual’s idea of what a “perfect” experience is. “It comes down to what you feel comfortable with,” Arnold says. To avoid unpleasant surprises, do some research, give the hospital visitor’s information line a call and get the lowdown on the following:

• Does it support your childbirth philosophy? Are there special rooms for natural birth options, including water birth? Are there lactation consultants on-site to help with breastfeeding soon after delivery? How does the hospital support women who want—or don’t want—an epidural? You might glean this information from those maternity hospital website reviews, but nothing is more helpful than asking someone who has delivered at the hospital. “I made sure to speak with a lot of friends and family and other acquaintances about their personal experiences delivering at various hospitals in the area,” says Morgan F. “I also spent a lot of time on Yelp, surprisingly, poring through reviews.” If you have a birthing instructor and/or know of other health professionals in your area, don’t be afraid to ask them too.

• What is its c-section rate for low-risk pregnancies? “Your biggest risk factor when it comes to whether you’ll have a c-section is the hospital you go to,” says Shah, who is also director of the Delivery Decisions Initiative at Ariadne Labs , a Boston-based health systems research group. Specifically, he points out, it can vary by 15-fold from hospital to hospital for low-risk patients. Why? A 2017 Obstetrics & Gynecology paper , for which Shah was the senior author, reported (counterintuitively) that hospitals with the most “proactive unit culture management” had higher risks of cesarean delivery than those that tackled problems as they occurred. In other words, hospitals that were more focused on certain goals (whether financial or neonatal outcomes) may not always prioritize vaginal births.

• What are the hospital rules? Some mandate that women be hooked up to a fetal heart monitor throughout the entire labor process, while others allow for intermittent monitoring. Some maternity hospitals have policies that dictate how many people can be in the room while you’re in labor. If it’s important for your family to be there, ask who is allowed. Since the birthing process can be like an athletic endeavor, when it’s deemed safe, “it’s good to have cheerleaders and coaches,” Shah says.

• What are the accommodations? Do you want a hospital that has single postpartum rooms, or are you okay sharing a room with another new mom? Can your baby stay in your room, or will the baby be brought to a nursery? It’s impossible to predict the outcome of any birth, but finding a maternity hospital that makes you comfortable can have considerable impact on the way you feel about your experience overall, regardless of how it all goes down.

• What happens if your doctor can’t be there? Whether it’s because they’re away or because you need a higher level of care, it’s helpful to know what happens next and that the hospital has a streamlined system in place.

What to Look for on the Maternity Hospital Tour

Traditionally, hospitals offer in-person tours of their maternity wards, and this is when and where you can confirm the information you’ve collected so far with your own eyes and ears. However, given the pandemic, many hospitals are now offering remote tours online instead. “Virtual hospital tours are taking place and have been typically well done,” Pope says. Be on the lookout for the following during your tour, whether in-person or virtually:

• Adequate staffing. “You would avoid going on a highway if you knew there was a lot of traffic,” Shah says. Similarly, you’d want to avoid a congested hospital with too many patients and not enough staff. It can be hard to tell, but you can get an idea by looking at how well everything is managed, Shah says. Do you feel comfortable with the staff-to-patient ratio, including during off hours and weekends? Are the nurse assignments clearly displayed and organized? When you’re visiting, does the staff look overworked or energized and engaged? Pay special attention to the nurses, Arnold says. “Depending on who’s the charge nurse, it could set the tone for something completely different than what you expected.”

• Efficient management. While an OB is taking care of a woman in labor, the staff is probably taking care of three or four other patients at the same time. “There are all kinds of other things happening outside your room that impact your care,” Shah says. A staff that’s “able to manage all that well, making sure that the right patient has the right nurse at the right time, makes all the difference in the world.” He adds that a maternity hospital, on a very basic level, is like a restaurant. An incredibly attentive waiter or chef isn’t the only factor that will determine your meal experience. Similarly, he says, “you can have the best doctor with really good intentions and still have things go wrong, because hospitals are, it turns out, even harder to run than restaurants.” Beyond taking note of awards the hospital may have won as well as reviews, look around you during the tour. Does the place feel organized and well run?

• Comfort. When researching and touring maternity hospitals, it’s not about “right” and “wrong” or even “good” and “bad”—it’s about finding the hospital that’s right for you, with a doctor and nursing staff who will make you feel comfortable and in control, Arnold says. Listen to how the staff speaks to one another. Is it a stressful environment or one where people are respectful, professional and friendly? And are the rooms well-maintained and pleasant (as far as a hospital room can be)?

• Newborn facilities. You and baby will likely be in the hospital for at least a day or two following the birth, so as Pope reminds, don’t forget to inquire about policies and facilities for infants. What are the hospital’s newborn policies after birth? How close is the infant nursery to the postpartum rooms? Does the hospital allow for “rooming-in,” where baby stays with you in your own room, as opposed to being cared for in the nursery?

Don’t be shy about asking questions—no inquiry is too insignificant. After all, Arnold says, “it’s not like you’re going in and getting your knee checked. When it comes to childbirth, it’s an emotional process. It’s an event that’s going to be very powerful and life-changing.” It deserves to happen in a place you feel good about.

About the experts:

Sarah Little , MD, MPH, is a double board-certified ob-gyn and maternal-fetal medicine specialist in the department of obstetrics and gynecology at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston, as well as an assistant professor of ob-gyn at Harvard Medical School. She attended the University of California, San Francisco School of Medicine.

Neel Shah , MD, MPP, FACOG, is an assistant professor of obstetrics and gynecology at Harvard Medical School, as well as the director of the Delivery Decisions Initiative at Harvard’s Ariadne Labs. Additionally, he is a practicing ob-gyn at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston. He earned his medical degree from Brown Medical School in 2009.

