Deciding which hospital is best for your labor and delivery can be overwhelming. You’re going to have a life-changing experience there, after all. Maybe more importantly, you’re going to need some serious rest and relaxation after you give birth.
Talking to friends, family, and your healthcare provider is the best way to get a full picture of what a hospital is like. Here’s how to get the conversation started.
With friends and family
Pregnancy feels like a time when everyone wants to share their opinion or tell you a story, and now you can finally use that to your advantage! If you know someone has delivered at a specific hospital, you can reach out to them with questions about how they made their choice. When you’re with other moms or moms-to-be (prenatal birthing classes, prenatal yoga, prenatal run-into-each-other-getting-ice-cream-at-midnight…) you can ask them where they delivered or where they plan to deliver.
- “How did you choose your delivery hospital?”
- “I’d really like to have a [inserted delivery type]. What was your birth experience like at [XYZ] hospital?”
- “I know you delivered at [XYZ] with your first baby. Can you tell me more about your birth experience there?”
- Did your care team at [XYZ] handle your labor in any particular way, or did they let you lead based on how you were feeling?
- “Did you look at C-section rates when you decided where to deliver? Did you know that hospital C-section rates can predict your likelihood of having a C-section?”
With your provider
Your provider can, of course, answer questions about your baby’s health and development, but they’re also there to answer questions about how your baby will enter the world. Ask questions like:
- “Is there a chance another provider in the practice might deliver my baby if you are unavailable? If so, what steps can we put in place to communicate my delivery decisions to that provider?”
- “It seems like [XYZ] hospital has a high C-section rate. Can we discuss our plan to make sure my wishes are honored in the delivery room?”
- “What can I do to advocate for myself and my delivery decisions in the delivery room? Should I consider using a doula?”
- “I’d like to know more about your approach to C-sections. How do you make your decision to perform a C-section?”
There’s so much about your pregnancy that you can’t control, but your choice of delivery hospital is in your hands, and it’s a really important part of your birth experience. And there’s one more place you can turn for advice: Ovia!
To get help choosing the birth team that is right for you, contact our coaching team to assist with the search. They can help you find a provider who is in your network and accepting patients.
