Giving birth to a brand-new baby triggers a domino effect of decisions you’ll need to make before delivery. One of the most crucial decisions you’ll make is where you want to deliver your baby. While some mothers-to-be prefer home births, other soon-to-be mothers want their infant under the direct supervision of a team of healthcare professionals. Regardless of the birthing location, every mother wants to feel comfortable and minimize their risk of complications during the birthing process.
To ensure your baby is delivered safely without suffering from unexpected complications such as unusual heart rate, problems with the umbilical cord, and excessive bleeding, you should consider a hospital delivery. Here are some factors to account for when selecting the best hospital (within driving distance) to deliver your newborn.
Budget
Affordability is a crucial factor when making this decision, as most soon-to-be parents expect quality care without compromising financial stability. To avoid unexpected out-of-pocket costs, it’s essential to review what your insurance covers. As you search for hospitals that accommodate your budget restrictions, you’ll also need to determine which hospitals with a team of high-quality doctors are in-network.
To check these items off your pre-delivery to-do list, visit AHiX Marketplace. This private insurance exchange offers the best quality health insurance at affordable rates. With so many plans, doctors, and hospitals to choose from, you’ll be on the right track to find the most affordable policy.
Gynecologist's affiliation
After choosing the gynecologist that you’re comfortable with and one that your insurance covers, you’ll need to confirm their hospital affiliations. It will help you narrow down your search to only a few hospitals that are in-network. Whichever hospital you select, ensure your doctor has admitting privileges. Your doctor should have affiliations with a hospital to deliver your baby.
The hospital's distance from your home
While it may seem trivial when compared to budget and quality of care, the distance between your home and your hospital of-choice can’t be ignored. When you’re in labor, you won’t want to endure a 30-minute drive mid-contractions.
When the hospital is closer to your home, you can reduce the risk of complications if you experience a high-risk pregnancy or premature delivery. Planning the route and timing alternatives can guarantee your newborn’s safety, as it’ll ensure you dodge high-traffic areas to avoid discomfort and delays when traveling during labor.
Take a hospital tour
It’s a good idea to visit the hospital before your due date and verify that the hospital’s cleanliness standard is up-to-par with your expectations. Taking a hospital tour is a vital step in helping both parents to prepare for childbirth. It’s also the perfect opportunity to ask all the questions you’ve gathered during the pregnancy.
During the tour, ensure you visit the maternity ward and the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). As hospital staff members conduct the tour, inquire about the amenities and equipment available on-site, as well as the availability of the doctors and nurses. Don’t overlook questionable sanitation or sub-par bedside manners. The safety of your newborn isn’t a time for compromise. After all, giving birth will be one of the most important milestones of your life.
The quality of medical staff
A hospital is only as good as its medical staff. Search for online reviews of the doctors and nurses on staff. Scour the internet for both positive and negative reviews that may sway you towards a particular hospital in your area. If you’d prefer reviews from people you trust, you can also ask friends and relatives about their experience in any given hospital.
When or if you schedule a hospital tour, interact with many staff members as possible to gauge how comfortable and hospitable they are. It also pays to take a closer look at how the neonatal unit staff handles the babies suffering from complications. If you experience complications, you’ll want to feel confident that your baby is in good hands.
The accommodation
The quality of your stay postpartum is dependent on several factors, such as your delivery method. Most new mothers insist on being supervised by a team of medical professionals before and after their delivery. Overnight stays following delivery ensure that both the baby and the mom are safe and healthy after undergoing the birthing process.
These overnight hospital stays also allow new moms to receive much-needed help and advice from trusted experts. During your tour, inquire about the kinds of rooms available to birthing mothers. If you’d prefer your child’s birth to private experience, you’ll need to request a private room beforehand.
As you tour the premises, make sure the birthing rooms and bathrooms are sanitary and clean. Along with evaluating the hospital’s cleanliness standard, you’ll need to choose a room with enough sleeping space for your spouse, partner, or family members during your hospital stay. You don’t want your partner to sleep on the floor, nor do you want to experience these postpartum hours alone.
As a final step, you’ll need to find out if your baby can stay in the nursery while you rest, or if you have to keep your baby alongside you at all times.
Additional technologies and birthing techniques
A hospital’s birthing techniques and state-of-the-art technologies offered should play a major role in your decision. You’ll need to assess whether or not these birthing techniques accommodate your original birth plan. Another vital factor in choosing the right hospital is to verify that your facility-of-choice is equipped with a blood bank, in case you experience life-threatening complications. If your doctors administer pain medication despite your preference for a natural birth, you may be at higher risk of complications during labor.
When preparing for labor-related mishaps, you’ll need to research a hospital’s C-Section delivery facilities, birthing pool or baths, birthing chairs, emergency facilities, and ICUs—should anything go wrong. Choose a hospital that offers you the amenities you deem essential on your birth plan.
The hospital you choose will significantly impact your delivery experience. Take your time to ensure that you’re satisfied with the facility’s cleanliness standard and the services they offer. Otherwise, you may commit to a birthing facility that will disappoint you in the long-run.
After careful selection, prepare for delivery, and try to relax. Remember, your delivery might feature some unexpected twists and turns. However, with adequate preparation, you’ll be prepared to handle every curve ball thrown your way.