Christian Pope , DO, FACOG, is a Massachusetts-based ob-gyn and clinical instructor of obstetrics and gynecology at the Warren Alpert Brown University School of Medicine. He is also a medical staff member at St. Luke’s Hospital of Southcoast Hospitals and at Women and Infants’ Hospital in Providence, Rhode Island. A graduate of the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine, Pope received his obstetrics and gynecology training at the Tufts University School of Medicine, Baystate Medical Center.

Jill Arnold is a maternity care consultant and an editorial advisory board member of the Institute for Perinatal Quality Improvement , which works to eliminate preventable perinatal mortality and ensure equity in perinatal outcomes. She is also the executive director of the Maternal Safety Foundation , a nonprofit dedicated to patient safety, transparency and education.

Please note: The Bump and the materials and information it contains are not intended to, and do not constitute, medical or other health advice or diagnosis and should not be used as such. You should always consult with a qualified physician or health professional about your specific circumstances.

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How to Choose a Maternity Hospital

When choosing a maternity hospital, take into consideration these important factors for a safe and comfortable childbirth experience.

This article is based on reporting that features expert sources.

If you're in the early stages of pregnancy or considering getting pregnant, chances are you're already starting to consider where you want to deliver your baby.

Getty Images

You're sifting through search results online long before you're packing your hospital bag , but it's hard to tell what you'll need. The photos look charming, but which facility is going to respect your labor choices? They have excellent patient reviews on their front page, but which one is the safest?

Here are some tips on how to narrow down your search and, ultimately, how to choose a maternity hospital that suits your needs.

Location and Accessibility

When choosing a maternity hospital, the first step is to narrow down facilities based on location and accessibility.

Here are some questions to ask yourself:

• Which facilities are in my immediate geographical location?
• Is my pregnancy high risk enough that I should only consider care at the nearest maternity hospital?
• Does my birth provider have privileges at multiple maternity hospitals or only one?
• Which hospitals accept my insurance plan and are in network?

Hospital Facilities and Amenities

While many hospitals may look picture perfect online, it's important to remember that not all hospital amenities are created equal.

According to Dr. Kecia Gaither, a double board-certified OB-GYN and maternal-fetal medicine provider, amenities that make a difference include:

• Pain services , such as epidurals, nitrous oxide (laughing gas), oral medications, guided meditation , aromatherapy and tools, like peanut balls.
• Neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) availability.
• Clinical excellence status.

Some amenities that aren't worth it and may come with large price tags include:

• Private chef-prepared food.
• XM satellite radio.
• Manicures and/or pedicures.
• Concierge services to help with ancillary tasks, like arranging newborn photography or gifts.

Medical Staff and Expertise

Where you deliver your baby is closely tied to your maternity care provider.

“People are usually going to make that decision based on their first finding a physician or midwife they feel that they connect with,” explains Dr. Jennifer Frink, an OB-GYN and medical director of Ascension Maternal Health Service Line and Ascension Michigan Women's Health Service Line in Kalamazoo, Michigan.

Deciding who will be providing your care is as important as where you’re getting your care.

"You want to have a team of professionals that, once they listen to those things, are going to give you some options that are medically appropriate for you,” Frink adds. “Oftentimes, that provider will have different hospitals where they practice as options."

Items to address about your maternity hospital and care team include:

• Does the facility have maternal-fetal medicine specialists or perinatologists (doctors who are specially trained in high-risk pregnancies)? These specialists deal exclusively with anomalies or other high-risk issues in pregnancy and delivery, Gaither says. If you are at high risk due to gestational diabetes , preeclampsia or any other known issue, you'll have peace of mind knowing specialty care is on-site.
• Does the hospital offer alternative labor and delivery experiences? Alternative birth practices include access to midwives, water birth and delivering in various birth positions, such as hands and knees. They may also include alternative pain management options, such as water therapy and nitrous oxide. Not all facilities offer these alternatives, so you'll want to check with the hospital if these are services you're interested in using.
• Do they have group prenatal care? Group prenatal care programs, such as CenteringPregnancy, allow expectant mothers at similar stages of their pregnancy to receive prenatal education and social support with their peers, along with one-on-one physical checkups. Emerging research, like a study in the January 2019 Journal of Women’s Health, suggests that group prenatal care is associated with a lower risk of having a preterm birth or having a baby with low birth weight.

Maternity Services and Procedures

When choosing a maternity hospital, you'll want to research each facility's maternal and fetal outcomes, including cesarean section, early elective delivery and episiotomy rates.

Because public data on these metrics are increasingly available from individual maternity hospitals and statewide websites, you should be able to collect this information. However, if you can’t find it, ask your OB-GYN for more information about the hospitals in your area. U.S. News also provides ratings on maternity hospitals based on these metrics.

C-section rate

It’s important to look at a hospital's C-section rate and compare it with other facilities in the region.

To gauge hospital quality, ask your doctor or use the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Cesarean Delivery Rate by State online tool .

Here is why the C-section rate matters:

• C-sections are a major surgery and have more risks than a vaginal delivery. These risks can include maternal bleeding or respiratory difficulty for newborns.
• C-sections require longer maternal recovery time by at least a few weeks compared with vaginal deliveries.
• Data shows that a facility, not just individual physicians, drives C-section rates. The maternity hospital you choose may impact the odds of you needing a C-section. Individual facility protocols, as well as how well-equipped the hospital is to manage higher-risk vaginal deliveries, can influence these chances.
• If you've had a previous C-section, your provider should still discuss the risks and benefits of attempting to deliver vaginally with a subsequent pregnancy, known as a trial of labor after cesarean, or TOLAC. When it results in a successful delivery, it's called a vaginal birth after cesarean, or VBAC .

Keep in mind that high-risk academic centers, also known as teaching hospitals, often have a higher C-section rate because they have more high-risk deliveries and multiple births. To get a better idea of the C-section rate for low-risk pregnancies, ask for the NTSV C-section rate, which stands for nulliparous, term, singleton and vertex pregnancies. These terms describe a first-time mother who is only pregnant with one full-term baby in a headfirst position for delivery. In other words, they have fewer risk factors that would typically be associated with a C-section delivery.

Early elective delivery rate

Performing C-sections or inducing labor before 39 weeks of gestation without medical necessity is known as early elective delivery. Hospitals must report these early elective deliveries. A high rate of early elective deliveries is considered a red flag in terms of maternity hospital quality.

"We know that babies that are born before 39 weeks ‘just because’ don’t do as well as babies that are allowed to deliver when their moms go into labor naturally,” Frink says.

She explains that this is because the mother and baby may not be ready to naturally deliver and inducing labor may not be well tolerated.

However, early deliveries aren’t always avoidable, especially if there are complications, like water breaking early or high maternal blood pressure.

“There are plenty of times when there is something going on with the mom or baby, and the safest thing in that setting is to have a delivery," Frink says. "But there are pretty strict criteria for what those things are. A hospital that stays away from those early elective deliveries values the importance and the safety of physiologic labor."

Episiotomy rate

An episiotomy is a surgical cut made to the vagina during childbirth to help prevent vaginal tearing. Routine use of episiotomy is not recommended, except when indicated in certain clinical situations, like fetal distress.

"Episiotomies have become something that used to be done routinely and now are very rarely needed," says Dr. Holly Loudon, chair of obstetrics, gynecology and reproductive science at Mount Sinai West and Mount Sinai Morningside in New York City.

Birthing Experience

The birthing experience is crucial when factoring in how to choose a maternity hospital. Questions to ask your maternity care team about labor and delivery include:

Can I tour a maternity hospital virtually before making a decision?

Before you choose a birthing setting, it’s helpful to get a feel for it first. Many facilities offer both virtual and in-person tours. Although not always necessary, check to see if they have private birthing rooms or suites for some additional space.

What pain control options do you offer, including and beyond epidurals?

When considering your pain management options, be sure to check that an anesthesiologist is readily available to get your epidural quickly. However, it's also important to ask what other pain management options are offered.

“You may want to know what other options are available for pain control and support during labor, such as nitrous oxide, as well as being able to walk around or use a peanut ball to find a better position,” Loudon says.

Will my birth plan and preferences be considered?

Issues like whether you want to walk around during labor, have access to birthing tubs, wear your own maternity gown or delayed cord clamping may be important to you. Ask the maternity hospital what policies or procedures they have in place for these common birth plan preferences. Ask the hospital how many support people are allowed to be with you, and if a birth doula counts as one of them.

Will I have induced labor? What goes into that decision? 

With induced labor, various medications or other methods are used to stimulate contractions instead of waiting for labor to begin on its own. Certain pregnancy complications or medical conditions of the mother may make labor induction necessary or safer.

Does your facility offer VBAC/TOLAC? 

If you’re interested in VBAC, ask if the facility allows it.

Because trying to have a VBAC comes with the risk of the C-section scar on the uterus opening, known as uterine rupture, a hospital must be equipped to respond quickly.

“The risk is less than 1% for an average patient undergoing a trial of labor,” says Dr. Julia Cormano, an associate professor of obstetrics, gynecology and reproductive sciences with UC San Diego Health System . “But it can be a very dangerous outcome. It requires an emergency C-section ... where people can respond within seconds.”

Do you offer gentle C-sections? 

Women who need C-sections may have the option to feel more connected during childbirth. Gentle C-sections, also referred to as family-centered C-sections, is a method of cesarean delivery that aims to foster early interaction and bonding between the mother and newborn by incorporating practices such as immediate skin-to-skin contact and breastfeeding , a calm environment and clear surgical drapes to see the baby.

"It can make the cesarean birth more like a vaginal birth experience and less like an operation,” Loudon says.

Postnatal Support

Don't end your maternity hospital search after finding a facility that caters to your labor and delivery preferences. Postnatal care is crucial and shouldn't be overshadowed by labor care, because complications can arise even after a successful labor and delivery. Here are some considerations for choosing a maternity hospital with proper postnatal support.

NICU and emergency capabilities

If it’s likely that your baby will spend some time in neonatal intensive care after delivery or your pregnancy is considered high risk, you might ask:

• Is there an anesthesiologist and pediatrician in the hospital 24/7?
• What is the blood bank’s availability – are transfusions possible around the clock?
• Does your hospital have a neonatal intensive care unit ? If so, what level is the NICU? Hospital NICU levels vary –  level I, II, III or IV. If your baby requires more advanced NICU treatments, like needing to be on a ventilator and the hospital only has a level I or II NICU, your baby may need to be transferred to a higher acuity hospital. Gaither says if you are aware your baby has a prenatal diagnosis and will be born with a medical condition, then you should be especially cognizant of the NICU services your hospital of choice offers.
• Does the NICU have private rooms? “Increasingly, in new hospitals, rather than the NICU being one giant space, there are individual rooms for these babies so that parents can room in, even once (parents) are discharged from the hospital ,” Cormano says. However, this option is still fairly uncommon.
• How often can I see my baby in the NICU? Some facilities may have specific visiting hours. In contrast, other maternity hospitals may offer tech options for parents like real-time, 24/7 video access to their newborns in intensive care.
• How does a hospital handle emergencies during childbirth, and what resources are available? Ask if your baby unexpectedly is in need of NICU care, and the hospital does not have a NICU, where does the baby get transferred to? How does the baby get transferred?

Postpartum care for you and your baby

When considering how to choose a maternity hospital, don't discount the support you'll need after labor and delivery.

You may need to ask:

• Does this hospital have a special care nursery? This is a form of step-down care for babies that don't quite need NICU level of support, but they might need more attention than what a typical postpartum ward could offer. This could include late preterm infants or those with issues with jaundice or low blood sugar.
• What support services does a maternity hospital provide for breastfeeding mothers? Breastfeeding is shown to be optimal for babies, but it’s definitely a learning experience for new mothers. Ask about international board-certified lactation consultants on staff.
• Is this facility baby-friendly? This means that the hospital will have staff trained to troubleshoot difficulties with breastfeeding, allow babies to room in with mothers instead of be sequestered in a newborn nursery and they won't give baby formula samples on behalf of formula manufacturers, which can discourage breastfeeding.

Hospital Reviews and Patient Experiences

Expectant parents should have all the resources and support that they need for a healthy prenatal, delivery and postpartum course in order to properly know how to choose a maternity hospital.

“One of the most important things for a lot of the patients that we serve is: Do they make it easy for me?” Frink says. “Do they find a way to get me the care and that’s convenient for me? Do they acknowledge and respect the history, and sometimes the baggage, I bring in?”

Asking questions like these will help you understand if a facility can meet your individual requirements:

• Does the hospital offer additional resources, like maternal health navigators and community health workers who can help families with available community resources and follow families through their hospital stay?
• Do you have a program that gives car seats or cribs to people in need?
• Do you have transportation options like Lyft or Uber rides, or bus or subway tokens, for my appointments?
• Can you connect me with food programs if needed?

As mentioned, you can look through the U.S. News Maternity Care ratings to find high-performing maternity care near you. These ratings highlight key factors of care for uncomplicated pregnancies. If your pregnancy is complicated or high risk and requires more intensive care, see the Best Hospitals for Neonatology rankings for the care of a high-risk newborn.

What to Know About Postpartum Psychosis

Claire Wolters Aug. 22, 2023

The U.S. News Health team delivers accurate information about health, nutrition and fitness, as well as in-depth medical condition guides. All of our stories rely on multiple, independent sources and experts in the field, such as medical doctors and licensed nutritionists. To learn more about how we keep our content accurate and trustworthy, read our  editorial guidelines .

Cormano is an OB-GYN and assistant professor of obstetrics, gynecology and reproductive sciences with UC San Diego Health System.

Frink, an OB-GYN and medical director of Ascension Michigan Women's Health Service Line, practices out of Ascension Borgess Hospital in Kalamazoo, Michigan.

Gaither is a double board-certified OB-GYN and maternal fetal medicine provider. She is also the director of perinatal services and maternal-fetal medicine at New York City Health and Hospitals, Lincoln in the Bronx.

Loudon is the chair of obstetrics, gynecology and reproductive science at Mount Sinai West and Mount Sinai Morningside and an associate professor at Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York City.

Tags: pregnancy , women's health , children's health , obstetrics and gynecology

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15 Must ask questions for your pregnancy hospital tour

An important part of preparing for the birth of your baby is taking a tour of the hospital you plan to give birth at. If you have several hospitals to choose from you may want to plan your tours earlier so you can choose the one that is the best fit for you. Be sure to write down your list of questions before your pregnancy hospital tour so you don’t forget anything. Use my easy printable list of hospital tour questions to save you some time.

This list mostly covers questions to ask for those that expect to have a vaginal birth. As I have never gone through a cesarian birth I’m not sure what specific questions you will need to ask.

This is post 23 in my series, 31 days of tips for the mom to be

questions to ask on a pregnancy hospital tour

1 – When should the hospital be your go-to for urgent care issues?

Early in your pregnancy, you will just go to the normal ER or urgent care if you are experiencing a problem that cannot wait for your regular doctor. At some point in your pregnancy, usually around 24 weeks, you will often be directed to go to labor and delivery at your birth hospital if you have a major issue. This often coincides with your baby hitting the first viability milestone where your baby would have a good chance of surviving outside of the womb.

2 – Overnight parking?

You can generally expect to be in the hospital 1-3 days if there are no complications for mom or baby. What are the parking fees and are there designated places for you to park your car as you will be there for an extended stay?

3 – How many people in the delivery room?

Many hospitals have a limit on the number of people who can be in the delivery room with you. You will want to find out what that number is before decided on who those people should be. We’ll be covering who you should pick a little later in this series. You’ll also want to know if any of them can come with you in the event you need to have a c-section.

4 – Is there an age limit on visitors?

Hospitals often require visitors to be of a certain age to visit mom and her new baby, especially if you have your baby during flu season. This is to reduce the number of people and germs that are near these babies with brand new immune systems. You’ll want to know what these limits are if you have young children or family members who you would like to visit.

There is also generally a limit on how many people can visit at any one time.

5 – What birthing equipment/tools do they have in rooms?

Especially if you plan to use natural birthing methods and avoid an epidural you may want to have birthing tools such as a birthing ball, birthing bar, peanut ball, birthing stool, etc. Many hospitals have some of this equipment available for use. You’ll want to know what they have and if they often run out. If they do not have a piece of equipment you would like to use ask if you are allowed to bring your own.

6 – Can you have a doula at your birth?

Doulas are amazing to have as part of your birth team. Before you hire one you’ll want to be sure that your birth hospital allows doulas. They may also have a list of recommended doulas if you need help finding one. Some may even offer volunteer doulas on a first come first serve basis.

7 – What are their c-section rates?

If you have a choice of hospitals to choose from, and know that you want to avoid a c-section, you should find out the c-sections rates at the hospitals you have to choose from. Some hospitals have much higher rates than others. Even if you only have one option it’s still could to know these stats and see what you can do to avoid a c-section if it’s something that you only want as a last resort.

8 – Are there separate delivery/recovery rooms?

Will you be in one room your entire hospital stay or will you be moved after the baby is born? Many places have separate rooms for delivery and recovery.

9 – Are the rooms shared or private?

Are the recovery rooms shared or private? If they have shared rooms are there private rooms available for a fee?

10 – Will there be a bed/cot so your spouse/partner can stay overnight?

Especially if you’re a first-time mom you will likely want your spouse/partner/family member to stay overnight with you at the hospital. Is there a bed or cot for them to sleep on? When I had my daughter there was a couch that doubled as a bed. You may want to plan to bring a sheet or pillow for them depending on what the accommodations are.

11 – Does your baby stay in the room post birth?

More and more hospitals are recognizing the importance of the first hour after birth for bonding. You will want to know what sort of accommodations your hospital makes for this bonding time. Will they delay the initial procedures/measurements to allow for bonding? Will these procedures take place in your room or will your baby be removed to another area to be weighed, tested, etc.

12 – Can your spouse cut the cord?

If you and your spouse/partner are interested in having them cut the cord you’ll want to ask if this is allowed and what the procedure is. You don’t want to be disappointed the day of if they say they don’t allow this.

13 – Is photo/video during the birth allowed?

Do you want to have photos or video taken during your birth experience? You’ll want to check if this is allowed and if you can bring in a professional photographer. Will the photographer count towards one of the maximum number of people you can have in the delivery room?

14 – What type of security do they offer for mom/baby?

We’ve all heard horror stories about new babies going missing from the hospital or babies getting mixed up. What type of security protocols do they offer to protect mom and baby?

15 – How long should you expect to stay after birth?

How do they require/allow you to stay in the hospital after your baby is born? Are you able to check out early if mom and baby are both given a clean bill of health or is there a minimum required stay?

Grab the printable list of these questions with room to add your own!

Many of these questions will be answered by whoever gives your maternity tour, but if anything is missed don’t be afraid to ask. This is your birth experience and you have a right to know what to expect and if your wishes can be met. These are not things you want to try to figure out on the fly the day of, there will be enough going on!

Make sure to grab my printable pregnancy checklist , your week-by-week guide to preparing for baby!

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Ask These Questions During Your Labor & Delivery Hospital Tour

By Yasmine Moussa Published: June 17, 2023 Updated: October 28, 2023 This article contains affiliate links. Please see our full affiliate policy .

Believe it or not, taking a hospital tour is an important step in preparing for childbirth. During your hospital or birthing center tour, you’ll have an opportunity to ask questions as you walk through the labor and delivery ward.

Why You Should Tour the Hospital Before Giving Birth

What you can expect during your hospital tour, 3 goals for your hospital tour, questions to ask on your labor & delivery hospital tour, prepare for your hospital tour.

But, if you’re anything like me, in the moment it can be hard to think of all the critical questions you want to ask. Either they fly right out of your head, or you don’t think of them until after the fact. That’s why I’ve put together this complete list of questions to ask on your hospital tour. 

With this list, you’ll know all your bases are covered — from the hospital’s C-section rates and newborn care procedures to food policies and visiting hours.

Much like writing a birth plan , taking a labor & delivery hospital tour is an important step in preparing for childbirth. Touring the hospital you’ll be giving birth in will help you visualize your birth experience and remove some of the unknowns surrounding labor and delivery.

Think about it like this: childbirth is an endurance event, and there can be a lot of unknowns. So, it’s smart to prepare yourself and do what you can to set yourself up for success…

Just like an athlete would visit a field, court, or track before a big competition, you’d want to gain comfort and familiarity in the location where you plan to give birth.

And, more importantly, taking a hospital or birthing center tour gives you a chance to have all of your questions answered. During your hospital tour, you can ask questions regarding the hospital’s policies, visitor rules, hospital statistics, and birthing logistics. You can also find out how well the hospital or birthing center can accommodate your birthing preferences and choices.

As if that weren’t enough reason to take a hospital tour before giving birth, arriving for your hospital tour is a chance to dry-run where to park, what hospital entrance to use, and how to get to the labor and delivery unit. This way, when it’s go-time, you and your partner know exactly where to head.

Most hospitals offer regularly scheduled tours of their Labor & Delivery units monthly or weekly. Generally, this information is listed on the hospital website, but you can also call the hospital and ask to speak to L&D and ask them over the phone.

If your hospital offers general tour times, you may be on the tour with a group of other expecting couples. It’s kind of nice to connect with other expectant mamas who are also close to giving birth, and learn from their questions in addition to your own.

Hospital tours usually take 30-60 minutes and are often led by a childbirth educator or L&D nurse.

Be prepared, because you will likely hear women in labor during your tour. For some mamas, the hospital tour is what makes birth feel suddenly more real!

Consider bringing a small notebook with your most pertinent questions (or a printout of this list) and taking notes on things that feel especially important. 

Remember to cater your questions to your unique birth wishes and needs.  No question is too small or silly! Hospital tours are a time to erase doubt and stress surrounding your birth so that you arrive prepared and relaxed to have the birth your desire.

When I went for my hospital tour, I was that mom asking tons of questions. I probably embarrassed my hubby a little, but I was there to learn and have my questions answered. And you know what? I’m 90% sure that the other couples on the tour benefitted from hearing the answers to my questions too.

When taking your hospital tour, keep these goals in mind:

• Take a hospital tour to get comfortable with where you’ll be giving birth. I want you to feel comfortable, confident, and at ease during labor and childbirth, and that goes double if you’re giving birth in a hospital. Yes, you’ll be touring the space, but also gaining comfort and familiarity with the hospital. Seeing the birthing rooms and walking the halls will help make the space slightly more familiar to you for when the day arrives.
• The hospital tour can give you the inside scoop. Getting to meet some of the Labor & Delivery nurses and getting your questions answered can give you insight to help you prepare for childbirth. Knowing small details like what’s provided to you, what kind of room you’ll birth in, and what to expect will go a long way in addressing any questions, concerns, and hesitations you might not even realize you have.
• Taking a hospital tour helps you work out the logistics for your birthing day. By driving to the hospital, parking, finding the entrance, and walking the halls, you’ll have a dry run under your belt for when it’s time to check in to the hospital.

So, be sure to keep these goals in mind as you go on your hospital tour. And whenever possible, take the tour in person and not online. We want you to physically be present and get to see the Labor & Delivery ward yourself.

Here is a comprehensive list of things to look for and questions to ask on your hospital tour. Many of these questions will likely be answered during the tour presentation, and you might get some of these questions answered on the hospital’s website or through your medical provider.

And some of these questions relate more to your birth plan and preferences than anything, so feel free to add your preferences to your birth plan and be respectfully vocal about them. Whether you get these questions answered on your hospital tour or otherwise, this list of questions will help you prepare for birth.

Questions about hospital policies, logistics, and stats

• Where is the best place to park for the duration of our stay? Is parking free? Are there parking vouchers? Where should visitors park?
• What entrance should we use when we arrive? Is there a different entrance for after-hours?
• How do we get a wheelchair when we arrive, if needed?
• What are the check-in policies? Is check-in different during regular hospital hours vs. after hours? Can I pre-register online to save time before the big day?
• What identification, medical information, or other paperwork should we have with us when we arrive?
• How is the cell service and WiFi in the hospital/L&D rooms?
• What is the visitor policy? Is there a visitor waiting area? What is the policy for other children/siblings?
• Does the hospital offer childbirth classes, breastfeeding classes or other newborn education classes I should know about?
• Rate of C-Sections at the hospital?
• Epidural rate among births?
• Rate of induction?
• Episiotomy rate?
• Forceps/vacuum rates?
• Rate of augmentation during labor?
• What level NICU does this hospital have? What could this mean in the event of an emergency for baby after birth?  Read more about  NICU levels  and why they matter
• What are the hospital’s philosophies and attitude towards pain intervention, newborn care and breastfeeding? Do you emphasize  patient/family-centered care ?
• Can I bring in outside food and drinks? (Think, food for labor and afterwards for you and your partner/family.)

Questions about labor and birth rooms and experience

• Birthing ball
• Hydrotherapy showers
• Laboring tub
• Dimmable lights
• Control of thermostat
• Refrigerator
• Access to linens (extra towels, sheets, pillows)
• Heating pads/hot water bottles
• If there are laboring tubs, how long do you allow women to labor in the water? What are the safety policies surrounding labor tubs? Do you offer water births?
• Are the hydrotherapy showers large enough for your partner or doula to join you and provide additional support? What are policies surrounding this?
• Is movement encouraged and supported during labor?
• What are the policies surrounding eating and drinking during labor? What does the hospital provide (ice chips, broth, jell-O, popsicles, crackers)?
• Are there plenty of outlets for things like chargers, heating pads, speakers, sound machine? (You can probably observe this yourself as you walk through the labor and birthing rooms.)
• Are there different types of labor rooms? Can I see the various options/possibilities to help me better visualize my birth? (Note: this will depend on what rooms are available/not occupied by a birthing mama.)
• Does the hospital require routine IVs or are they only given when medically necessary? If they are required, is a saline lock possible instead?
• Do you require electronic fetal monitoring, and is it intermittent? How many minutes in an hour does it need to be worn during labor?
• Are cervical checks standard care in this hospital? Can I opt out of cervical checks or limit them if I choose?
• In the event that constant fetal monitoring is deemed necessary, do you have monitors that allow movement and can be worn in the shower?
• In the event of a necessary IV, do you have mobile poles to promote movement?
• Does the hospital offer  Nitrous Oxide as a less-invasive pain intervention   option? (Note: one should not  opt for laughing gas/nitrous oxide if they have or suspect they have the MTHFR gene variation.)
• Are visitor policies different for labor vs. recovery?
• Are cameras and filming allowed? What about professional photographers and videographers?
• Does the hospital have a doula network or offer low-cost doula or doula-assistance?
• What would happen in the event that all of the labor and birth rooms are filled? How likely is this? (Note: at some large hospitals, women have had to labor and birth in hospital hallways. It happens.)
• Do you encourage/allow birthing mothers to push in any position?
• Do you offer warm compresses to be used between pushes to prevent tearing? Can this be arranged? Should I bring my own supplies to make this happen? ( Note: this is one of the only research-proven ways to reduce your risk of serious tearing during birth  – source )
• Is delayed cord clamping considered standard care at this hospital?
• Can you save my placenta for me to bring home? Do you offer encapsulation services?
• What is the standard of care in this hospital surrounding immediate skin-to-skin bonding and breastfeeding within the first hour? 
• Can I delay all newborn care procedures until after the first feeding/for 1-2 hours after birth?
• Will I recover in the same room where I labored and birthed? If not, what will the switch to a recovery room look like?
• Does my partner accompany me?
• Do you offer clear drapes, lowered drapes, or a mirror for me to watch?
• Can I still do immediate skin-to-skin bonding after birth?
• If baby needs medical care, does my partner go with baby?
• When can I begin breastfeeding after a C-Section?

Questions about newborn care and recovery

• Are recovery rooms different for vaginal births vs. C-Section births?
• Can I expect a private recovery room or shared room? What would determine my eligibility or likelihood of each?
• A place for my partner to sleep (double bed, pull-out chair or couch, couch)
• Nursing chair
• Bedside bassinet or easily accessed sleep space for baby
• Baby care supplies
• Postpartum care supplies
• Breastfeeding support pillows
• Showers, tubs, sitz baths?
• Will I have access to Lactation Consultants during my hospital stay? Do they make routine visits to all patients or do I need to sign up? Are they on staff 7 days a week?
• How long do I have to stay at the hospital after birth? Can I make arrangements for an early discharge? What do I need to do ahead of time to make this a reality? (ie: home visit from nurse, midwife, pediatrician, etc.)
• What is the average length of stay for a vaginal birth and C-Section birth?
• What meals are provided to me during my recovery?
• What can I expect in terms of pediatric care for my newborn during our hospital stay? How often will I see the pediatrician and be able to ask questions? (Note: you will need to select a pediatrician and contact them once your baby is born.)
• What kind of support do you offer to new mothers after discharge? Breastfeeding support groups, drop-in breastfeeding support, postpartum support groups, etc.

Questions to ask yourself and discuss with your partner after your hospital tour

After your hospital tour, it’s important to do some self-reflection and have an intentional discussion with your partner. This could be in the car on the way home or at a coffee shop immediately after; it doesn’t matter as long as you have a debrief with your partner.

Discuss what you learned, saw and heard. Share your general impressions with each other and discuss any concerns now.

Remember that it’s never too late to switch providers or even hospitals if you have more than one option available to you. If there aren’t multiple hospital options, what can you do to make the best of birthing at this hospital? For example, hiring a doula to support you during birth and be an additional advocate during your birth can make a big difference. 

What’s most important is that you will feel comfortable, safe and well-cared for when it’s time to give birth! 

Here are some questions and topics to discuss with your hubby after your hospital tour.

• What was your general impression after the hospital tour?
• How busy did the Labor and Delivery unit seem?
• Did the floor seem warm and homey or more clinical? Do we perceive that as a good or bad thing?
• Was there a strong sense of communication and community on the floor and between the staff?
• Did things feel organized and like they were running smoothly?
• Based on what we saw in the labor/birth rooms and recovery rooms, what do we need to add to our hospital bag list?
• Will I feel supported and honored in my birth wishes at this hospital?

Now that you’ve read this complete list of questions to ask on your hospital tour, your wheels are probably turning. Take some time to decide what questions are most important to you and your birth wishes. 

If there were topics on this list that you were unfamiliar with, do some research and better understand what it is you want out of your birth experience and newborn care. Having a strong sense of your own birth plan and non-negotiables can make your hospital tour questions more productive.

My  Guide to Creating a Natural Birth Plan with Free Printable Template  is a great resource to help you! And be sure to check out the Natural Labor Playbook , a quick reference guide for what to do in labor.

From there, you can create your own list of questions for your hospital tour that is as unique as your birth and baby!

If you found this list of questions to ask on your hospital tour useful, pin it for later!

Want more support during your pregnancy?

Join PURE Pregnancy , my holistic pregnancy guide. Have your best, most prepared pregnancy… starting today!

If you’re prepping for childbirth and labor, you might also be interested in:

• How to Push Without Tearing
• 5 Unexpected Things That Happen After Childbirth
• Free Natural Birth Plan Template

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Founder and Chief Mama Officer of The Gentle Nursery. Yasmine is the founder of The Gentle Nursery as well as the CEO of Biomeology , a prenatal wellness company. She is a wife, proud mom of two boys, a graduate of the University of Southern California, and a Functional Nutrition Coach. With a 10-year background in research, analytics, and leadership for a Fortune 100 company, Yasmine applies the same principles and attention to detail to every article she writes and researches.

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Choosing a hospital for labor and delivery

Wondering how to choose the best hospital for your labor and delivery? Find out which questions to ask at the hospitals you're considering.

Can I choose the hospital where I'll give birth?

Other things to consider when choosing a hospital, questions to ask when choosing a hospital for labor and delivery.

In most cases, you'll deliver your baby at the hospital where your healthcare provider has admitting privileges. So keep in mind that when you  choose a doctor or midwife , you'll likely be choosing the place where you'll give birth. It's worth doing some research to make sure the hospital's policies and approach to birth fit your needs.

"Most patients choose specific doctors and then go where they deliver, but occasionally patients want a specific hospital or birthing center. They would have to switch providers if their provider doesn't have privileges there," explains Jennifer Wu, an ob-gyn in private practice at Women's Health of Manhattan, in New York City.

Some practitioners have admitting privileges at more than one institution. If this is true for yours, ask how they determine where you'll deliver.

It's also critical to determine which hospitals are covered under your insurance plan . It's more than frustrating to find out halfway through your pregnancy that your doctor or midwife takes your insurance but the hospital they deliver at doesn't.

And while you may be willing to travel a little bit further for the best hospital, you'll want to consider distance from home when making your decision. You won't want to worry about how long it'll take to get to the hospital once you're in labor . Plus, having a hospital close by may be especially helpful if it's where you'll be going regularly for your prenatal care .

If you have a few hospital options to choose between, these considerations may help you narrow your choices:  

Do you want to try a VBAC?

If you've previously given birth by  C-section  and are interested in trying to have a  vaginal birth after cesarean (VBAC) this time, talk with your provider. You'll want to make sure you're a good candidate and that your provider supports your decision. Also, make sure the hospital where they have admitting privileges will allow a VBAC and has the medical personnel available 24/7 to do an immediate repeat C-section, if necessary.

If this is important to you, you may want to inquire about VBAC success rates for both your hospital and provider. 

Do you have a high-risk pregnancy?

If you're at high risk for  preterm birth  or other  complications  that might affect your baby, choose a hospital with a  neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) if possible. The NICU has both a well-trained staff and the latest health equipment to care for newborns who need special attention – because they were born preterm or low birth weight, or because they have conditions such as jaundice, breathing difficulties, heart issues, birth defects, or infections.

Every NICU isn't the same. Some hospitals are equipped to take care of the tiniest babies. Others are only able to care for those born at 32 weeks and later, and need to transfer babies who are more premature .

Do you want a low-intervention birth?

Some hospitals have on-site  birth centers  in addition to traditional labor and delivery suites. Birth centers offer the option of laboring and giving birth in a more relaxed setting, often with amenities such as a whirlpool bathtub and birthing ball for you and a comfortable sitting room for family members.

Hospitals provide a safety net in case you need additional care. If you need to be transferred for any reason – if, for example, you decide you want an  epidural  – you'll only have to move down the hall or up a floor or two.

You might find it helpful to spell out your preferences in a birth plan to share with your medical team.

Here are some questions you may want to ask:

Labor and birth:

• What are the hospital's policies about things like  continuous electronic fetal monitoring  and routine IVs ?
• How many support people are allowed to be with me in the labor and birth room?
• Is this hospital supportive of doulas ?
• Is video recording and/or photography allowed in the birthing room?
• Would my baby's  siblings be allowed to attend the birth ?
• What pain relief options will be available? (All hospitals are equipped to administer an epidural, but not all provide nitrous oxide, for example.)
• Is there an anesthesiologist or anesthetist at the hospital around the clock?
• How many women in labor does each nurse typically care for?
• How do available options align with my ideal birth plan? For example, is there a tub to labor in ? Can I play soft music and soften the lights?
• Is this a teaching hospital? Will there be residents and medical students involved in my care?
• What's the C-section rate for women who give birth here?
• Is delayed cord clamping an option?

Postpartum:

• Can my baby stay with me in my room 24/7?
• Can my partner stay with me in the room? What accommodations do you have for partners?
• Are  lactation consultants  available?
• What's the visitation policy? Are there specified visiting hours?
• What are the meal options?
• How long is the typical stay in the hospital after a vaginal birth ? After a cesarean?

There are a variety of ways to get this information:

• Ask the doctors or midwives you're considering to be your caregiver.
• Talk to friends or family members nearby who have recently given birth.
• Call the hospital directly and ask to speak to a childbirth educator, if they have one.
• Speak to other childbirth educators or doulas in your community.
• Check with hospital maternity services. Some have websites with detailed descriptions of their services and policies.
• Take a tour of the hospitals you're considering – and don't be shy about asking questions.

Learn more:

• What is a midwife?

How to choose an ob-gyn

• Recognizing the signs of labor
• What happens to your baby right after birth

Was this article helpful?

Birth centers: Alternatives to hospitals

Preparing your child to attend a sibling's birth

Babycenter community guidelines.

BabyCenter's editorial team is committed to providing the most helpful and trustworthy pregnancy and parenting information in the world. When creating and updating content, we rely on credible sources: respected health organizations, professional groups of doctors and other experts, and published studies in peer-reviewed journals. We believe you should always know the source of the information you're seeing. Learn more about our editorial and medical review policies .

Cleveland Clinic. 2020. How to choose a healthcare provider for your pregnancy and childbirth. https://health.clevelandclinic.org/how-to-choose-a-healthcare-provider-for-your-pregnancy-and-childbirth/ Opens a new window [Accessed February 2023]

Geisinger Health, 2020. How to choose the right hospital for your delivery. https://www.geisinger.org/health-and-wellness/wellness-articles/2020/07/27/18/19/how-to-choose-hospital-for-your-delivery Opens a new window [Accessed February 2023]

Kaiser Permanente. 2022. Pregnancy: Deciding where to deliver. https://healthy.kaiserpermanente.org/health-wellness/health-encyclopedia/he.pregnancy-deciding-where-to-deliver.hw194333 Opens a new window [Accessed February 2023]

Nemours. 2018. Birthing centers and hospital maternity services.  https://kidshealth.org/en/parents/birth-centers-hospitals.html Opens a new window [Accessed February 2023]

Hackensack Meridian Health. 2019. How to choose a hospital for your birth.  https://www.hackensackmeridianhealth.org/HealthU/2019/12/23/how-to-choose-a-hospital-for-your-birth/ Opens a new window  [Accessed February 2023]

Washington Hospital Healthcare System. 2019. How to choose where you should deliver your baby. https://www.whhs.com/baht/healthy-pregnancy/how-to-choose-where-you-should-deliver-your-baby/ Opens a new window [Accessed February 2023]

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